As the AVMS Principal I have been proud of the progress our sixth graders have made. Our sixth graders have been working hard and learning a lot in math, science, reading, writing, and social studies. They are off to a great start and their enthusiasm for learning is evident in the following class projects! As a matter of fact the portion of the article related to ELA and Social Studies was written by one of our talented students.

Math and science may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this group of sixth graders are up for the challenge and having a good time doing it. It's been a few months since the beginning of the class. Each passing day means another lesson learned. Our young scientists and mathematicians learned to be keen observers, curious, logical, creative, objective, patient, and good team players during the process. Some of the highlights are shown below, which show a group of young scientists and mathematicians in their element, actively learning and engaging.

Mrs. Camp

AVMS Principal

MATH: SCAVENGER HUNT

Students were working in groups. Each team/table had its own set of LCM and GCF problems to solve and scavenge around the classroom for solutions. The team who answered everything off on their list first before the time was up, won.

SCIENCE: KIDStruction KIDSbuild

KIDStruction is a design/build competition for students in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. Every fall, the event is timed to coincide with Architecture Week, though students and teachers begin working on the project in August. Teams from Southern Arizona's middle schools compete by designing and building structures based on an annual theme.

MATH: MINECRAFT 3D SHAPE NETS

Students must create a 3D figure based on the Minecraft character Steve. Each geometric net is colored, cut, and glued. Following that, they must complete a 4-page question sheet in which they must answer questions about the volume and surface area of the head, body, arms, and leg.

SCIENCE: TEAM OOBLECK

Aside from the simulations and apps in Amplify Science, students participate in hands-on activities that are not only entertaining but also educational. Making oobleck is a fun science and sensory project all in one. Dip your hands into this non-Newtonian fluid, which acts like a solid and a liquid at the same time, after combining cornstarch and water.

An Ancient Understanding

By: Skylar I.

6th Grade, AVMS

ELA and Social Studies

The 6th grade students are working on an existing project, to show the different parts of Ancient Egypt in Mrs. Cristales’s class. The six different teams consisting of Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4, Team 5, and Team 6 are all having at least three people.

Team one and their project, “The Post is Here”, talks about an ancient technology, the shaduf - an advancement that allows you to move water from one place to another. Their materials consisted of cardboard, clay toothpicks and paint to make the shaduf. They used paint to color clay and started to make a pond and the surrounding dessert.

Another team that is really taking the show is Team 2, with their given item being “Living on Fertile Land”, and they sure made that obvious. They made a farm filled with crops and used an empty water bottle, scrap paper, cardboard, clay, and paint. They painted their green clay and added blue strips that sat near the crops. You could say that they're planting the seeds of a good team.

The next team is flooding with amazing talent. Team 3 was given the prompt, “Ancient Flood Technology” for their group project. They used white clay, food coloring, playdough toothpicks, and cardboard. They made a massive wave and sand barrier. I can hardly wait for them to flood the field.

Team 4 forages for an amazing idea. They were given the unique line of talent to complete their given prompt, “Fruits and Vegetables”. They crafted a basket of fruit made out of yarn, hay, paper fruits, plastic wrap and water bottles. Their team used time sparingly making an actual basket out of hay and plastic wrap, in two hours; now that is serious dedication.

Team 5 had to hunt for some materials, but here we are. This team was given the ancient discovery of hunting. They used sticks, clay, feathers, glue, cardboard, paint and glue. They made a spear, bow and arrow for their hunting prompt. They finally finished off the fiend of failure.

Team 6 loves the smell of bread and aroma of the beautiful breath of talent. Their prompt, “Bread and Beer (ancient beer has no alcohol)” really had them rolling in the dough. They used clay and paper to make bread, as well as a small table, and paper to make a place to place all their work on.

All the teams in this wonderful class gave it their all, and never gave up. They made it through thick n’ thin and scraped the bottom of the barrel to finish their projects.