6th - 8th Grade

UPCOMING EVENTS

First bell rings at 8:05, tardy bell now rings at 8:15
March 16-17th 8th Gr AZ Science Test (attendance is mandatory)
Parent Teacher Conferences March 17-20th (links to be sent out via email on March 2nd)
Spring Break March 21- April 5th

Be sure to join our REMIND class for your student's grade level to get information and updates!

6th Gr Code: gsa-6gr

7th Gr Code: gsa7th26

8th Gr Code: gsa8th26

Dress Code Reminders: Please review the district dress code policy. Students who violate the dress code will receive 2 verbal reminders. Continuous violation of the dress code will result in your child being sent to the office to wait for you to bring an outfit change. Only solid-colored sweaters will be allowed in the classroom. Students who bring hats to school must refrain from using them indoors.
GUM IS A CONTINUED PROBLEM with our middle school students. Please remind your child that GUM in NOT ALLOWED on campus.
Students may access Clever here to use the learning programs at home. Once they log in to Clever, they will not need to use any additional passwords. ST Math is a great way to practice mathematical concepts! At-home practice/work may be needed if your child is unable to complete the minimum requirement during the school day.

This week in Sixth Grade:

ELA: Unit 1 Discovering Your Voice

Collaborate and Compare

Students will be reading two stories:

Better Than Words: Say It With a Selfie
OMG, Not Another Selfie!
Both of these stories are found on HMH.

Math: Unit 3 - Unit Rates & Percentages

We just finished our test on Unit 2 - Intro to Ratios. After fall break we will start on Unit 3 - Unit Rates & Percentages.

Please check the list of math links I've created so you and your child can keep up to date!

If your gator could use more math practice at home, please consider checking out Khan Academy. Students can make an account and have additional practice that follows grade-level standards! The lessons offer step-by-step feedback to support complete understanding!

Science: Currently we are discussing Humans impact on the ecosystem. We are looking at the relationship between palm oil trees and the orangutan population.

Social Studies:

Students will learn about Ancient Mesopotamia and How the key features of it's geography and development of technology influenced the daily lives and culture of its people.
Graded Assignments: Hexagonal Thinking (10 pts) & Ancient Mesopotamia Map (10 pts). There may additional assignments that go into the gradebook.
Assessment: 10 question quiz on Ancient Mesopotamia.

6th Grade First Quarter

First Quarter Learning Targets

6th Grade 2nd Quarter Expectations

Second Quarter Learning Targets

Q3 6th Grade Quarterly Expectations.pdf

Third Quarter Learning Targets

Q4 6th Grade Quarterly Expectations

Fourth Quarter Learning Targets

This week in Seventh Grade:

Math:

Unit 7: Angles, Triangles and Prisms

Sub-Unit 1: Angle Relationships (Lessons 1–4)

Determine unknown angle measures using facts about complementary, supplementary, and vertical angles.
Write and solve equations for unknown angles in a diagram.
Describe how to determine missing angle measures using reasoning based on angle relationships.

Sub-Unit 2: Drawing Triangles (Lessons 5–8 + Practice Day + Quiz)

Construct triangles given three measures of side lengths or angles.
Justify whether a given set of measurements form a unique triangle, more than one triangle, or no triangle.

Sub-Unit 3: Solid Geometry (Lessons 9–13 + Practice Day)

Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the volume and surface area of right prisms.
Compare and contrast cross sections of prisms and pyramids.

Unit 7 Test tentatively Thurs: April 9th

Additional Resources and Support for Unit 7:

Caregiver Guide for Lessons

Additional Practice Problems

Khan Academy

Amplify Caregiver Hub

Free online Math Tutoring through U of A: https://crr.math.arizona.edu/zoom-tutors

Science:

-As we begin Quarter Two, we will begin exploring our next System of the Body, the Skeletal System

-Students will explore the fundamentals of the Skeletal System and the Major Bone Structures of the body, their locations, and how they work together to facilitate movement

ELA: Q2 information

Unit 2: The Terror and Wonder of Space

Selection 1: Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
- Focus Skills: Analyze Science Fiction and Mood
Selection 2: Martian Metropolis
- Focus Skills: Analyze Structure and Central Ideas
Selection 3 & 4: Humans Need to Explore Outer Space & Let Robots Take to the Stars
- Focus Skills: Analyze Argument and Rhetorical Devices

Upcoming Assessments:

NOV. 20-21: End of unit Writing Task- Argumentative Essay

Social Studies:

DBQ: Why did Creoles lead the fight for Latin American independence?
- Documents B-F Analysis

7th Grade First Quarter

First Quarter Learning Targets

7th Grade Q2 Quarterly Expectations

Second Quarter Learning Targets

Q3 7th Grade Quarterly Expectations.pdf

Third Quarter Learning Targets

Q4 7th Grade Quarterly Expectations

Fourth Quarter Learning Targets

This week in 8th Grade:

Tax Credit: Tax Credit Donation Link

Camp Supply Wish List: Wish List

Camp Food Donation Link: Food Sign Up

Math:

Unit 8: Pythaorean Theorem and Real Numbers

Sub-Unit 1: Square Roots and Cube Roots (Lessons 1–5 + Practice Day + Quiz)

Approximate the value of square roots and cube roots.
Describe the relationship between a square’s side length and area using the term square root, and the relationship between a cube’s edge length and volume using the term cube root.

Sub-Unit 2: The Pythagorean Theorem (Lessons 6–11)

Use the Pythagorean theorem and its converse to reason about right triangles and calculate unknown measurements.
Explain a proof of the Pythagorean theorem and its converse.

Sub-Unit 3: Rational and Irrational Numbers (Lessons 12–14 + Practice Day)

Express rational and irrational numbers as fractions and decimal approximations.
Describe what an irrational number is and give an example.

Unit 8 Retakes Wednesday April 15th

Caregiver Guide for Lessons

Additional Practice Problems

Khan Academy

Amplify Caregiver Hub

Free online Math Tutoring through U of A: https://crr.math.arizona.edu/zoom-tutors

Science:

In Quarter 3, we are focusing on the next parts of the Physical Science Standards. We will focus on a review of energy types, energy transfer, energy transformations, and Newton's 3 Laws of motion. We will add on 8th-grade standards on "Matter, and Its Interactions", focusing on Matter, Atoms & Molecules, the Periodic Table of Elements, and how chemical reactions work, both through the lens of Chemistry AND Mathematics. *We take our AZ State Science test BEFORE Spring Break. This assessment covers ALL of the Science standards from 6th - 8th grades.

ELA: Q1 Information

Unit 1: Gadgets and Glitches

Selection 1: The Brave Little Toaster
- Focus Skills: Analyze Plot & Analyze Science Fiction
Selection 2: Are Bionic Superhumans on the Horizon?
- Focus Skills: Identify Central Ideas and details & Analyze Organization

Upcoming Assessments:

MAP Growth Measurement Aug. 7th

Social Studies: updated 3/20

🎒Google Classroom: We’ve connected to our Social Studies Google Classroom! If you received an invite via email, please accept so you can follow your child’s work and progress.

📰 Daily News: We watch CNN 10 each day and connect current events to historical ideals.
I encourage you to preview or discuss these stories with your child—talking about what’s happening in the world helps them grow into thoughtful, informed young adults.
Students take notes and use these notes for a weekly quiz on Friday.
Upcoming DBQ - Should American's be required to vote. Students will explore who votes, how voting engagement has changed through history and will form their own opinions about if compulsory voting is a good idea. I encourage you to talk to your child about your voting experiences and opinions.
⚠️ Academic Honesty & AI: Academic dishonesty, particularly the unauthorized use of AI to create content, is a major concern. Misuse of AI could result in severe consequences in high school. Please talk to your child about responsible usage immediately.
🗂️ Longterm Project Management: As we work on long-term projects this quarter, students are practicing important executive functioning skills such as time management, planning, and self-monitoring. While students often feel they “don’t have homework,” unfinished classwork and long-term assignments still require attention outside of class. Encouraging students to break work into smaller steps and avoid last-minute rushes will help them build habits they’ll need in high school and beyond.
Please check your email for more detailed information!