Hall 6th Grade
October 4, 2024
October 4, 2024
Hi Cougar families! This week in math we're learning about how to use mathematical terminology to analyze distributions, measures of variability including interquartile range and mean absolute deviation (MAD), and the difference between a statistical vs. non statistical question! We will end our statistics unit next week but before we move on, students will apply what they've learned in a statistics project!
The picture on the right shows a group of students during a vertical whiteboard day answering various questions of increasing difficulty. An example of one of the questions was, "Find five numbers with mean 4, mode 3, and range 9".
We, like our seeds, were now planted in the garden. - Nora, Seedolks
Over the past two weeks, language arts classes have been immersed in the world of Paul Fleischmans' Gibb Street Garden. Each chapter introduces a different character with a wildly different backstory and identity. I am asking students to identify the different characters' traits, motivations, ethnicity and race, challenges, and contributions to the garden.
Skills we have focused on:
Citing Text Evidence
Analyzing Narratives
Identifying Key Events in a Literary Text
Dinner Table Questions to ask your 6th grader:
Who as been your favorite Seedfolks character thus far?
How do you think the final draft of your story map turned out?
What are you thinking about reading next?
On Ms. Irving's Bookshelf:
The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
From Penguine Random House
From the two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The War That Saved My Life and Fighting Words comes a middle grade novel set at the border between freedom and fear in World War II France, at the Chateau de Chenonceau, where a Jewish girl who has lost everything but her life must decide whether to risk even that to bring others to freedom.
“We don’t choose how we feel, but we choose how we act.”
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/549713/the-night-war-by-kimberly-brubaker-bradley/
We are now in October Zero Waste Challenge! Your child should have a labeled bag and put clean and dried plastic that they used. For example, if pasta was made and they ate a fourth, then a fourth of the bag goes in their container. All plastic that had dairy or meat should be tossed and recorded on their document in Part 2 in the "Threw out" section.
The Challenge goes through Oct. 31st at midnight. In other words, if they eat the candy the wrapper goes in the bag. 👻🍬
Make sure the bag is clearly labeled. Kids explain to cleaners not to toss.
This week, we learned about various history detectives like archeologists, anthropologists, geographers, historians, and paleoanthropologists. We have also been exploring cave paintings. Next week, we will turn our room into a cave and create our own paintings. We will then begin exploring hominids from the Australopithecus Afarensis to Homo Sapiens. Be sure to check out the class website to listen to music, see class pictures, and look at projects.
Mr Rembrandt - This past week many students received their uniforms, although several are still awaiting backorders. Please be sure to write your child's name on their PE uniform so that it does not disappear in the locker room hustle bustle.
We will continue our fitness testing next week by taking our first mile run of the year. As temperatures drop back to normal we will be able to enjoy some group games on the blacktop the other days of the week.
Band - We are continuing our work with note identification and making positive strides. I've added a new link for rhythm practice, called "rhythm randomizer." This is something that can be done in practice time to improve students sense of rhythm, which will translate to our standard of excellence pieces, as well as eventual arranged pieces. This week we watched a ted talk video about 3 brothers (ages 10, 14 and 15) who play bluegrass and the kids were quite inspired by their musical level. Tomorrow (thursday), we'll do an informal listening. Students have learned 6 total notes and are really coming along. We're close to hitting the last two notes and playing a full scale.
Music Exploratory - We are continuing our work with note identification and making positive strides. I've added a new link for rhythm practice, called "rhythm randomizer." This is something that can be done in practice time to improve students sense of rhythm, which will translate to our two part harmony arranged pieces we're playing. We're just about done with Hamilton and students are making positive strides towards being able to sing the entire piece with an accompaniment recording. This week we watched a ted talk video about 3 brothers (ages 10, 14 and 15) who play bluegrass and the kids were quite inspired by their musical level. Tomorrow (thursday), we'll do an informal listening. Our next piece will be, "Blackbird" per their request. I think we'll start that by the end of next week.
Design 6
Students have just completed their cursive unit - used to strengthen motor skills AND patience with learning new skills. We will review how to work through learning new, and sometimes, difficult tasks.
Students will be next embark on designing an alphabet of different styles of letters, with the goal of completing a complex illuminated letter, taking inspiration from the Irish Book of the Kells.