6th Grade ROCKS!
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
**PLEASE CHECK THE HOMEWORK SLIDE EVERY NIGHT!!!**
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
**Remind your child to CHARGE his/her Chromebook every night!!!**
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: Students wrapped up their work with A Long Walk to Water and watched a powerful TED Talk in which Salva shared his personal journey. We are now transitioning to nonfiction! Students are learning important vocabulary and reading “Unbreakable,” a Scope magazine article about a girl who was attacked by a shark, and the incredible resilience she has shown as she continues to persevere and live life to the fullest.
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week in class, students completed their narratives. Students were also introduced to the concept of helping verbs and were entertained by the “Helping Verbs Song,” which provided an engaging way to support their learning. Next week, students will learn the rules for punctuating dialogue in a narrative.
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science students took their first unit test about the general Scientific practices that they will be applying in all domains of Science this year. They also earned their first reward day, for filling the class bucket with helpfulness, kindness, and extra effort. Next week we will begin our Space Science unit.
Math Update from Ms. Mutnansky: Students are demonstrating great confidence and mastery of operations involving whole numbers and decimal numbers. Students will be completing the last lesson in Unit 1 this week. We are exploring factors and multiples. We also will begin reviewing all skills from Unit 1 to prepare for our upcoming Unit 1 Test.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week in social studies students completed their first homework choice boards! Their cave paintings and/or hominin posters came out fantastic! We started to learn about the Stone Age and the cave art our earliest ancestors left behind. Next week we will wrap up our Early Humans unit and start to prepare for our second test. Keep an eye out for our study materials over the next week or so.
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week World Language students finished their calendars in Latin noting ancient Roman festivals and famous historical events. We began to describe the weather in Latin, both aloud and in writing. We are discussing the role of Roman (and Greek) gods in everyday life, and why some of their names come up when discussing weather in Latin.
World Language from Ms. Hicks:
The sixth grade Latin students are presenting their Numeri Romani derivative projects. They will have a quiz on the Roman numbers next week.
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
**PLEASE HELP YOUR CHILD CHECK THE HOMEWORK SLIDE EVERY NIGHT!!!**
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week, students finished reading A Long Walk to Water. They had different opportunities throughout the novel to connect with the text, and show their understanding by choosing different interactive reading options. Themes for the book were identified and students created slides depicting their understanding of the theme using text evidence, as well as working on a short TEAC response about the theme. It has been a wonderful week of discussing, debating, collaborating, and learning!
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week students worked diligently to write the first draft of their narratives. I could not be more impressed by their ability to write for extended periods of time and produce quality work. Next week, students will receive feedback and comments from peers about their writing and then revise their draft before submitting it for final review.
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science students wrapped up their experiments testing the absorbancy & strength of competing paper towel brands, and analyzed whole class data to support or refute the advertised claims. Students also worked on identifying independent, dependent, and control variables when they carried out a bubbling tablet investigation. All sections will have their first unit test on the scientific practices Wednesday or Thursday next week depending on their section.
Math Update from Ms. Mutnansky: Students are building more and more confidence with the traditional algorithm for dividing whole and decimal numbers. Next week we will begin the last section of our 1st unit. Students work with common factors and multiples of numbers. They will then begin practicing and preparing for their 1st unit test.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week in social studies students learned about a selection of human ancestors. After learning about each of the five hominins, students created “puzzle pieces” that work as both sequencing cards and flash cards to help us cement what we learned throughout the week. After this we did a skull identification challenge where students tried their hand at archeological thinking using augmented reality and iPads! Next week we get to wrap up human migration and dig deeper into the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages.
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week World Language students began creating a calendar in Latin noting ancient Roman festivals and famous historical events. We have been learning about the Roman calendar and how it is the basis for our modern calendar.
World Language from Ms. Hicks: The sixth grade Latin students have done a great job on their derivative posters! Be sure to ask them what interesting words they learned. We will have a quiz next week.
6th Grade ROCKS!
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
**PLEASE CHECK THE HOMEWORK SLIDE EVERY NIGHT!!!**
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
**Remind your child to CHARGE his/her Chromebook every night!!!**
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week, students continued reading A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. It is based on a true story. There are two characters, Salva and Nya, who are both 11 years old and from Southern Sudan, each with their own story. Through the novel, students are learning how to identify Notice and Note signposts, plot elements, and types of characters, while improving their summarizing skills. Students also had fun with the social writing platform “We Will Write.” It is designed to make writing engaging and collaborative through team challenges.
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week, students read “The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve as we prepare to rewrite part of the story from Grandpa’s perspective. At the end of the week, we welcomed guests from the United Native American Cultural Center (UNACC). Students made their own medicine bags during a hands-on art activity and attended a presentation about Native American culture and traditions. They asked thoughtful questions and recorded what they learned in their writing journals. Thank you to our guests for making this a memorable learning experience for our sixth graders!
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science, students analyzed gathered data, such as the number of bacteria colonies growing after two days in different lunchbox samples, and drew conclusions based on evidence for the question, “Is it a good idea to use your lunchbox as a bowl to eat out of?”. Students shared their findings by writing a scientific argument including a claim, evidence, and reasoning.
Math Update from Ms. Mutnansky: Students are showing better confidence and mastery of division and using the standard algorithm. We will build on this next week as we begin to divide decimal numbers. Just a reminder that if students are struggling, they are encouraged to stay after school for extra help.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week we started our Early Humans unit. Students learned about how we track time, some of our earliest human ancestors such as the famous Lucy fossil! Next week students will get to practice being historians and archeologists looking at some artifacts and skulls to hone these skills!
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week Language students took a quiz on Latin numbers and Roman numerals. We began to discuss the Roman calendar, noting that the days of the week and several of the months in Latin are named after Roman gods. We began to learn basic facts about the most popular Greek and Roman gods.
6th Grade ROCKS!
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
*Make sure to check the homework slide daily!*
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week students continued reading “A Long Walk to Water.” The conversations have been thoughtful with lots of rich discussion. Students also took the fall MAP reading test. They have all worked hard this week!
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week, students analyzed short passages to identify the narrator’s point of view, providing text-based evidence to justify their answers. They also put the finishing touches on their compare-and-contrast paragraphs. They focused on grouping ideas logically and used key transition words to signal similarities and differences.
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science, students practiced new group roles to collaboratively analyze and evaluate data. Students analyzed gathered data concerning lunchbox cleanliness in order to support or disprove scientific claims. They wrote a scientific argument according to our Claim- Evidence- Reasoning format, and presented their arguments to the class.
Math Update from Ms. Mutnansky: Students have become masters of adding, subtracting and multiplying decimals. If students are struggling, they are welcome to stay for extra help on Tuesdays. Next week we will learn how to divide single-digit numbers, multi-digit numbers and then decimal numbers by using models and making connections to the standard algorithm. They should also practice checking their answer for reasonableness by using estimation and multiplication.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week in Social Studies students got prepared for and took our first test! (Section 1-2 take it Monday!). We had a ton of fun with review games during our shortened classes and I expect the grade as a whole to do well on this first formal assessment!
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week World Language students continued learning how to count in Latin and associating Roman numerals with the Latin vocabulary word for each number. Students counted classroom objects and practiced hearing and writing Latin numbers. We also practiced adding and subtracting in Latin. Students will take their first Latin quiz this Monday or Tuesday.
World Language from Ms. Hicks:
We are learning classroom objects now in Latin class. There will be a quiz in the middle of next week.
6th Grade ROCKS!
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week, students continued their engaging exploration of A Long Walk to Water. They are doing an excellent job completing their daily log or sketch notes and writing thoughtful responses to comprehension questions. Students especially enjoy sharing their insights, predictions, and perspectives, which often spark meaningful discussions and debates about the many challenges Salva faces throughout his journey.
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week, students continued practicing the “Show, Don’t Tell” writing strategy while exploring the defining features of narrative writing. At the end of the week, students demonstrated their understanding of the parts of a sentence by completing their first quiz.
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science, students used their observational skills to seek an explanation for the “floating” Slinky phenomenon. They started planning and carrying out an investigation of this phenomena including forming a scientific question, making an educated hypothesis, and determining how to test the variable of reduced tension.
Math Update from Ms Mutnansky: Students have worked hard to develop a conceptual understanding of multiplying decimal numbers by creating models. They are now developing procedural fluency using the traditional algorithm and making sense of their work by using estimation to check for reasonableness. Next week, students will begin dividing whole numbers.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week we learned about South Sudan to support their reading of A Long Walk to Water in their reading class. We also covered some of the basic terminology and skills for social studies and learned about landforms. Next week students will get their study guide, date for their first test and have their first binder check! Look on the homework slide next week for specific dates and support.
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week World Language students practiced identifying which Latin words that many English derivatives come from. We continued to begin class with a Latin greeting and check-in with each student. We reviewed Roman numerals and took notes on numbers in Latin, and have been using these numbers in class every day to count. Please see Google Classroom or the 6th grade homework board for the date of each class’s quiz on numbers and numerals.
World Language from Ms. Hicks: The 6th grade Latin students are learning the classroom object words. They are going to be working on a classroom picture with objects written in Latin.
6th Grade ROCKS!
Thank you to everyone who attended Curriculum Night! It was a wonderful evening full of positive energy. We look forward to a great year together!
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week, students continued reviewing the plot elements and were introduced to the different types of characters (round, flat, dynamic, static, protagonist, & antagonist). Students also began learning about Notice & Note signposts, and all classes started reading the novel "A Long Walk to Water." It was a busy week in reading class!
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: This week, students continued to explore how authors use figurative language as a writing tool to make emotional connections with a reader. Students also practiced the "Show, don't tell" writing strategy. They worked on creating vivid descriptions that allow readers to infer emotions or events rather than directly stating them. Next week, students will take a quiz on the parts of a sentence. Study materials are available in the Grammar section under Classwork in Google Classroom.
Sections 4–6: Thursday, September 24
Sections 1–2: Friday, September 25
Please encourage your child to review the study materials before the quiz.
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science, students were assessed on their ability to identify different scientific tools and their uses. They also co-wrote detailed procedures for others to follow in order to successfully recreate engineering structures. Students also evaluated each other's procedures as they used them to build structures, and provided feedback on essential components of procedure writing.
Math Update from Ms. Mutnansky: Our mathematicians did a wonderful job selecting the appropriate level of homework this week. THey reflected on their choice so we can make a good level selection for next week’s homework. Students have demonstrated fluency in adding and subtracting and next week we will now focus our attention on multiplication.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week in Social Studies we learned about map types and why all map projections are wrong. Our 6th graders have started to hit their stride as we charge to the end of our first unit! Next week we will wrap up our first unit with lessons on landforms and how to think like a historian. By the end of next week we will preview and start studying for our first test. Keep an eye on the homework slide for dates and reminders.
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: This week World Language students practiced identifying which Latin words that many English derivatives come from. We continued using our new greetings each day in class as we are learning to say how we are doing in Latin. Students wrote and illustrated a short dialogue in Latin, and finished sharing five items to represent our favorite things so we can continue getting to know each other.
World Language from Ms. Hicks: The sixth grade Latin students are learning words for the classroom objects.
6th Grade ROCKS!
*We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday night for Back to School Night!*
Yearbook order forms were distributed to students by their flex block teachers this week. Orders are due by September 25. To order online, please use the following link:
Check out the 6th grade website - https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lms6thgrade
LPS Education Tech Support is a great resource! Please check it out! https://sites.google.com/littletonps.org/lpstech2020/home
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ELA - Reading Update from Mrs. Tracanna: This week, students shared their slides and introduced themselves to the class. They learned about the elements of a plot (exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, & resolution), as well as conflict and solution. Then they applied what they learned by plotting out the Pixar short “La Luna” in small groups. Students have a blue “keep sheet” in their binder with the terms, definitions, and visual images to reference throughout the year. All sections worked hard and did a great job!
ELA - Writing Update from Mrs. Gresco: Even though it was a short week, our writing class was full of learning! We kicked off our narrative writing unit by reviewing figurative language, which helps students make their writing more vivid and engaging. Students also practiced identifying nouns and worked on understanding the parts of a sentence to strengthen foundational grammar skills. Students showed wonderful effort and curiosity throughout these activities!
Science Update from Ms. Durkin: This week in Science, students brainstormed and created classroom norms to set the tone for their school year so that all students feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Students also started to identify the different purposes of scientific tools such as graduated cylinders, microscopes, and triple beam balances. They worked in groups to use these tools to gather different types of data.
Math Update from Mrs. Mutnansky: In math class, students have been busy working on learning classroom routines and expectations that will set them up for a successful year of math. We have learned about the Standards of Mathematical Practice, have set group work expectations, distinguished active listening from passive hearing, and learned how to be an active member of our learning community. We have used various math puzzles to develop and practice these skills. I hope your student has come home and shared them with you. Next week, students will learn how to drive their learning by seeking challenges, collaborating with others, and seeking feedback. We will also begin Unit 1 in their math workbooks.
Social Studies Update from Mr. Brideau: This week in Social Studies we started our first unit, Foundations. This unit is all about learning the basics that we will use for the year. We started by learning about the different subjects that are a part of social studies and previewed some basic Geography to help us more meaningfully learn about the world around us.
World Language from Mrs. DiRusso: During Trimester 1, World Language students will be introduced to a bit of Latin language and Roman culture. This week the 6th grade chose Latin names to use in class and is practicing greeting each other daily. We finished discussing classroom procedures and setting up our binders, and shared five items to represent our favorite things as we introduced ourselves. We also began looking at English words that come from Latin.
World Language from Ms. Hicks: The sixth grade Latin students are learning Greetings and how to ask questions. They are also learning derivatives such as pessimist, optimist, and aqueduct. They will have their first quiz on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
WELCOME to LMS! 6th Grade ROCKS!
It has been an incredible start to the school year, filled with enthusiasm, energy, and a genuine eagerness to learn. Students transitioned into their new roles as middle school students with remarkable ease. In the past three days, students have been introduced to class routines and expectations and have participated in various activities. We are truly excited about the journey that lies ahead for our sixth-grade students. With the positive energy they have brought to the classroom, we have no doubt this will be a year of tremendous growth and achievement. Have a wonderful, long weekend!