Seventh Grade Math Digs Into Proportions & Percents
In unit 4 of their math class recently, seventh grade students have been studying proportional relationships and percents. After revisiting proportional relationships, the bulk of the unit dives into percent increase and decrease and real-world applications of these topics. Students applied their knowledge of percent change to solve real-world problems involving concepts like sales tax, tipping, discounts, markup, markdown, and commission. As a wrap-up for this unit, students designed a concept for a store and created flyers advertising a sale at their store. In addition to creating a flyer, students completed work to show how the prices of their items compare before and after the discount is applied.
– Elinor Klein, middle school math teacher
Celebrating Black History Month in Spanish Class
Culture is a determining factor in language learning, and celebration is a big part of Latin American cultures. During this month in Spanish class, we are celebrating Black History Month and honor Afro-Latinx in the different areas of their contribution to the United States Culture. Eight-grade Spanish students learned about Afroliatinidad and worked on various projects, creating posters, tear-off flyers with the music of Afrolatino bands, and biographies. Many of those projects are now on display in the sixth grade hallway.
– Ana Maria Restrepo, middle school Spanish teacher
PE Update: Lighting the Torch of Olympic Challenges
The Olympics creed states, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” In this spirit, our little Olympians-in-training have embraced the struggle this winter with joy and athleticism.
At various stations in physical education classes this week, students have attempted various Olympic challenges, whether it is working on hockey skills, synchronized yoga, curling, or slaloming through obstacles, our students have shown that they will try just about anything and do it with a smile. There are no medals at stake but after showing off their stuff there are always plenty of shout-outs to go around.
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher
Eighth Grade Social Studies Examines US Civil War & Slavery
Eighth graders wrapped up their study on the US Civil War this week by considering contrasting arguments from two historians about whether the majority of the credit for freeing enslaved people should go to Abraham Lincoln or the enslaved people and freedom seekers themselves. They also looked at a number of ways that Americans currently think about and interact with the Civil War and considered questions about when the Civil War should be taught and what should be taught about it. Next week, they’ll do their summative assessment for the unit: a research project about anything connected to the Civil War that they choose. We look forward to seeing what they learn and create!
– Kate Burns, middle school social studies teacher
