In Social Studies, we are beginning our study of Ancient Greece. We began this unit by writing a map checklist of Europe and Ancient Greece and the students labeled their maps of Europe and Ancient Greece using the checklist. Students turned those in on Wednesday and Thursday (today). I have many students that haven’t turned in their map or checklist for Greece. Please check the STI system to see if your student has completed and turned in the work. The map work was worth 30 points (10 points for writing the checklist and 20 points for the maps). The maps need to be labeled and the Europe side needs to be shaded.
The students were given information about their crossword puzzle project that will be due for Gold classes on Tuesday (2-16-10) Blue classes on Wednesday (2-17-10). I am attaching the information sheet about the project with this e-mail. If you have any questions please let me know. I encourage the students to use www.eclipsecrossword.com to complete this project. Students will have homework each time they have social studies class. If they say they are finished with it, please ask them to show it to you for verification.
In Communication Arts, the students are still working on the writing activity which is a journal entry telling about a day that they would experience if our city had been occupied by an opposing military force such as Annemarie and Ellen faced with the Nazi occupation of Copenhagen, Denmark in the book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. We will start another writing activity following this one where the students will be writing a personal narrative describing an actual event that has taken place in their life such as the birth of a brother or sister, winning an important game, singing in a musical, doing something for someone else, etc. There will be no Spelling Test this week or next week due to the Online Performance Testing which has played havoc with our schedule.
In Mathematics, we are studying geometry in chapter 7. Most of this is review, but there are many vocabulary words that will be tested. It would be a good idea to start reviewing them. We have several lessons to go before we think about a test date. Gold classes took their Performance Test in the computer lab Wednesday. Be sure to ask your student about their results. Blue classes will take their test on Monday, February 8.
In Science, the students are investigating mixtures, solutions, chemical reactions, and physical reactions. They received a blue worksheet that needed to be completed before their next class if it was not finished in class. The students seldom have a lot of homework in science, so please remind them to have this assignment completed. The next two classes will have labs dealing with these topics and a test over the matter unit will occur late next Thursday or Friday. It’s time to start reviewing notes and handouts.
In Reading Exploratory, please make sure that your student is reading 100 minutes per week, writing three complete summaries, and having you sign the Reading Log (attached). Please have students proofread and edit their summaries if it is not their best work. There will be a reading log due every Friday.
