We sprung forward last Sunday…we will fall back again in November. Why? Why do we still change our clocks for daylight savings? Does more light keep us safer? Prompt us to buy more? Conserve energy? Do we need more daylight to make it to Starbucks with more light in the morning?
A hypothesis about daylight savings…
The “Hamster Wheel Theory!”
The Hamster Wheel Theory is based on the condition we can slip into as humans where we lose relationship to context. Have we been springing forward in March for so long that we just do it? If so, what else do we humans condition ourselves into doing throughout the year? While we ponder this theory (with our Starbucks in less morning light), we know we made it into the part of the year that the human construct has deemed “normal time.” What is “normal?” That is for another newsletter! Cheers to springing forward!
-LD
Math:
This week, 7th graders reviewed for and took their unit 6 assessment. We also took our ERB milestone this week! The milestone will help guide me in knowing what skills (test taking or math-related) we need to review before the real deal in May. Next week, we’ll dive into the laws of exponents (my personal favorite unit) – and apply these laws to more complex problems.
ELA:
7th grade Shakespeareans continued their read through Macbeth this week and studied the various adaptation styles on stage and screen. Poets finished their sonnets rough drafts – playing with figurative language in the third quatrain and staying true to rigid syllable rules. They also began a new vocabulary study, with a test planned for 3/20.
Next week, 7th grade poets will finish Macbeth and consider its themes. They will also use their refreshed cursive skills to transcribe their sonnets by the due date on 3/21. We will enjoy the reading of these sonnets aloud at High Falutin Coffee on April 9th at 6:30 p.m. – be sure to mark your calendars!
Social Studies:
Seventh graders have finished their work on the 13th Amendment and will be starting our next mini unit, which will be the Civil War, and its role in changing American society. Before we begin the students will be starting their research papers. This will be a cause and effect historical paper on a subject of their choice. This will be a great opportunity for them to see the differences in historical writing, learn about proper citations and learn how to use critical thinking in writing viewpoints from a historical perspective.
Science:
Seventh graders started their chemistry unit this week! They explored the states of matter experimenting with dry ice and water. They were able to see evaporation, sublimation, condensation, freezing and melting while having fun! The seventh graders also picked a genetically modified organism that they are researching. They will present their information to the class. Next week, the seventh graders will start Omnivore’s Dilemma, young readers edition, to supplement their chemistry journey.
Important Dates:
March 15th – TCS Spring Gala & Auction
March 31st-April 4th – Spring Break
Upcoming Assessments and Deadlines:
Sonnet due date 3/21
