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, 6th graders took their unit 6 assessment and then began Unit 7, where they explored and compared negative rational numbers. 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 apply our new knowledge of negative numbers to absolute value, and explore changes in depth and temperature.
ELA:
6th grade Shakespeareans continued their read through Romeo and Juliet 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, 6th grade poets will finish Romeo and Juliet and consider its themes. They will also use their developing 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 5:45pm – be sure to mark your calendars!
Social Studies:
Sixth graders have now finished India and will be moving into our next unit which will be Ancient Greece. Before we begin, we will be starting a new project which will be writing an historical paper. This will be on any sub section of study from any of the units we have covered this year as a class. This will be a great opportunity for them to see how historical writings differ from other styles of writing and will help them think critically about the subject they choose.
Science:
The sixth graders started their study on the human body this week! They are investigating a patient with specific symptoms that they will need to inquire about and deduct their reasons to diagnose the patient. They have also picked a human system that they are researching and are creating a presentation for the class. Next week, they will continue to learn more about cells, organelles, organs, and what we are made of!
Important Dates:
March 15th – TCS Spring Gala & Auction
March 31st-April 4th – Spring Break
Upcoming Assessments and Deadlines:
Sonnet due date 3/21
Grammar Test 3/6
Math Test 3/10
