Whew! What a week, especially with all this frigid weather. The middle school has had another busy week studying how neurons work in cockroaches and working on our writing with Spread the Word coming up! The anticipation is building and we hope you are all as excited as us. The students have created the most creative and beautiful pieces and we cannot wait for you to hear them! In honor of St. Patty’s Day here are some riddles to kick start your Irish weekend: 

1. Where can you always find “gold,” but there’s no gold at all
2. What has eyes but can’t see?
3. How many gold coins can a leprechaun throw in an empty pot?

( Answers at the very end! 😉 

Here’s a look at what is happening in each of the classes:

What’s happening in Science?

Sixth graders studied the human body’s organ systems this week! They each selected an organ system they wanted to learn more about and created a lesson for the class. After the lesson, they made connections about how the organ systems work together. The sixth graders also continued to read Plagues to consider how pathogens invade our bodies on a daily basis, but our bodies have effective defense mechanisms to keep us healthy.

What’s up in ELA?

Your students are currently working on their pieces for the “Spread the Word” event that will be taking place on the afternoon of March 28^th at the Charleston Museum. Please RSVP as there is limited seating. We would like for your students to dress nicely. 

We will also have a brief rehearsal at the museum on March 23rd. Please fill out the permission slip so that they will be able to go to the rehearsal.

What’s going on in Math?

This week, sixth graders have started their unit covering “percent increase and decrease”. We have started by reasoning with “half as much again” and how to compute 150% using one operation rather than two. Students are developing some number sense around percentages and should be able to help out next time there is a big sale advertising “x% off”! 

What’s happening in Social Studies?

Sixth graders began to take a look at the formation of England and then were challenged to analyze a portion of the Magna Carta. Students then moved into the Crusades with some readings and mapping. Students ended the week with a jigsaw activity on the Reconquista of Spain and the decline of the Medieval Society. 

Students will start the next week off with a study guide to help prepare them for their assessment on this unit on Thursday. Students will then move into the Islamic World and South Asia. Students will be asked to master their vocabulary before moving into the content of the new unit. 

Important Dates:

• March 24 – Artist of the Month Coffee (8:15 – 9:00) 
• March 28 – (11:30 Dismissal from school) Spread the Word (5:00 – 6:00) 
• April 3-10- Spring Break

ANSWERS: 

1. DICTIONARY
2. POTATO
3. ONLY ONE BECAUSE AFTER THAT IT IS NO LONGER EMPTY