The Harvest Festival was an absolute blast and a big thank you to all of you who helped to make it so great for our kids! This week, leading up to Thanksgiving break, was filled with activities surrounding having gratitude for the things we have in our lives. It was inspiring to see all of the things the middle schoolers recognized they have in their lives that they feel grateful for. Here is a short Thanksgiving quiz to get you in the holiday spirit!

(All Answers are at the bottom in bold)

1. What was missing from the first Thanksgiving feast?

2. How long did the first Thanksgiving last?

3. TRUE/FALSE   Did a city in Connecticut once cancel/postpone Thanksgiving due to a lack of pumpkin pie?

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

What’s happening in Science?

Sixth graders really dove into their biology unit this week! They learned about the transfer of energy that flows through food chains in different  ecosystems. They considered the importance of decomposers and the different ways consumers get their energy. They showed what they learned by creating their own food chains in posters or slide presentations. The fifth graders also explored how all organisms have adaptations, both physical and behavioral to help them to survive.

What’s up in ELA?

Sixth graders are continuing to work on their Deep Study of Character Unit. They are doing a great job using their reading logs to complete character studies on the books they are reading. In grammar, they completed week eight grammar/vocabulary quiz.  Signed papers will be sent home the Monday following Thanksgiving Break.

What’s going on in Math?

Woohooo! We have successfully wrapped half of Fractions and Decimals Unit! The students all had a chance to show their understanding on a mid-unit assessment. They had an opportunity to correct their mistakes for half credit on Wednesday. They were very enthusiastic about making the corrections and did a great job asking questions and seeking clarification. I am optimistic about finishing our unit after Thanksgiving break. We will continue to use skills learned with fractions and begin working with decimals.

What’s happening in Social Studies?

Students began to take a look into Ancient China this week. We began by looking at the beginnings of the Shang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty. Students were then asked to write a letter as a citizen in one of these dynasties and introduced their way of life to the other. 

When we return, the students will be looking at Chinese beliefs and the Han Dynasty. Students will be challenged to independently master  the Han Dynasty through a jigsaw activity.

Important Dates:

• November 21-25 Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• December 16th: 11:30 Dismissal Pajama Day
• December 17- January 2: Winter Break

Answers: 

1. Turkey
2. Three Days
3. True