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February 26, 2010
MS Curriculum Update - February 26, 2010
Earth Science (6th & 7th)
Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Earth Sciences, and are currently on Unit 4: The Shape of the Earth’s Surface, which includes the study of rock weathering, beaches, and natural hazards.
Classroom Commentary
Activities: We are working on Chapter 11, Water and Weathering that covers sediment and the formation of sedimentary rocks. Students will participate in a demonstration of sedimentary rock, and then create their own sedimentary rock. Science Fair Projects were assigned and we will be working on them over the next few months.
Lab: Students completed a lab with the stream tables to model stream formation. In the stream table students were able to observe erosion, river deltas, and other geographic features.
Text References: CPO Focus on Earth Science (CPO Science); Chapter 11: Water and Weathering
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Projects proposals due March 5. Chapter 11 Test late next week.
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Physical Science (8th)
Curriculum Notes
We are working from the California Science Standards for Physical Sciences, and are currently on Unit Five: Motion and Force, which includes speed, forces, and motion.
Classroom Commentary
Activities: Students are continuing to work through speed and velocity problems. Science Fair Projects were assigned and we will be working on them over the next few months.
Lab: Students finished a lab graphing a moving student and analyzed the data.
Text References: CPO Focus on Physical Science (CPO Science); Chapter 12: Distance, Time and Speed
Upcoming tests and due dates: Science Fair Projects proposals due March 5.
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Information Technology
Check out the web site – it has lecture, projects, lab updates, links and other cool stuff!
http://sites.google.com/site/hillcrestcomputer/Home
Spanish (6th)
Curriculum Notes
We recently started chapter three of the “Ven Conmigo!” book. In this chapter students will learn about Mexico, school topics, new classes, and new friends.
Classroom Commentary
In terms of grammar, they are going to review and apply the nouns, definite articles (el, la, los, las), and adjectives agreement. They also will learn telling the time and simple phrases related to time, talking about things they like (and explaining why), talking about being late or in a hurry, and finally, describing people and things.
Students learned about time last week, and they had a quiz about it last Friday. This week they will watch a video about being late or in a hurry and reinforce the time topic.
In order to review past lessons students are working as teams doing games, creating puzzles and acting out phrases or writing funny stories in Spanish. In two weeks they will have a test about time and how to correctly apply it in phrases.
If you have any question please don’t hesitate to email me at taniafmena@hotmail.com
Text References: Ven Conmigo! Chapter 3; Online access to text activities: http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=400&pageId=4605
Upcoming Tests and Due Dates: Test on application of “time” in one week (date tbd)
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Spanish (7th)
Curriculum Notes
We finished Segundo paso last Friday and had a test on Monday. Now we start Tercer Paso, the last part of chapter 4. If you remember, Segundo Paso was “Telling where people and things are.” Now students will talk about where they and others go during free time. We will be using the verb ir (to go). Ir is an irregular verb; the conjugation follows its own pattern. To ask where someone is going, use the question word ?adonde? (where to?).
To ask where someone goes,say: Adonde vas? (Where do you go?), Adonde va Maria Ines? (Where does Maria Ines go?)
Your friend might answer: Voy a la biblioteca para estudiar. (I go to the library in order to study.). Maria Ines va a la piscina. Luego va al cine para ver una pelicula. (Maria Ines goes to the pool. Later, she goes to the theater to see a movie).
Students will discuss what they like and dislike doing, what they do in their free time and how to tell where people and things are.
Classroom Commentary
In class skits are Tuesday March 2nd, and the goals are to accomplish the three main adjectives from tercer paso: ask where someone is going; discuss what you like or dislike to do; and, where people and things are.
Text References: Adelante Primer paso pages: 171-177
Upcoming Tests and Due Dates: Friday, March 5th
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Spanish (8th)
Curriculum Notes
We finished Segundo Paso with a skit that counted as a test; students spent time on Friday preparing to present on Monday.
Now, to finish chapter 9 we start Tercer Paso, in which students will learn to express preferences, ask about prices and discuss how to pay for things.
They will use expressions such as: this, that, these and those. In Spanish these are called “Adjetivos demostrativo”. Students will learn to apply it appropriately to their subject based on gender and number. We will have a conversation: Going shopping for presents for themselves, family members and friends.
There are a lot of good conversation activities in Tercer Paso. Please check text references.
Classroom Commentary
As I said in my last update we are doing a lot of conversations and this can be a challenge for some students but I am amazed to see how easily they learn from these activities; they listen to each other and they, by themselves, correct their mistakes.
Text References: En camino. Chapter 9 Primer paso pages: 148-160
Upcoming Tests and Due Dates: Friday, March 5th
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Art
Classroom Commentary/Projects
This last week, as well as the upcoming week, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Hillcrest are working on self-portraits in acrylic paint on canvas. Our model was loosely based on several prints from the Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, during the period when he was considered a major mover in the “Cubist Movement” (1907 - 1921).
Considering several of his examples, we discussed typical characteristics of the “Cubist Movement”:
• the planes of the human face interpreted in geometrical and angular terms
• visual space “flattened out” - as opposed to the illusion of 3-d space so beloved of the Renaissance depicted on a 2-d surface
• the unusual, and, characteristic of the Cubist’s, habit of placing facial characteristics in an unexpected or “primitive” placement
In the interest of inviting exploration of the qualities of acrylic paint - mixing colors, tints and shades (from a previous lesson), the texture of the paint on the page - students were encouraged to use Picasso’s model loosely, and in an imaginative and fanciful manner.
Other Notes
Again, these lovely creations will be on view at the upcoming annual Hillcrest Art Show, Thursday, March 11th at 7pm. Accompanied by LIVE music!!! I look forward to seeing you there.
Posted by sholli at February 26, 2010 03:57 PM