Team 73 December Newsletter

I hope this newsletter finds you well! I'm excited to share what we're learning in math class this month.

What We're Learning

We are currently working on operations with integers - addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of positive and negative numbers. Students are learning to work confidently with problems like (-5) + 8,

12 - (-7)

(-3) × (-4)

(-20) ÷ 4.

Why This Unit Matters

Understanding integer operations is a crucial foundation for your child's mathematical future. Here's why:

Real-World Applications: Integers are everywhere in daily life - from tracking temperatures below zero, to understanding bank account balances and debts, to calculating elevation changes. Being comfortable with negative numbers helps students make sense of the world around them.

Gateway to Advanced Math: This unit is the foundation for algebra and beyond. Students will use these skills in every math class moving forward, including solving equations, graphing lines, working with functions, and eventually tackling calculus. Without strong integer skills, higher-level math becomes unnecessarily difficult.

Building Number Sense: Working with integers deepens students' understanding of how our number system works and helps them think more flexibly about mathematical relationships.

How You Can Help at Home

• Ask your student to explain the "rules" for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers

• Look for real-world examples together (weather reports, football yardage, floors in buildings)

• Encourage your student to show their work and explain their thinking

Math Joke of the Week

Why was the integer so grumpy?

Because it was negative all the time! 😄

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about your child's progress email me at Christine.gillette@schoolsofwestfield.org

Science Riddle:

I can be hot or cold, and I can change shape,
I’m all around you, but you can’t always escape.
I can make things melt, and I can make things freeze,
What am I?

(see answer below)

Science Reminders:

1. Students should always have a pencil or pen and bring to class

2. Students should have a personal pencil sharpener for Science class.

3. Students should have their own personal supply of colored pencils or markers for our Science models and drawings.

In our science class, we have started exploring the Thermal Energy unit, focusing on the question: What keeps different cups or containers from warming up or cooling down? Students are investigating various cup features, beginning with the lid, to understand how they impact temperature changes. They will soon explore how matter can exit the cup through evaporation. However, they’ve discovered that even in a completely closed system, the liquid inside the cup still changes temperature. This leads to our next investigation into how energy is transferred into the drink. Through hands-on experiments and simulations, students are learning about two main ways energy enters the drink: by absorbing light and through thermal energy from the surrounding air.

Answer to Riddle Above: Temperature!

We wrapped up our study of South & Central Asia by answering our Unit 1 Essential Question: How did geography, beliefs, and leaders influence societies in South and Central Asia? Students worked collaboratively in table groups to connect key concepts from the unit’s lessons, and then used their understanding to write well-structured paragraphs responding to the essential question.

We are now diving into Unit 2: East Asia! In this unit, we’ll explore countries such as China, Japan, Mongolia, and the Koreas. Students will analyze and ask questions about a variety of sources to discover how geography, belief systems, and governing styles have shaped societies across the region.

Stay tuned—this is going to be a fun and engaging unit!

Reminders: Please check PowerSchool regularly for missing assignments, and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Over the course of the next several weeks, students will be exploring how human beings learn from love and loss. This unit will allow for students to engage in both formal and informal discourse. Most recently, students read a profile of world class gymnast Simone Biles. The piece details not only how incredible of an athlete she became, but the sacrifices she made and adversity she faced on that journey. This unit will include several more texts that delve deeper into the idea of what we do for the ones we love in the face of life’s many challenges.

Reminders

-Check PowerSchool regularly and always feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

-Pens/pencils and a notebook and/or folder should be coming to class each day.

-Contact: e.mansfield@schoolsofwestfield.org

In math we are working on our unit on operations with integers. This unit includes:

3-1 Adding Integers

3-2 Subtracting Integers

3-3 Multiplying Integers

3-4 Dividing Integers

3-5 Applying Integer Operations

Unit 4 will be about operations with rational numbers. We are continuing to review our basic math facts and problem solving skills. Students work online in Khan Academy, First in Math, and Prodigy. Khan Academy is free and an excellent resource for homework help.

In ELA, we are reviewing all the skills from unit 1 about conflicts and themes. Students are preparing to write their own narratives about a central conflict to summarize their learning from this unit. Students also work online in iReady and Prodigy.

Reminder- students should have their own wired headphones/earbuds and a calculator.

Contact:

Talking Points

or

Peyton.obrien@schoolsofwestfield.org

During the month of November, students reviewed figurative language, focusing on identifying similes, metaphors, personification, and imagery in poetry and everyday writing. We applied these skills while reading and analyzing the poem “Ode to Thanks,” exploring how the poet uses descriptive language to express gratitude. Students also reflected on the important people in their own lives—those who make them feel safe, offer support, and help them develop problem-solving skills.

Upcoming Dates