7th Grade MP3 Campus

School Data is open on the 1st for parent reviews. These are due by the 5th. We hope the cut and paste grade level newsletter will be helpful to supplement your remote learning plan reviews. Thank you for submitting in a timely manner and if you need help, please reach out to your SLPC.

Topics: Statistics

Activities: This month, we finished our unit on linear equations. Students finished looking at solving for a variable in an inequality and reading/writing inequalities on a number line. We then finished our unit with a game of jeopardy where students worked in groups to solve a variety of problems using strategies, like combining like terms, using order of operations, balancing equations to solve for variables in single or multiple-step problems, and balancing inequalities.

We also started our new unit on statistics. This year, we look at probability. So far, we have discussed and practiced basic theoretical probability and using it to determine whether one outcome is more likely or less likely to occur than another outcome. This data was then used to make predictions for certain outcomes and the chance it occurs in percentage, fraction, or decimal forms.

Teacher Tip or Reflection Questions: Have your student roll a die and predict what number it will land on to see if they average the 1 in 6 chance any number can appear. If they can guess the number better than 1 out of 6 times on average, it means they have great guessing skills.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Alexander, halexander@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Explanatory Writing, Ode Poetry

Activities: Explanatory writing is underway and students are doing a great job mastering the skills of a new writing genre. With a focus on including all of the essential elements (hook, thesis, claim, evidence, commentary, conclusion) we are carefully organizing a plan before we write and editing our work. We first practiced the process on a common topic and then students were given the opportunity to research a topic of their choice. In Mrs. Montgomery’s class, they learned how to find good sources and create a bibliography. Then they used those sources to craft their explanatory papers. Students are working hard and making excellent progress on their papers. We also spent one day writing Ode Poetry - the art of expressing your adoration for a seemingly mundane item. It is always a popular project as this type of poetry tends to be very funny!

Teacher Tip: Assignments get turned in on our Google Classroom. Be sure to have your students show you their completed work!

Teacher info: Rachel Oscarson, roscarson@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: 5 Regions of WA, Early Industries in WA, Tragedy at the Whitman Mission, The Treaty Period

Activities: We have gotten off to a strong start in WSH. Students have created a Google Doc that they use to record answers to each of the lesson reviews in the Washington Journey text. This doc will provide a detailed record of the most important people, events and ideas covered in the text. We have been working slowly through the ch. 1 lessons and students built a solid understanding of how Washington's geography has affected the history and culture of the people who call the place home. We created maps of the 5 regions of WA and students used symbols to represent industries and geographic features found throughout the state. We learned about the Native People in the region and compared coastal and plateau tribes. Using lessons from the textbook, we covered the early industries that drew people to WA, which were all based on the environment. Fur traders and missionaries were among the first white people to settle in the region and they were met with mixed reactions from the Native People. Fur traders managed to maintain a positive working relationship with the tribes until the market for fur collapsed. Missionaries had limited success with their mission work but their arrival, coupled with the belief in "Manifest Destiny," led to major changes in the PNW. The settlers brought diseases and new ideas about land ownership that often interfered with Native traditions. We used a terrific series of documentary clips to examine a flashpoint in the culture clash that was taking place, the tragic events surrounding the Whitman Mission. Using info from the video, the text and a reading passage, students were asked to record a series of short term causes and long term causes that led to the massacre at the mission. Examining cause and effect relationships is central to understanding history and in this case it helped us develop an understanding of the attitudes and beliefs that were common amongst early settlers and the Native People in the region.

As we move into ch. 2, students will build a deep understanding of the treaties that were signed with the Tribal People of WA and the mixed legacy of the treaty-making period. We examined the terms of the treaties that were signed by Governor Isaac Stevens and representatives from the various tribes in WA. Students read passages from the perspective of Native Leaders including Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce and Nisqually Chief Leschi. We discussed the false assumptions and broken promises that are associated with the treaties. Through this work, students will gain a sense for how the Native way of life was changed as a result of white settlement and build a more nuanced understanding of the people, events and ideas that make Washington unique.

Teacher Tip: Topics and work we do are shared in Google Classroom. Feel free to ask your student for a peek at what we have done so far. At the end of the semester, students will take a WSH final exam to earn an Educational Milestone so be sure to support them with work at home.

Teacher Info: Reach out if you have any questions.

Mr. Caraco, jcaraco@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: keyboarding, internet research, creating bibliographies using Google tools, Canva

Activities: We began this month by reviewing information from Common Sense Media about how to choose good internet sources. This discussed the importance of credibility and reliable sources using the CRAAP test. We looked at different website domains and the credibility of each. The students were given an opportunity to do their own internet research for essays they would be writing in Language Arts with Mrs. Oscarson. Each students was expected to find three good sources. Next we practiced creating bibliographies using the 'cite' function on the toolbars in Docs. This function automatically creates a APA or MLA bibliography entry.

Our next project is to create a poster in Canva, an app available to MSD students in grades 6-12. As this app is new to many students, we started with a quest to explore the different features. Posters will be due the first week of March.

All student lessons, review materials, assignments, and rubrics can be found in the Google Classroom. Please have your son or daughter show you this site.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Montgomery, rmontgomery@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Elements of Art: Color, Value, Texture, & Form; Principles of Design: Pattern, Balance, & Contrast; Techniques: Printmaking, clay, collage, & art critique; Artists: Alma Thomas, Jason Naylor, & Bisa Butler

Activities: Welcome to a new semester of art! We began by learning about Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have artwork included in the White House’s permanent collection. Students explored several of her vibrant paintings and worked collaboratively to create a mural that now brightens our classroom. Each week, we start with an art critique called “Masterpiece Monday.” Students looked at murals and sculptures by artist Jason Naylor. They discussed his themes of positivity and his use of bright colors set against black backgrounds. We used clay techniques and neon colors to create our own heart-art inspired by Naylor’s piece titled, Opn Heart. Our final art critique of the month was by textile artist Bisa Butler. Students watched videos about her work and her process of using photographs as inspiration for her “story quilts.” They looked carefully at her use of color, pattern, and design before beginning their own portrait artwork involving printmaking, contour tracing, acrylic painting, and layering. (This project is still a work in progress.) It has been a vibrant and joyful celebration of Black History Month in the art room!

Teacher Tip: Please mark your calendars! April 27th from 6:00-7:30 is the Meridian School District Art Show, and YOUR STUDENT’S WORK will be on display! I hope you can save the date!

Teacher Info: Mrs. Warnock, swarnock@meridian.wednet.edu