Cluster 2 News
January 6, 2023
Cluster 2 News!
Hello Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
Happy New Year!
- Please remember to send your child with a reusable water bottle every day to curtail the frequent trips to the water fountain.
- January 13: PD Day - No School for Students
January 16: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
English
Happy New Year from the 6th grade ELA team! We are doing a deep dive into research this month as we begin our Reseach Based Informational Writing Unit. Students are currently developing note taking skills (we have covered Cornell notes and mind/concept mapping) and are applying those skills to informational texts about activism. When we are done with a broad overview of activism and teens who have made a difference in the world, students will choose a topic (suggestions include bullying, animal rights, child labor, educational rights, and the environment) to research, with the end product of an ebook. Ask your child what they are learning and ways that they might be an activist in our community!
Social Studies
This week in social studies we started our study of Mesopotamia, the world’s first civilization in the Fertile Crescent. Students investigated new vocabulary words in preparation for a quiz on Tuesday 1/10. Next week, students will become the geography of Mesopotamia as we delve into why it was so smart to settle there. We will also read about several Sumerian achievements and inventions that impact our lives today.
Math
Science
Sixth grade scientists have been busy mastering the use of a triple beam balance to measure the mass of objects. The unit will culminate in an Egg Drop Project after the break. Students will use the engineering design process as well as their creativity to make a container to prevent a raw egg from breaking when dropped from the balcony in the main foyer of the school. The twist is that the container and egg must have a mass under 150 grams. Don’t worry, the teacher will provide the eggs! It is sure to be a messy eggsperiment, so any donations of paper towels and wipes would be greatly appreciated! We will bring in the new year by cellebrating cells. Have a wonderful winter break!
ELA with Ms. Murphy
In Language Live this week, we discussed the definition of antonyms, differentiating between singular and plural nouns and possessive nouns. Students practiced these skills by completing written work in their Language Live Student Journals. Students also learned how to use a reading strategy to support comprehension of characters, settings and events within our class text that we are reading, supporting recall and sequencing of story events. This strategy will be utilized further when students are asked to answer text relevant questions with evidence.
