6th Grade Newsletter

🗄️ Locker Clean-Out Reminder

We kicked off the locker organization process last week with a "soft" clean-out, and students did a great job clearing out papers and wrappers.

For those students who still have a significant amount of materials remaining in their lockers, including extra shoes, jackets, and books, we are asking for your help. Please remind your student to bring an extra bag to school next week to bring home these bulkier items and complete the clean-out process.

Nichols and the Student Voice Committee are hosting a Holiday Food Drive from November 10–17.

Sixth graders can drop off non-perishable food donations in the 6th-grade collection box, located just outside the Nichols Library.

Here is a list of donations. The grade that collects the most donations will win a small prize!

Items will be sorted by SVC members and given to Nichols families. Email Clarissa Lau (lauc@district65.net) if you need food donations.

Thank you for helping support families in our community this holiday season!

Nov 14 - Last day of trimester 1

Nov 24-28 – Fall Break – No School

This week students read an excerpt from Sharon Creech's book "Walk Two Moons."

Read the excerpt "here"

On a trip with her grandparents, Salamanca, or Sal, tells them the story of her best friend, Phoebe Winterbottom. Sal met Phoebe when she and her father left their farm in Kentucky and moved to Ohio, where Margaret Cadaver lives. Sal's father befriended Margaret after her mother disappeared. Phoebe is certain that Mrs. Cadaver, who lives next door to her family, is somehow sinister, and is responsible for the strange notes that appear on her family's doorstep. They wind up having a magical effect on the grief that surrounds Phoebe’s mother, and help Sal understand her own identity. A beloved classic, this novel by Sharon Creech (b. 1945) has won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal.

Students were assigned a creative writing task: They must rewrite the excerpt from Walk Two Moons by changing the narrator from Sal to either Phoebe, Prudence, or Mrs. Winterbottom. We look forward to reading their adjusted narratives and seeing how they interpret the story from a new perspective.

Looking Ahead: Next Week in ELA:

Next week, students will conclude their work on the point-of-view narrative and begin a deep dive into the concept of literary theme.

📚 Library Book Reminder - This week, students who have books checked out from the Nichols Library were given reminder slips. Please check in with your student to help them locate and return any library books.

📖 A Note on Returning Books - For books borrowed from our classroom libraries, we appreciate your student's care in reading them. We kindly request that once a book is finished, it finds its way back to our shelves so the next eager reader can enjoy it.

Your partnership in keeping our libraries organized is greatly appreciated!

📐 Math & Unit Rates

This week in math, students continued their work with unit rates. They explored practical applications, such as:

• Comparing prices and speeds to find the best value or performance.

• Using unit rates to efficiently complete tables of equivalent ratios.

The week concluded with the administration of their mid-unit assessment.

Unit 3 Guide

Looking Ahead: Next Week in Math:

Next week, students will begin to explore how they can use ratio reasoning to determine unknown parts, wholes, and percentages.

Our Character Strong lesson this week focused on practical strategies for managing stress and anxiety around test taking. Key strategies discussed included:

• Consistent practice and preparation.

• Building confidence by starting with the questions they feel most confident about.

• Utilizing process of elimination for multiple-choice items.

This week's Social Studies focus was on Mesopotamia, with students specifically exploring the critical role that geography played in shaping its culture, economy, and societal structure.

Looking Ahead: Next Week in Social Studies:

As our Mesopotamia unit concludes, students will focus on two key areas: a detailed study of daily life in the ancient civilization, and a comprehensive review using the GRAPES analysis framework. This final focus ensures students understand how the major components of Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure interconnected to define Mesopotamian society.

In Mr. Sommer’s room, students did a great job dissecting cow eyes. Students worked on finishing a slideshow recapping their steps and the parts of the eye…what a great visual to show family before Thanksgiving dinner! 🙂

Looking Ahead; Next Week in Mr. Sommer's Class:

🔬 Science and Final Assessment

This week, students will conclude the first Open SciEd unit (Unit 6.1) with their final assessment focusing on the question: "Why do we see things sometimes but not others?"

To close out the week, Ms. D will be visiting the classroom to facilitate the required Erin's Law lesson. This instruction is mandated by the State of Illinois and covers important topics concerning student safety.

As Mr. Sommer stated in an email from 11/13, he will be on medical leave from December 4th through January 5th. Students will have a substitute during this time but will progress through both the social studies and science curriculum.

In all science classes, Ms. Dortzbach, our 6th grade counsellor, will be teaching a state required lesson on Erin’s Law.

The lesson will be taught in Mr. Sommer’s room the week before Thanksgiving Break and in Ms. Stone’s room the week after Thanksgiving Break.

Attached is a letter from District 65 with more information.

Erin’s Law Letter (English & Spanish)

🏈 In Mr. Roberts' class this week, the Flag Football unit concluded with students taking their end-of-unit quiz. Students also engaged in fitness games and learned valuable, new concepts focused on structuring effective personal workouts for future use.

Looking Ahead: Next Week in P.E.:

Next week, Mr. Roberts' classes will continue to play fitness games to facilitate our discussions regarding heart rate and cardiovascular health.