7th Grade MP3 Campus
Monthly Progress
Monthly Progress is due on the 1st
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.
Math
Topics: Statistics
Activities: This month, we looked at probability and how one could gauge the probability of an event or compound event occurring in order to form an educated prediction for a future outcome. We ended the month with playing games, using probability to help make the best decisions.
Teacher Tip or Reflection Questions:
Teacher Info: Mrs. Alexander, halexander@meridian.wednet.edu
Language Arts
Topics: Argumentative Writing, Limerick Poetry, Claim-Evidence-Commentary Paragraphs
Activities: I am pleased to report that we have completed our argumentative writing unit. Students planned, wrote and edited three essays around the topics of year-round schooling, social media and multivitamins. It was so encouraging to see their progress and watch their confidence grow. On St. Patrick’s Day we learned how to write Limericks - first as table groups and then on our own. This type of poetry is best read aloud so it was fun to share the final products with the class and they now adorn our poetry wall. Research writing will be our next big writing unit so we are practicing paragraphs that focus on using claim, evidence, and commentary. The kids took to it quickly and after some practice, their paragraphs were stellar.
Teacher Tip: We have kicked off our third and final book project of the year. Students will select and read a book that is new to them, create a project that represents the book, and present it to the class on Wednesday, May 28.
Teacher info: Rachel Oscarson, roscarson@meridian.wednet.edu
Robotics, Engineering and Design
Topics: VEX Robotics
Activities: This month we continued our adventures with VEX Robotics! We started learning to code with the VEX IQ software and learned how to add different Devices to our Robot Brain and how to code them into our Programs. We have been working on preparing for a Tug of War competition with our bots. We built a base bot, learned how to drive it with the controller, and with the program software. We learned about the engineering notebooks, how to work in a robotics team successfully and how gear ratios can affect towing capacity, and tested several different gear ratios. We are in the process of adding mass to our basebots and studying how varying the center of mass affects tow power. The Monday we get back from Spring Break, we will finally compete for our final Tug of War competition.
Teacher Tip: If possible, bake recipes from scratch with your children. Baking requires more precision than cooking and the kids can use practice following step by step directions with precision! Also, tasty food makes an excellent built in reward for their hard work!
Teacher Info: Ami Clayton, Substitute Teacher, 360-318-2508 M/W
Social Studies
Topics: Building arguments, Scripted trial, carefully weighing evidence, burden of proof.
Activities: We covered so much in Mock Trials this month that I had to go back and double check my notes! Much of our work was built around crafting logical legal arguments. To help guide us through this, we started with an iCivics activity called Argument Wars.This game allowed students to try and build well-constructed legal arguments around famous Supreme Court cases. Students chose a case and read about the arguments presented from each side. Next, they were asked to evaluate the available arguments and assess whether the reasoning is sound and relevant. If they are able to choose persuasive arguments, they win the game.
Next, we began working on a multi day activity that again asked students to evaluate the arguments made in a real case. This time, we learned about a copyright infringement trial based on a real case in which the producers of James Bond films (MGM) sued Honda for creating an advertisement that had the look and the vibe of a James Bond movie. Students carefully analyzed a variety of "fair use" standards that apply to copyright law and read through a script that simulated the real arguments and process followed in a court trial. Students were super thoughtful as they weighed the evidence to determine whether or not Honda had violated copyright law and arrived at a verdict of "not guilty." By participating in a scripted trial reading, students were able identify the major components and participants in a trial.
As we got closer to starting the work on our trial, students took some time to learn about the complex rules that must be followed as attorneys craft direct and cross examinations. We learned how questions should be asked and what type of information witnesses should be expected to contribute. In general, a witness can share what they saw or heard but they should not be asked to share their opinions in court.
We discussed what is meant by the burden of proof and idea that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Students learned that the standard for guilt in a criminal case is much higher than a civil case. Finally, with all these factors in mind, students were given the opportunity to choose a case. I provided them with three cases to consider and they landed on the case of Walker vs Brewster.
The facts of this civil case are centered on negligent supervision of a minor and proper storage of a firearm. Students have already looked closely at applicable laws and case law that will help inform them as they build their compelling case theories.
Teacher Tip: See if your student can explain the difference between the "preponderance of evidence" and "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Teacher Info: Don't hesitate to contact me if you have a question.
Jeff Caraco, jcaraco@meridian.wednet.edu
Science
Topics: Our learning objectives this month were the following: a substance is a form of matter with a unique composition and distinct properties, substances can be represented with common names, chemical names, and chemical formulas, and a chemical reaction occurs when substances (reactants) interact to form new substances (products). Students also began balancing chemical equations.
Activities: We conducted an investigation to try and identify the two substances that were mixed together in a “mystery mixture.” Students used observation and investigation to try and determine which two substances could be a part of the mystery mixture when given 9 pure substances to examine (two of which were part of the mystery mixture). Students compared the substances and looked for visual differences. They also mixed the substances to compare differences in chemical reactions. Students also compared the chemical formulas of each substance to look for patterns and similarities.
Teacher Info: Mrs DeWaard, hdewaard@meridian.wednet.edu