Team Berlin Update 32
April 4, 2025
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Hello scientists!
During our first week of Weather and Water, students learned about the states of matter and how energy transfer causes phase changes through a lab, a game, a reading, and more.
Next week we will continue learning about the water cycle and will also begin learning about how heat transfer and the uneven heating of Earth cause high and low pressure and wind! Students will explore an air parcel simulator and will complete some readings. We will also begin learning about how meteorologists predict and talk about weather. Next week computers will be taken away in preparation for DC Cape, so after our air parcel simulation, all work for the next several weeks will be conducted using paper and pencil.
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week students worked on comparing and converting positive and negative integers and fractions. This week students will review current concepts in preparation for RCT #6 as well as work on calculating the area of complex shapes. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home. Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to retake recently taken assessments during iRecess at their request.
Math 7
This week students worked on drawing and interpreting box plots and interquartile ranges (IQR). This week students will work on calculating the area of complex figures and analyzing angle relationships. Students will also take a Summative Assessment on Friday. will continue to be provided the opportunity to retake recently taken assessments during iRecess at their request. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home.
Please encourage students to utilize the “Parking Lot” in class to leave questions or requests (ie. retake requests) Notes and videos on current/previous/upcoming concepts as well as supportive platforms can be found in the virtual classroom (www.framevr.io/brownmath)
Any questions or concerning SMAC Program invitations should be sent (and will be forwarded) to DealSummerMath@k12.dc.gov
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
Students did so much WRITING this week. Two narratives done! We also finished reading Inside Out & Back Again. Next week, we will do some review of different literary devices including figurative language and theme. All students (as always) should have independent reading books on hand, especially as we are not reading a class novel at the moment.
Looking forward to May/June, I’d love to end the year with some book groups. We will be focusing on fantasy or science fiction that follows the “Hero’s Journey.” If you have any of the following titles at home and ready to be donated (or spot any in a little free library) we would appreciate as many copies as we can get our hands on! Thank you to Roza's family for the donations. :)
The Sisters Grimm, Michael Buckley
Keepers of the Lost Cities, Shannon Messenger
Aru Shah and the End of Time, Roshani Chokshi
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
Percy Jackson & The Lightening Thief, Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
The Wild Robot, Peter Brown
Land of Stories, Chris Colfer
The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau
Amari & the Night Brothers, B.B. Alston
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This week in Geography we started Unit 7: The Americas. To kick off our week we had our pre-visit lesson with the National Portrait Gallery to discuss portraiture and global citizenship. On Wednesday, students explored individuals in a Learning Lab and worked on their understanding of elements of portrayal as well as how people become global citizens (ie the actions they take and the many ways that can look!). Students wrapped up the term with their CEA Analysis, synthesizing their last 10 CEAs in our IB framework of our last three units. I continue to be impressed with their connections and writing in this process!!! At the very end of the week, we began to look at our physical and political features of the Americas with the 5 Themes of Geography and mapping activities. The CEA analysis, due on 4/4, is the last grade of Term 3 for Geography.
Next week, we will continue with our thematic maps and take our quiz on the Americas on Thursday. Links for students to study are in Canvas. On Wednesday, students will have another virtual visit by the National Portrait Gallery. On Friday we will watch a video on Mexico that correlates to our Americas studies. CEA #21 is due on Friday, 4/11. There is no work over spring break.
Last year I was asked by a parent for a list of books that her daughter might read if interested in other parts of the world. This summer I started, and over break I finished, a list of books. Students are welcome to use the list, but it isn’t required. Students who would like to can participate in our Geography Passport Reader Assignment and collect stamps for reach of the continents they read a book about. I’ve attached the list here, as well as the passport (which I will give a print out of if a student is interested). Happy reading! :) Geography and Young Adult Books.pdf
Please find Team Berlin photos of our students in action here: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1g5IRuBxGAvG9 It will be updated as we go along!
Team Berlin’s Playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XGJMmooyuna2fwFQ9pj9A?si=416e41ad228f4c11
German Club @ Deal
Would you like to learn German and find out more about German-speaking countries? The German Club meets every Thursday from 3:30 -4:30 pm in W103. Please contact igenzel123@gmail.com if your student is interested.
Library Corner
Learn about the great things happening this month at Deal's library. Check out great books and media, read about events at Deal and around the city, and stay connected with Deal's Library:
