Team Berlin Week 36 Update
May 9, 2025
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
DC CAPE testing is doneđź‘Ź! In science this past week, students worked in groups to map natural disasters and hazards and to come up with a weather forecast for Omaha, NE using their knowledge of fronts and weather maps.
Next week we’ll spend time reviewing for our Weather and Water summative which will be on Wednesday, May 14th. After the summative is complete, students will begin their Human Impacts unit and will learn about how human emissions of greenhouse gases are causing global temperatures to increase.
Blookets for the Weather & Water summative are on Canvas under the Weather & Water modules! All students need to complete at least one Blooket with 80% accuracy or higher before the test on Wednesday. Please use the links below on any device with internet:
Weather + Water: Tower Defense Mode
https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=6818d9b5a35954fffb84e966
Weather + Water: Monster Brawl Mode
https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=6818d9eb8b7ccbe9d238a363
Weather + Water: Cafe Mode
https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=6818da2aa12cee5300204cd4
Weather + Water: Factory Mode
https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=6818da4fac51f156ce92e0fa
Next week’s Root words for Roots quiz 4.5 are:
syn, sym = same, with (Greek) Think: synthetic, synonym, symmetry
*ortho = straight (Greek) Think: orthopedic, orthodox
*-dont, -dent = tooth, teeth (Greek/Latin) Think: orthodontist, dentist
logue = speech (Greek) Think: monologue, dialogue
*-osis = action, process (Greek) Think: osteoporosis, hypnosis
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week, students submitted and presented their “Statistics Project.” This week students will work on probability and identifying and analyzing various angle types. Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to work on and retake recently taken assignments/projects 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.
Math 7
This week, students submitted and presented their “Statistics Project.”. This week students will compute positive and negative numbers and in preparation for a Formative Assessment (Friday). Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to work on and retake recently taken assignments/projects 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
Thank you,
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
Whoo hoo, now that we are done with CAPE testing (make-up tests aside) we can move on to our final unit: The Hero's Journey. In class we will be reading the very short Beowulf: A New Telling. We have plenty of class copies. If students would like to annotate the text they should bring a copy of their own. If you, like me, somehow did not read Beowulf in school or on your own, you can find a quick summary here. To be clear, this is not the Old English version but a concise and much more comprehensible version (and only 100 tiny pages!)
Because this book is so short and to hopefully inspire some summer reading, students will also be in 2-3 person reading groups, reading a Hero's Journey book of their choosing. This reading will primarily happen at home. Each Friday will be a book group meeting day. Please see your child's homework to make sure they are keeping up with the reading.
Assuming there are not major schedule changes, you can find what all of this will look like for the next two weeks in the picture below.
Congrats to Lucy for finishing the 40 Book Challenge!
THANK YOU to all those who were able to donate a few books to ensure that all students have a copy of a hero's journey book of their choosing. I truly appreciate your support (as does my wallet).
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This week in Geography students completed their Unit 7 Summative of looking at Global Citizens of the Americas through Portraiture. Students turned in both their portrait and letter in class on Thursday. I will scan these portraits and letters and compile them in one presentation and share the link in the newsletter in the coming weeks. The letters and portraits have been so impressive and are truly awesome. I’m eager to share them with you. The students should be very proud of their work. Students who have a WS in Aspen for one or either of these parts, must submit their work.
On Thursday students were introduced to our Museum Project. To celebrate our Embassy Adoption Program, and to teach research, students across the 6th grade will put together a cultural museum exhibit based on the name of their team. It will not be just about the city, but rather the entire country. So, we, as Team Berlin, will create a museum of culture about Germany. Students were given a packet they will use for this entire process on Thursday in class. Now that testing is over, students will be able to use their devices in class and have research time built in. The first deadline is for students to select their topic and their presentation style on Monday. Students have been shown many different examples from the past and also given a brainstormed list to consider.
Also, upcoming for our Embassy Adoption is the Mini UN on Friday, May 30 at the Ronald Reagan Building. All students are invited to present to their class period to be their class representative at the Mini UN. I am only allowed to take six students, so each class will chose their representative for the Mini UN and the others will then be in a wild card draw. Students were given a template to write their speech and will give them to the class on Monday. Students will have to meet with me three times during their lunch and recess to prep for this special opportunity. Participation is completely OPTIONAL but open to ALL Team Berlin students.
Next week in Geography students will work on research in class, taking notes for our project and building content knowledge on their selected topic.
Students who are still working on learning their US States will continue to meet with me during recess to retake their quiz, with the goal of passing.
If students are interested in a Team Berlin T-shirt—please see the group order form here: https://www.customink.com/g/mxy0-00cw-wf3w If we do not receive the minimum order, then the order will not be placed and no cards will be charged. This is optional for those that are interested!
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
Deal Gala Returns!
Ta-da! The Alice Deal Community Association is happy to announce the return of Deal Gala: an evening of community, celebration and support!
- When: Saturday, May 17, 2025
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Attire: Creative Black Tie: a jacket or dress of your personal style, and comfortable shoes for dancing!
- For more details: https://e.givesmart.com/events/I9q/
Beetlejuice: The Musical!
Say it three times… and he might just appear! The Alice Deal Theatre team proudly presents Beetlejuice Jr., a hilariously spooky musical that’s bursting with energy, laughs, and show-stopping numbers. Come support our amazing student cast and crew as they bring the world of Beetlejuice to life! Performances will be held on May 29, 30 and 31. Don’t miss this hauntingly fun night at the theater!
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:
https://secure.smore.com/n/h8bkc
Additionally, please be aware that the library will be sending out a reminder email for overdue books. Students should speak with Mr. Reichlen directly if they cannot locate a loaned item. There is no fine for lost materials. Families should feel free to reply to email notice if they have any questions. Mr. Reichlen will always respond.
Thanks,
Stephen Reichlen
Library Media Specialist
Deal MS – DC Public Schools
