Students in Ms. Degnan's and Ms. Ruth's 6th grade history class have been fully immersed in their study of Ancient Egypt! Before February break, students had the chance to engage in a hands-on learning experience by mummifying oranges. Each student carefully followed the mummification process—removing the insides, drying, and wrapping their "mummies" in cloth. The mummies are now safely stored in their decorated sarcophagi, awaiting the exciting moment when they will be unwrapped in a month’s time.
Additionally, students traveled to the Museum of Fine Arts to tour the Ancient Egyptian exhibits. There, they had the opportunity to observe the second largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world, providing a fascinating glimpse into this ancient civilization. The field trip brought their classroom lessons to life and offered a deeper understanding of the rich history of Ancient Egypt.
Sixth grade students are off to a great start with this unit and are eager to continue their exploration of Ancient Egypt in the coming weeks!
As part of their Communication Systems unit of study, students practiced being information encoders, senders, receivers, and decoders. The task involved identifying the coordinates of lost and injured hikers on a map, converting those locations to binary code (1's and 0's), then communicating the coordinates to a partner through flashlight signals (A quick on/off for 0's and leaving the light on for 3 seconds for 1's). Students had a great time saving their lost and injured hikers.
Seventh grade students wrote letters to authors in January, and some students are starting to hear back. Cece received a letter from Audrey Penn, author of The Kissing Hand; Bentley received a letter from Dav Pilkey, author of the Dogman series; and Porter received a letter from JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series! Authentic audiences and real-world interactions are invaluable in helping students make connections to the importance of reading and writing.
Grade seven's DEAR #2 unit, Minds Matter, explored the theme that each learner has a unique mind and individual needs. Each book offered diverse representations of different types of learners and what helps them thrive. Students engaged in book group discussions before enjoying their second grade-level brunch.
Many thanks to our book brunch parent helpers: Shoshy Starr, Mandy Beausoleil, Meghan Nichols, Kate Sundquist, and Erin Richardson
Book groups included:
El Deafo
Not If I See You First
We Beat the Street
Buzzing
The Night Diary
Unstoppable
Before the Ever After
Benefits of Being an Octopus
Ben Bee
Manchester-Essex Regional Middle School
Email: mainoj@mersd.org
Website: www.mersd.org
Location: 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, USA
Phone: 978-526-2022
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterEssexRegional/