South Central Middle School
We Have The Right Mental Attitude
The Buzzzz from the 6th Grade 🐝
ELA with Mrs. Bute- In sixth grade ELA, students recently completed our fifth unit, “Our Changing Oceans.” We read various nonfiction passages that focused on three issues affecting our oceans including: sea level rise, plastic pollution and overfishing. Students dove deep into the underwater world and many were surprised to discover that these three issues have been a direct result of human actions. To close the unit, we wrote a multi-paragraph essay focusing on these problems our oceans face and possible solutions. I was thoroughly impressed by the sixth graders' essays!
In unit six, we focused on themes and the universal message we can take away from songs, fictional stories and poems. We read various passages and completed a “Themes in our favorite Songs” project where students chose a song and had to dig-deep into the lyrics to discover a universal message (theme) they could take away from the song. I really enjoyed hearing their choices and some of the impromptu performances!
Currently, we are in unit seven and reviewing key ELA skills for the upcoming Ohio State Tests that are scheduled to be taken on Thursday, April 9th and Friday, April 10th. If your child is going to be going on an extended spring break, please let Mrs. Bute know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. Pictured below are students conducting experiments on the use of fidget spinners in the classroom. After our experiments, we read passages detailing claims that fidget spinners are helpful as well as claims that they are a distraction. Finally, students wrote argumentative essays detailing their sides of the argument.
Math with Mrs. Blankenship - March has been a busy and exciting month in 6th grade math!
We are wrapping up our unit on ratios and proportions, and students have been doing a great job applying these concepts to real-life situations. One highlight was our “Day in the Life” project, where students analyzed how they spend their time over a 24-hour day. They broke their day into parts and explored the ratios of time spent on activities like sleeping, school, sports, and screen time. It was a fun and meaningful way to connect math to their everyday lives!
As we head into April, we will begin our next unit on expressions and equations. Students will explore how to write, simplify, and solve equations through engaging and interactive activities designed to build confidence and understanding.
We have also started preparing for upcoming state testing on May 5th and 6th. Throughout the next several weeks, we will continue reviewing key concepts, practicing problem-solving strategies, and building test-taking confidence.
How you can help at home:
Encourage your student to practice math facts and review notes
Ask them to explain what they are learning (teaching someone else is powerful!)
Help them stay organized and prepared for class
Thank you for your continued support—we are proud of the hard work these students are putting in every day!
Social Studies with Mrs. White - In sixth-grade social studies, we are wrapping up our unit on Ancient Civilizations. Students have explored ancient China, India, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, focusing on the six key characteristics that defined these societies: economic systems, government, social structure, technology, agriculture, and religion. Egypt, in particular, is always a favorite among the students! Looking ahead to April, we will conclude our study of these civilizations by examining their lasting impact on our modern world, specifically within the Eastern Hemisphere. We will also study the five major world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism from an academic perspective. Toward the end of the month, we will begin reviewing the year's concepts to prepare for the Social Studies Pro-Core test.
Science with Mrs. White - In science, we’ve been diving deep into the world of cells! Students have mastered cell theory and the differences between plant and animal cells, including how various organelles function to keep a cell alive. Currently, we are learning about specialized human cells, such as skin, nerve, and muscle cells. Within this unit, students are able to use their creative skills through various drawing, labeling, and coloring activities that they enjoy so much. As we move into April, we will conclude our Physical Science unit, where students will explore kinetic and potential energy and learn how to graph the speed and direction of objects. This unit is always a hit, as students get to engage with computer simulations and physically act out the data they are graphing. We will finish the month by starting our review for the Science Pro-Core test.
In Other News - *Mark your calendars* The 6th Grade Field trip will be on Tuesday, May 26th. We will be visiting the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland and walking through the Titanic Exhibit! If you are interested in being a chaperone and have your background check complete, please reach out to Rachel Bute.
Enjoy! 🐞
