Math:
The 7th graders completed their unit on volume this week with a review and check-in. On Wednesday, they kicked off their probability unit with a game of Deal or No Deal. On Thursday, they had a lesson on simple probability and complements. The 8th-grade class practiced finding the volume of cylinders and cones with a scavenger hunt on Monday. They had a lesson on finding the volume of spheres on Tuesday. They worked as a class to play BINGO to practice finding the volume of spheres on Wednesday. Then, finally, on Thursday, they started their unit review. The Algebra class started a mini-project to create a stained glass window by graphing lines and parabolas. After that, they had a lesson on finding the roots of a quadratic by graphing and finding the discriminant.
Humanities
What a PLAYful week in Humanities this week! Students continued to perform the stage drama The Diary of Anne Frank, with the emotional conclusion coming at the end of the week. Students really sank their teeth into their roles, and many were really affected by the scenes that played out as the story of the Franks and the Van Daans proceeded from hiding to concentration camps. A great debrief about the event was held afterward.
Many were inspired towards the stage after a visit from Ruby Hardin, sister of Delta students Daisy, who came to talk with the Epsilons about the fine arts program and life at McCallum High.
Theme
Welcome to the Earth!
For Theme students focused their efforts on preparing presentations about the Earth’s Motions and Forces. Each team chose their topics with the requirements of a 5-minute presentation, a 3D model, and follow-up questions for students to gauge their comprehension of each topic. Students worked diligently on some very complex models of topics ranging from eclipses, tides, and plate tectonics.
On Thursday, student groups demonstrated their topics and models for the class.The presentations were informative and engaging; each group was able to communicate their content and then check-in on the audience comprehension using their own generated questions. The models were out of this world.
Students also demonstrated the concepts behind two of Newton’s Laws of Motion. First, they used toy cars and crash tests to measure the rate of acceleration when force is applied. Also, students were given scenarios to determine the amount of movement based on mass and force in applying the formula F + ma. These tests helped students understand astronomical ideas of inertia and gravity. testing Newton’s Second Law of Motion: F = ma. They will apply this information next week as we study the Moon.
It was teaching time for the Epsilon class this week as groups were given the task of creating a presentation on selected topics in Force and Motion on the Earth. From tides to eclipses, students demonstrated their concepts with interesting and informative discussions. The models were inventive, using only the materials in the classroom.
Drama…Drama…Drama! Epsilon students finished aread through on the Diary of Anne Frank
Ruby Hardin, sister of Delta student Daisy, give students insights about high school life during a visit to the class this week.
Students apply the laws of motion in different activities while preparing their teaching presentations about the force on the Earth.
