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6th Grade
Language Arts-Students will have an in-class composition on the novel Midnight Magic. They received the instructions today. I encourage them to prepare notes for this paper in advance. They may use these notes in class. We will also conduct an author study of Gary Paulsen. If students have books by Paulsen at home, I would like for them to bring them.
Social Studies- Students will begin the study of China. China is organized into five major phases, or lis. Students will spend about one week on activities in each li, which focuses on a major aspect of Chinese history, culture, and geography. In these phases, students join one of five clans called a hsing, each representing one of the cardinal directions and a unique position in the universe - all symbolically important to Chinese philosophy.
Science- Students will continue the study of minerals. Students will learn how minerals are used and the difference between metals, non-metals, ores and gemstones. Next, students will learn how rocks are classified as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Students will learn about the rock cycle. Students will begin thinking about a project for the Science Fair.
Math- Students will resume their work in Unit 5. They will learn about the Celsius scale, time zones and elapsed time, as well as customary units of length, capacity, and weigth. All homework from Unit 4 is due Friday 1/8.
Religion-We will begin to study the great prophet Moses. Parents will receive a letter about this new unit in this Monday Envelope.
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7th Grade
Language Arts-Students will be finishing their study guides for The Hobbit this week. They will also create a Middle Earth Newpaper.
Social Studies- This week students will wrap up the study of Africa. Next we move on to Japan, the land of the rising sun. Students will explain how Japan was influenced by its geography, students will describe the effect of the Shinto religion on Japan and students will evaluate the influence of Chinese culture on Japan.
Science-Students will wrap up the study of Chapter 6 on Heredity and move on to discussing what genes look like in Chapter 7. Students will describe the basic structure of the DNA molecule and explain how DNA molecules can be copied. Students will begin thinking about a project for the Science Fair.
Math-Students will begin Unit 5, Applications of Percent. They will learn to solve for the percentage, the base, and the percent increase or decrease. All homework from Unit 4 is due Friday, 1/8.
Religion- Students will complete Chapter 19 The Sacrament of Confirmation. Students will explain Christ's promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and understand what happens at confirmation. Students will also study the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Chapter 20. Students will explain and appreciate the indwelling presence of God.
Spanish- Students will recite the Ave Maria orally in class this week for their quiz. Next week they will be required to write the prayer in Spanish.
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8th Grade
Language Arts-Students will read and study The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. They will examine O. Henry's writing style and practice their own. They will continue working with nouns as subjects, complements, and objects. There is regular vocabulary work this week.
Social Studies- Students will finish Ch 5 this week on The Creation of a Party System. They will begin Ch 6, The Maturing Republic, where they will identify the republican ideals of early American Society.
Science- Students will compare exothermic and endothermic reactions, explain activation energy and interpret an energy diagram. Students will describe the factors that affect the rate of a reaction. The Science Fair will begin next week. Projects are optional for 8th grade. Students will complete a group project for the Science Fair.
Math- Students will finish Ch 5 this week. They will end by studying scatter plots and lines of fit.
Religion-Students will begin Ch 6, The Visible Hierarchal Church. Students will be able to identify the role of the bishops in their dioceses, and pastors in their parishes.
Spanish- Students will recite the Ave Maria orally in class this week for their quiz. Next week they will be required to write the prayer in Spanish.
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General Notes:
We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family. We also want to welcome Kameron Hudock back to the 6th grade. Kameron has spent the first part of this year with his grandfather in Thailand. We can't wait to hear his stories!!
Science Fair Projects- We will begin the Science Fair next week. All information will come home in next weeks Monday envelope. But, it is never too soon to start thinking about project ideas.
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