Middle School
England brings FAME 2012 to a close
FAME 2012 ended today with the England group. What a diverse set of offerings.....puppet shows, sword fighting, dancing, English accents, King John. This group brought it all! It was the perfect ending to FAME 2012. Many thanks to Aniko and Bindu for the stellar photography and video. Enjoy the pics, and see you next year.
The Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam--FAME continues
The Rise of Islam and the Byzantine Empire were the topics during today's FAME presentations. Justinian and Theodora were there, crusdaders fought, iconoclasts debated, and the rise of Islam brought the marvelous inventions from India and the Middle East to Spain and Northern Europe. Again, many thanks to the parents who took the time to photograph, espcially Jason Stevens and Ruth Berkowitz.
FAME 2012 continues with Japan
Japan continued FAME 2012 this afternoon. Learning about clan warfare, bushido, the four-tier system, and the Mongol invasions were intertwined with original moving tales about Samurai honor and a village that needed to perfect the tea ceremony. Many thanks to all the parents who photographed the event! Enjoy the pictures!
FAME 2012 begins with China
FAME 2012 kicked off with a terrific China presentation complete with Civil Service tests, authentic games, and, of course, lots of food! Thanks to all who took pictures! Special thanks to Rob and Dorothy. Just click on an image to zoom in on it and download instructions.
Japan Pics Part 3
Even more Japan pics!!!!
Japan Pics Part 2
More Japan pics!
Introductory Physical Science
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font-family:"Times NewIntroductory Physical Science
8th Grade year
Volume and Mass
We will explore the relationships between volume and mass. Specifically, their role in distinguishing between forms of matter. The skills we will learn and practice are: calibrating a balance, determining the sensitivity of a balance, and the shortcomings of using volume as a measure of matter.
Mass Changes in Closed Systems
Previously we determined that mass was one of the best ways to compare matter. This unit focuses on mass changes in closed systems. Through this unit we discover our first law of nature, the conservation of mass. The skills we will learn and practice are: massing, experimental procedure, and statistical analysis of class data.
Characteristic Properties
What are the properties of matter that help us distinguish between objects and substances? We will focus our attention on determining properties that can be used to compare and contrast substances. We will learn and practice: freezing point determination, boiling point determination, density determinations of solids, liquids and gases. Lastly, we will use the above skills for qualitative analysis of unknown substances.
Solubility
What is solubility? What physical factors affect the solubility of substances? We will learn how to use solubility to differentiate and identify substances.
Separation of Mixtures
Using all of skills, theory and techniques learned throughout the year we will separate a mixture of numerous solids, liquids and gases. Also known as SLUDGE!
Compounds and Elements
The years work should lead us to the essential question: Why do different substances have different properties? What is the underlying cause for the behavior of substances? Hopefully, after building a body of knowledge through hands on experimentation, we will come to formulate and accept the atomic theory of matter.
More China Pics!
China presents Museum Day
More India Pics
Egypt Presented First
7th Scoop--Winter Break Approaches?
This edition of the Seventh Grade Scoop includes events up to Winter Break. The Seventh Grade Scoop is intended, along with the Weekly Peek, to keep you up to date with what is going on both in classes and beyond. As always, feel free to contact any of us with any questions and concerns. From our perspective, the year is off to a fabulous start. We trust you are getting similar feedback from your children.
On a glorious fall afternoon, the class traveled downtown to visit the Portland Chinese Garden and Mercy Corps. The children were wonderfully attentive, creative, and curious. We hope the children enjoyed receiving their postcards from the Chinese Garden and we hope you enjoyed them, too. There were a few kids who didn't quite get to the postcard stage, but spent extra time on the pencil drawings. The Chinese Garden may use some of our artwork on their website. The discussions at Mercy Corps were wonderful and focused. Again, many thanks to the legion of parents who accompanied us. It was truly a group effort!
Middle School report writing will occur on November 22-23. Reports will be mailed home around the beginning of December after C&C teacher proofing. Other events just before Winter Break include a drama production on Thursday, December 16th, and the ERIC Food Festival on Friday, December 17th. Wow! The year is flying!!
Observing fall at the Chinese Garden
Serious sketching
Contemplating leak windows
Many students experienced the Chinese Garden sans shoes!
Français
The seventh grade is moving along beautifully! We just finished a Unit which dealt with the descriptions of personal possessions: this means the students must have memorized the gender of objects and then apply the correct agreement (gender and number) to the article and the adjectives, as well as place the latter in the various correct positions. It's a tricky concept but one that they have shown they have mastered quite well. I'm very proud of them.
They are now working on a short "skit" written by a famous French poet, Jacques Prévert. We are about to start learning the names of several places one can go to along with 2 irregular verbs. And finally, we will also soon start reading a chapter book that will initiate the students to summarize chapters in writing and orally, from memory, thus becoming more sophisticated in their expression, learning more vocabulary as well as more complex grammatical structures through the use of narrative as opposed to the dryer grammatical way. Vivement le français!