Muskego Lakes 7th Grade Newsletter
November 2021
Important Information
Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November, 25 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)
Monday, November 29 - Friday, December 3 - NJHS Coats for Kids Coat Drive
Tuesday, November 30 and Wednesday, December 1 - iReady Reading Winter Testing
Tuesday, December 7 and Wednesday, December 8 - iReady Math WInter Testing
7th-Grade Team
Community Day - Spooktacular Event Fun!
Pre-Planned Student Absences
Please ask your child to pick up one of these forms from either the office or one of their teachers a few days before any pre-planned absence so the student and teacher can both be prepared with any school work that might be needed. Thanks for your help in making sure you child does not fall behind when they have a pre-planned absence!
Math
In Math 7 this month, we are finishing the Expressions unit. Students learned to identify variable terms and constants; combine like terms; add and subtract linear expressions; distribute terms; and factor expressions. Students are assessing for this chapter on Monday, November 22. Our next unit focuses on solving equations and inequalities which is a crucial building block for solving proportions.
In addition, students completed the first SOF of the year (7.NS.A.3 - Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations with rational numbers) and took the post test. Students will have an opportunity to retake the post test after completing reassessment work. The next SOF students will be working on after Thanksgiving break is 7.EE.A.1 - Apply properties of operations as strategies to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients
In Advanced 2 this month, we shifted gears from Algebra to Geometry. Students learned the four different types of transformations (translations, reflections, rotations, and dilations) and how to perform them on a coordinate plane. Students assessed this chapter on Friday, November 19. We have another Geometry unit coming up next where students will learn about different angle relationships created by a transversal and the properties of triangles, circles, and other polygons.
In addition, students completed their first SOF (Standard of Focus) of the year (8.EE.C.7b - solve linear equations with rational coefficients) and took the post test. Students always have the opportunity to retake the post test after completing reassessment work. Our next SOF is 8.G.A.3 where students need to describe the effects of a translation, reflection, and rotation using coordinates which aligns to the chapter we just finished. All of the SOFs we are focusing on this year are 8th grade standards.
Social Studies
In the last few weeks of Social Studies, we have begun to draw our Ancient Rome unit to a close. Students have learned about government, triumvirates, Julius Caesar and his assassination, the good and bad emperors, gladiators and colosseums, and the rise and spread of Christianity. A unique project from this learning was the Funko Pops that students created to represent an emperor of their choosing. The finished products looked great and the students should be really proud of their creations!
Last week, students completed a study guide on all topics from our Ancient Rome unit and were summatively assessed on Friday, November 19.
In Mrs. Schiessl’s Social Studies classes, students began their second round of FanSchool. FanSchool (created by a Muskego native!) is an online platform where students can access and learn current events by drafting countries, creating a current events “team”, and tracking their performance in the news. Students play with real-world data and make predictions about current events in order to become more aware about what's happening in the world. Congratulations to the first round winners from each class: Jack Pietras, Sophia Tinnerman, Orion Horak, Hunter Lemmermann, and Kian Sheldon!
Literacy
This month in Literacy, students completed work with the SOF RL.7.3 - I can analyze how different elements of a story or drama interact. Students analyzed these elements using the novel The Giver and the short story Thank You Ma’am as well as various texts in CommonLit. Students took their last Standards Mastery assessment for this SOF last week Friday. Please check out your child’s progress on their SOF Tracker as well as in Infinite Campus.
After Thanksgiving, we will be focusing on the SOF RL.7.2 - I can determine a theme of a text and analyze its development over time and provide an objective summary. The text we will be reading to begin our standard practice is a play adaptation of Charles Dicken A Christmas Carol tilted Scrooge and Marley. The reading of this text will take a few weeks to complete. Students will be asked to track the development of Scrooge’s transformation throughout the story and collect evidence for an essay they will be writing later in the month.
Winter iReady testing will be the week students return from Thanksgiving break. Testing days will be Tuesday, November 30 -Thursday, December 2. Please ensure your child is able to get a good night of sleep before testing days so they can shine and do their very best!
Thank you for checking in with your child about their Weekly Task List work. We have been seeing a lot less incomplete and late work because of this! Your partnership and support is appreciated!
Science
During the past 4 weeks In Science, students have been learning about Cell Biology (Structures, functions and molecular processes). Students applied their learning in the form of a cell analogy project; choosing any system of interest (Ex: Baseball, House, School, Trucks, Gymnastic meets etc) and comparing that system to the structures and systems of an animal or plant cell. Students then shared their presentation as a Gallery Walk Showcase to learn other perspectives and analogies as well as to share ideas and feedback with one another.
Wrapping up the Cell Biology unit students will review using study guides (shared on November 19) and in class review sessions on November 22nd & 29th to prepare for the summative assessment on November 30th & December 1st.
From here students will continue to apply their learning from our previous units to how Life is classified into Domains and Kingdoms. During the upcoming unit students will practice Latin roots and naming processes, understanding how to recognize and apply classification skills, dichotomous key practices as well as creating their own dichotomous key and latin naming game.
Students will be provided their unit or weekly learning plans, outlining in class activities, labs, lessons and our guided practice (workshop/homework). Please be sure to check in regularly with your child and preview their learning pathway.
Rolling Agendas Reminder
Below are the links to ALL 7th-grade core teachers Rolling Agendas. Please remind your child to check agendas when they are absent so they can stay caught up!
Literacy:
Math:
Social Studies:
Science: