Patton 7th Grade Newsletter
December 2, 2022
Upcoming Events
December 13: Drama Performance at 7 PM
Thursday, December 15: Early Release - 1:00 Dismissal
December 16-January 3: Winter Break
Reminder!
Core Classroom Updates:
English Language Arts
This week in ELA 7, students read the science article "Living in the Dark" and learned about ecosystems deep underwater. This informational text serves as an example for students of typical textbook formats they will come across in their education. We took notes on ways to help them understand complicated and information-packed texts including examining cause-and-effect relationships. Students will practice these skills next week when they read another informational article in their Close Reader.
We have spent our week exploring an article entitled “from Living in the Dark”. Through this piece we discussed how to read informational text, paraphrase, and identify cause-and-effect. The students did an excellent job of expanding the cause-and-effect discussion beyond our ELA class to how it is manifested in other curricular areas. Next week we will spend a few more days in the ocean before shifting our focus to a play.
Ms. Paradies
Core Writing
This week in Core Writing, students continued writing their argument essays. Students focused on writing their supporting paragraphs and citing text evidence. There will be one more day for completing their essays next week, and then students will begin the revision and peer editing process. The essay will be due the final week of the quarter.
Requirements:
Introductory Paragraph including Claim with 3 Reasons
Body Paragraphs (1 for each reason) including Support
1 Counterargument Paragraph
Concluding Paragraph that summarizes the argument, restating the claim.
MLA Format (12 pt font size, Times New Roman/Arial Font, 1.5 Line Spacing)
Works Cited Page with at least 3 Credible Sources
Our argumentative essay is in full swing. The students are in the writing stage. This week we worked on the introduction and supporting paragraphs. Blue Day students have also been introduced to the counterargument and conclusion paragraphs. Gold Day students will have this lesson on Monday. If the students are keeping up with the daily work, there should not be homework for this class. However, if time is not being used well, then your child might have writing to finish at home.
Ms. Paradies
ESOL with Ms. Hewitt
Welcome back!! I am so glad to see the students again. This week we are studying the sequence of events in a story. We are identifying the words that help us know when events change in a story. I hope everyone enjoyed their break. I enjoyed listening to the students’ stories of where they went and what they did.
https://www.smore.com/1874s-holiday-template
Ms. Hewitt
Math with Mr. Ragan
7th grade math students are solving problems by simplifying, factoring, and expanding expressions, and writing and solving one- and two-step equations. We'll continue this work next week.
7th grade math+ students are solving problems by using formulas to determine the circumference and area of circles and the surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders. We'll continue this work next week.
The kids will take their second STAR math test of the year on Tuesday, 6 December. A reminder that the online Go Math textbook has embedded links to math lesson videos and a Personal Math Trainer, that includes example problems and step-by-step instructions. This is a great resource for the students to use.
Mr. Ragan
Algebra with Mrs. Blount
Algebra students continued working in Unit 4, "Writing Linear Equations", this week. There is a quiz on Lessons 4-1 to 4-3 Monday, Dec. 5 and we will complete the Chapter through the rest of the week. Please check Skyward regularly to monitor your child's assignment completion and grade. Thank you and have a great weekend!
Mrs. Blount
Patton PE News
All is well in PE. Mr. Amon’s classes will be finishing up their unit on Speedball and Ms. Dreiling’s classes will be finishing Tsegball. All students have done a great job of working with each other. Please check with your student on the days they will have PE. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have for your student!
Please help us in reminding our students to bring water bottles, a jacket, and tennis shoes every day they have PE.
Contact Information:
Coach Amon
Phone 913-651-7371. Ext 4111
Email pamon@usd207.org
Coach Dreiling
Phone: 913-651-7371 Ext. 4110
Email: tdreiling@usd207.org
Science with Mr. Shupe
Students started Topic 3, Reproduction and Growth, this week. Next week, students will be discussing plant structures for reproduction. The objective for this lesson is to have students explain and compare the reproductive cycles in plants.
Mr. Shupe
Social Studies
Next week, we will continue learning about Kansas History. We will be covering Chapter 2: Early People: Migration and Adaptation. We will be reading about the earliest people in Kansas, the technology they used, the different historic tribes, and how these people interacted with one another. We hope everyone has a safe and healthy weekend.
Ms. Pardee
Ms. Rindom
Elective Class Updates
Art with Mrs. Sipp
Art Students began Sketch # 5 in their Sketchbook. They had several choices on the drawing prompt.
1) “Store Sign” If you owned a store what would it be called? What kind of store would it be and what would you sell? What kind of shapes and colors would you include on your sign with lettering and details. Color and/or shade with a pencil or colored pencils using the Element of Art, Value.
2) “About Me Book Cover” Create a book cover about you. What would the title be? What would you have
on your book cover? Be creative and have your drawing show your personality and interests. Color and/or shade with a pencil or colored pencils using the Element of Art, Value.
3) “Holiday/Winter” theme.
Color and/or shade with a pencil or colored pencils using the Element of Art, Value.Sketchbook Grading Rubric-
Criteria 1 – Creativity- Drawing is highly creative and you followed the given drawing prompt. The drawing fills the page and objects are well grounded. Shadows and background are included.
Criteria 2 – Craftsmanship- Nice and clean artwork. Not messy or rushed. The drawing is fully shaded and all values are represented. The drawing has a high contrast and looks finished. Color was used with colored pencils using the Element of Art, Value.
Criteria 3 – Criteria- Realism or Abstract/Composition- The drawing has correct proportions, perspective and texture (Realism). It is also drawn from an interesting point-of-view. Met criteria of drawing prompt. Abstract drawings are highly creative.
Criteria 4 – Time/Effort- Appears to be very challenging and a considerable amount of time has been spent on the drawing each class period. Clean work, not messy or rushed. Didn’t start the drawing the day it was due.
Mrs. Sipp
Drama
The excitement is growing as we move closer to the December 13th show. The cast and crew are doing an excellent job preparing for their production. I know that they are anxious to showcase their talents.
Drama 7 Performance – Tuesday, December 13th at 7 p.m.
Ms. Paradies
FCS with Mrs. Cox
Medical Detectives with Mrs. Elder
Students have written a script and performed a video news clip explaining the source of a simulated food poisoning outbreak in the town of Montgomery Hills. Be sure to ask your son/daughter if they played the role of the reporter or the epidemiologist in the video. They had TONS of fun creating these news clips! I am planning to upload them to Google classroom so students can share with parents!
Mrs. Elder
Patton Junior High School
Email: gbehrens@usd207.org
Website: https://patton.usd207.org/
Location: 1 Patton Loop, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027, USA
Phone: (913) 651-7371