Success in Sixth Grade
Volume 8. Issue 4
Thankfulness
"You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” ~ John Wooden
A Note From Mr. Nakano
We had a lot of great experiences these past few weeks. The students took joy in participating in a Google Hangout with the author of Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, during the Global Read Aloud. They also marveled at doing a Mystery Skype with a 6th and 7th grade class in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
D.A.R.E. T-shirts
Global Read Aloud
In reading Fish in a Tree, the students found many parallels with Maniac Magee. The themes of race relations, family, and acceptance were prevalent in both books. Some of the students were surprised at the ending of the story - somewhat different than the predictions they had made. Ally not only found the academic help and social support she needed, but so did her brother.
To celebrate the end of the book, next week we'll be doing some of the activities that were important to building bridges in the novel. The students will be making friendship bracelets, playing chess, and adding to the "Book of Impossible Things."
Mystery Skype
The students from Barrie marveled at the fact that our students said it was "70 degrees and chilly." After we converted it to about 40 degrees Celsius, they exclaimed that it was below freezing outside!
After we congratulated Mrs. Oliver's class, we continued to discuss "Fish in a Tree" and found similar connections between our predictions and the characters we related to most in the story. It was a fun connection, and we will continue to do Mystery Skype with other countries throughout the year.
RTI / Language Arts
We read on the author Jerry Spinelli's website that the inspiration for Maniac Magee came from the 60s hit by Martha and the Vandellas, "Dancing in the Street." After the kids got over the initial shock of what music sounded and "music videos" looked like 50 years ago, they spoke about the theme of integration in the song and the hopeful feeling of everyone around the world being together.
Some students created some cute memes to summarize the story so far.
Science
A fun activity coming up will be simulating plate tectonics using graham crackers, frosting, chocolate chips, and fruit roll ups.
Social Science
Those groups had to choose and complete a set of "construction" and "empire" tasks. Each task cost a different amount of grain that was earned each year (or round). The tasks that the groups performed simulated what the Egyptians invented and discovered throughout the years. Whether it was developing a sledge to move bricks or create an irrigation system, the students learned about the improvements the Egyptians made to Mesopotamian society.
Congratulations to ID's group, who completed their construction tasks first and built the first successful pyramid.
P.E.
When the students come back to the classroom to cool off, we are continuing the theme with silent, focused meditation with positive imagery.
Math
Unit 2
We are moving on to our second unit in mathematics, Integers and the Coordinate Plane, to be finished before Winter Recess. Multiplication and division of positive and negative numbers and reflection throughout the four quadrants of the coordinate planes will be the concepts we're focusing on most.
Dates to Remember
11/16-20 - Team Kids: Bring a new or gently used book for Think Together
11/24 - Team Kids Carnival
11/25-27 - NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Holiday
11/30-12/4 - Book Fair
Keep In Touch
Email: jonnakano@iusd.org
Website: https://iusd.instructure.com/courses/16984
Location: 12025 Yale Court, Irvine, CA, United States
Phone: (000)000-0000
Facebook: facebook.com/misternakano
Twitter: @mrnakano