Cluster 3
It's where you wanna be!
November Update
To Parents, Guardians, and Caretakers,
As the first trimester is coming to an end, we just wanted to say how great of a school year we have had so far in Cluster 3! The students have been amazing in our first 3 months together!
Below you will find some school wide updates along with Cluster 3 class updates!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Thanks!
Cluster 3
Important November Dates/Announcements
11/22: Half Day
11/23-11/26: Thanksgiving Break
12/22- Half Day
12/25-1/1- Winter Break
Thanksgiving Baskets!
Thank you in advance for your generous donations to our traditional Thanksgiving baskets. We appreciate you! Have a wonderful few days with your families.
Cluster 3 Instructional Assistant - Mr. Coutreau!
Please welcome our Cluster 3 Classroom Instructional Assistant, Mr. Coutreau, who supports students in many of our core classes. Mr. Coutreau has been at WMS for 25 years!
Math with Mr. Casciano
Cluster 3 Math with Mr. Casciano - November
Hello Cluster 3 Families!
We just finished up our unit on Proportional Relationships. We got comfortable creating equations, stories, graphs and tables about proportional relationships. We will revisit this unit when we study Linear Relationships in a few months.
Next for us, we will be talking about all things circles. Students will build on what they know about area, perimeter and order of operations while working with two-dimensional figures. This unit will take us to the end of Trimester 1, with the assessments likely falling in Trimester 2.
Student Goals in Unit 3 - Circles
- I can explain whether or not the relationship between a side length or a diagonal of a shape and its perimeter is proportional.
- I can use proportional relationships to figure out missing side lengths, diagonals, and perimeters.
- I can describe the characteristics of a circle.
- I can identify the diameter and radius of a circle and explain how they are related.
- I can describe the relationship between the radius, diameter, and circumference of a circle.
- Given the radius, diameter, or circumference of a circle, I can calculate the other two measurements.
- I can calculate the perimeter of a complex shape that includes parts of circles.
- I can write perimeter as an expression that includes π , such as 20π + 50
- I can determine the area of a complex shape using a variety of strategies.
- I can estimate the area of a shape with curved edges
- I can describe the relationship between the radius of any circle and its area.
- I can calculate the area of a circle.
- I can explain whether the relationship between the radius and area of a circle is proportional or not.
- I can explain the formula of a circle's area by rearranging the circle into a triangle of the same area.
- I can calculate the area of a complex shape that includes parts of circles.
- I can write area as an expression that includes π , such as 20π + 50 .
- I can describe the relationship between perimeter and area for both a circle and a square.
- I can calculate the area of a circle given its circumference.
How does Google Classroom work in Mr. Casciano’s class?
Google classroom is a place where I let students know what work we are doing. Both classwork and homework are posted in GC, with homework given a due date. I do not use google classroom for any grading purposes.
Social Studies with Mr. Kirkaldy
Learning Targets:
I can...
Analyze archaeological evidence in order to make inferences about what is important to know about Harappan society.
Evaluate evidence for inclusion in a museum exhibit by drawing conclusions about how it reveals important information about Harappan society.
Select evidence from a Stations activity and write claims supported by evidence and reasoning about what is important to understand about Harappan society.
Argue and explain conclusions about what is most important to know about Harappan society.
In Social Studies we are working to answer this question:
If you were a curator, which three artifacts would you choose to communicate what is most important about Harappan society?
Students have analyzed several artifacts from ancient Harappan society, one of the world's earliest civilizations that developed along the Indus River. Students then make a claim about this civilization and support it by choosing three artifacts that support their claim. As a final product, students will be making Instagram carousel posts with images and text to explain what they've learned about the Harappans.
Next, we'll be learning about Hinduism and Buddhism, which both developed in South Asia.
Check out our School Friends' Smores
EDL & PHONICS CLASSROOMS - https://www.smore.com/1a8k7
Specialists Classrooms - https://www.smore.com/7szae-the-specialists-update
ELA with Ms. Fitanides
ELA
Classes are close to completing our unit on short stories. We have read a variety of wonderful texts and watched some Pixar videos to review and cement our skills. My hope is that this will help students feel more confident and be successful as we move into our first full novel, The Outsiders, after the Thanksgiving break!
Students will be taking an assessment on the following standards for our short story unit this week:
* I can analyze how elements of a story interact (ie: how setting influences conflict and character actions, how conflict impacts characters).
* I can analyze how character growth and change revels a theme.
* I can use details from the text to determine the theme or message of a story.
We continue to work on bell work grammar and convention skills weekly with assessments every two weeks. Students are able to retake these, if they do poorly during our FLEX WIN class. I am also available after school on Mondays for make-up work.
Science with Ms. Smith
SCIENCE Ms. Smith
In science class we are learning about the circulatory system and how it works inside our bodies to keep us alive. As we investigate human body systems, we discuss and look at cells that are specific to each system, types of tissues, different organs, and how they work together. Students are developing an understanding and appreciation for the complexity of their own bodies!
You can find lots of information on our class’ Google classroom. Please get your student into the habit of looking at their Google Classroom site to check on assignments, homework, and upcoming quizzes. Note that some assignments are posted on Google Classroom; others are passed out in class. Grades are occasionally posted on assignments passed in via Google Classroom, but you and your students should check PowerSchool for grades and progress updates.,