Cluster 1 Newsletter
January 6, 2023
Hello Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers!
Hi All!
Please remember to send your child with a re-usable water bottle every day to curtail the frequent trips to the water fountain.
Yours,
Cluster 1 Team
English Language Arts Update
Happy New Year from the 6th grade ELA team! We are doing a deep dive into research this month as we begin our Research Based Informational Writing Unit. Students are currently developing note taking skills (we have covered Cornell notes and mind/concept mapping) and are applying those skills to informational texts about activism. When we are done with a broad overview of activism and teens who have made a difference in the world, students will choose a topic (suggestions include bullying, animal rights, child labor, educational rights, and the environment) to research, with the end product of an ebook. Ask your child what they are learning and ways that they might be an activist in our community!
Math Update
In math, we’ve been using tables and double number lines to solve problems involving percentages. We started by breaking down percent into “per” and “cent” to mean “for every 100”. Students are combining that with what they know about ratios and rates to calculate unknown amounts in real world situations. To stay in tune with our work in Unit 3, please check out the Unit 3 Family Resource.
Science Update
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a restful and wonderful vacation. This week marked the start of our Cells Unit. Students started the unit by asking questions, and what amazing questions they were! We will be diving deep into the structure and function of cells and their organelles. Pop Quiz! Do you remember which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell?
Social Studies Update
This week in social studies we started our study of Mesopotamia, the world’s first civilization in the Fertile Crescent. Students investigated new vocabulary words in preparation for a quiz on Tuesday 1/10. Next week, students will become the geography of Mesopotamia as we delve into why it was so smart to settle there. We will also read about several Sumerian achievements and inventions that impact our lives today.
Specialist Smore
Reading Smore
This space is where reading teachers can provide updates on their classes!
Wilson Reading Smore
Here is the link for the Wilson Reading Smore with Ms. Sorenson
English Learner Smore
Check here for updates from our English Language Development teachers Ms. Rix, Ms. Gilmartin, Ms. Campos, and Ms. Schoenbeck.
Contact Us
Zachary Allen - English - zachary.allen@watertown.k12.ma.us
Jessie Daigneault - Science - jessie.daigneault@watertown.k12.ma.us
Ann Palermo - Math - ann.palermo@watertown.k12.ma.us
Megan Lipson - Social Studies - donna.lipson@watertown.k12.ma.us
Jim Duffy - Special Education - james.duffy@watertown.k12.ma.us
Jody Gladstein - Guidance - jody.gladstein@watertown.k12.ma.us
Sheila Gilmartin - English Language Development - sheila.gilmartin@watertown.k12.ma.us
Zara Rix - English Language Development - zara.rix@watertown.k12.ma.us