The IB Eagle
The IB MYP Newsletter for MacArthur Middle School
Back To School 2019
Parents,
We are very excited to launch our brand new IB newsletter, the IB Eagle, our monthly IB publication. As we begin the 2019-2020 academic school year, we are committed to keeping all of our families up to speed with what is happening with IB here at MacArthur. We hope you enjoy being a part of our community and sharing this special time with your middle school student. Best wishes for a fantastic 2019-2020 school year!
What is IB/MYP?
Every Student at MacArthur Middle is an IB Student
Did you know that all students at MacArthur Middle School are IB students? As an IB World School, we offer years 1-3 of the Middle Years Programme . This whole-school programme continues for 9th and 10th grade students at Meade High. For families new to the MYP, the short video in the next section below provides an overview.
What's Happending Right Now in Our Classes?
Language and Literature
6th Grade
Unit one focuses on identities and relationships as students explore plot and setting in different text. Students will also explore overcoming challenges through the stories of different characters.
7th Grade
Unit one focuses on choice and theme as tudents explore human dignity and nature as it pertains to different characters' choices. Students will also read a variety of texts in different genres while they explore different historical context such as the Harlem Renaissance.
8th Grade
Unit one focuses on character and conflict and how conflict and choices, both positive and negative, shape our experiences.
Individuals and Societies
6th grade
Unit 1 introduces Historical Thinking and focuses on Ancient Civilizations throughout the Eastern Hemisphere including Mesopotamia, Nile River Valley, Indus River Valley and Huang He River Valley. MYP Concepts include "Time, Place and Space" and Innovation. Statement of Inquiry is "Time, place and space influence innovations in civilizations." Our Summative Assessment will be to complete a news report on which civilization was the most successful and to defend that claim.
7th grade
Unit 1 introduces Historical Thinking and focuses on the Feudal Period in Europe and East Asia. MYP Concepts include Systems, Authority and Cooperation. Statement of Inquiry is "The authority and cooperation within different systems impacts the freedom and security of people within them." Our Summative Assessment will be to create and investigate a research question regarding that complex time period.
8th grade
Unit 1 introduces Historical Thinking and focuses on US History - Emerging America: Defining the Nation. MYP Concepts include Change, Power and Governance. Statement of Inquiry is "Conflicting Perspectives on Authority, Security and Freedom can cause change of power and governance." Our Summative Assessment will be to justify the creation of a new monument for the rebuilt city of Washington, DC.
Math
MYP Mathematics
Grade 6
Unit 1 of Grade 6 Mathematics has students exploring ratios and proportional reasoning. When analyzing patterns, scaling will help students determine equivalent relationships.
Students will: research and become knowledgeable about ratios using manipulatives, tape diagrams, tables, and double number lines; communicate by expressing part-to-part and part-to-whole ratios in 3 forms; create, graph, and solve problems with equal ratios; employ principles of personal balance to find unit rates in order to solve real-world problems involving shopping choices and measurement conversions.
Grade 7
Unit 1 of Grade 7 Mathematics has students investigating integers, their opposites, and their absolute values. When computing with rational numbers, mathematicians use form to make decisions about how to simplify problems/solutions and justify their processes and solutions.
Students will: be thinkers to generate integers and their opposites equal to 0; be knowledgeable and communicate about integer operations; understand that the signs of factors will affect the sign of the product; compare multiplying integers and rational numbers and connect that to division of integers and rational numbers; employ learnings about operations with integers and rational numbers to solve real-world problems;
Grade 8
Unit 1 of Grade 8 Mathematics has students investigating the number system. Students will identify shared characteristics of numbers to help understand complex number relationships and to determine equivalence.
Students will: make connections between square and cube roots of perfect square and cube numbers and imperfect square and cube numbers in order to solve equations and real-world problems; communicate about numbers categorizing and classifying numbers; compare and order rational and irrational numbers; identify patterns as they convert repeating decimals to fractions; explore and use properties of exponents to write equivalent expressions; think like a scientist when estimating large and small quantities using a power of 10 and scientific notation; solve problems using numbers expressed in scientific notation
Science
6th grade
The 1st MP begins with a two week inquiry into the scientific method in order to help students be knowledgeable on how to prepare and research for the required science fair. Following the two weeks of science fair inquiry students will explore the MP 1 unit of Inquiry which focuses on atoms, molecules and water. Students will explore how changes and their consequences can be demonstrated using models. For the unit project students will create a Public Service Announcement to communicate the importance of water quality and how to keep water potable. The announcement should communicate information about the substances that can be found in water and how harmful substances get into our water supplies. They will use the models created in class to illustrate the difference in pure water and non potable water. They will also provide solutions or strategies for keeping our drinking water safe.
7th grade
The 1st MP begins with a two week inquiry into the scientific method in order to help students be knowledgeable on how to prepare and research for the required science fair. Following the two weeks of science fair inquiry students will explore the MP 1 unit of Inquiry which focuses on body system. Students will be thinkers when analyzing how system interaction is dependent on system function which helps to maintain health & wellbeing. Students will take the role of an ESPN magazine editor who is creating a feature on the to create a magazine featuring the ultimate athlete. Students will select an athlete that they feel best fits the label of “Ultimate Athlete” from the vast world of athletes. The will communicate how the ultimate athlete uses various body systems to be successful in their sport.
8th grade
The 1st MP begins with a two week inquiry into the scientific method in order to help students be knowledgeable on how to prepare and research for the required science fair. Following the two weeks of science fair inquiry students will explore the MP 1 unit of Inquiry which focuses on genetics. Students will gain knowledge about how the interactions of genes between parents can have the ability to change offspring including consequences. For their project students will work cooperatively to gather information regarding genotypes and phenotypes of a baby monster offspring. They will then individually create a depiction of their baby monster and then develop an argumentative essay arguing for or against the genetic modification of their monster.
Grading in the MYP
HOW WILL MY SON OR DAUGHTER BE GRADED IN THE MYP?
For most projects and tests, students will be graded on an MYP rubric. While these are provided to us from IB, teachers can adapt them to make rubrics specific to the task students are completing. The rubrics provide feedback to students; since they are used to the rubrics in each class and they do not change over the two years at Meade, it allows them to see their own growth in each subject.
Though the rubrics used may be different from a traditional grade, teachers must report grades in alignment with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools grading policy. Currently, teachers use the MYP conversion chart to convert the rubric scores earned into percentage grades:
Assessment in the IB MYP
Assessment looks different in an IB World School than a traditional high school. The video below was created to help deepen families' understanding of what makes MYP assessment different. Please watch the video and complete the google survey to share any questions you would like answered. We will update the Frequently Asked Questions periodically.
Magnet News
Current 8th grade students interested in a high school magnet program (and current 5th grade students interested in a middle school magnet program) can apply by visiting the magnet page on AACPS.org or clicking HERE.
IB DP Magnet Information Night
Current 8th grade students interested in the IB Diploma Programme at Meade High should attend this event with their families to learn more about the program and the application process. Question about this event should be directed to Jennifer Quinn, IB DP Coordinator at Meade High School.
Tuesday, Oct 22, 2019, 06:30 PM
Meade High School
Vanessa Facer
MacArthur Middle School
Email: vfacer@aacps.org
Website: https://www.aacps.org/Page/6213
Phone: 410-674-0032
September MYP Spotlight: MacArthur Dance
The Health, Physical Education and Dance Department has collaborated with the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem to provide a 4-week residency program with one of their highly trained teaching artists. The residency will take place September 16, 2019 - October 18, 2019. Seventh grade dance students will experience the Dance Making® curriculum; This residency helps students think and communicate creatively in different contexts, frameworks, and perspectives by using dance as a platform for original movement invention and individual self-expression. The goal of the curriculum is to empower students to discover and utilize original movement to extend their communicative capacity.