Success in Sixth Grade
Volume 7, Issue 31
Celebrating Successes!
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
A Note From Mr. Nakano
As we head on to the final trimester of our year and the progression towards middle school, we look forward to building on those successes.
Sierra Vista Visitation and Kinetic Energy Experimentation (Bowling)
The students will need to arrive early (time TBD, but probably 7:45 am) to load the buses and head out. They will be given a tour of the campus by a faculty and ASB (student council) member, given introductions to each of their elective choices (either by presentation or performance), and have an opportunity for a Q&A.
As an additional treat, we will be heading over to Irvine Lanes to practice our knowledge of the transfer of kinetic and potential energy by bowling. We will be arriving back to school in time for Picnic With Your Parents.
Friday, Apr 24, 2015, 07:45 AM
Sierra Vista Middle School, Liberty, Irvine, CA, United States
Math
Unit 4: Ratios
We had a lot of fun experimenting with ratios, although your children may be sick of seeing fractions and the percentage sign by this point. Using proportions, we experimented with the height of bouncy balls after each bounce and compared our abilities to that of different animals. With the different ratios, we saw how far we could hop if we hopped like a frog and how much we could carry if we were as strong as an ant, among other ratios.
As a culminating activity, students created a meal from one of their favorite restaurants, looked up their recommended caloric intake based on their activity level, and created a fraction and percentage based upon the calories in their meal. As an extension, the students found relevant equivalent data and made a parody advertisement. Did you know, instead of eating a Chipotle burrito, you could eat over 300 strawberries? Or, you could run a half-marathon to burn off all those calories!
Next up, we will be temporarily skipping geometry to move on to Unit 6, Statistics and Probability. We will wrap up the year with geometry.
Social Studies
In three groups, the students were in charge of one of the three major dynasties in ancient China: Han, Qin, and Shang. There were fifteen artifacts that the class had to replicate. However, no two dynasties could choose the same artifact. In the end, each dynasty had one final attempt to trade artifacts with another team, as there were only five artifacts that fit into each of the three dynasties.
Congratulations to the Shang Dynasty who correctly identified all five of their artifacts! The Qin and Han dynasties came in a close second with 4 out of 5 artifacts correct.
Science
Genius Hour
Language Arts
The Egypt Game
Next up will be the heroic tale of Hatchet. As always, if you plan on bringing in a copy to write in, please have it my the Monday we return from break. If you will be borrowing a copy, please let us know so that we can make sure we have enough.
Dates to Remember
4/13 Bring Hatchet book
4/16 6th Grade Panoramic Picture (wear "15" shirt - not sweatshirt)
4/21 Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Test
6th Grade Parent Night at Sierra Vista (5:15 pm - GATE presentation; 6:00 - General Presentation; 7:15 - Teacher Meet and Greet)
4/23 6th Grade Parent Night at Jeffrey Trail - 6:00 pm
4/24 Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Classroom Activity
6th Grade visitation to Sierra Vista Middle School
Bowling
Picnic With Your Parents
4/27 IUSD Honors Concert - 7:00-9:15 pm (congratulations Alan, Claire, and Kenny!)
4/28 Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Test
4/29 Smarter Balanced English Language Arts Test
5/5 Smarter Balanced Mathematics Test
5/6 Smarter Balanced Mathematics Classroom Activity
5/7 Smarter Balanced Mathematics Test
Sierra Vista Open House
5/15 Family Fun Night
Keep In Touch
Email: jonnakano@iusd.org
Website: https://iusd.instructure.com/courses/916
Location: 12025 Yale Court, Irvine, CA, United States
Facebook: facebook.com/misternakano
Twitter: @mrnakano