Electives Monthly MashUp
April 2021
Welcome!
AIG
We are progressing nicely through our final quarter in AIG. The 6th graders have been learning about methods for problem solving and have also been exploring the research process . 7th graders have been investigating youth leadership and have begun a project profiling a youth leader of their choice. The 8th graders are finishing up their Passion Projects and we are looking forward to seeing their final products!
Math Intervention
In Math Intervention, we have been preparing for the End-of-Grade test coming up in May! Students are learning about key skills such as exponents and the coordinate plane in 6th Grade, and simplifying expressions in 7th Grade and 8th Grade.
Reading Intervention
Spanish
For the months of April and May, students will be learning their last sets of vocabulary words and working on their final projects. 6th graders will be creating presentations about themselves and their family members in Spanish. 7th graders will be designing their dream houses in Spanish. 8th graders will be creating a map of a town and practicing giving directions in Spanish using a map.
En la clase de español para hablantes nativos los alumnos de 7.o han aprendido el pasado (pretérito) y van a aprender sobre la historia de España. Su proyecto final será una obra de arte que demuestra lo que han aprendido sobre la historia de España. Los alumnos de 8.o van a investigar las civilizaciones antiguas de Latinoamérica como los Aztecas, los Mayas y las Incas.
Business and Entrepreneurship
6th Graders are learning about For-profit and Non-profit Businesses.
7th Graders are learning about the U.S. Economic System.
8th Graders are learning about Marketing Activities and Careers.
CTE and Project Lead the Way
May will be a busy month for Energy and the Environment. We are concluding our study of fossil fuel dependence and will begin our examination of renewable energy.
In Design and Modelling, we are learning to use SketchUp, a computer aided design (CAD) program, to model a coffee mug.
To learn more about Project Lead the Way, the organization that supplies our curriculum, please visit pltw.org.
Band
For the first time in a couple of years, Neal has live music coming from the band room!!!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!!! Our in person students have enjoyed playing with their friends in a safe environment. The district has provided each student with a mask specifically designed for band students to play safely in an indoor setting as well as covers for the bell of the instrument. I am excited for the start and I’m looking forward to seeing what the students will produce next year as well!!!!!!
Dance
Now that students have brushed up on their technique, built some core and leg strength and now we are moving on to JAZZ Dance. Jazz dances have ties to so many cultural aesthetics, individuality, and personality. Students are learning a fun and trick-filled Jazz Choreographic piece in which they will be tested on the technique and ability to personalize it! They will have a chance to showcase their individualism within this choreography and “bee-bop-bope, skip” to their own Jazz rhythm! We hope to find a place to showcase this choreography somehow at the end of the school year.
Visual Arts
Learning about creating depth can be difficult. We recently started practice with a technique called One-Point Perspective to help turn a flat sheet of paper into a 3-D space.