MS Newsletter
Here's what's happening in MS this week!
March 19, 2018
Dear parents,
Please continue to check powerschool as we near spring break. Please have your student make up any late work and retake any assessments before the break.
ENGLISH
6th Grade: Students are conducting research on exotic animals from around the world. Last week, we found several reliable websites to use as sources of information. This week, we will gather information from them in preparation of writing our informational essay.
7th Grade: Students are working on drafting their memoirs. We will be learning how to effectively use sensory details and dialogue to elevate our stories. On Thursday, students will be traveling across the street to read to the preschoolers as part of their March Is Reading Month activities.
8th Grade: Congratulations to the winners of the America and Me essay competition. Madison Kott took first place, Stephen Paalman was second, and Emily Kelly was third. Great job! This week we are working on writing about what we can do to improve society. Students will read 6 articles and gather information to support their writing.
SOCIAL STUDIES
6th Grade: Students are presenting their research on the cultural components of a country: language, religion, government, money, food, celebrations, etc. We will also be exploring what defines a cultural landscape.
7th Grade: Students are presenting their research on the cultural components of a country: language, religion, government, money, food, celebrations, etc. We will also be exploring what defines a cultural landscape.
8th Grade: Last week students completed their study of Nationalism and Sectionalism, and began the transition into the study of The Age of Democracy. This includes the reading of the chapter “Democracy and the Age of Jackson,” in addition to beginning the worksheet packet “Jacksonian Democracy.” This week we will continue completing the worksheet and answer comprehension and critical thinking questions. Finally, we will begin our study of the plight of Native Americans during the Trail of Tears.
MATH
6th Grade: 6th graders are continuing our discussions on percents, decimals, and fractions this week. We will have a quiz to demonstrate their learning this week.
7th Grade: Last week the students practiced naming special angle pairs. This week we will continue exploring angle relationships and finding unknown angle measures.
8th Grade: 8th graders had a quiz on Friday on reflections and translations. We will be discussing rotations and how to write transformations using algebraic expressions to wrap up this module.
SCIENCE
6th Grade: We have been exploring about matter and elements as well as the different states of matter. Ask your student what changes in order to move through the different states of matter.
7th Grade: The students are studying photosynthesis. Ask them what the reactants (carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight) and the products (oxygen and glucose) are. While we study, students are investigating effects of different variables on the germination of bean seeds. The quiz will be Wednesday or Thursday.
8th Grade: We will be reviewing various topics that have been covered in middle school science to get geared up for the Science M-Step test which eighth graders will be taking in April.
SINCERELY,
The Middle School Team
6-7th English: Nic Dziadosz ndziadosz@ellsworth.k12.mi.us
8 English: Amanda Terryberry aterryberry@ellsworth.k12.mi.us
6&8th Sci, 6-7th SS: Sue Goslee sgoslee@ellsworth.k12.mi.us
8th SS: Olivia Speicher ospeicher@ellsworth.k12.mi.us
6-8 Math: Erica Stuck estuck@ellsworth.k12.mi.us
7th Science: Clayton Faivor cfaivor@ellsworth.k12.mi.us