Clouds
Students created their own stories about the different types of clouds. They had fun using cotton balls to make their clouds and picture themselves on their clouds. In their stories some of the things they said were – If I were a cumulus cloud I would cuddle up with my bear and dream that I am floating in the air.
Mrs. Boodram
God’s Providence
Since September, our school’s freshmen have engaged in historical events and creating connections with events that are happening today. More importantly, each student is learning how to observe the history of the world through a Biblical perspective to illustrate God’s providence throughout all of history. They have discussed and worked in groups and wrestled with thought provoking questions to encourage critical and analytical thinking.
Mr. Keeks
Don’t be Sheeple
Since September, our high school seniors have constantly engaged and wrestled with concepts of American Govt. and comparing it’s ideologies to biblical based principals in understanding our American’s governmental foundations. I have emphasized through lessons and real-life experiences the theme: Don’t be Sheeple, Be People. This overarching theme is essential and cherished to these students in preparing them for college in order to distinguish between things of this world to the principals of God.
Mr. Keeks
Geometry
We have just started working on geometry, which the students are very excited about. The students love the idea that God has assembled and designed the world using geometry, and that studying geometry gives us insight into God’s orderly yet creative mind. Over the next several weeks, students will work on an art project that will require them to use foundational geometric concepts like symmetry and angle measurement.
Mrs. Roh
Speed Drills
The sixth graders are a spirited group of students who love working together and helping each other with math problems. They enjoy doing daily speed drills for their do-now. These drills reinforce foundational math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, & division). We have seen how the properties of addition and multiplication can also be applied to decimals and fractions.
Mrs. Roh
How Shopping Involves Math
The seventh graders have enjoyed learning how the math concepts that they learned in 6th grade have real-world applications. At the beginning of the year, the students all chose one occupation that uses math and conducted research about that job that they shared with the class. Throughout the year, they have enjoyed learning how astronomers use scientific notation to simplify their work, how architects use precise measurements to design buildings, and how chefs use fractions and proportions to create delicious recipes. While learning about the uses of percentages last month, the class particularly enjoyed a Christmas shopping activity. Various items were set up around the room in different states. Each item had a different price. Some items were discounted, some had a sales tax percentage, and some had both a city and sales tax. The students had to calculate the final price of all the items after the discounts were subtracted and taxes were added. Most students chose to shop in Delaware, where there is no sales tax!
Mrs. Roh
Debate Team
During the first quarter, the students did a debate about imperialism and whether or not it is a morally justifiable foreign policy. This quarter, they are working on a debate about FDR’s New Deal and the general effectiveness of welfare programs. Eighth graders tend to love a good argument, so formal debates are a great opportunity for them to practice civility, exercise logic, support their premises with evidence, and learn to work together on debate teams.
Mrs. Roh
War Inventions
The eighth graders generally love to learn about weapons and battles in history. They did a project on the significant technological changes before and during World War I that affected the weaponry and tactics of the war. The students wrote an essay about their chosen weapon or invention such as poison gas, submarines, automatic rifles, tanks, etc., and created a PowerPoint presentation in computer class to show pictures of their weapons and share their analysis with the class.
Mrs. Roh
American Symbols
The students are currently working on a project about significant American symbols (the bald eagle, Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, etc.). They will conduct research about the origin, use, and meaning of their chosen symbols, and they will create a poster that they will present to their class after midterms. They will also be creating their own symbols to represent one of America’s four core values (freedom, individualism, equality, and growth).
Mrs. Roh
And The Winner Is
More than anything, the seventh graders love learning about civics/American government. In December, they learned about the structure of the United States Constitution and the first presidential elections. To solidify the concepts, we held a class election! Two presidential nominees (Danielle Serrano and Jorge Ruiz), went around to different states (groups of students sitting at their desks) to campaign for office. The students then voted by secret ballot, and Jorge was the winner! As the president, Jorge got to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Christian Faulkner), whose role is to help maintain order in the classroom, and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (Kisel Espinal), who helps to keep the classroom tidy and water the plant. The class also voted on a tax collector (Brianna McMichael, who ran unopposed). The tax collector helps to pass out and collect papers in the classroom.
Mrs. Roh