6th Grade News: 11/27-12/1/17

SCIENCE

Students continued their discoveries of genetics by creating custom bugs! They flipped coins in order to produce key dominant or recessive traits of their bug. Then they built their bugs from an assortment of everyday parts. Once complete, students discovered how unique their bugs could be with an assortment of different genetic traits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Noll

 

 

 

 

 

HUMANITIES

In Literature class this week we began writing our own endings to The Giver. Students were excited to imagine what happens to their favorite characters after the book’s cliffhanger, and they’re looking forward to sharing their original endings with classmates in the coming days. We also began a new literature unit, which focuses on historical fiction about ancient Egypt. Each student was asked to choose one of two books to read: The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw or Pharaoh’s Daughter by Julius Lester. Today, students met for the first time in their mini “book clubs” and will continue discussing their chosen books in these small groups throughout the month. We’ll begin our history unit on ancient Egypt in a few weeks, and these historical fiction stories will help bring our study of history to life.

In History class, students began preparing for their test on Mesopotamia, which will take place next Wednesday. They are completing a review packet, looking over worksheets, creating flashcards, and quizzing themselves. It’s amazing to see how much they’ve learned about this ancient civilization in the past few months, and I’m impressed with their ability to recall, analyze, and find connections between main ideas.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Naomi

JUDAICS

“This week we continued translating Shemot and, among other things, we learned that Pharaoh wants to kill the Jewish boys. We learned that Rashi thinks that the two midwives he told to perform the murders are Miriam and Yocheved, Moses’s sister and mother. We then reflected on why we would make this decision if we were Pharaoh. There were great answers such as: “The Jews are overpowering and I heard that the viziers said that a Jewish boy will overthrow my kingdom” said “Pharaoh Shai”. We also made our own kushiot (text related questions) and tried to answer them in groups. We then had a Rabbi discussion about our amazing kushiot. We also learned some new grammar and learned about feminine verbs in the Torah. We also learned a little more about the midwives and whether or not they let the babies live. We did some acting to show what we learned too. In all this was a great week in Judaic Studies. Hi Mom and Dad!”

-By David

 

ADVISORY

This week in advisory, sixth graders had a great time sharing projects with their second grade buddies. Second graders read stories that they recently published, while sixth graders showed the hero stories they made using the Adobe Spark presentation app. You will get to see these stories, too, at the sixth grade academic exhibition on December 20th. Enjoy the buddy photos below!

Best,

Mike and Naomi

HEBREW HERITAGE

הורים יקרים,

השבוע עבדנו על יחידת הלבוש, קראנו סיפור עם של יהודי אתיופיה ודנו בשאלה איזה משקל מעניקה החברה ללבוש והאם זה צודק. האם יש לנו חופש בחירה בבגדים או שבעצם חברות האופנה קובעות לנו מה ללבוש. התלמידים עבדו על אוצר המילים של היחידה ונבחנו על חלקם, החלק הבא יתקיים ביום שלישי הבא.

השינשינים באו והתלמידים עשו פיעלות כייפית הקשורה לחג חנוכה.

שבת שלום,

אילנה

HEBREW

Dear parents,

This week the students in HaKbatza Aleph started working on soap opera style skits that happen in a doctor’s office between a patient, his grandmother, and the doctor. The students will present their skits at the end of next week.

In HaKbatza Bet the students continued to explore the unit on learning and schools. The students practiced new vocabulary verbally, through conversations, and in reading and writing. Next Thursday, the students will have a vocabulary test.

I wish everyone a peaceful weekend,

Andreea