Team Berlin Update 25
February 14, 2025
Team Celebration Thursday
If you are able to send in chips or drinks for our Team Celebration on Thursday, please sign up here: Sign Up Genius
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Hello and Happy Valentine’s Day, scientists!
We had a short week this week with no school Wednesday (snow day!) or Friday (professional development day). Students completed their Earth’s Place in Our Universe Summative test, cleaned out their science binders, and began learning about historical understandings of our solar system by drawing out scientific models from various time periods.
Next week we will compare geocentric and heliocentric models of our solar system and discuss the beliefs and institutions which influenced astronomers and the public when these models were developed. We will end the week with a scale model activity to help students to visualize the true scale of our solar system and the universe.
Our root words for next week are:
*aqua = water (think: aquarium, aquatic)
cumulo = heap (think: cumulative, cumulonimbus)
*cirrus = curl (think: cirrostratus)
*photo = light (think: photosynthesis, photograph)
nimbus = dark cloud (think: cumulonimbus, nimbostratus)
Keepers are: angle, deci, semi, alp, morph, sed, gram, hydro, iso
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week students applied the distributive properties in combining like terms in simplifying expressions and reviewed plotting coordinates and analyzing results. This week students will begin to create a “x’s & y’s” table, plot the coordinates, and write equations of a given scenario. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home.
Math 7
This week students began working on expressions, equations, and inequalities. This week students will continue working on solving equations while using the distributive property, GEMDAS, and combining like terms. Students will be provided the opportunity to retake recently taken assessments during iRecess. Included in our virtual classroom is a link to a portion of Illustrative Mathematics website curriculum dedicated to allowing parents to give support of current topics from home.
Any questions or concerning SMAC Program invitations should be sent (and will be forwarded) to DealSummerMath@k12.dc.gov
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
This shorter than expected week had students finishing their Compare/Contrast essay summatives. We’ve made great strides in choosing evidence and organizing our writing and will now focus more on explaining/analyzing text evidence in our own words in a way that supports the thesis. As they finished their essays, students also created one-page info. sheets about Black authors. Check out their work below.
Next week we officially launch Unit 3. Students will do a bit of background research and prepare a very concise report (1 slide!) on some topic related to Vietnam. Our next book, Inside Out & Back Again, by Thanhhà Lai is based on the author’s experiences as a Vietnamese refugee coming to the U.S. after the Fall of Saigon. Learn more about the novel here. As part of this mini-research project on Vietnam, we will briefly discuss why Wikipedia and Google AI answers are not always the most accurate answers and should not be the go-to for fact finding.
Students will take ELA ANET 2 on Wednesday. This is a combination of reading questions and a written response. Students will take this assessment in their CAPE testing groups (which differ from their usual ELA class period) during an extended first period Wednesday morning. Please make sure your child is on time and ready to go!
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This short week we had our East Asia map quiz and then dove into population growth. Students looked at population growth over the course of the last 500 years with an in class simulation activity, completed content specific vocabulary, and on Thursday read a text about population growth. CEA #15 is due on Thursday. Next week we will work with this text more and complete an RST (formative) in class. CEA #16 will be due next week on Friday.
Last year I was asked by a parent for a list of books that her daughter might read if interested in other parts of the world. This summer I started, and over break I finished, a list of books. Students are welcome to use the list, but it isn’t required. Students who would like to can participate in our Geography Passport Reader Assignment and collect stamps for reach of the continents they read a book about. I’ve attached the list here, as well as the passport (which I will give a print out of if a student is interested). Happy reading! :) Geography and Young Adult Books.pdf
Please find Team Berlin photos of our students in action here: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1g5IRuBxGAvG9 It will be updated as we go along!
Team Berlin’s Playlist can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XGJMmooyuna2fwFQ9pj9A?si=416e41ad228f4c11
German Club @ Deal
Would you like to learn German and find out more about German-speaking countries? The German Club meets every Thursday from 3:30 -4:30 pm in W103. Please contact igenzel123@gmail.com if your student is interested.
