Team Berlin Update 23
January 31, 2024
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Hello scientists!
This week things got heavy as we explored gravity through a reading, some graphing exercises, and a jumping lab! Next week we will complete a Gizmo about gravity and then return to earlier concepts from this unit such as the life cycle of a star and will spend time preparing for our Earth’s Place in the Universe summative, which will take place on Monday February 10th.
Below are the links to Blookets (quiz study games) for the summative. Students can access them on a phone, computer, or tablet!
Earth's Place Non-Account: Tower Defense Mode https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=67978cf708c918f931ed7803
Earth's Place Non-Account: Monster Brawl Mode https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=67978d2908c918f931ed7808
Earth's Place Non-Account: Cafe Mode https://play.blooket.com/play?hwId=67978d4f890d479011f902d2
Earth's Place Non-Account: Factory Modehttps://play.blooket.com/play? hwId=67978d70304b8eaba1319ed5
Our roots for next week are
*alp =mountain (think: alpine, the Alps)
Meta=after, beyond (think: metastasize, metamorphosis)
*morph=shape, form (think: metamorphic, morphology)
-ic=like, of (scientific, biologic)
*sed= sit, settle, rest (think: sedimentary, sediment, sedentary)
Keepers: angle, deci, semi
As we start the 3rd quarter, the science classroom is looking forward to more fun labs, including one of our messiest yet – the Oreo Moon Phases Lab! Before we can have fun getting messy, we need some cleaning supplies as the room is almost out. If they are able, science students are encouraged to bring any of the following:
A roll of paper towels
A container of cleaning wipes
A box of tissues
A box of pencils
Printer Paper
Thank you!!!
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week students began working on applying rules of order of operations to numerical expressions and combining like terms. On Tuesday students will participate in a Benchmark assessment. This week students will also continue simplifying expressions and combining like terms as well as substitute values for variables in expressions. 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.
Math7
This week students continued working on the addition and subtracting of signed numbers while also learning how to multiply and divide signed numbers as well. This week students will continue working on integer fluency and application in preparation for taking an RCT Assessment on the current concept. 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.
SMAC Program invitations were sent this week. Any questions or concerns should be sent to DealSummerMath@k12.dc.gov
Language Arts with Ms. Byrns & Mr. Gawthrop
This week students wrote compare/contrast literary essays. Next week we will continue working on pulling the best evidence in support of a prompt and organizing ideas before writing. Then students will go through the entire process a bit more independently with a literary essay Summative.
We will begin our next book, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lai at the end of the month. If your child has a copy of the book, please send those in by Feb. 27.
For City Spies fans: The newest installment in this series comes out next week and the author, James Pontii, will be at the Chevy Chase library Tuesday evening to talk about it and sign the new book. Learn more here if you would like to go.
Congrats to Max H. for completing his 40 Book Challenge. After some careful consideration, Max picked Wink by Rob Harrell as one of his favorites.
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
Happy Friday! Happy end of Term 2! Happy almost February!! I am so proud of Team Berlin this week in their Mini UN Simulation on Access to Education! The kids did a fantastic job of preparing themselves, delivering their speeches, and then communicating through moderated and unmoderated debate their country’s priorities and wishes! They did a FANTASTIC job! We rounded out our Unit 4 studies with a PBS Documentary, “On the Way to School” both Thursday and Friday.
On Monday we will start our new unit on East Asia. Next week we will map our unit, introduce new vocab, and read thematic maps. The East Asia map quiz will be on Monday, February 10. Links for students to study will uploaded by Tuesday, February 4 to Canvas. Next week we will also welcome back Ms. Eva from the German Embassy who will share with us about Fasching and has a fun activity planned for us!
CEAs continue to be due at the end of each week. A shout out to the students who have been coming to Wednesday recess CEA club to work together to get their CEA complete! I am so impressed by their focus, collaboration, and efforts! Way to go—I hope you continue to come! As a reminder, any student on Team Berlin is welcome to join!
Lastly, 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
