Team Berlin Update 29
March 7, 2025
Earth Science with Ms. Ballantine
Last week students prepared for completed their Space Systems and Cycles summative. Next week Ms. Ballantine will be out all week, I will be chaperoning the 8th grade language trip to Costa Rica! Students will be working with a substitute next week to start their Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate unit. Each day instructions will be posted to an announcement on Canvas with instructions for the day. Students will how the uneven distribution of the Sun’s heat causes weather patterns, ocean currents, and more. The week will include a BrainPOP lesson about climate vs. Weather, a simulation about convection currents, a reading about what affects air temperature and climate in different locations. Ms. Ballantine will be back on Monday March 24th.
Math with Mr. Brown & Mr. Gawthrop
Math 6
This week students worked on work on translating algebraic expressions to words, calculating surface area, and solving one step equations. This week students will continue to work on calculating surface area and solving one step equations in preparation for a Formative (Thursday). 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. Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to retake recently taken assessments during iRecess at their request.
Math 7
This week students began writing, solving, and graphing one and two step inequalities. This week students will continue working on solving two step equations and inequalities in preparation for a RCT Assessment (Wed/Thurs). Students will continue to be provided the opportunity to retake recently taken assessments during iRecess at their request. 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.
Please encourage students to utilize the “Parking Lot” in class to leave questions or requests (ie. retake requests) Notes and videos on current/previous/upcoming concepts as well as supportive platforms can be found in the virtual classroom (www.framevr.io/brownmath)
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 week students worked on their literary analysis writing skills and read most of Part 2 of Inside Out & Back Again. In this part Hà and her family flee Vietnam on a ship and are at sea for several weeks before landing on the island of Guam and experiencing life in a refugee camp.
Next week students will complete a Research Simulation Task that will be two Summative grades. This RST asks students to read 2 articles and watch a short video clip to collect information about life in these Vietnamese refugee camps and write a full essay in response to a particular prompt. Students have made a ton of growth in their writing stamina, organization and selection of evidence.
To encourage students to read a variety of books, we’ve kicked off the Spring Reading Challenge. Students should have a copy of this in their red folder. Feel free to join in the challenge!
Finally, a belated congrats to Ava for completing the 40 Book Challenge. Ava finished back in February and always has a great book on hand.
Katy Byrns
Geography with Ms. Trenkle
This short week in Geography we were busy! Students took their Europe Map Quiz on Monday (scores in Aspen), watched a cultural video about France (ask them about the Par Cour guy Sebastian or the free climber, Alan!), and we closed out the week with the first round of GeoBee!
The Geo Bee top five from each class are as follows (in order by class period from highest score):
1st period:
Adam B.
Atticus O.
Abigail H.
Emil N.
Lincoln L.
2nd period:
Alex EM and Kieran R
Kai S
Austin R and Lucas S.
4th period:
Zain A.
Alma D.
Ezra G.
Alice M., Jake M., and Julius D.
5th period:
Turk S.
Evelyn F.
Nikck P. and Alex V
Maks Q
7th period:
Owen G.
Konstantine K.
Elyse M
Kelly C.
Maryam A and Lucy H.
The Top Five for Team Berlin are:
Owen G., Alex EM, and Kieran R.
There is a three way tie for the final two spots, between Adam B., Zain A., and Konstantine. They will have a tie breaker set on Monday to determine who will move on.
The top five Team Berlin students will represent Team Berlin against the other 6th grade teams on March 25 during Advisory for the title of GeoBee Royalty! :) Stay tuned for further updates.
Students do not have any homework over the long weekend.
Next week we will begin our unit content on Economics complete with readings and simulations. Ms. Eva from the German Embassy will visit us on Wednesday!
Students will also have CEA #19 due on Friday. Again, a shout out to the students who have been coming to Wednesday CEA recess club! They are rocking it!
Congrats to first period who earned their class incentive last week! They elected, by popular vote, for a candy salad party. Students should bring one bag of candy (no nuts please) for our candy salad. They will bring it to first period on Monday. We will mix the candy, divvy it up, and enjoy it 1st period. Happy long weekend!Congrats to first period who earned their class incentive last week! They elected, by popular vote, for a candy salad party. Students should bring one bag of candy (no nuts please) for our candy salad. They will bring it to first period on Monday. We will mix the candy, divvy it up, and enjoy it 1st period. Happy long weekend!
One request—we are out of pencils. If possible, please send pencils in for the class to use OR please check with your student that they have a pencil before leaving the house. We have gone through more than 2000 pencils alone in Geography class this year!!!!!
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
Ramadan Lunch Space
If your child is observing Ramadan and would like to skip the cafeteria while they fast, they are welcome to join 6th grade teacher Ms. Daboh in NG1031 during 6th grade lunch. They will still have the opportunity to head out to recess. Email katy.byrns2@k12.dc.gov or amy.trenkle@k12.dc.gov and we can help connect your child with Ms. Daboh.
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.
Library Corner
Learn about the great things happening this month at Deal's library. Check out great books and media, read about events at Deal and around the city, and stay connected with Deal's Library:
