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Invention Convention Updates

This is just a reminder that the Invention Convention Final Reports are due this Thursday, November 11th. Their display boards and models are due Tuesday, November 16th. Please note that the models were originally due on November 11th as well, but the date was changed to allow a little extra time to focus on quality construction of their models.

Please plan to attend the EKA Science Fair and Invention Convention on Thursday, November 18th starting at 6:00 p.m. Come early and enjoy a hot dog dinner that the 8th grade students will be serving starting at 5:30 p.m. that evening to raise funds for their Israel trip.

Invention Convention Updates

The inventors have completed generating their invention idea and should now be moving forward with building their invention.

The next due dates for their projects are as follows:
November 11th - Invention Convention Final Report
November 16th - Invention Convention Display Board
November 18th - Eleanor Kolitz Academy Science Fair and Invention Convention

All students have received guidelines for completing the remaining parts of their projects. They should have placed these guidelines in their binder behind their invention convention tab. Thank you!

Notes from the Music Room

Fourth and Fifth Grades will be performing "On the Mayflower," a humorous song, on the Thanksgiving Program. Auditions for the speaking parts will be Thursday, October 21. Each student was given a copy of the song. I would like everyone to audition (try). You may want to help them with their British accents. :)

Science Test

Fifth grade students are completing their unit of study over properties of matter, physical and chemical changes and the law of conservation of mass. Their next test is on Thursday, October 21st.

Science Field Trip

The 5th grade science students will be particiating in a robotics lab sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio on Thursday, November 4th. They will leave at 8:20 a.m. and will return at 11:30 a.m. in time for lunch. Cost of the field trip is $10 per student.

All students need to return a signed permission slip along with their payment to Mrs. Lloyd by Wednesday, October 20th.

Drivers will be needed to help transport the students to and from UTSA. If you are able to assist with the driving, please check the appropriate box on the permission slip. Thank you!

Notes from the Music Room

During October and November we will be preparing for our annual Thanksgiving Program.
Save the date: November 23, 2010 @2:00

Science

The invention unit has been completed and students are formulating their invention ideas. Their invention convention proposals are due on Friday, October 15th.

They have already begun their next unit in science exploring properties of matter. They will participate in various lab investigations exploring the differences between physical and chemical properties. They will also investigate the types of reactions that occur during chemical changes including gaining an understanding of the law of conservation of mass. Their test over this unit is scheduled for Thursday, October 21st.

Judaic Studies- Orthodox

The sukkah projects are beautiful!

Tomorrow we are having a Chumash test on chapter 18, verses 1-12
We did a thorough review of the material in class yesterday and today.
The students received a handout of detailed guidelines for this test, being that it is our first Chumash test this year.

If you or your child has any questions please contact me at
blockr@eka-sa.org
or call me before 10:00 pm at 385-6182

Behatzlacha!

Egalitarian Kriat Torah

Ms. Miller has been hard at work recording aliyot to help those who are going to read Torah during t'fillot! She has already posted recordings for the next 4 weeks, and they can be found on the "Students" drive in S:/Middle_School/Torah Reading - Egalitarian. Parents, please make sure that your child knows his or her own Hebrew name, parents' Hebrew names, and if your family is Cohen, Levi, or Yisrael.

Oratory Contest Information

Here is the information shared with students at the preliminary meetings about this year's Oratory contest:
Oratory Contest

 The Oratory Contest is on Thursday, November 4th at 2:00 P.M.

 Practice sessions will be on Mondays after school and Tuesdays during lunch EVERY WEEK between now and November 3rd.

 You MUST attend AT LEAST FIVE of these sessions TOTAL in order to participate in the Oratory Contest. If something comes up, you need to speak to Miss Planto immediately.

 Next week during the practice sessions, you will have the opportunity to work with Miss Planto on finding an appropriate speech. You may also choose one on your own, but Miss Planto needs to approve it. Please select a speech by NEXT FRIDAY, October 8th.

About Speeches:
Speeches

Theme: Global Citizenship

Sources: In the “MIDDLE SCHOOL” folder on the S: drive, you have access to a folder called “ORATORY.” In this folder, there are links to websites where you can find speeches and other famous writings.
In the Language Arts classroom, Miss Planto has a selection of books from which you may also pick a piece.

Length: Speeches should be 2 – 6 minutes long when delivered. They may be abridged with Miss Planto’s assistance.

Fifth Grade Art

Fifth Grade reviewed how artists have painted portraits throughout art history, then learned about classical proportions while drawing their own self portraits. Currently the students are learning about the sculptures and mobiles of Alexander Calder, the 20th century American artists as they build their own mobiles or stabiles (sculptures).

Science - Invention Convention Projects

In science class students have been participating in critical thinking and problem solving activities as we begin the invention convention process. They have each been given a schedule of due dates for each part of their project. Look for the schedule behind their "Invention Convention" tab in their binder. The due dates are as follows:
October 15 - Invention Proposal Form (This will require a parent signature.)
November 11 - Invention Final Report
November 16 - Display Board
November 18 - Eleanor Kolitz Academy Invention Convention & Science Fair

Although we will spend a little time talking about past inventors and inventions during this unit, our primary focus in those discussions will be on identifying what problem the invention solved or what benefit the new object or design provided.

Class time will be spent reviewing the requirements for each part of the project prior to the due dates. It will be exciting to see what problems our inventors will solve!

Orthodox Track Judaics- Sukkah Project!

Here are the guildelines for the upcoming sukkah project:

It should be a Kosher sukkah (if it were life size). The students learned about the laws of building a kosher sukkah today. There are 5 areas:
- size of sukkah (to scale)
- materials
- amount of walls
- amount of schach
- location

Students will be graded on the Kosher guildelines and creativity.

This project is due Tuesday, September 28th.

This project should be worked on at home.
This week I will lessen the homework load this week almost nothing to give the students more time to work on their projects.
(If I see it is necessary I might designate some class time for working on the projects, based on how the project is coming along.)

The students will bring home a copy of the guidelines. Please sign at the bottom of the sheet.

Please contact me for any questions, comments, concerns, or requests

Mrs. Markson's Tech Lab - 5A

Students in 5A completed a work file about changing paper orientation (portrait to landscape, changing margins, and formatting text and alignment of text in a document. We printed to a pdf (portable document file that can be read with the free Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader) and saved to flash drives (usb drives). For homework, students should show their file to a parent and get a signature in their agenda.

Knowing how to format a document properly is important for creating documents for other classes.

Science - Scientific Method Test

A test covering the scientific method will be given on Tuesday, September 21st. All students should have their test outline in their binders behind their Vocabulary/Notes tab. They will be participating in a unit review during class on Monday prior to the test.

5th grade math with Mr. O

Hello- The kids seem to be using the k12 math program well. They are getting organized in their work, and seem excited about learning math. The first unit of the book has been working with word problems and various ways of estimating with all the operations. The unit finishes out with exponents and prime factorization.

Along with the math program, I am going to start giving mad minute quizes every day starting Monday, September 20th. We will start with addition and subtraction facts, 30 problems in a minute!! Please dust off the flash cards and help them get prepared. We will start with multiplication October 3rd!!

There will also be vocabulary the kids will need to be responsible for. Each unit has specific words they should know. They will get a typed sheet from me that they will fill in and be quized on periodically. I think this will help them with their overall math abilities.

Mrs. Markson's Technology Lab- 5B

Students in 5B completed a work file about changing paper orientation (portrait to landscape) and formatting text and alignment of text in a document. We printed  to a pdf (portable document file that can be read with the free Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader) and saved to flash drives (usb drives). For homework, students should show their file to a parent and get a signature in their agenda. This is to make sure everyone can use the flash drive which will be helpful in all subjects when they are working on a computer project. The flash drive is a convenient way to get work to an from school and home.

Reading and Vocabulary Assignments

For parents' information:

Students received a syllabus outlining their reading and vocabulary assignments for their first assigned novel. They have also received a vocabulary list for the first few chapters of the book. Please ask your student to show you this information.

We will continue with regular Wordly Wise quizzes, but there will be words mixed in from the Reading Vocabulary. Students will know ahead of time which words to focus on.

Fifth Grade Art

The student fundraiser is right around corner, so fifth grade is busily creating collages for this annual event. You should see their art coming home soon!

Book Reports

Students are expected to select books to read independently, and will complete at least one independent book report each quarter. Information on the requirements for the first quarter book report should be in your child’s Language Arts binder. This quarter, the books are “free choice,” meaning any type of book is acceptable, so long as it is age- and grade-level appropriate. All book reports include a written assignment and a creative component, similar to what was done for Summer Homework.

The due date for first quarter book reports is Monday, October 25^th.

** Stay tuned: Information on the first assigned novels, including long-term reading and vocabulary assignments will be posted shortly!**

English Language Arts - Welcome!

Welcome to the Middle School Language Arts blog!

Now that the dust has settled from the start of the year, please check here regularly for information and updates regarding class assignments, policies, and news!

In 5th-8th grade, we have established a daily routine that includes reading, writing and practice in written conventions of language. Standard homework each week includes Wordly Wise/vocabulary practice and reading of both assigned and free-choice books.

Homework assignments are checked as part of a completion grade for each week. Daily classwork and quizzes are valued as "single grades" and tests and projects are valued as "double grades" when averaged. A separate grade is determined for conduct (behavior).

Students have received instructions as to how they should organize and keep the Language Arts section of their binder. A paper regarding this has gone home to be signed and returned by Tuesday, September 14.

Copies of this organizational information, and of the course information given to all MS Language Arts families at "Back to School Night" are available from Miss Planto via e-mail.

Fifth Grade Art

Fifth grade students studied portraits which the famous 20th century artist, Pablo Picasso, had created as drawings and prints. They then selected one of the portraits which had been cut in half, and drew the other half. Each student successfully rose to the challenge!

Notes from the Music Room

For the next few weeks, we will continue developing 4 different dance steps in our Samba-style dance. Our goal is to be able to sing and dance at the same time. Right now, we are still at the "learn the dance step" stage. Much improvement this week. Ask your children to show you some of the steps that we are learning.
We are also reviewing music theory including notes on the staff and musical notation. Their homework this week is to be able to play "Hot Cross Buns" on the recorder with a steady beat and pleasant tone. They can also practice ahead in their recorder book.

Science Updated 9/2/10

The fifth grade science students are wrapping up their safety procedures and metric measurement unit. They will be taking their first test next Wednesday, September 8th. Prior to each test, they will be given an outline that will list the concepts they need to review. Class reviews will take place during class time the day before each test. For this first test however, we will begin the review two days before the test (Friday, Sept. 3) to allow time to go over the outline and to help them find/mark the key information they need to review. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

They have been doing a great job using the laboratory equipment!

Science

Welcome to Middle School Science!

The first week of school has passed and classroom procedures, safety rules and basic laboratory policies have been reviewed. The students are now diligently working on learning the basics of the metric (SI) system of measurement and they will be using various laboratory tools to aid them as they continue their study. This nine weeks the focus will be on:
* Measurement and Lab Tools
* The Scientific Method
* Invention Convention
* Matter, Elements, and Compounds

Each day they are writing their homework assignments in their agenda on the day they are due. Look for my "green" initials in their agenda by their homework.

The students are doing a great job bringing their science textbook, science workbook, binder and agenda to class. They have set up three tabs for science in their binders. Look for their vocabulary/notes, labs/assignments and invention convention information in each section of their binder. (Invention Convention information hasn't been given out yet so nothing will be in that section as of now.)

It will be a great year in Science!

Notes from the Music Room

Welcome to a new year. Middle school students are buzzing about the addition of the musical revue (April 7, 2011) which is new to our curriculum. The revue is a collection of songs woven together with dialogue. All middle school students will learn the songs and choreography. Students will be able to audition for spoken parts and possibly solos. We will probably need a few "techies" in the crew as well. The set will be designed and created by Miss Bella and students in art classes. I will try to keep our rehearsals limited to class/school time. Special parts will probably need after school rehearsal, and possibly a couple of dress rehearsals in the evening to put it all together. In preparation for the choreography, we will be learning dance steps throughout the year. I am extremely excited about our performance!

Fifth Grade Recorder. This year we will be expanding our music reading skills using "Recorder Karate" which lets a child self pace for those who can advance more quickly. Children earn "karate belts" as they learn new notes and rhythms which become progressively more challenging. Students need to bring their recorders and recorder folders to music each week. If you have not purchased a recorder, they are available at most music stores such as Sam Ash or High School Music. The folder (brads and pockets) will contain their music. They will have "homework" or practice most weeks which will be posted in their agenda books. This week they should be practicing (reviewing) the notes B-A-G keeping a steady beat.

I am excited about another great year in music. Patty Riggle Bonner-music

Fifth Grade Art

Fifth grade is expanding their vocabulary of line and pattern by drawing Pattern Pictures of people or palm trees. We reviewed the use of line and pattern by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence and David Hockney to create movement and rhythm. Students are creating mixed media drawings by combining black marker lines with colored pencil.

Parsha- Orthodox Track

This year we have a very exciting Parshah system.

Every student started a Parshah notebook today. In it is a D'var Torah which we learned about in class. For homework you child should share his/her D'var Torah with the family over Shabbat, and get it signed by a parent after Shabbat.

We will also be having a raffle at every "chazak"- completion of one of the books of the Torah. Students are entered into the raffle when they have a signature on time, and when receiving an 80% or above on Parshah worksheets and quizzes which will generally take place on Monday.

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Rikal

Orthodox Track School Supplies

Here is a list of school supplies the students should bring for tomorrow, latest by Monday, August 23rd:

- nylon book cover for Chumash
- strong plastic folder with brads
- notebook
- 1 package of lined paper
- 1 package index cards
- 1 package index card box
- 1 2" binder (with or without a zipper)
- pencil bag (preferably with holes to insert into a binder)

Inside the pencil bag should be:
- 5-6 pencils
- 4-5 pens
- 1-2 red pens
- 1 yellow highlighter
- 1 big eraser
- reinforcement stickers

Inside a moveable supplies box to go in their lockers should be:
- markers
- colored pencils
- glue stick
- scissors

All extra supplies should be kept and saved future use and replenishment.

Looking forward to a great year!
Morah Rikal