Science/Social Studies – Mrs. Bebell

This week, the students learned about the circulatory system and how the heart pumps blood throughout the body to transport nutrients, oxygen, and hormones. We dissected a pig heart to see first-hand how heart chambers are constructed. We also made a model of the components of blood with candy! Corn syrup, red hots, marshmallows, and sprinkles make a surprisingly descriptive and accurate visual of our blood.  Next week, we will be starting preparations for our next big project, which will culminate in a Living Wax Museum event on the afternoon of February 12. Students will dress up as American presidents and first ladies and give presentations about their lives. Save the date! More information will be shared soon.

English Language Arts – Mrs. Baird

This week, we read more of our book, Omnivore’s Dilemma. Our focus has been on practicing finding the gist, or the main idea, of a section of the book. We then practice answering text-dependent questions, using the format of restating the question in all of our answers! Ask your student to explain to you what a “Hamburger Response” in Mrs. Baird’s class means. This is how I expect all of their answers to be written in my class! Once we become experts in the 5 sentence Hamburger Response, we will begin to write longer pieces, such as 5 paragraph essays!

Math – Mrs. Tapley

7/8 – Our 7th-grade mathematicians continued to write and solve algebraic equations, but this time with angles. They learned about the angle relationships known as vertical angles and angles on a point and line. Students also began the study of inequalities. There was a review in both grades of mean, median, mode, and range. Our 8th-grade mathematicians had a couple of days with targeted skill focus, once on fractions and once on graphing linear equations. They also learned that linear equations can have one solution, no solution, or an infinite number of solutions.

Monday, February 4th

• Brooklin School Blood Drive, 12:00-5:00 PM. Register online at www.redcrossblood.org or contact Mrs. Tapley at rtapley@brooklinschool.org

Wednesday, February 6th

• 8th grade visit to GSA in the morning

Tuesday, February 12th

• Wax Museum