FUN FACT: Board games are not just for playing and Oreos are not just for eating; they’re used for creative learning, too!
Andrea Ferguson’s and Jaclyn Lockett’s sixth-grade science classes have been learning about plate tectonics and how the plates move. In stations, students played Pictionary to review their vocabulary terms (divergent, convergent, transform and convergent boundaries) and manipulated Oreo cookies to show how the plates can move and the features that can be produced (mountains, rift valleys, and volcanoes). What a fun and creative way to learn! (And, of course, the Oreos were devoured afterward.)
•Divergent boundaries happen when plates move apart, creating new crust and magma. This can happen on continents or in the ocean, where it can form mid-ocean ridges and islands. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a divergent boundary.
•Convergent boundaries happen when plates move toward each other, and one plate often slides beneath the other in a process called subduction. This can create mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, and other geological events. The Pacific Ring of Fire is an example of a convergent boundary.
•Transform boundaries happen when plates slide past each other horizontally. This doesn't create or destroy crust, but they can cause earthquakes and pulverize rocks along the boundary. The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a transform boundary.
Did you know that dominoes can be used in short STEM challenges to teach students about energy transfer, chain reactions and critical thinking? Just ask Teresia Parker’s and Jill Stramiello’s Middle School technology students!
The teachers have used dominoes as part of their "do now" or "anticipatory set" activities at the beginning of lessons. The intent is to immediately engage students, activate their prior knowledge about a topic, and mentally prepare them for the new information that will be presented. This is essentially setting the stage for the lesson by grabbing their attention and connecting them to the upcoming material.
Dominoes are perfect because they provide a hands-on, engaging way to explore fundamental concepts life force, motion, cause and effect and problem solving. Designing and building complex domino runs requires students to plan, analyze, and adjust their designs based on trial and error, promoting critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Nicole Lee’s and Jackie Lockett’s sixth-grade students recently took part in a very cool three-part lesson focusing on plate tectonics!
First, students create oversized Pangaea maps in groups, then independently completed a “vocabulary quilt” featuring various terminology.
Then they picked one term and its definition and drew on a mini-puzzle piece, making certain their pictures represented the term and two key words that were in the definition.
Lastly, students competed by having to put together other students' puzzles and guessing the vocabulary word. They kept track of the words and keywords on a travel sheet which then became their study guide.
Students also had a parallel lesson with science pixel art, completed web and scavenger hunts, and “moved” as the plates did. They guessed what was in the “mystery bags” to support phenomena and indirect evidence... they were gummy eyeballs!
•Plate tectonics is the theory that the Earth's crust is divided into large, moving pieces called "tectonic plates" which float on a semi-liquid layer beneath them, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountains when they collide with each other.
Essentially, the Earth's surface is not solid but made up of puzzle pieces that are constantly shifting around, shaping Earth over time.
•Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed between 300 and 200 million years ago, when all the continents were joined together. The name Pangaea comes from the Greek word “pangaia,” which means "all the Earth.”
•Pangaea is tied to plate tectonics because the theory of plate tectonics explains how the supercontinent Pangaea formed, broke apart, and continues to influence the movement of continents today.
Middle School students recently had a fantastic field trip to Pets Alive! Take a peek!
Students toured the Pets Alive kitten nursery, followed by a tour of the barns where they had the chance to feed the goats and sheep.
Later, they visited the training tent, where they had some quality time with Harmony and Ava, two of Pets Alive’s adorable young dogs.
Students also learned more about careers that involve working with animals and finished up up their visit by stopping by the cattery to drop off their generous donations and the fantastic adoption posters they created!
CAN YOU HELP? The High School's Youth Against Cancer Club is in the midst of a donation drive through Dec. 16 to collect items to brighten the days of Garnet Medical Center patients. See the flyer for what students are hopeful to collect! Your contributions would be most welcome!
CAN YOU HELP?
The High School cheerleaders' SOCK, HAT and GLOVE DRIVE runs through Dec. 20. Please see the details and thanks for sharing!
Nicole Gaucher’s eighth-grade science students are learning about photosynthesis and cellular respiration. As part of their studies, they’ve developed models to explain each process, the inputs/outputs of each, but also how the two processes are interconnected.
Do you remember this?
While photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two interconnected processes, they’re also essentially opposites of each other. Photosynthesis uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen; while cellular respiration breaks down glucose using oxygen to produce energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water.
Both processes are crucial for life on Earth as they maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis produces oxygen that is used in cellular respiration and vice versa; photosynthesis occurs in plant chloroplasts, while cellular respiration happens in the mitochondria of cells. Understanding these processes is fundamental to comprehending the flow of energy through ecosystems.
JOIN US tonight, Dec. 9 for the Middle School 6th Grade Band Concert at 6:30 p.m. AND the 7th/8th Grade Band Concert at 7:45 p.m.!
The Middle School reporters who create content for The Minisink Messenger newspaper are inviting you to read their first edition of the year!
CLICK HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ldqOPoLmkeqGo1f7wP0cnZmucD4Zq80S2gLd9Mc6QT4/edit?tab=t.0
The Middle School and High School drama clubs had a wonderful Dec. 3 field trip to see The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes! Take a peek at their outing!
This was a great field trip for many reasons: Drama program students experience "drama" in two categories: "Performer" and :Production." In each of these categories, there'a a variety of positions and related skills students need to fulfill their respective "job" in the production. Equally important is that all the district’s drama productions include vocalists, instrumentalists, actors, dancers, set designers, light technicians, sound technicians, technology/device support, set builders, set movers, costumers, house designers --- and more ---- who come together to bring a production to the stage.
That’s no different than the work that happens to bring The Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes to the stage! Students had the opportunity to attend a quality show where they can experience and respond to world-class singing, dancing, storytelling and technical production value, which is aligned with New York State Arts Standards involving art, music, dance and theater disciplines. Add to this a STEAM component as well, as the show heavily relies on the use of technology and three-dimensional set effects.
It’s also perfect timing, because both drama clubs are gearing up for their own spring musicals, so seeing this performance also helps them to better understand professional level quality. (And, the show offers deeply discounted ticket pricing for groups!) See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD/
THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the Middle School’s Student Government’s annual canned food drive, which concluded last month! Your contributions will positively impact those in need.
The two classes that collected in the most canned goods have earned an ice cream sundae party, sponsored by Stewart's Ice Cream.
•First place goes to Bailey Riley's seventh-grade Period 1 science class, who collected in 237 canned goods!
•Second place goes to Joanna Dolan's sixth-grade Period 2 English class who collected 170 canned goods.
All the collected items have been donated to Minisink Cares.
PTOs do great work in so many different ways!
For example, Middle School sixth-grade ELA/social studies teacher Joanna Dolan wants everyone to know how grateful she and her students are for the very impactful mini-grant the Middle School PTO provided so her students can have personal reading/writing lamps!
Students arrived to ELA class on the Monday following Thanksgiving recess to find a box waiting on their desk to open and assemble: Their reading/writing lamps! Students were very quick to assemble them and used them to read Chapter 14 in Christopher Paul Curtis’ “Bud, Not Buddy,” the story of a 10-year-old orphan who finds his family during the Great Depression:
Later in the day, her Social Studies classes used the lamps to write notes on “GRAPES” of civilizations around the world. GRAPES is an acronym used in history education to represent the key aspects of a civilization: Geography, religion, achievements, politics, economy, and social structure. This framework is used for analyzing and understanding different civilizations around the world by examining these six critical elements.
“I am so grateful for this attention to our classroom,” said Mrs. Dolan. “The students were able to take a welcomed break from the fluorescent lighting by using the lamps and natural light from the windows. Socially and emotionally, these lamps have really already shown to be beneficial. Some students, who often need movement breaks or the use of bouncy bands, remained focused and in their seats for the duration of the class activity that required them to be at their desks. The students, as a whole, were focused and attentive. They all were so grateful and very happy to have their own personal work space while also being next to their classmates.”
Middle School families:
We'd love to see as many middle school students involved as possible! Ask your student about the "Operation GIVEBACK flyer" that was sent home! Students will be making holiday cards for veterans, scarves for the Middletown Warming Station, pine cone bird feeders and ornaments for a local nursing home.! Please email Ann Friedle at afriedle@minisink.com with questions or if you'd like to contribute to this effort! Registration deadline is Dec. 11!
The sixth-grade faculty recently organized a "Snack & Share Soiree" to celebrate a successful first marking period!
It was a great way to recognize that beginning Middle School is a huge deal while reinforcing to students that putting one’s best effort in all that one does takes great responsibility, which was also the school’s PBIS character trait for November. Students contributed snack items from a suggested list and had a great time. Equally important was they worked on a group project focusing on which characteristics create lasting friendships. Take a look! THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this gathering’s success!
Soiree, pronounced "swah-RAY," is a French word. “Soir” means "evening" in French, and soiree is literally an "evening party" or social gathering, especially one held for a particular purpose. In this instance, students had their own version of an afternoon soiree.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
The district is hosting an important program on teen mental health and bullying/cyberbullying prevention for parents, led by nationally recognized author and speaker Tom Thelen, on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.
READ MORE: https://www.minisink.com/article/1887697
Seventh-grade Spanish classes completed "Thankful Feathers" by writing what they are thankful for in Spanish!
The students wrote "Yo doy gracias por..." (I give thanks for...) and contributed their feathers to a Thanksgiving Bulletin Board "Damos gracias por..." (we give thanks for).
Each student listed at least two items they are thankful for in Spanish and created an illustration.
Teacher's Assistants and Decorations Committee members helped put the bulletin board together! ¡Bien hecho!
November is National Men’s Health Awareness Month! Join us and wear purple attire to help bring awareness to unique health issues of men!
Please join the efforts of the district's Buildings & Grounds team to bring awareness to important men's physical and mental health issues!
November is also "No-Shave November" and "Movember," movements created to encourage conversations about cancer awareness among men.
Call for photos: Share your student's purple attire for a forthcoming photo gallery by emailing to communications@minisink.com by 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22!
GET WINGS and support the Class of 2025!
Buffalo Wild Wings in Middletown will donate 10% of your purchase on Saturday, Nov. 23 to support Class of 2025 initiatives. Make sure you bring this ticket!
Members of the Middle School’s Pet Club welcomed another guest speaker who shared her expertise and experience with them!
Retired vet technician Crystal Sovak, who worked in the field for 20 years, shared stories and real-life experiences with students. This also included showing students x-rays and dental images from different species!
But the real star of the gathering was Marvel, Ms. Sovak’s dog, who was a rescue dog! Marvel happily allowed Ms. Sovak to brush his teeth and trim his nails, which are both an important part of healthy pet care. It was a great opportunity for students to learn tips from a professional as well as to learn more about careers in the animal care field.
Ashley Hamilton and Bridget O’Mara-Green’s eighth-grade math classes recently created their own, unique tessellations to conclude their lessons about geometric transformations.
Learning about geometric transformations in eighth-grade is important because it helps students develop spatial reasoning skills by understanding how shapes can be moved, flipped, rotated, and resized in a coordinate plane.
In math, a tessellation is a pattern created by fitting together identical geometric shapes on a plane without any gaps or overlaps, essentially forming a repeating pattern that can extend infinitely in all directions. The shapes used in tessellations are typically polygons, and they fit together perfectly, repeating in a regular or semi-regular arrangement. The key characteristic of a tessellation is that each shape is arranged in such a way that it fills the entire area, and the pattern continues indefinitely in all directions.
Geometric transformations provide a crucial foundation for further study in geometry and has practical applications in fields like art, architecture, and engineering, where understanding how objects change position and size is vital. Plus: this also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by allowing students to analyze and manipulate shapes through transformations.
Dutch graphic artist MC Escher made woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints, many of which were inspired by mathematics. His work features mathematical objects and operations including impossible objects, explorations of infinity, reflection, symmetry, perspective, truncated and stellated polyhedra, hyperbolic geometry, and tessellations. He produced his first piece of tessellating artwork in 1925.
