Welcome and Highlights of Our Year

Welcome to Team 6-4

Supply List

Notice:  I have been told red binders are hard to find.  Please feel free to substitute pink, orange, purple.  Sorry about that! Mr. Bunting

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Highlights of the 2008-2009 School Year

We started the year with wonderful team building activities at Camp Chickamee. In October, Team 6-4 and 6-3 visited the Museum of Science to view the IMAX film The Greatest Places in conjunction with their study of geography. They also explored the galleries to learn about mapping, modeling and the scientific method. Throughout the year, they applied the inquiry method they learned in science class to predict answers and analyze problems in all subject areas. In February, the same two teams culminated their study of religion in Asia with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where students shared presentations on works of art from major world religions. The two teams also got to visit the FIRST Robotics competition and saw former Oak Hill students solving advanced technical problems as members of the newly formed Newton Ligerbots team. Team 6-4 also visited the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. In addition to stepping inside a three story globe and witnessing the changes of the last 60 years, students practiced math skills by identifying geometric shapes and measuring and calculating perimeter, surface area and volume of architectural features on the grounds of the library. In social studies, students used the geography skills they had developed to perform in-depth analysis of the international oil markets and to understand Bangladesh’s flooding problems and search for solutions. They also applied the inquiry method and use the graphing skills they had developed in math and science. Students also collected the maps, essays, cartoons, pop-ups and graphs they made into atlases describing the five themes of geography, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. During the month of December Team 6-3 and 6-4 collaborated on an economics simulation project to deepen their understanding of international trade. Ms. Sweet and Mr. Bunting created model economies where students bought and sold office supplies using Chuck Bucks and Sweeties. Students learned about the law of supply and demand when shortages and surpluses were introduced. Then the two classes traded with each other to get the things they lacked. After much fun and excitement, students emerged with a clearer understanding of the laws of economics and the dynamics of world trade. Team 6-4 read several novels this year. A highlight was the study of the role of memory and the meaning of history in a linked study of several works including The Devil’s Arithmetic, The Giver, “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury and “At the Home” by E. L. Konigsberg. The unit of study culminated with students writing about and searching for the meaning of a memory significant to them. Students also had many chances to use twenty-first century skills to build their understanding. They used online discussion forums to move their understanding of novels outside the classroom. They used online tests to save paper and time. They also learned and practiced reading comprehension using the Strategic Reader program; an innovative, online method of reading and responding to novels. An important part of this was ongoing assessment of fluency, comprehension and strategic reading skills. As the year drew to a close, students used skills they developed in math and social studies to analyze currency exchange. They found exchange rates on the Internet and calculated how many Euros, pounds or yen they would get for a given amount of dollars. In order to do this, they needed to apply the knowledge they had gained in math class about multiplying and dividing decimals and graphing. They also compared real and nominal prices in i-Tunes stores from around the world. Finally, they used the Internet to find and graph the exchange rate for the three currencies over the past year and analyzed the significance of that for the U.S. economy. To prepare for MCAS exams, students logged onto to Study Island where they reviewed Math and English concepts and tested their mastery of them, all while playing games. As a culminating activity, students led portfolio conferences in which they shared their work, strengths, weaknesses and goals with their parents. All-in-all it was a great year and students are ready for a thrilling and successful seventh grade experience.

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