Dynamic Dialogue 4/24/15

Good Afternoon Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:   Apr. 27^th – Choir Concert, 6:30 p.m.

                                  Apr. 28^th – 29^th – MAP Testing

                                  Apr. 29^th – Fine Arts Festival, 6:30 p.m.      

Important Information:   

Information about Hixson’s Summer Enrichment Program can be found here.

After school help sessions are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  If you need to come in before school, you will need to make an appointment with the teacher.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- 

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Systems Science we finished the Genetics unit and had the Summative Assessment on Tuesday. Now we have stormed into our weather unit! The students took the pretest, “What Do You Know about Weather,” and now have a new definition of “temperature.” Please ask them to tell you what temperature is? What you should hear is ‘Temperature is a measurement of the average speed of the particles in a system.’ Kelvin is the best temperature scale because zero degrees Kelvin is “absolute zero” because all particle motion stops! Friday we did a outside temperature lab collecting temperature of asphalt, concrete, grass, and water in both the sunlight and in the shade to better understand specific heat capacity. Next week is density once we navigate MAP testing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Below are the first two weather learning goals.

Goal 1:  Student can analyze data, including maps, and construct and use models to develop understanding of the factors that control weather.

4	Student demonstrates innovation, in depth inference(s), or advanced application(s) with the learning goal, such as Student will analyze air mass movement and weather data.
3	Student will explain changes in weather (temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, wind) in terms of air mass movement. explain possible weather in terms of data from weather maps, diagrams, visualizations, and experiments.
2	Student will: identify cause/effect relationship between changes in weather (temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, wind) in terms of air mass movement. interpret data from weather maps, diagrams, visualizations, and experiments to identify possible weather.
1	Student will: match changes in weather (temperature, pressure, humidity, precipitation, wind) with air mass movement. match data from weather maps, diagrams, visualizations, and experiments with possible resulting weather.

Goal 2:  Student can analyze data, including maps, and construct and use models to develop understanding of the factors that control climate.

4	Student demonstrates innovation, in depth inference(s), or advanced application(s) with the learning goal, such as Student will analyze unequal heating and rotation of the Earth and cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
3	Student will differentiate patterns of regional climate caused by different factors. (latitude, altitude, geographic land distribution, atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation)
2	Student will: identify cause/effect relationship between factors and regional climate.  (latitude, altitude, geographic land distribution, atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation)
1	Student will: match factors with resulting regional climate.   (latitude, altitude, geographic land distribution, atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation)

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels - daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

Students have continued with their look at the Middle Ages in Europe this week.  We have been focusing on the defining moments of the Black Death and The Magna Carta.  On Thursday and Friday, students played a game in which they had to face King John’s decisions.  Did your student do better than John?  Next week is MAP and I will be showing a medieval murder mystery as a brain break during testing.  Afterwards we will wrap up this portion of the unit with a look at the Crusades.

After school help is available in my room every Thursday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Smith's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 4/17/15

Hello Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:   Apr. 22^nd – 7^th Grade Band Concert, 7 p.m.

                                  Apr. 27^th – Choir Concert, 6:30 p.m.

                                  Apr. 28^th – 29^th – MAP Testing

Important Information:   

Information about Hixson’s Summer Enrichment Program can be found here.

After school help sessions are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  If you need to come in before school, you will need to make an appointment with the teacher.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

MATH

Dynamic students will take the Algebra Placement Test next Wednesday and Thursday during math classes.  The following week 4/28 (English) and 4/29 (Math), students will take the state assessment (MAP) Test.

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Science this week the students continued to develop the concepts to be able to draw conclusions from cause and effect relationships concerning: parent traits and probability of offspring traits, interactions between plants and animals and the probability of successful reproduction, and humans altering genetic outcomes!  The activities this week was focused on humans altering genetic outcomes. They did research on both natural methods like selective breeding, as well as more technology based interventions by altering genes by injecting bacteria, viruses, or chemicals. I suggested the students ask their family members about their opinion on genetically modified organisms, GMO’s. They were able to determine and theorize the cause and effect relationships of GMO’s!

Summative Assessment is on Tuesday, 21 April!

The students had the opportunity to have their clarifying questions answered today in class. The students have review questions posted on Google Classroom #071.

• Cause and Effect
• Investigating and explaining causal relationships may predict & explain events.
• Stability and Change
• For natural & built systems, conditions of stability and/or rates of change are critical.

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels - daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

We spent this week exploring the risks of medieval town life.  Although the growth of towns provided increased opportunities for individuals, the crowded conditions led to the rapid spread of diseases such as the bubonic plague.  Students completed several activities about towns and The Black Death.  Next week, we will look at the connection between the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution as well as the Crusades.

The students have been very creative this year and we are running out of colored pencils.  If anybody would like to donate, the Social Studies classes would be very grateful.

After school help is available in my room every Thursday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Smith's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 4/10/15

Good afternoon, Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:   Apr. 10^th – Term 5 grades mailed

                       Apr. 10^th – Hixson Student Trivia, 3:30 – 5:15

Important Information:   

Information about Hixson’s Summer Enrichment Program can be found here.

After school help sessions are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  If you need to come in before school, you will need to make an appointment with the teacher.

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Math- 

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Science this week the students continued to develop the concepts to be able to draw conclusions from cause and effect relationships concerning: parent traits and probability of offspring traits, interactions between plants and animals and the probability of successful reproduction, and humans altering genetic outcomes!  One of the activities this week was a simulation where they were able to analyze and interpret the relationships among the amount of grass, rabbits, and wolves in a forest. They were able to change factors to determine the cause and effect relationships!

Ask your students about some of the factors which determine flower reproduction or predator/prey relationships, and grass/rabbits/wolves. Below are the cross-cutting concepts the students are developing.

• Cause and Effect
• Investigating and explaining causal relationships may predict & explain events.
• Systems and System Models
• Defining systems and system models are ways to understand & test ideas.
• Stability and Change
• For natural & built systems, conditions of stability and/or rates of change are critical.

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels - daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

Students have been furthering their exploration of Medieval Europe.  Last week they took on feudalism, and this week they have been looking at the role of the church in Medieval Life.  They completed a vocabulary activity and took a quick vocabulary test on Friday.  We will continue with medieval life next week.

After school help is available in my room every Thursday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Smith's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/

Dynamic Dialogue 4/3/15

Good Afternoon, Dynamic Team!

Upcoming Events:         Apr. 6^th – Term 6 begins

                              Apr. 10^th – Student Trivia

Important Information:   

Information about Hixson’s Summer Enrichment Program can be found here.

Student Trivia Night

Hixson's student trivia night will be held on April 10th from 3:30 to 5:15. Students may register as an individual or in groups of 2, 4, or 6. The cost to participate is $5.00 and includes food and drink. For more information and to print a registration form, please click here. Registration forms are also available outside the school office and are due by April 8th.  

English –

Susan Artkras – artkras.susan@wgmail.org

Students have been reading and analyzing a controversial short story by A.B. Guthrie, "Bargain." Now, students are drafting an argumentative essay to present their side of the situation that occurs in the story. 
Online resources:

• "Bargain" by A.B. Guthrie
•   notes on writing argumentative essays
• prepared outline for writing an argumentative essay
• full scoring guide

** All English assignments and teaching/learning materials are posted to Google Classroom & Drive.
**Support for English is available before or after school most days by appointment and without an appointment on Wednesday afternoons

Math- 

Wilma Slaughter – slaughter.wilma@wgmail.org

Science –

In Dynamic Science this week the students are finished human Circulatory/Respiratory System unit by taking their summative assessment on Friday, 3 April. Please ask your child how they think they did on the ‘test’ today. If they did not finish the test in class today, they will need to come in before school or after school on Tuesday to finish their test. As with any summative assessment, if your student would like to improve their grade, they will need to make a before or after school appointment with me to review their results and rework the goal. Once they have demonstrated proficiency with that goal. they will be able to take the alternative summative assessment.

The two learning goals for Circulatory System unit are the following:

1. The student is able to describe the path of the flow of blood through the circulatory system.
2. The student is able to describe the functions of the Circulatory and Respiratory systems.

Next week the students will continue with genetics!

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.

Dynamic Systems Science – Coach Daniels - daniels.mark@wgmail.org

314-918-4603

Social Studies –

Students jumped into the Middle Ages this week with an exploration of feudalism.  After taking a pre-test, students were given an activity based on their pre-existing knowledge.  This activity is on my website and was due on Friday.  Students were then given a vocabulary activity, which is due Monday.  The notes for this unit are up on my website, and I am suggesting that students begin taking looking at a few slides every night.  During this unit we will be looking at some key issues – the rise of nation states, the Black Death, the relationship between the Magna Carta and the U.S. Constitution, and finally the Crusades.

After school help is available in my room every Thursday until 4:00 

Dynamic Social Studies Course Website:

www.hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson/Classes/pettid

Lisa Pettid – pettid.lisa@wgmail.org

314-918-4602

Please visit the following links for more information: Hixson home page -http://hixson.webster.k12.mo.us/pages/Hixson Dr. Smith's blog - http://hixsonprincipal.wordpress.com/