LANGUAGE ARTS AND HISTORY:

Our current class novel is the young adult classic, The Outsiders. This story about teenagers struggling with their social identities in 1960s Oklahoma is perfect for a study of theme and characterization. The students discussed the role that social class plays in the characters’ lives, how it defines their identities, and how it gives them perspective. This week, students are creating trading cards that feature the main characters and their personality traits. We will make connections between characters’ personality traits and their motives (and actions) in the plot. As we read further, we will also question whether characters can change their perceptions of themselves and others.

MATH AND SCIENCE:

Science & Engineering Festival

Our fifth through seventh grade students put a new twist on the concept of a science fair and hosted an interactive Science & Engineering Festival. Teams of students studied topics of interest and used their findings to create a hands-on exhibit to share with younger students. We invited younger grades to join us for our festival, and the cooperative learning experience was a great success. The students enjoyed pushing their limits to learn in new ways and share their findings with others.