News from 7-L

Team 7-L
BLOG UPDATE

Team 7-L Science with Mr. Dellinger

        Students recently completed Unit 4 of the year.  This unit focuses on motion, forces, and the laws of Isaac Newton.  Not long ago, students completed Newton’s 1^st Law Lab. This activity included six lab stations that demonstrated the law that objects tend to stay doing what they are doing.  One such demo involved a ramp, forces car, textbooks, and a ping-pong ball.  Students observed the law of inertia as the car picked up speed down the ramp before crashing into a textbook projecting the ping-pong ball forward.  Students seemed to enjoy the activity and learned much about forces.

  

     

Students now have access to the online science textbooks. The following website provides a link to the book.

http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected/login.do

       

Once there, the student will enter their study island username and password to access the book. This textbook will actually read the text to the student and provides many clear examples of concepts.

Lastly, during the next few weeks the students will be working through the Heat Transfer, Sound & Light, and Electricity units.  We hope to be working on Cells, Genetics and other biology units by the end of April and early May.

Team 7-L Academic Lit. with Mr. Vasellas

Mrs. Vasellas and her classes are working on the final assessment for Unit 2. Students read a paired-text about Disasters. The students will write a paragraph explaining which text was more effective in expressing its ideas and why. The paragraphs will be submitted using Googledocs.

Team 7-L Math with Mr. Flay

The past several weeks have been dedicated to PSSA Preparation.  Students’ have worked diligently on preparation packets that were a mix of review material and material from units that are PSSA tested, yet we did not have time to complete prior to PSSA’s. 

Pictured above, are students’ working on Study Island.  Study Island is also a form of PSSA Preparation.  It is a computer based program that gives students the opportunity to complete lessons on their own and answer questions that resemble PSSA questions. 

As we finish Marking Period 3, and move forward into the 4^th and final marking period, I think we are all excited about “Spring,” and a strong finish to the school year!!!!

Team 7-L English with Miss Maxwell

Students in Miss Maxwell's class have been discussing literary elements and figurative language in many different texts.  Students have enjoyed plays like "Pandora's Box" among other poems and stories.  As the year continues, we will put our knowledge of stories into practice by writing our own narratives. 

Team 7-L Social Studies with Mr. Arigo

 Students in Mr. Arigo’s Social Studies classes are examining the early colonies especially the British settlements along the Atlantic coast.  The Native American and European interaction during this time period was the scene of many conflicts.  The famous artist, Robert Griffin, will expose students to paintings and images along with narratives on the Eastern Woodlands Native American populations.  The 4^th marking period will be focused on Pennsylvania History and Studies on the Commonwealth.

Team 7-L Health with Mr. Martin

In Mr. Martin’s health class we are wrapping up our tobacco and alcohol unit.  Students have been working on their projects and giving presentations this week and will conclude this unit with their unit test this week. Throughout this unit we have discussed various issues, problems, and risks associated with tobacco and alcohol use and I have attempted to encourage students to have the confidence to make wise choices when it comes to these issues and to stand up against the pressures of our culture, media, and their peers.

I have also been encouraging students to initiate discussion and conversation with their families in regards to their views on tobacco and alcohol use through the use of an interview assignment. I also challenge and encourage all parents to take the time to discuss these important issues with your teens if you have not already done so.  I also remind you to keep discussing these issues with your teen now and in the future as the pressure becomes even greater.  Students cannot hear that message enough.  After all, our media makes sure they hear the fun and positive side to underage tobacco and alcohol use nearly everyday through movies, television, Internet, radio, and various other means of advertising.

Talking to your teens about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs can be a difficult conversation to have, but nevertheless a necessary and important one.  Many tobacco and alcohol users have their first experiences with these substances long before it is actually legal to do so. 

As we move forward into the last marking period, we will be starting our next unit on First Aid and Safety Prevention, which will help students be better prepared to deal with some of life’s unfortunate and unexpected circumstances that any of us may face at a moment’s notice.  As our teens are growing up, they are given greater responsibility by being left alone or in charge of younger children.  This makes it all the more imperative as to why they need to know what to do in the event of an emergency.  All people can benefit from basic first aid and safety prevention education, and I once again encourage parents to talk your children about these and other important health issues.