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Mackintosh Littleton 5th-6th East Newsletter
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Unit of Inquiry
Last week, students wrapped up their How the World Works Unit of
Inquiry. In this unit, the students investigated how understanding the
laws of motion affect human interaction with the world. In this unit,
students investigated Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, friction, gravity,
potential energy, and kinetic energy. This unit was very dependent
on hands-on activities, discussions, and lab activities. Many of the
labs challenged the students to design their own way to test and
demonstrate the law or concept. In addition to the physics concepts,
this unit fostered the students’ ability to work in small groups and
practice observation and data collection. Last Friday the students
completed the final lab. In this lab, they launched 2 liter pop bottles
with water and air pressure. Students designed this lab from the
ground up and figured out the optimal conditions for getting a 2 liter
pop bottle to the maximum altitude.
This week students are beginning their Who We Are unit. During
this unit, the students return to Colorado history where they will
investigate the communities and industries that have shaped our state.
We will study the impacts and interaction of mining, ranching,
farming, technology, and outdoor recreation on Colorado
communities.
Exhibition
Upon their return from Winter Break, students jumped right into the
Exhibition. Since this time, students have met 2-3 times per week.
The goal of these meetings has been to build background
understanding of the importance of water in the world and an
overview of water issues around the globe. Students have also
worked to create the central idea for the unit: Equal opportunities and
responsibilities of sharing of water helps create peaceful
relationships. This week, students are beginning the process of
researching a water issue. With this information, the students will
write 5-7 page papers. These papers will be due in late February.
56 Northeast
Our Current Unit:
Who We Are
Central Idea: Relationships with
different groups, cultures, and individuals
form communities
1. Identify how political and cultural groups
affect the development of a region
2. Interactions among people and cultures
3. Various individuals and groups influence the
way an issue affecting a region is viewed
and resolved
Marquee of Coming Attractions:
Wednesday, Jan. 25 – In-class field trip, Colorado History
Museum presents Western Work: Colorado Industries of
the Past
Wednesday, Feb. 1 – Middle School Play, Romeo and
Juliet, at the YGP
Friday, Feb. 3 – Mackintosh Spelling Bee
Wednesday, Feb. 8 – field trip to Phoenix Gold Mine,
Idaho Springs
Wednesday, Feb. 15 – In-class field trip, Mizel Museum
presents Jewish Pioneers
Friday, February 17 – Half-day, dismissal at 11:30am
Monday, February 20 – President’s Day, No School
Friday, February 24 – 5/6 Play, The Prince and the
Pauper, performance at 10am
Tuesday, February 28 – field trip to Colorado State
Capitol
TBA – field trip to the Black American West Museum in
Denver
January 17, 2012 VOL #4 ISSUE #1
Please email us with any questions that you have
Students enjoy some humor during community
meeting
Language arts
As part of the physics unit, students wrote short personal
narratives of a time when they had an accident or mishap
due to an incomplete understanding of the laws of motion.
In these narratives, students were encouraged to point out
the different laws of motion that they encountered in this
experience. Students were also encouraged to use sensory
detail to enrich the story. These were very fun to read.
Reading
In December before Winter Break, students read Peter
and the Star Catchers. This book tells the story of how a
young orphan becomes Peter Pan. This is an entertaining
book, full of swashbuckling adventure. In the story, a
young orphan, Peter, comes across a mysterious group
that is trying to keep a magical star-dust out of the hands
of bad people. This “star stuff” gives power to anyone
who handles it, and Peter finds out that most people who
handle it become corrupted by the power they gain. We
read this as part of our unit on physics, as the study of
physics has been largely about trying to find better ways
to tap into power and then use it. History is full of many
people who could not use power responsibly.
Coming up this week, students will begin reading,
Nothing Here But Stones. This book connects to the
upcoming Who We Are Unit. It tells the fictionalized
story of a historic group of Russian Jews who fled Russia,
and settled near Salida, Colorado. Their life in Colorado
was very difficult. Students are also returning to the
Colorado textbook and are reading about the development
of different communities in Colorado.
Students investigate Newton’s Second Law of
motion
Problem solving and cooperation are part of the
physics unit
Students explore energy during the Denver
Museum of Science in-class fieldtrip Both classes discuss energy
VOL #2 ISSUE #1
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By Marnix