1 February 2015

6th Grade Parents,

We had an exciting time last week, what with our Ancient China Warring States Game, the school Geography
bee, and Dr. Jones glowing praise for the students Science Fair project ideas and experiments.
Please ask your child for details if he/she has not already told you about our adaptation of the classic RISK
game to Ancient China circa 450 BCE. We ran out of time to complete the game and have saved it for a future
indoor recess its a close call whether the Qi, the Yan, or the Hun will end up forming the first cohesive
Chinese empire (the Qin won in real history, but they were taken out early in our game!) We have now
completed our study of Ancient China and turn our attention back to the post-Mesopotamia Middle East to
investigate the Hittites, Phoenicians, and Israel.
We had a visit Thursday from our favorite scientist, Dr. T.J. Jones; the students each presented their science fair
ideas, hypotheses and experimental procedures for his feedback. His excitement, praise, and enthusiastic
suggestions were both affirming and infectious for the students everyone walked out of the classroom
beaming! Over the next 3 weeks we need to capitalize on that feeling and complete all the experiments, data
analysis and reporting. Most students are planning to conduct their experiments during class time and will need
to quickly gather the requisite supplies and bring them to school so that they may begin. Students should also
acquire a 3-panel display board and header so that they are ready to prepare their presentations once they have
completed their observations, data analysis and written their conclusions.
To help motivate students to check their answers in Math we have decided to allow the use of calculators in
class, on tests, and for homework. Unless otherwise informed, students should use the calculators ONLY for
checking and should always show their pencil and paper work along with their answer. We have simple
calculators in class, but students are free to bring their own and they should have access to a calculator at home
for use with homework. You may also notice special RESCUE homework questions these are designed to
help students practice justifying their answers to complex math problems by estimating, checking, and
explaining their thinking both in words and diagrams.
In Language Arts we are focusing on informational text reading comprehension and expository/argumentative
essay writing. Students have dissected speeches by Martin Luther King and Malala Yousafzai, compared
Confucianism with Taoism, and argued for or against shutting down the computer screens for a week at Ashley
Academy. A regular part of homework this month will be to read a selected text and to highlight key topic
sentences and evidence for use in class the next day. As much as possible I will choose texts that relate to
current events and/or topics in our other academic units please feel free to discuss the articles as a family and
to help your child appreciate the more subtle nuances of each subject or argument.
A note on school supplies: Some students are running low on basic supplies and/or forget crucial materials
regularly. All students should have lined notebook paper and a computer flashdrive available every day.
Students sometimes need grid paper for math class, and all need access to calculators, rulers, protractors and a
compass for homework.
About reading: Students should ALWAYS have an appropriate pleasure reading book with them in class, and
they should read that book at least 20 minutes every night.
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Joseph Addison
Sincerely,
Mr. Mac