Exploring the theme of Inequality

Students in Meredith Sanborn and Eileen Barry's English Language Arts class were beginning their literary exploration of the theme "inequality." Five learning stations were set up to allow students to build background knowledge on the novels they will eventually select for a literature circle.

Each station approached the content from a different perspective: poetry, videos, historical photography, nonfiction articles, and picture books. Students will use this background knowledge to help them choose a novel that they will read and discuss in a small group format.

I am We--Citizenship in the 8th Grade

Our 8th grade students spend the year studying American civics and asking questions like: What are the foundations of American democracy?  What have been the challenges America has faced as we work towards our Constitution's vision of "We the people" and a just, tranquil, safe and free society? How is each one of us a part of the collective "we"?

As students learn about the history and structure of the American democracy, they also explore their own role as citizens in a project called "I am We." Each student selects a topic of interest and plans and executes a project where they can practice active citizenry.

As a part of their project, a group of 8th grade students recently visited the NHSPCA. Below is a brief summary of the project from Sophia Gioldasis:

"I was always interested in animals but never thought I would work on a project about saving them. It was truly a childhood dream come true. My classmates who were working on the same topic as me made non-sewable toys and blankets out of fleece to be donated to a local animal organization. The place we chose was the NHSPCA (society for the prevention of cruelty to animal). Once we donated our toys we interviewed the educator of the place so we could understand what the place is all about and what they are trying to accomplish. After that we took a tour around and saw the cute dogs and cats. We also got to hold some animals. My friends got to hold a ferret, a chinchilla, a bird; I got to hold a rat. In the end we all got information for our I am We project."

Block Dogs Come to Life to teach Surface Area and Volume

Students in Jay Spadano's 6th grade math class were busy building "block dogs" this week. Students started with 13 plastic cubes and the challenge to build a dog. Once the dog was built, they needed to calculate the volume and surface area. Volume was easy for the group--surface area proved to be a challenge!

Part two was to build the dog using a flat paper net. What would the dog model look like if it were on a flat piece of graph paper?

Once the paper dog was was built, the challenge was to scale the dog up (choose your own scale factor...some students were making it 2X, others were working on as big as 4X). The final step will be to calculate the area and surface volume for the newly enlarged creature.

Below are some pictures of the lesson in action...

Understanding the Impact of Child Labor

Our 6th grade students are in the midst of an interdisciplinary unit on Child Labor. Using the novel, Iqbal by Francesco-D'Adamo as an anchor text, the goal of the unit is to expose the realities of international child labor and its impact on the quality of lives of young people world-wide.

Students on the 6 Gold team participated in an activity to help them understand the type of work and the amount of money earned by child laborers. Students were assigned families and "worked" for a portion of class. "Work" was inspected and students earned rupees to contribute to their family budget.  As a culmination for the unit students will create public service announcements to demonstrate their knowledge of the content, use their persuasive writing skills, and practice public speaking.

Going Visual in the Math Classroom

The walls and visual spaces of a school can be an important a resource for learning. Mr. Taffel and Mr. Moscardini have filled their 7th grade math room with "mathematical art." It is fun to watch the math wall evolve as the students progress through the Eureka curriculum.

Spanish Videos

It has not been uncommon to see small groups of interestingly costumed students roaming the halls with computers. These students are working on a Spanish project where they wrote a short dialogue between two or three strangers (e.g. How are you? What do you like to do?). The goal is to build students' comfort in speaking Spanish and in using conversational vocabulary. Once the dialogue is written, students act it out and create a short video.

I'm not sure where you might meet "strangers" dressed in this way, but the group below was certainly having some fun with the language...

A few photos from the Explore classes

Students at the Nock have a rotation of courses we call "Explore." In these classes, students have an opportunity to explore literacy through art, music, movement, engineering, and language. Much goes on in the Explore classes...here are just a few snapshots in time of our 7th grade classes.

Engineering class students constructing bridges from balsam wood using the designs created in CAD--learning to turn an idea into a prototype

Students working on word art illustrations in art class--connecting the meaning of a word with a shape, color, and design

Physical Education students in a volleyball tournament--learning correct volleyball form is made easier with a more accessible weight and sized ball

Students in Jay Murphy's Wellness class working on class expectations before they enter a unit on personal fitness and goal setting 

Teamwork Egyptian Style

Students in Mr. Webber's 7th grade ancient world class are wrapping up their unit on ancient Egypt--literally! After studying some of the funerary practices of the Egyptians, reading Egyptian mythology, and writing research papers on the gods, goddesses and religious practices of the Egyptians, students are finishing with a team challenge:

"Your class needs to design and build an Egyptian Mummy... similar steps should be taken as the ancients took (canopic jars, sacred artifacts, death masks etc.). You need to supply the materials, make a plan and execute it as a large group with no direction from staff." 

Here are a few works in process: 

Support Claims with Text Evidence in 7th Grade

7th grade scholars hard at work

Throughout middle school students are learning to use evidence to support their claims. In science class this might take the form of a laboratory report with a hypothesis, in math class supporting an answer with an equation, and in wellness class making a personal decision based on research.

In all classes students are learning that a strong argument or wise decision needs supporting evidence and details.

Students in Aishling Falzone's ELA class are working on literary claims and using quotations from a text to support these claims. In this case students are reading the short story "A Crush" by Cynthia Rylant. Flowers play an important role in the story, so students are creating claims and finding quotations that address the question of how flowers affect characters in the story.

Debating the Impact of Deforestation

One of the "rubber tapper" teams at work

Students in Elizabeth Carroll's Geography class are studying the impact of deforestation on the Amazon Rainforest. Small groups are researching the issue from various points of view including ranchers, rubber tappers, environmentalists.

They will culminate their research in an informal debate about how the rainforest should be used and protected.

Dramatic Production of Lord of the Flies This Weekend

Under the direction of Mike Pirollo a small group of 7-8th grade students have been hard at work delving into the themes and characters of the classic novel by William Golding Lord of the Flies.

The novel explores the themes of civil societies, law and order, social structures, and individual accountability...many of the same ideas students in 7th and 8th grade explore in their study of the Ancient World (grade 7) and American Civics (grade 8).

The students were excited by their opening night and, as you can see in the photos below, are very proud of the set they have built.

Please join us for the dramatic production on Friday, November 17 at 7:00 or Saturday, November 18 at 2:00PM and 7:00PM. General Admission is $12. Doors are open 30 minutes before the start of the show. Please note that the themes addressed in this play include bullying and examine consequences of violent human behavior.

New Health Curriculum Addresses Adolescent Substance Use Prevention

This year Wellness teacher Jay Murphy is using an updated version of a curriculum called All Stars. All Stars is a nationally-recognized, evidence-based prevention program that focuses on two goals:  

      

• Prevent risky behaviors among adolescents
• Help adolescents build positive and bright futures

As the All Stars Program explains, “The prevalence of substance use increases as adolescents grow older. Research shows the later the age someone begins to use substances, the less likely they will have problems later in life. The goal of All Stars is to prevent use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs and inhalant use for as long as possible during the most at-risk years for adolescents.”

Students in Mr. Murphy’s 6-8 classes will participate in All Stars units specifically designed to promote student assets and strengths and address the specific developmental needs of the age group. Visit the All Stars Website or reach out to Mr. Murphy form more information on the curriculum.

Our Wellness course is just one piece of what needs to be a multi-pronged prevention effort that includes families, the community and the schools. It is important for us to remember that students need to hear messages about healthy choices from many different voices. 

Honoring Veteran's Day

We began our day Thursday with a short assembly planned and facilitated by our 8th Grade Clipper Crew (under the direction of social studies teachers John Webber and Jen Groskin).

The assembly was followed by a Veteran's Town Hall with the 8th Grade. Eight local veterans came to share their stories of service. The program was developed and run by Jen Groskin with support of local veteran Dr. Ralph Orlando. Over the course of the year students have been viewing history through a tool called an "identity wheel." This tool allows students to reflect on how their identity affects their interpretation of history and builds their skills in understanding the impact of identity on how history unfolds and is reported. The veterans at our Town Hall were asked to share their own identity wheel with the students as a part of their presentations.

Today our 7th grade students walked to City Hall to participate in the City's Veteran's Day program. It was a cool and windy walk but their presence was much appreciated by the veteran's in the audience.

On behalf of the entire RAN student and staff community, we send our thanks to the men and women who have given and continue to give service to our country. And a special thank you goes to the veterans who shared their stories with us this week.

The Joppa Salt Marsh comes to the Nock

Because of the rainy weather this week a few bike trips were cancelled. But that didn't stop our 7th students from participating in the data collection taking place at the Joppa Flats Audubon Center.

Audubon scientist Liz Duff and her team of biologists brought the salt marsh to us--complete with the smell and the fish.

Students working at Joppa Flats assist in the on-going collection of data to measure salinity, fish species and plant life at the salt marsh. This data has been collected for many years and it is interesting for students to learn what data is collected, to be a part of the real-life collection and to learn about and predict the trends. Using the data they can begin to see the impact of human interaction and natural forces on the environment.

Newburyport Rec Center--Surfing, Film making, Teen Crossfit and More

Newburyport Youth Services offers a wide range of programs to support the positive growth and development of our middle school students. Housed in the old Brown School, the center has a gym, four classrooms and a dedicated teen room. Check out the full  list of offerings: Rec Center Catalog

There are many options for middle school students including a drop-in center, open gym, and half-day trips. There is a free bus from the Nock to the center daily.

Drop by with your child and check out the facility and meet the staff. It is a fun place for kids to hang out, try new activities, and connect with friends.

Coming this month for middle school students are a Halloween Party on October 27 from 6:30-8:30 and a 7th-8th Grade Fall Dance on November 3 from 6:30-8:30.

Around the Nock Today

A few pictures of some of the action in school today...

8th grade literature circles...students are discussing what role ethics and morals play in a dystopian society

More literature circles

CO2 Car Building in Engineering

CO2 Car Building in Engineering

Creating visual maps to illustrate popular music in art