Fwd: Sixth Grade News
andrea
about the upcoming year.
From: "Peter Sciarretta" <pscia...@santafewaldorf.org>
To: "Andrea Otero" <andre...@q.com>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2016 4:07:03 PM
Subject: Sixth Grade News
August 26, 2016
Dear Parents of the Sixth Grade,
I hope this letter finds you well, rested, and relaxed. I have enjoyed my summer, busy with day trips, projects and preparations for sixth grade!
And, although I remained in Santa Fe for the summer, I connected with fellow Waldorf teachers carrying parallel classes at other schools. Not only did I work with teachers from other schools, but with experienced and supportive teachers right here in our school. This will be my fourth time teaching the 6th grade curriculum. I am excited about what lies ahead!
What’s new this year?
Singing will be taught by Mr. Andersen and me, English will be taught weekly by Mr. Kerr (who taught at the Taos Waldorf School last year) and Mathematics (also taught weekly as a separate class by me). Eurythmy will be offered in two separate blocks, the first six-week block starting on Sept. 6. Spanish will be taught by Senora Castilla, and Physical Education by Mr. Wendland. This year students will experience their first Physics main lesson which will undoubtedly be a thrill! Block reviews will be given following most blocks. These reviews will provide an opportunity for the sixth graders to organize and articulate what they have learned.
There is also much excitement surrounding the middle school athletic program, and it sounds like this week of practice has been enjoyable. (Thank you Coach Carrie!)
Change in Main Lesson Starting Time
The morning bell will ring on the playground at 7:55am in order to actually begin class promptly at 8:00. Main lesson is the same length as last year, however by starting earlier, we will be adding five additional subject classes to our weekly schedule. We will have the opportunity to discuss additional sixth grade changes and look over the block rotation at our first parent meeting.
More news…
Thankfully, Andrea Otero has graciously agreed to be our Class Parent again, which provides consistency and experience, as Liam, Andrea’s son, already traveled through the sixth grade years ago.
Gemma and Elle are off to Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Gemma will see first-hand the limestone mountains and Roman ruins which we will study this year.
Welcome to our school!
I am also pleased to announce four new students and their families, who have joined our class; Daniel Czerkowski, Eli Gorman, Alia Caserta, and Loulee Wilson. Daniel, Eli and Loulee visited our class last year, while Alia interviewed during the summer. These students and their families will bring much to our class, and I am very excited to welcome them into our school community!
You will have a chance to meet the new families at the Back-to-School Picnic after the Wolf Pack Trail Run on Sept. 11. The picnic will be from 11am until 2pm here at school. Bring your own family picnic, blanket and be prepared to buy dessert goodies from the Parent Council. There will be games and music as well.
Reminders:
Because 6th graders are old enough to be responsible for their clothing items, the students must have the proper attire for all weather conditions during our school days, and the students must follow the dress code as indicated in our Parent Handbook. There are some drinking cups from last year which will be available to the students. Almost all the students chose to bring personal water bottles to school, and they can do so again. Because our room will be full of students, please send water bottles that are non-breakable and can be hung from a hook (if your sixth grader wishes to drink while seated during class).
What to Bring?
Each student needs to wear appropriate shoes for Physical Education class (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays). The first day of school back it’s fine if students do not wear appropriate shoes as they may wish to wear something more formal for Lily Ceremony day. Orchestra will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays as last year. The students must bring a sun hat and sturdy backpack to school each day, along with a snack and lunch (unless you order lunch on M, W and F from Two Sprouts and T/Th from our 7th and 9th grades).
Important Dates
Our parent meetings will be on the following dates:
Meeting: Wednesday, September 14th @6:00pm
Meeting: Wednesday, November 2nd @6:00pm
Meeting: Wednesday, February 1st @6:00pm
Class Play: Wednesday and Thursday, February15th and 16th
Times: TBD
Meeting: Wednesday, May 3rd @6:00pm
Please know that I have thought much about your children, both as individuals and as a sixth grade class. I am looking forward to all of the excitement, hard work, laughter, sharing, learning and growing which awaits us in sixth grade!
Please note that if you wish to contact me with an important question, please email me at: pscia...@santafewaldorf.org.
And, as we ready ourselves for the first day of school, let us send our best wishes and thoughts to Mark, Cynthia and Luc.
Warmly,
Peter Sciarretta
Sixth Grade Blocks
The Block Rotation this year will follow the sequence of these brief descriptions (we will begin with Geometry, then Roman History, etc.). I will provide a more detailed breakdown of main lesson topics at our first meeting.
I will also send brief bi-weekly updates, including important reminders for what is to come.
Geometry
The intention of the geometry studies in the sixth grade is to discover new spatial relationships and to understand math principals, number relationships and patterns that govern the natural world. We will begin this block by investigating the geometry of objects found in nature. Previous years’ observations had awakened the class to the beauty of a sunflower’s seed pattern and the hexagonal perfection of a beehive.
This year we begin to “create” and work with these forms ourselves. The students will draft precise and beautiful geometric constructions. We will use the compass and straight edge, along with our imaginations, to draft our work.
Roman History
In this block we will study the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. We will begin with a view back to Greek Mythology, in order to create a bridge from Greek to Roman Culture. This block can inspire a sense of being “in” Ancient Rome, thus enlivening this historical time for the children.
Initially we hear of the founding of Rome through the story of Romulus and Remus. Next, we move from legend to recorded history through the study of the seven kings of Rome. This will show how Rome’s success was dependent upon the rulers, which gives rise to the question of governance. The students will learn how laws, the acquisition of land, war, money and power shaped Rome’s expansion and influenced future generations.
Business Math/Geometry
As the sixth graders become more aware of their surroundings, a practical understanding of monetary transactions is vital. As a follow-up to the study of Rome (where banks existed and investments were part of daily life for Rome’s citizens), the sixth graders learn business math. We will study and experience the barter system compared to our current monetary system. Check writing, debit and credit card usage, loans, investments, and interest will be explored. We will work with decimals, fractions, percentages and mixed numbers, during this block.
This math block will also focus on geometric calculations. We will learn the degrees in the area or a square, circle, rectangle, and triangle. Area and perimeter, along with formulas, will be introduced. Word problems will also be covered.
Astronomy
As the sixth graders are appropriately becoming more self-conscious and concerned with themselves, they also need to focus their thinking and feeling into the world. The study of astronomy inspires awe and cultivates an interest in life’s deeper questions.
This block stems from students’ knowledge of the cycle of the year, month and weekly calendar. We will study the effect of the moon and the sun, as well as the roles of the stars and the earth in history, and the influence on our modern lives.
Geology
Just as with the science of the stars, looking outward into the far reaches of our universe, so too, do sixth graders need to strike a balance and look into the depths of our earth. Thus, the science of geology is studied in sixth grade. We will study the movements and cycles on earth’s surface, and the earth’s inner structure and processes. The life cycle of a rock and its transformation through the different epochs will be studied. Not only will we study Geology in the classroom, but we will also “rock out” this year as we tackle Merwin Lewis’ whimsical Rock Opera. This musical is about “intense pressure, rocky relationships, transformation, and beauty.” Mr. Andersen will assist in guiding “sedimentary sixth graders” along the path of transformation towards “crystalline, pure and clear” individuals.
Medieval History
This block will cover the rise of the Byzantine Empire and the spread of Islam eastward. The students will produce independent projects which will likely vary from weapons to illustrations to hand sewn clothing. These projects will provide an opportunity for the students to actively create and keep alive elements of times past. To further strengthen a “feeling” relationship to this time period, we will return to Boulder Colorado in the spring, for the annual Waldorf School Medieval Games.
Physics
Physics will be introduced as a phenomenologically based discipline. Acoustics, heat, optics, magnetism and static electricity will be studied this year. Much of this study will be through observation which will allow the students to draw their conclusions. The students will be asked to write up their observations of the physics’ lessons. This “lab report” format will be done in the following way:
1) materials 2) steps in the procedure (what was done) 3) observations (what was seen, heard, smelled, felt) 4) conclusions (what was learned, the outcome; usually applied in a general way). This format will be challenging for some, yet it will lay the foundation for objective observation and deeper understanding of the physical world. This block is particularly important during a developmental period in their lives when sympathy and antipathy rule their emotions.