Language Arts

We are currently wrapping up our Science Fiction unit, in which we looked at how science fiction writers make social commentaries through their depictions of future worlds and planned literary analysis essays synthesizing multiple texts. The first week of February, we start John Steinbeck’s famous novella Of Mice and Men. With this unit of study, we examine how Steinbeck’s masterpiece uses devices such as symbolism, archetypes, allusion, to convey a theme relating to the attainability of the American Dream. We are looking forward to seeing the students fall in love with the characters of Lennie and George. If you’ve read the book before, please tell your student (but no spoilers)!

As always, the expectation is that your student is either reading 100 pages a of an independent reading book or passing 4 iReady lessons per week. They have 10-15 minutes at the start of our class each day to do this, and the rest must be done at home.

As always, email us with any questions at erin_brauer@dpsk12.net or rachel_sommer@dpsk12.net. 

Algebra

After winter break, students jumped into Unit 6: Solving Systems of Equations. They are learning that two linear equations happening at the same time form a system and that the solution is the point where the lines intersect. Students practice finding solutions using three methods: graphing, substitution, and elimination.

These skills are being applied in our Food Truck Business Plan Project, where students design a food truck, create a menu, and model costs and revenue to determine their business’s break-even point. Ask your student about how their food truck is progressing! Student presentations will cap off the unit in a few weeks. 

Pat_Mahoney1@dpsk12.net 

Integrated II Math

Questions on this months happening please reach out to Mr. Stock at- benjamin_stock@dpsk12.net

Science

In February we’re going to be wrapping up our Force and Motion unit and building our final Rube Goldberg Machines! Students will be able to explain all the different steps within their machine and how they relate to Newton’s Laws, non-contact forces, and energy transformations so feel free to ask them about it! (They should also have a video of their machine in action on their Chromebooks) 

Once we finish up with Force and Motion we’ll begin with our Chemistry unit! Students will learn about the periodic table, different parts of an atom, and of course, chemical reactions!

Social Studies

Questions on this months happening please reach out to Ms. Graves at- lacey_graves@dpsk12.net