Sixth & Seventh Grade: April 14 - 18, 2025
Hello, Middle School Families,
We look forward to seeing you at the auction this Friday and are excited to display our class project, which is an embroidered wall hanging, using the Japanese Sashiko technique.
Last week, we continued with our Physics Block, venturing now into the topic of Electricity. The class explored the properties of static electricity, experimenting with rubbing different materials (such as silk and wool) on a glass, polyethylene, and acetate rod. Similar to Thales’ discovery of static electricity, the class saw how static electricity can be produced. Building on their knowledge of magnetism, the class determined that a static electric charge can both attract and repel, like charges repel, while opposite charges attract.
The class built voltaic cells and connected them in a circuit to build a battery, ultimately powering a small light bulb and clock. Each small group was able to build one, and much delight occurred when, after much trial and error, they were able to power a light. Finally, we ended the week building the world’s smallest motor, which nicely shows the relationship between magnetism and electricity.
In Music, Ki Ben is expanding on our Physics Main Lesson through the lens of sound with the Middle School class. For these next two weeks, they will be completing experiments with him, such as experiencing the speed of sound, resonance, consonance, and dissonance. Consonance and dissonance also tie in nicely with our current math unit, Ratios!
We also had a special guest teacher, Ki Derek (and Scarlett, his youngest daughter!). The class has begun planning for building a Ga-Ga ball court. Ki Derek came in to discuss design, materials, and together the class calculated the cost of materials for Ki Derek to purchase. When we finished, there was much surprise over the cost of materials!
Announcements and Reminders for Sixth/Seventh Grade:
4/25: Annual Auction Fundraiser - Half Day
4/26: Community Work Day
5/6: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Field Trip
5/7 - 5/9: Overnight Hiking Field Trip
5/10: Community Work Day
5/14: Literature Circle Book and Assignment due
5/20: Sixth/Seventh Class Play at 5:30 pm
5/21: Field Day / Half-day for Kindergarten
5/23: Last day of School / Full Day
Thank you for the honor of teaching your children,
Ki Lesley
