Sixth and Seventh Grade: January 7-10, 2025

Jan 8

Hello, Middle School Families,

I hope that everyone enjoyed the snow and stayed warm this weekend! What a fun surprise!

We've had an exciting week filled with creative exploration and historical connections. In this block, 6th and 7th graders are working with Ki Gaby, our Fine Arts teacher, on Perspective Drawing, a technique discovered by Filippo Brunelleschi in 15th-century Florence that revolutionized art during the Renaissance. This discovery marked a turning point in how artists viewed and represented space. This block ties directly into the students' ongoing study of the Renaissance, where they explore key figures and groundbreaking innovations of the time.

On a more personal level, the perspective drawing block also mirrors the students' journey of self-discovery. As they navigate the challenges of being teenagers, they are beginning to develop their own unique perspectives on the world around them. Just as artists during the Renaissance learned to represent depth and multiple viewpoints in their work, our students are at a pivotal stage in life where they are shaping their own standpoints and understanding their place in the world. It's a time of growth and reflection, and their art allows them to express how they see and relate to the world in new and profound ways.

So far, the students have explored the basic rules of one-point linear perspective. In the coming two weeks, they will explore perspective drawing with multiple vanishing points, refining their skills and creating their own works of art. It is wonderful to see their creativity and understanding grow as they connect art to history.

In XML this week, the class wrapped up a few Main Lesson pages from the Age of Exploration block. As mentioned in the email last week, students are prepping for a Map and Short Answer test on Friday, January 17. As a whole class, we have discussed strategies for studying for the test, and students have been working together in small groups to prepare for the short answer portion of the test.

Announcements and Reminders for Sixth/Seventh Grade: