McCormick Middle School

Social Studies
As part of our ongoing discussion about economics and being a productive citizen, students took a Career Aptitude Test called "You Science." This test had students answer questions about various activities and whether they would enjoy them. After answering 60 questions, students received a ranked list of Career Clusters that would be a good fit for them. Our students had a great time exploring the suggestions and created slideshows about their interests, aptitudes, and jobs they may be interested in one day. I was blown away by the ideas and dreams our students have.

We will continue to weave in Career Exploration lessons throughout the year, and I plan to bring in area professionals to speak to our students about their careers. My goal is to help each student recognize their unique skills and talents and get excited about using those gifts one day in their career.

In addition to Career Exploration, we just finished studying Regions and how they are categorized and studied. Students compared and contrasted maps to learn about various countries and continents. To wrap up the unit, students took a "Virtual Field Trip" to a location of their choice using VR Goggles. (Thank you to Mrs. LaCrosse for sharing her six headsets.)

We are also gearing up for a special Veterans Day activity. Students were encouraged to invite a special veteran to speak to our class. Thank you in advance to parents for donating cider and donuts to make this a special day for our students.

Science
In 6th-grade science, we are wrapping up our Physical Science unit with a study of linear motion. Students will calculate speed using drones and Sphero robots. We recently finished work on types of energy, potential and kinetic energy, as well as states of matter.

Sketch Note by Sam Perin

English Language Arts
Students read the nonfiction book What Was the Holocaust? by Gail Herman to obtain background information. Then they read the historical fiction novel Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, which takes place in Denmark during the Holocaust. Next, they will compare and contrast the two texts from different genres in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics. They're honing their reading and writing skills while learning about empathy, bravery, and the importance of standing up for others.

Poster by Zoey Kudrin