Unit of Inquiry

Last week, students wrapped up their How the World Works Unit of

Inquiry. In this unit, the students investigated how understanding the

laws of motion affect human interaction with the world. In this unit,

students investigated Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, friction, gravity,

potential energy, and kinetic energy. This unit was very dependent

on hands-on activities, discussions, and lab activities. Many of the

labs challenged the students to design their own way to test and

demonstrate the law or concept. In addition to the physics concepts,

this unit fostered the students’ ability to work in small groups and

practice observation and data collection. Last Friday the students

completed the final lab. In this lab, they launched 2 liter pop bottles

with water and air pressure. Students designed this lab from the

ground up and figured out the optimal conditions for getting a 2 liter

pop bottle to the maximum altitude.

This week students are beginning their Who We Are unit. During

this unit, the students return to Colorado history where they will

investigate the communities and industries that have shaped our state.

We will study the impacts and interaction of mining, ranching,

farming, technology, and outdoor recreation on Colorado

communities.

Exhibition

Upon their return from Winter Break, students jumped right into the

Exhibition. Since this time, students have met 2-3 times per week.

The goal of these meetings has been to build background

understanding of the importance of water in the world and an

overview of water issues around the globe. Students have also

worked to create the central idea for the unit: Equal opportunities and

responsibilities of sharing of water helps create peaceful

relationships. This week, students are beginning the process of

researching a water issue. With this information, the students will

write 5-7 page papers. These papers will be due in late February.

56 Northeast

Our Current Unit:

Who We Are

Central Idea: Relationships with

different groups, cultures, and individuals

form communities

1. Identify how political and cultural groups

affect the development of a region

2. Interactions among people and cultures

3. Various individuals and groups influence the

way an issue affecting a region is viewed

and resolved

Marquee of Coming Attractions:

Wednesday, Jan. 25 – In-class field trip, Colorado History

Museum presents Western Work: Colorado Industries of

the Past

Wednesday, Feb. 1 – Middle School Play, Romeo and

Juliet, at the YGP

Friday, Feb. 3 – Mackintosh Spelling Bee

Wednesday, Feb. 8 – field trip to Phoenix Gold Mine,

Idaho Springs

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – In-class field trip, Mizel Museum

presents Jewish Pioneers

Friday, February 17 – Half-day, dismissal at 11:30am

Monday, February 20 – President’s Day, No School

Friday, February 24 – 5/6 Play, The Prince and the

Pauper, performance at 10am

Tuesday, February 28 – field trip to Colorado State

Capitol

TBA – field trip to the Black American West Museum in

Denver

January 17, 2012 VOL #4 ISSUE #1

Please email us with any questions that you have

joe@mackintoshacademy.com

alison@mackintoshacademy.com

Students enjoy some humor during community

meeting

Language arts

As part of the physics unit, students wrote short personal

narratives of a time when they had an accident or mishap

due to an incomplete understanding of the laws of motion.

In these narratives, students were encouraged to point out

the different laws of motion that they encountered in this

experience. Students were also encouraged to use sensory

detail to enrich the story. These were very fun to read.

Reading

In December before Winter Break, students read Peter

and the Star Catchers. This book tells the story of how a

young orphan becomes Peter Pan. This is an entertaining

book, full of swashbuckling adventure. In the story, a

young orphan, Peter, comes across a mysterious group

that is trying to keep a magical star-dust out of the hands

of bad people. This “star stuff” gives power to anyone

who handles it, and Peter finds out that most people who

handle it become corrupted by the power they gain. We

read this as part of our unit on physics, as the study of

physics has been largely about trying to find better ways

to tap into power and then use it. History is full of many

people who could not use power responsibly.

Coming up this week, students will begin reading,

Nothing Here But Stones. This book connects to the

upcoming Who We Are Unit. It tells the fictionalized

story of a historic group of Russian Jews who fled Russia,

and settled near Salida, Colorado. Their life in Colorado

was very difficult. Students are also returning to the

Colorado textbook and are reading about the development

of different communities in Colorado.

Students investigate Newton’s Second Law of

motion

Problem solving and cooperation are part of the

physics unit

Students explore energy during the Denver

Museum of Science in-class fieldtrip Both classes discuss energy

VOL #2 ISSUE #1

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By Marnix