(Continued from page 13)

6^th Reading - Mrs. Johnson
• Both reading groups have finished a unit in their textbooks.  Each class is now beginning a novel.  One of the novels is Maniac Magee.  It's a story about a boy who does amazing things.  He can throw a football farther than anyone else, runs fast, gets kids to like baths and pick up their rooms, and untied a knot that was about the size of a volleyball!   The other class is reading the novel A Long Way from Chicago.   Joey and Mary Alice hang out with their Grandma for a week each summer for nine years.  This isn't your average granny.  Grandma Dowdel is a colorful character!  With this story, they are learning about the Great Depression.  Ask them when and how it started.  They should be able to tell you!

6^th Social Studies - Mrs. Johnson
• Our social studies has taken us back in time.  The students learned about how the life of early man changed from hunting and gathering to becoming farmers.  These people used technology to advance their ag practices.  Just like technology today helps farmers to become more efficient.  We are currently studying Ancient Egypt.  Students have learned why the Nile river is so important to the Egyptians, pharaohs, and the mummification of people.   

6^th Grade - Mr. Hawkins
• The 6^th grade has 40 students this year.  It has been somewhat of an adjustment for the students, as they have moved over from the elementary building.  The students have all adjusted well though, and things are going fine!
• In Math we have been adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing all with whole numbers and decimals.  We have also worked with some simple algebraic expressions and equations.  Right now, we are using and analyzing various graphs.  The next area of study will be fractions.
• The first quarter in Science has mainly dealt with life science.  Parts of the cell, various living things, and ecosystems are some of the topics we have covered.  We are now finishing up life science and will be going into earth science.  Some of these topics will be earthquakes, volcanoes, and weather.
• We also have a Health class for 6^th grade.  In Health we have been talking about the human body and studying various things related to it.  We also read about real life people and some of today's issues concerning health in our "Current Health" magazines.

(Continued on page 15)