What is SAS?

1. What is SAS? • As 6th grade SAS teachers, our goal is to provide experiences where students can learn sixth grade standards through interactive learning including hands-on activities, in-depth exploration, role playing, simulations, labs and other activities that reinforce content. We use the icons of Depth and Complexity as tools to help us achieve our learning objectives.

2. We strive to create a small learning community that eases the transition from 5th to 6th grade and provides the foundation for success throughout middle school. Our approach encourages cooperation and tolerance of others so students feel safe and comfortable to share ideas. • We work together as a 6th grade team to coordinate activities, lessons, and projects to enhance and support learning across the curriculum. We provide several opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s learning experiences.

3. Strategies for Student Success At Holmes SAS teachers currently employ the following strategies to insure student success: • Teacher teams meet together often to plan curriculum, coordinate homework, and discuss individual student needs • Weekly reports to track your child’s progress • Evening activities to encourage parent participation • Lessons and activities that address all learning styles • Conferences with students to encourage and better understand student strengths and weaknesses • Teachers encourage parent conferences and initiate contact • Required use of planner to aid in organization and time management skills

4. The Ocean Institute at Dana Point Field Trip

5. What is the Ocean Institute Field Trip? • The Ocean Institute Field trip is a two day overnight science experience beginning at the Lazy W Ranch in the Cleveland National Forest and ending at the Dana Point Marine Science Center. • Students will participate in labs and activities exploring six ecosystems of Southern California and the ocean. • The Ocean Institute at Dana Point is a nationally known marine science and environmental education program available to K-12 students and teachers. • It’s mission is to inspire all generations, through education, to become responsible stewards of our oceans.

6. The Lazy W Ranch • At the rustic Lazy W Ranch students become field biologists and employ the tools and techniques used for collecting and assessing field data. • Students will identify biotic and abiotic relationships specific to the riparian, oak woodland, and chaparral ecosystems.

7. The Marine Life Refuge • At the Dana Point Marine Life Refuge students will explore the complex relationships within the tide pool as they measure physical factors, identify adaptations and conduct population studies on hermit crabs, turban snails, barnacles, and more.

8. The Living Systems Lab • Students will study the interactions among biotic and abiotic components of marine ecosystems. • They will explore the requirements of marine aquariums and their inhabitants. • They will examine the internal organs of a fish through a detailed dissection. • They will determine the water quality of lab aquariums through a variety of chemical tests.

9. The Living Systems Cruise • On the RV Explorer students will feel and taste the salty sea spray, sort through live specimens, observe migrating whales and other sea mammals, and collect scientific data. • Students will use hands on activities to enhance their understanding of the benthic and pelagic zones of the ocean.

10. Why should all students have the opportunity to attend this outstanding field trip? • The Ocean Institute programs are designed to maximize immersion, inspire deep commitment to learning and spark curiosity, questions, and future discovery. • Students last year rated this field trip as “the best they’ve ever been on.” • Sixth Grade SAS teachers would like every student to have the kind of science opportunities provided by the Ocean Institute.

11. Additional SAS Activities • Cultural Exchange • Field Trips • Egypt Festival • Greek Festival • Portfolio Day • Poetry Jam/Art Exhibit • Math-a-thon • Family Halloween Movie Night

12. Culture Exchange • We are very fortunate to have students from many different cultural backgrounds in our classes. We find evidence of our culture in the clothes we wear, the languages we speak, the religions we practice, the beliefs we hold, the traditions we celebrate, the music we enjoy, the art we create, the dances we perform, the holidays we observe, and the foods we eat!! • We plan to celebrate our variety of cultural heritage by inviting students and their families to an evening program that we call • The CULTURE EXCHANGE

13. Prior to the event, students will choose a food that best represents their culture and with which they have a strong emotional bond. They will extensively investigate their food choice by interviewing relatives, exploring numerous library resources, and searching the internet to discover their food’s origins, customs, recipes, ingredients, tools, and personal memories • Students organize their research on display boards, orally present the information and share their food at the evening event with classmates and their families. Extra credit is given for dressing in culturally appropriate clothing.

14. Egypt Festival • As a culminating event to our study of Ancient Egypt, students participate in a day long festival experiencing, in a hands on way, the food and accomplishments of this ancient civilization. • This hands on reenactment of a day in the life of an ancient Egyptian provides students with an appreciation and deeper understanding of an important culture that has greatly influenced modern society.

15. We encourage you to consider the sixth grade SAS program at Holmes, visit our campus, and apply early for an exemplary middle school experience for your child.