Winter Showcase

Our Eighth Grade class did an outstanding job for their Winter Showcase performance.  After our performance in class, the students watched the video and critiqued what went well and what were some areas for improvement.  Overall, the students had a very positive experience.  Do you want to see their performance again?  Click on the video below!  Unfortunately, the Haikus were not able to be heard on the video, so I was unable to get a good video.  I was able get a recording of "Night Train."  The first video is the class performance; the second is Symphonic Band.

If you are reading this via email, the videos do not show up.  You'll have to go to our actual blog in order to see the performances.  Thanks! 

Stock Market Crash

This week, the 8th graders have been learning all about economics.  We started off our Great Depression unit with a lesson about how the stock market works.  Then, students acted out scenarios to show how the stock market crash happened.  Now, students are working on projects to help explain the stock market in creative ways.  Some are creating simulations, others are creating comic strips, and others are creating songs.

Questions for your 8th grader:
Why did the stock market crash?
What project are you working on?

Eigth Grade L.A. Blog-Almost Winter Break!

We're almost there, guys!
There's an energy in the air, an excitement that says Winter Break is coming; but, that hasn't stopped the students from putting their best work forth. As I go through these book reviews, I'm thoroughly impressed with the complexity and honesty of their writing. Way to go!
The group presentations are going amazingly well so far. I've loved watching the students present for their peers, and it's great to be a part of that audience.
Tomorrow, we will wrap up our group presentations and play some winter-related word games and puzzles. We will also watch a holiday movie/some holiday TV shows! I may even bring a treat for the kids. :)

Happy Winter Break to everyone! See you all in the New Year!

Week 17: Eighth Grade Science

Week: 17

Hope your holidays are happy and safe.

Topic: Chemical Interactions:  The Atom and the Periodic Table

Students will be able to: 

State what the periodic table tells you about the atoms and the properties of elements.

Essential Question:

How is the periodic table like a music store?

This week the 8th graders will break down the periodic table into its major components and like Mendeleev find the many patterns it has. 

Key Terms:

atomic number

atomic mass

element and its symbol

isotope

period

group

family

Differentiated Instruction:

finding patterns 

predicting

observing

interpreting data

Upcoming:

Exploring valence electrons and the electron dot formula.

Finishing our unit on Functions

The 8th graders are finishing up their unit on graphs and functions.  We will have a review today for the test tomorrow.  When we get back from the break we will start our next unit on linear equations and their graphs.

Alternative Assessment due tomorrow Dec. 17
Test tomorrow Dec. 17

Have a great holiday break.

Modigliani portraits for the auction poster.

I hope you all enjoyed seeing your eighth grader's graphic novels and Calder mobiles at project fair. I think they all did a great job. The Calder mobiles will be hanging up in the atrium all year in case you missed it.

Today we looked at the very somber and serious portraits of Amedeo Modigliani and the students drew their own self-portraits in his style. The different results always amaze me and I think everyone experiences success with this project. When they are done I group them together and make a class poster that will be for sale just before the auction. Here are a couple of samples. Enjoy and happy holidays!

8th Grade L.A. Blog Post-Better Late Than Never!

Good morning! I apologize for not getting this up on Tuesday!
The class has been busy working on their group projects (for 8th grade, this is the soundtrack) and constructing their book reviews. They've seen examples of both positive and negative book reviews that are still well written. I think many of the students were excited to learn that they didn't have to write a positive book review; if they didn't like their book, they just need to articulate why!
Next week, the students will be presenting a brief summary of their book review and then give their group presentations! I am very excited to see them!

Due dates:
Monday, December 15th: Final Draft due of the book review, PRINTED (Turn in your books too!)
Tuesday, December 16th: Group Project Presentation

Almost time for Winter Break! Don't burn out just yet! :)

Ms. Daly

Direct and inverse variations and arithmetic sequences

This week in math the 8th graders are continuing to work on our unit on functions and variations.  Yesterday we learned about direct and inverse variations and what they mean.  Today we did three act math problems involving Mr. Potato Head and Clapping to review these concepts.  We will then be taking the rest of the week to prepare for project fair on Friday.

Quiz on sections 5.3-5.5 tomorrow Dec. 10
Alternative Assessment assigned tomorrow due Wednesday the 17th
Test Wednesday Dec. 17

Advisory Lil' Buddies - Making Cards for Common Pantry

Next week, middle school advisory groups will pack lunches to be delivered to the less fortunate through Common Pantry. Today, with their Lil' Buddies, advisory groups made holiday cards to send well wishes to the lunch recipients. It's always so fun to see the big kids with the little ones, but it is extra special to see all the kids working together in 
service of others.

There are still plenty of options for donating food to this project. If you would like to donate, please see the attached link.

Prohibition Party

Last week, the classroom was transformed into a "speakeasy" and students came to a party dressed as cultural figures from the 1920s.  Each student performed an autobiographical speech about their character.  Then, students drank root beer and ginger ale as they danced to jazz music.  It was a fun event.  Next week, we will begin our unit about the Great Depression.

Week 15: Eighth Grade Science

Week: 15

Hi Parents,

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.

Topic: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Students will be able to: 

Design and build a crate to capture an egg without breaking.

Essential Question:

How does mass work once it is put into motion?

This week the kids discover how to counter the reaction force of a falling egg. 

Key Terms:

Inertia

momentum

Differentiated Instruction:

predicting

observing

math integration

measuring

designing

building

Upcoming:

The human digestive system

Eigth Grade L.A. Blog-Hello!

Good afternoon, parents!
My name is Ms. Kate Daly, and I will be your child's Language Arts teacher for the next three months while Ms. Payne is on maternity leave. I am very excited to be working here at North Park and have already gotten to know the students pretty well.
Here's a quick preview of what we'll be working on this month before Winter Break.
The students have finished reading their Book Club books and are now constructing two unique projects. First, they will be creating a book review that incorporates their opinion of the book, the book's setting, theme, and characters, as well as quotes and examples from the text. Second, they will create a soundtrack based on the setting and tone of the book! Both of these projects give the students creative liberty to interpret and discuss the text, while still diving into critical analysis and synthesis of the novel.

Here are the due dates:
Book review rough draft: Due Thursday, December 11th
Book review final draft: Due Monday, December 15th
Soundtrack presentation: Presented on Tuesday, December 16th

I look forward to working with your children, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!


P.S. Here's a little bit about me as well:
I graduated from DePaul University in 2010 with my Bachelors in Creative Writing and Theatre Studies. I decided to go back to school in 2011 and graduated from DePaul with my Masters in Secondary Education-English. I've lived in the city for over five years, and I got married six months ago. My husband and I went on our honeymoon over Thanksgiving break to Toronto! We live in Roscoe Village with our bunny, Trouble.

Ms. Kate Daly

Fractals and Functions

In 8th grade math this week we are starting our next unit on graphs and functions.  We started the week looking at independent and dependent variables, domain and range, and how graphs can tell a story.  For the rest of the week we will be working on how to write a function rule, create a table, and graph the results.  We will also continue to work on the project fair fractals and our presentation.

Quiz on Wednesday Dec. 3
POW From Here to There due on Friday Dec. 5

In the midst Calder mobiles for project fair.

The eighth graders are still working hard to complete their Calder mobiles in time for project fair. We took a detour a few weeks ago to see the David Bowie show and we miss art this week with the holiday, so after break we will really need to scramble to complete them in time. There are some interesting themes this year including math symbols, books, Chicago icons, and safari animals.  If you are good with a pair of wire cutters and needle nose pliers and want to come help us in the home stretch, I would welcome your participation! The pre-school monster project got put on the back burner, but will come back after project fair.

Thanksgiving/Fractals/Fuctions

This week in math the 8th graders have continued to work on creating fractals and are getting ready for project fair.  After the Thanksgiving break we will begin our next unit on functions and direct variations.

Prohibition Research

This week, the 8th graders learned about the causes and outcomes of Prohibition.  Next Wednesday during class, the students will each take on the persona of a cultural figure during the 1920s for our Prohibition Party.  They will research their character and will perform a short biographical speech about the person's influence on American society.  The classroom will be turned into a "speakeasy" and ginger ale and root beer will be served.  It is a fun way to have students learn about the key people who changed the culture of America in the 1920s.

Questions for your 8th grader:

• What character are you researching for the Prohibition Party?
• What have you learned about that person?

Hour of Code Is Coming!

The Middle School students will participate in their Hour of Code experience during Service time on Thursday, 12/11/14 from 1:10-1:50. The experience will take place in small groups with a mix of 6th-8th graders.  The 8th graders will have the opportunity to continue the experience during Study Hall on Monday, 12/15/14 at 9:50. We would love to have your help in facilitating these experiences for the 8th graders. No tech skills are required. If you are able to help, go to SignUp Genius and sign up. Thanks!

Meet Ms. Long!

Hi, I'm Carol Long and I have been Student Teaching with Mrs. LaGorio since the end of October. I also did my Mini-Teaching last semester here at North Park Elementary. This past month has taught me a lot about teaching and has also been a joy as I worked with the students in music and band. Winter showcase is fast approaching and I am excited for the pieces that each class has been preparing for the show! It should be a great night and I am happy to be a part of it as well as a part of teaching music to the students here. I know that it will be hard to leave but I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with the students and staff at NPES. 

8th Grade Langauge Arts: Dystopian Book Clubs

Students will have their last book club meeting on Tuesday.  The concluding assessment projects for the unit will be completed in December.  Students will create a book review individually and work as a group to develop soundtrack to connect to the events in their book.

The House of the Scorpion

Sylo

Fahrenheit 451

Maze Runner

1920s Economy

This week, the 8th graders learned about the booming economy of the 1920s.  They are currently working on menu items about the economy.  Many students are choosing to research and create advertisements for the new consumer goods of the era.  Others are writing journals as if they are a worker from the 1920s and they are writing about how their financial situation is changing over time.  Next week, the students will learn about the culture of the 1920s and they will begin working on biographical speeches for their Prohibition Party.

Questions for your 8th grader:

-What are some of the new consumer goods that were popular during the 1920s?
-How did the car change American society?
-What menu item are you working on?

Inequalities

We have been working on our current unit on inequalities for two weeks in math.  We have reviewed how to graph and solve inequalities with multiple steps and learned about compound inequalities and their graphs.  The last thing that we will cover is how to solve absolute value equations and how to graph absolute value inequalities.  There is a Problem of the Week due tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 19) and the test for the unit will be on Friday.  There is no alternative assessment for this unit.

"PE Shorts" Tuesday 11/18/2014

The last couple of weeks in PE we have been working on our golf skills. We have spent time learning how to putt, chip, and pitch towards a target. The students are working hard at controlling the ball when they hit it and not just swinging as hard as they can. We have continued with our warm up games, such as Flag Football Tag and The Human Knot. Next up after golf we will begin a volleyball unit and hopefully use the UCC Gym for class.

Mr. Hirsch

8th Grade Language Arts: Cause and Effect Essay Final Draft

The final draft of the Cause and Effect Essay is due Wednesday.  During the past few weeks students worked hard during class time researching topics, organizing information, drafting, revising, and editing.

Many of the eighth grade students set goals this quarter to put more effort into the revision and editing process.  Encourage your child to spend some time at home going over their essay at least one more time before the due date to make any final revisions or edits.  Students should double check the rubric to make sure they have met all of the expectations.

Some helpful revision tips include:
Scanning for boring/bland word choice and replacing words with more vivid word choice.
Making sure thesis statements and topic sentences are clear and concise.
Making sure to vary the words used to start sentences.
Expanding on simple, short, or incomplete sentences and paragraphs with additional information.
Breaking up run-on sentences into multiple sentences.
Using the editing checklist provided in the Writing Workshop LiveBinder

Winter Showcase is Coming!

The kids are working hard, learning their music, and getting ready for Winter Showcase! This year's Winter Showcase is December 3, 2014 at 7pm at Northside College Prep (5501 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625). Please have your child to NCP by 6:30pm.  

Winter Showcase is an all-school production where the students from Kindergarten through 8th grade, including our band program, showcase what they have been learning in music class.  We aren't able to include every activity and song, but we  perform a few of the students' favorites.  Also, families are able to see the progression of their child's music education by seeing older classes perform.

Attire is dressy, but comfortable enough to dance in for classroom performances. Band students are required to wear concert attire (black pants/skirts/socks/shoes and ALL white tops... no colorful designs). Please refer to the band syllabus if you have questions about band attire. The showcase begins at 7pm sharp and is about 90 minutes long.   If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. LaGorio at LaGorio@npeschool.org

Thank you advance for bringing your child and for enjoying all of our NPES students performances.