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