¡La clase de español!

Last week the 8th graders worked on a review project.  They were given 4 options for the project. Each option allowed them to collaborate and work in cooperative groups while reviewing past concepts.  Here are the finished products and pictures of the groups that required an oral presentation.

2 groups created a flier to advertise what they were selling at a yard sale: books, personal items, clothing, and furniture.  They included information such as the date, time, and location of the sale.

Jean, Maeve, and Maya C.                                            Dana, Del, and Kate

Jake, Sam, and Thomas chose to write an interview asking what their ideal house would look like. Some of highlights from the interview included- a baseball diamond, a shark tank, a large television, and a batcave.  Here is a picture of them presenting the interview to the class:

Austin, Charles, Erin, Maya M, and Penelope chose to plan a surprise party.  Each member of the group took on a different role for planning: food coordinator, invitation designer, guest list creator, decorations coordinator, and activities organizer.  Some of their plans included: pizza, chips and salsa, mariachi music, a guest list including all the 8th grade class and teachers.  Here is a picture of them presenting their surprise party plans to the class.

Ben, Eli, and Joe wrote a role-play conversation between college roommates.  They created a floor plan of their dorm room and explained what items they would want to have, such as- a hammock, a hot tub, a microwave, and a wallaby.  Here is a picture of them presenting their conversation to the class.

Additionally this week we started a new unit on Sports.  In this unit the 8th graders will learn to talk about sports, talk about whom they know, and talk about what they know.  They were introduced to the new sports vocabulary and we played team charades to practice the new words in a fun interactive way.

Home Enrichment:

-Ask your child, ¿Cuál es tu deporte favorito?, What is your favorite sport, and see if they can answer in Spanish.  

-Pick a sport, as your child what they need in order to play that sport.

Coils and Oils in art

Things have been busy in the art room since the holiday break and the time has flown but I will gladly say good bye to January! The kids have been finishing up auction projects and we welcomed my student teacher Ms. Zapata from North Park University who will be with us for the next several months.  So far she has been a great addition to the North Park community and I really appreciate having another artist to collaborate with. 

8th graders recently finished beautiful coil pots which are on display in the glass case in the front hall. They learned how to create more intricate shapes and forms using the coil construction method.

 This week they went outside and took some photos of bare trees. The tree photos will be used as their subject matter to teach them the basics of oil painting. We will start our oil paintings next week so look for an update soon.  They also started work on their Exquisite Corpse drawings which will give them something productive to do in their spare time. 

"PE Shorts" 1/29/2015

Happy Winter!

To shake off the cold in PE we have been spending some time playing Just Dance as a class.  The kids have been loving it and keeping warm while its been cold outside. Our volleyball unit ended in the beginning of January so now we are in a basketball unit spending our time focusing on dribbling, passing, and shooting.

Mr. Hirsch

End of Depression Unit

This week, the 8th graders are presenting the menu products that they have been working on throughout out Great Depression and New Deal Unit.  Today, we heard several radio news broadcasts about events during the era.  We also watched a student-made movie about New Deal programs and students acted out a New Deal simulation presented by their classmates.  Students will take their Great Depression and New Deal test tomorrow.  Today, they wrote an in class essay about the role of the government during a crisis. Next week, we will begin our World War II unit.

Questions for your 8th grader:

-Show me some of your menu products.

-Is it the government's job to fix the messes of the people?

Week 21: 8th Grade Science

Week: 21

Topic: Properties of Carbon

Students will be able to: 

Describe how carbon is able form a huge variety of compounds. 

Identify four forms of pure carbon. 

Essential Question:

Why is carbon the staff of life?

The 8th graders have put a great deal of time into their atomic and chemistry units.  Now we will take a look at the properties of carbon and what defines an organic and non-organic compound. 

Key Terms:

carbon

diamond

graphite

fullerene

nanotube

Differentiated Instruction:

finding patterns 

observing

creating models 

Upcoming:

Carbon Compounds

Parallel, Perpendicular, Scatter plots, and Absolute Value

This week in 8th grade we are continuing to work with graphing linear equations.  We started out this week learning about the third way to graph linear equations, point slope form.  Now we know three ways slope intercept form (y=mx+b), standard form (Ax+By=C), and point slope form (y-y1=m(x-x1)).  We have begun to discuss when is the appropriate time to use each of the different forms such as when writing equations for parallel lines or perpendicular lines.  Next we will review scatter plots and how to create a line of best fit for a set of data.  Lastly, we will review what the graph of a absolute value equation looks like and how to make it move around the coordinate plane.

Quiz on 6.4-6.8 on Thursday Jan. 29
Problem of the Week Line Logic due Monday Feb. 2
Test Wednesday Feb. 4
Mid Year Final Feb. Thursday Feb. 5

I look forward to seeing all of you who are planning on attending "Math Mania" tonight.

University of Chicago Eating and Weight Disorders Program - Guest Speakers

Today,  Advisory groups were paired together to create three small groups, and each group was facilitated by a guest leader that is a professional in the treatment of eating disorders from the University of Chicago. Each of the leaders shared information about the prevalence of eating disorders in the adolescent population, what causes a vulnerability in this population, and the different types of eating disorders. A common myth regarding eating disorders is that it is a choice and not an illness. Students had the opportunity to discuss this myth and arm themselves with ways to be helpful should they suspect a friend is struggling with an eating disorder. 

We encourage you to talk to your student about the information that was shared and the subsequent group discussion. As with any sensitive topic such as this, it is very important that you listen to what your student learned and has to say about the topic of eating disorders. The speakers provided this helpful list of resources, as well. Included in the resources, you will find contact information for the University of Chicago Eating and Weight Disorders Program and our guest speakers. Should you have any questions or need further guidance with regards to eating and weight disorders, please don't hesitate to contact the University of Chicago program. Check here for an outline for the presentation. 

On Wednesday, during Advisory, groups will again be divided in to small gender-based groups in order to further the discussion from today and address any additional questions or concerns. 

"The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not & How to Manage" webinar

ISACS recently hosted a webinar with Peggy Kubert titled, "The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not, & How to Manage."

To view the webinar:

Follow this link.

In the drop down box, scroll down to the bottom and select, "1/14/15 – The Changing Moods of Adolescence: What's Normal, What's Not & How to Manage” with Peggy Kubert and use the password “lacrosse”. 

Click “Login”. 

On the next screen select "Click here replay this seminar". 

The recording will be available until 4 pm Central on February 16, 2015.

Week 20: 8th Grade Science

Week: 20

Topic: Chemical Interactions:  Observing Chemical Change and Reactions

Students will be able to: 

Describe how matter and changes in matter can be described.  

Explain how you can tell when a chemical reaction occurs. 

Identify what information a chemical equation contains.

Explain what a balanced chemical equation must show.

State the principals of the conservation of mass.

Essential Question:

Where is the evidence?

This week the 8th graders will put their atomic and Periodic Table knowledge to work in the form of chemistry.  They will observe both chemical and physical change by breaking the bonds of magnesium and oxygen to create magnesium oxide.  They will be mixing magnesium with hydrochloric acid to create a pop!  Finally, taking silver out of solution to create copper nitrate. 

Key Terms:

matter

chemistry

physical & chemical change

chemical reaction

endo and exothermic reactions

chemical equation

reactant & product

coefficient

Differentiated Instruction:

finding patterns 

predicting

observing

interpreting data

making a model

Upcoming:

Acids, bases, and solutions

Great Depression Socratic Seminar

This week, the 8th graders are learning about how the Great Depression affected different groups of people in the United States.  Today, they read and analyzed primary sources that showed how the Depression affected women, African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans.  Tomorrow, they will participate in a Socratic Seminar where they will discuss and ask each other questions about what they read.  Later in the week, we will talk about the end of the Great Depression.

Upcoming dates:

Tuesday, January 27          Great Depression and New Deal Menu due
Tuesday, January 27          In-class test essay
Wednesday, January 28     Great Depression and New Deal test

Questions for your 8th grader:

What menu items are you working on?
Tell me about the primary source that you had to read for the Socratic Seminar.  Did you find it surprising?

Linear Equations

In 8th grade math we are continuing to work with linear equations.  This week we will be continuing to see examples of real world situations where we can use linear equations.  We will then be moving on to learning about standard form for equations and how to write standard form equations for real world situations.

Important Dates:

Quiz on Sections 6.1-6.4 on Thursday Jan. 22
Problem of the Week Laser Tag Jan. 22

Reminder:  Next Tuesday Jan. 27th is our Math Night.  Please remember to RSVP so we have an idea of who is coming.  We will be playing games and doing activities related to things we are learning in class.  If you have any questions feel free to ask.

L.A. blog-just keep swimming!

I'm a sucker for Pixar movies, but I've always had a special place in my heart for Finding Nemo. When life gets you down, or when things feel really challenging, "just keep swimming"!

And of course, anything Ellen DeGeneres does is awesome.

It can be hard to "keep swimming" after winter break, when Spring Break seems so far away, and we're still in the middle of winter. But, the students are doing a great job of turning in assignments, working on their research reports, and reading their book club books.

This week, we are moving forward in our book clubs. The students are already halfway done with their meetings! Friday is book club meeting #5. The students are currently working on completing their 20 fact cards for Monday, January 26th.

Upcoming due dates:

Book Club Meeting #5 on Friday, January 23rd
Spell word skill #13 due Monday, Jan 26th 

Fact Cards due Monday, Jan 26th

Have a wonderful week!

L.A.-Welcome Back!

Good afternoon, parents! We are already in our second week of January, and the students are already starting several projects.
The students will be writing a research project on a topic of their choice. The topic needs to be able to be researched, so I gave the example that Taylor Swift isn't a good topic for research.

Unfortunately, Lorde isn't a good topic either.
Some of the students' topics include Hurricane Katrina, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ohio State football. This week, the students have to write three source cards telling me that they've found reliable and in-depth sources for their project.



The students have also begun the next wave of book clubs! 8th graders are reading historical fiction set in World War II. Their book club meetings have shown me that they're reading their books thoroughly.


Next week, we have four days of school, and the students will continue researching their topics and preparing to write their reports. They will also move forward in their books and continue to meet in their groups.


Have a great week!
Ms. Daly

The New Deal

Last week, the 8th graders learned about how two different presidents responded to the Great Depression.  They discussed whether Hoover caused the Depression and if he did enough to help the country get through it.  Then, they learned about Roosevelt's New Deal programs.  This week, they are working on menu items to show their knowledge of the Great Depression and New Deal.  Some students are creating radio broadcasts, some are drawing political cartoons, and others are creating advertisements for New Deal programs.  Later this week, students will debate the effectiveness and constitutionality of the New Deal.

Questions for your 8th grader:
-What menu items are you working on?
-Do you think the New Deal caused problems or fixed problems?

Advisory Update

Advisory Update;

The middle school students have continued to learn about food and food related issues.  Before the holidays we all worked together to pack 120 lunches for the Common Pantry.  (Parents, thank you for your donations.)  Students also prepared their Food Footprints Projects which continue to be on display in the library.

Today the middle schoolers had the privilege of hearing guest speaker Peter Klein of Seedling, Inc., talk about his farm.  Pete is an alumni dad and many of our kids have actually been to his farm in Michigan and have all benefitted from the fruit peaches and apples that used to be donated to the school for snacks.  Today they enjoyed hearing about the growing process; what fruits and vegetables they choose to plant, the timetable for planting, pruning, and selling, etc.  As a special treat, students were able to sample Seedling apple cider.  This experience was a great follow up to the field trip that was taken in October to Green City Market.

Week 19: Eighth Grade Science

Week: 19

Topic: Chemical Interactions:  Chemical Bonding (Ionic Bonds)

Students will be able to: 

Describe ions and explain how they form bonds.  

Explain how the formulas and names of ionic compounds are written.

Identify the properties of ionic compounds.

Essential Question:

Two atoms are talking together.

Atom #1:  I am about to lose an electron!

Atom #2:  Are you sure?

Atom #1:  I’m positive. 

This week the 8th graders will work with the outer shell of elements and create ionic  bonds to understand the concept of ionization.  They will see how these reactions occur between metals and nonmetals. 

Key Terms:

ionic bonds

ion

polyatomic ions

ionic bond

ionic compound

chemical formula

sub and superscript

crystal

Differentiated Instruction:

finding patterns 

predicting

observing

interpreting data

Upcoming:

Observing chemical change

Graphing and the real world

This week in 8th grade math we continue to work with graphing linear equations.  We have been reviewing slope, rate of change, and slope intercept form which we worked with last year.  For the rest of this week we will applying these equations to more real world situations and then we will begin to work with standard form.  I wanted to give you a heads up that I have been giving more homework than usual for this unit because I think that it is really important.

Due Dates:

Wednesday Jan. 14th POW Slippery Slope due (assigned Friday of last week)

Week 18: 8th Grade Science

Week: 18

Welcome Back!

Topic: Chemical Interactions:  Chemical Bonding (Covalent Bonds)

Students will be able to: 

Draw the Bohr’s electron shell diagram and the electron dot formula.

State what holds covalently bonded atoms together.

Identify the properties of molecular compounds.

Explain how unequal sharing of electrons occurs and how it affects molecules.

Essential Question:

What happens when we share something with our friend?

This week the 8th graders will work with the outer shell of elements and create covalent bonds to understand the concept of electron sharing.  They will use the electron dot formula to create these bonds and prove mathematically that they work. 

Key Terms:

covalent bond

molecule

double & triple bond

molecular compound 

polar & non-polar bonds

Differentiated Instruction:

finding patterns 

predicting

observing

interpreting data

Upcoming:

Exploring ionic bonding and why these valence electrons are given up or taken.  

Graphing

This week in 8th grade math we are going to be working on graphing linear equations.  We will start by reviewing slope, rate of change, and slope intercept form (y=mx+b).  We will then learn about using standard form (Ax+By=C) and how to write linear equations for real world situations.