8th Grade Halloween Party

Pascal's Triangle, city streets, and Clader Mobiles

This week in 8th grade math we are working on projects.  We have been  doing little activities during the course of the quarter that always made number patterns and this week we finally connected it to Pascal's Triangle.  We started looking at Pascal's triangle and the patterns in it.  Next we will watch a movie about fractals and make the connection between Pascal's Triangle and fractals.  Last week we started to learn about the grid/coordinate plane system of the city streets of Chicago and about the location of neighborhoods.  This week we will begin to look at the numbering system for the city streets.  Next week we will begin working on the Calder mobile project.

At home questions:
What is Pascal's triangle and how do you get the numbers?

World War I

This week, the 8th graders are spending a lot of time creating their World War I menu projects. Several students are making propaganda, using real propaganda from the war as inspiration.  Students also learned about how the United States gained support for the war by selling Liberty Bonds. Yesterday, they participated in a cause and effect activity to help them understand the impact that American soldiers had on the war.  Later this week, they will learn about the Treaty of Versailles.

Upcoming Dates:

• Friday, 11/6   WWI Menu due
• Monday, 11/9 WWI Test

Questions for your 8th grader:

• What menu projects are you working on?
• Do you think the Allies could have won the war without the help of American soldiers?

8th Grade Language Arts: New Book Clubs

This week 8th graders started their new book club groups.  This quarter the genre is dystopian books.  The books being read this quarter include Unwind, Maze Runner, Uglies, and Fahrenheit 451.  Students received their books today and met with their group members to develop the reading schedule and set goals and ground rules for the meetings.  Each book club group will meet for eight discussion sessions throughout the month of November.  During each meeting, students discuss reading log reflections, literary elements, opinions, frustrations, interesting quotes, predictions, etc.  The concluding assessment projects will be completed in December.  Students will create a book review individually and work as a group to develop a soundtrack to connect to the events in their book.

Upcoming Due Dates:

Cause and Effect Essay:

1st Draft due: Tuesday, November 10, 2015

2nd Draft due: Monday, November 16, 2015

Final Draft due: Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Week 9: 8th Grade Science

Week 9

Topic:  Motion:  Describing and Measuring Motion

Students will be able to: 

Determine when an object is in motion.

Calculate an objects speed and velocity.

Demonstrate how to graph motion.

Essential Question:

How do you know when an object is in motion?

This week the kids will complete their metric unit unit and transfer their metric knowledge into the study of motion.  They will be conducting experiments to calculate speed, see velocity as a change of direction, and how acceleration is the speed within a speed.  

Key Terms:

motion

reference point

speed/velocity

instantaneous and average speed

slope

Differentiated Instruction:

inferring 

math integration

kinesthetic

measuring

Upcoming:

How would a physicist write the fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare?”

Taking a test on functions and their graphs and the coordinate plane of Chicago

This week in 8th grade math we are finishing up our second unit on functions and their graphs.  We will be taking the unit 2 test on functions tomorrow October 21st and the alternative assessment is also due tomorrow.  We will then take the rest of the week to continue to work on our project fair project on triangles.  This week we will also begin working on the coordinate plane of Chicago, which relates to our theme of the year Humans in Chicago.  We will start off by locating where we all live on a map in the classroom.  We will then listen to a podcast about who created the grid system for Chicago and why this was chosen.  Then we will start to learn about the number system for the streets.

Upcoming assignments:
Test tomorrow Oct. 21
Alternative Assessment due tomorrow Oct. 21

Starting Thursday ask your students about the grid system and how the streets are number in the city.

World War I Debate

The 8th graders are currently learning about World War I. They spent last week learning about the many events that led to the United States' growing involvement in the war overseas.  Yesterday, they participated in a debate about whether or not the United States should join the war.  Each student looked at the question from a different perspective: Pro-war, Anti-war, American government, British government, and German government.  Students used arguments from their knowledge of the chapter and they also drew on the information that they had learned in our Imperialism unit. Today, students analyzed primary sources about the Espionage and Sedition Acts and discussed freedom of speech during times of Crisis.

Questions for your 8th Grader:

• Do you think the United States should have joined World War I?
• Should the government take away freedom of speech in times of crisis?

World War I Debate:

8th Grade Language Arts: Second Quarter Units

8th graders will turn in their graphic novels tomorrow.  They put so much time and effort into their stories and illustrations.  I am so impressed!  The Graphic Novel Project will be showcased for the whole school to see during Middle School Project Fair on Thursday, December 3rd.  Students will have the opportunity to share their stories with all the other NPES classes and families.

This week students will be picking books for the Dystopian Reading Unit.  Students will work in book club groups to explore and discuss the literature.  Throughout the unit, students will meet with their groups during eight meetings and complete both individual and group projects.

We are starting a new genre of writing this quarter.  Students will begin writing cause and effect expository essays this week.  They will explore cause and effect through a topic of their choice.

Check back for more information and pictures as these units progress.

¡La clase de espanõl!

The 8th graders are finishing up their unit on La casa.  Last week they completed a summative project for the unit.  The class was given a choice between three options to show what they've learned. One assignment was to create their ideal house or "casa de sueños".  For this assignment students created a visual to represent their dream house and wrote about the details to describe their house. Another assignment was to create a video, showing and describing their house to the class. The videos were very fun to watch! Thank you for allowing us to virtually visit your homes. Lastly, there was an option to write a letter to a student named Erika in Peru. They were asked to describe themselves, their house, and life here in Chicago as well as ask questions about Erika's life in Peru.

The next few classes we will be reviewing for their unit test next Wednesday October 28th.

We also recently welcomed, Señor Barajas to the classroom. He is from North Park University and will be completing his mini-teaching experience with 8th grade.  Here is a short message from Sr. Barajas:

Hello everyone, My name is Richard Barajas and I am the new mini-teacher for Señora Yanics. I am a senior at North Park University studying Spanish Education as well as participating in the collegiate sports of Cross Country and Track. I have done many extra curricular activities while at school and I've even studied Spanish in a different country! I am very excited about receiving the opportunity to teach Señora Yanics' wonderful students and establish as well as grow upon my teaching abilities. I have very high expectations for everyone including myself so I am ready to take on the challenge and have some fun! Thank you to the students and the parents for allowing me to come into this space and thank you to Señora Yanics for allowing me to teach her great class. ¡Hasta Luego!

Week 8: 8th Grade Science

Week 8

Topic:  Standards of Measurement:  Converting Metric Measurements

Objectives: 

Students will understand how to find “equivalency” when converting metric measurements.  

Essential Question:

Why is it important to convert measurements?  

This week in science the kids will learn how to find metric equivalency when converting measurements from “Larger to Smaller and Smaller to Larger.”   They will be using a “stair method” which is a method I believe will help them eliminate their misconceptions on how to find equivalencies and more importantly they can use this method for the rest of their lives.  

Differentiated Instruction:

Mathematics

Measuring 

Predicting

Number Sense

Upcoming:

Motion

All the Best Wishes to Those Students Testing This Weekend

NPES is so proud of our 8th graders and all of their persistence and patience with the CPS high school process. Good luck to those students who are testing this weekend. You are well-prepared and ready to conquer this test!

Week 7: 8th Grade Science

Week 7

Topic:  Standards of Measurement:  Converting Metric Measurements

Objectives: 

Students will understand that density is a derived unit from mass and volume. 

Essential Question:

If we know the density of an object, How do we know it will float? and How much of the object will float?

This week in science the kids will expand there exploration of density to find the density of water, why things float and by how much (mathematically), and what happens to the density of a material when you change its volume or mass. 

Differentiated Instruction:

Estimating

Mathematics

Measuring 

Predicting

Number Sense

Upcoming:

Metric Conversion

There are monsters in the art room!

Last week the 8th graders started the "monster project" in collaboration with the pre-schoolers. They looked at the work of artist Dave DeVries http://goo.gl/rzMcO who takes children's line drawings and renders them in a very realistic style and creates an environment for them. Then they each took a pre-schoolers drawing of a monster and began to trace, adjust details and add volume to make it look more realistic and give it a life of it's own. They also conducted a brief interview with their pre-school artist to gather more information about each monster to make their drawings more authentic.
The interview process is really entertaining for all involved.

Here are a couple of works in progress. They don't look like much now, but just wait until they're done!

Trench Warfare

Today, the 8th graders welcomed Ms. Kristin Theilen, a mini-teacher from North Park University.  Today, Ms. Theilen taught the students about trench warfare by having them create their own trenches (see the pictures below).  Students also researched and taught mini-lessons about the new weapons used in World War I.  Later in the week, students will learn about how the United States became involved in the war and they will study the propaganda used by both sides during the war.

Questions for your 8th grader:

• Which new weapon of World War I do you think was most terrifying?
• What does MANIA stand for?

Direct Variations, Indirect variations, and sequences

This week in 8th grade math we are continuing our unit on functions and their graphs.  We will start the week off with continued work on direct variations.  We ended last week by graphing direct variations, with the world record hand clapper, and working with the equation y=kx.  Next, we will move on to learning about indirect variations, which connect to the Mr. Potato Head problem we did last week.  We will then end our second unit learning about arithmetic sequences, which are growing number sequences that grow using constant addition or subtraction.

Upcoming assignments:
Quiz 5.2 on Thursday Oct. 15th covering sections 5.3-5.6
Test next Wednesday Oct. 21st
Alternative assessment also due Oct. 21st

Question to ask at home:
What shape does a indirect variation make? (After tomorrow's class.)

                      Students creating proportions to work on the world record for hand clapping

Students graphing the data from hand clapping to find a direct variation

8th Grade Langauge Arts: Scholastic Story Starter

VIP Day was a great opportunity for students to share what they have been working on in Language Arts class with their visitors.  Students also got a chance to play a verbal storytelling game using the Scholastic Story Starter on the Promethean Board.  The Story Starter looks like a slot machine filled with silly story ideas.  Students spun the wheel for the initial idea and then added more details to create a story with their visitors.  The story starter can be used for verbal or written storytelling.  Just type in a name and click on the grades 4-6 button (the prompts can be enjoyed by all middle school grades even though they are labeled as grades 4-6).  

Here is the link if you are interested using the Scholastic Story Starter with your child at home:

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/story-starters/

Upcoming 1st Quarter Assessments & Due Dates:

Literary Elements and Techniques Final Test: Thursday, October 15, 2015

Graphic Novel Final Due: Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Team Building in PE

"Usually in gym class we play sports like soccer, football or volleyball. For this quarter in gym class we tried

something new and productive; Team Building Unit. Basically as a group we challenge ourself

with Team Building Activities. This way we can learn more about each other and build

relationships. Some of these activities were trying to switch places on a gymnastics beam and

guiding your blindfolded parter across an obstacle course. Overall our class learned that it is

important to be a successful teammate."
- Gwyneth

Direct and Indirect

This week in 8th grade math we are continuing to work on our unit on functions and their graphs.  Last week and today, the class worked on how to write a function rule for a table of values and for growing patterns.  While they were working on function rules today I spoke with every student about how they had done on the quiz we took last week.  Tomorrow we will be watching two videos that relate to concepts they have not learned yet.  The first video will be about the world record for hand clapping in a minute, which relates to a direct variation.  The second video will be about the size change of a Mr. Potato Head from different distances, which relates to indirect variations.  After these two activities tomorrow we will actually discuss direct and indirect variations and see what is happening mathematically.  

Upcoming Assignments:
A quiz on either Friday Oct. 9th or Tuesday Oct. 13th
Alternative Assessment due either Thursday Oct 15th or Friday Oct 16th
Test on either Thursday Oct 15th or Friday Oct 16th

Question to ask at home:

After tomorrows class ask:  What the record is for hand clapping in a minute?

8th Grade Language Arts: Elements of Stories Unit

The 8th grade graphic novels are really coming together.  Students finished planning and creating a first draft of their graphic novels.  This week students are working on their final drafts.  This unit will come to a close within the next two weeks with the final draft submission and the final test.

Upcoming 1st Quarter Assessments & Due Dates:

Literary Elements and Techniques Final Test: Thursday, October 15, 2015

Graphic Novel Final Due: Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Here are a few graphic novels in progress:

Week 8: Science

Week 6

Topic:  Standards of Measurement:  Converting Metric Measurements

Objectives: 

Students will understand that density is a derived unit from mass and volume. 

Essential Question:

Is it chance that the density of water is 1 g/mL?

This week in science the kids will expand there exploration of density to find the density of water, why things float (mathematically), and what happens to the density of a material when you change its volume or mass. 

Differentiated Instruction:

Estimating

Mathematics

Measuring 

Predicting

Number Sense

Upcoming:

Metric Conversion

World War I

This week, the 8th graders are starting their World War I unit in social studies.  Yesterday, we began by comparing and contrasting a map of Europe in 1914 to a modern map of Europe.  Students made observations about the two maps and then made predictions about what might have happened during the war based on territory changes and countries getting split up or renamed.  Then, we did a graffiti wall activity where they looked at maps and charts that helped explain the long term causes of the war:  Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, and Imperialism.  Next, they began to research how these causes played a part in the decades leading up to the war.  Later this week, they will learn about how that war actually started.  This week, students were also introduced to Ms. Kristin Theilen, a mini-teacher from North Park University.  Ms. Theilen will be with us for about six weeks.

Might be of interest. . .

#BeingThirteen - Inside the Secret World of Teens airs October 5th at 9 p.m. This Anderson Cooper special has been in the works for 2 years and promises to be thought provoking.

Fall MAP Scores

Good Morning! 
I am in the process of sending individual emails to you regarding your child's fall MAP scores at NPES. The report you receive (as a PDF) is the report that will be shared with BEC if you have given me permission to do so. 
NWEA MAP released a new norming study (2015 norms) this year. The percentiles in this study are slightly higher than the previous one (2011 norms). It continues to be unclear which norms CPS will use to get rubric totals for our students. The norms determine the percentiles that are given. 

Last year, when the 8th graders had to take the test for CPS in the fall, CPS used the 2011 spring of 7th grade norms to determine percentiles. I'm not sure if they will do this again since our kids are taking the test so late in the fall. Because of this, I am sending you results based on the 2011 norms. Remember that 2015 norms are slightly higher. 

I am sorry that this appears to be clear as mud! If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you!