Incredible coils in art.

The eighth graders recently finished beautiful coil pots in which they incorporated new techniques for creating interesting patterns using the traditional coil method. They painted them yesterday and I think they look great.

Finishing linear equations unit

This week in 8th grade we are finishing our third unit on linear equations.  So far this week, we took a quiz and reviewed how to draw and write an equation for a trend line/line of best fit, and had a review day.  The unit three test is tomorrow.

I hope that everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable two week break and safe travels to those going out of town.

Upcoming assignments:

Unit 3 test on Wednesday Dec. 16
Alternative Assessment due Wednesday Dec. 16.

Week 16: 8th Grade Science

Week: 16

When we return we will finish our unit on Newton’s Three Laws and begin our chemistry unit.  Hope your holidays are happy and safe.

Topic: Chemical Interactions:  The Atom and its History

Students will be able to: 

Explain why the atom is the building block of matter or maybe life.

Describe how atomic theory developed and changed.

Essential Question:

How did they find the atom?

This week the 8th graders had a short review on the structure of the atom and then went back in time to discover the atom.  A small object (the atom) was placed in a small cereal box. They first had to locate the atom and then drop marbles into the box to determine the size, shape, movement, make-up, and any other discovery they made about the atom.   Ask them about this fun little experiment.  

Key Terms:

parts of the atom

electron cloud

Differentiated Instruction:

predicting

observing

measuring

making models

concluding

Upcoming:

More about atoms, bonding, and the Periodic Table

Week 15: 8th Grade Science

Week: 15

Topic: Newton’s Laws of Motion

Students will be able to: 

Design and build a crate to capture an egg without breaking or a hot air balloon.

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 or defy gravity.

Key Terms:

Inertia

momentum

Differentiated Instruction:

predicting

observing

math integration

measuring

designing

building

Upcoming:

Chemistry of Food

Hour of Code

The middle school students participated in Hour of Code today using TinkerBox HD a physics-based building environment. What does that mean? It means it is a virtual environment with objects that operate and interact as they do in the real world, with gravity, simple machines, and based on scientific concepts. Students built upon their experiences with code from Hour of Code in previous years and moved into a visual learning environment. They had the opportunity to practice with puzzles and create their own Rube Goldberg machines.
Throughout the experience today, students were asked to problem solve, think through situations sequentially, and examine cause and effect behaviors. They interacted with one another offering support and creative solutions. The TinkerBox HD app is on your child's iPad. Ask them to show you how it works.
For further information and coding opportunities, the code.org site is a wonderful free resource with coding and app creation opportunities for children. I would also encourage you to check out Scratch Jr. (works well as an iPad app) and Scratch for more advanced coding experiences. Scratch offers a platform for students to write code and create a game that can be shared with others in a safe online setting. Your child might also be interested in experimenting with a Makey Makey (If I explain it, I won't do it justice). Take a look at this wonderful device that makes it possible to turn bananas into a keyboard. You might also look into the Tynker app. This app provides coding and problem solving challenges for all ages and levels. Coding is the perfect opportunity for kids to utilize their problem solving and spatial reasoning skills over the winter break.
A special thank you to Ted Grunebaum, Heidi McDermott, Margaret Steele, Vince Menees, Julie DePrey, David Tipton (dad to William in kindergarten), and Mike Check (dad to Josie in 1st and Braeden in 3rd). They each enjoyed facilitating the experience for the kids.

Pickleball Tournament

Congratulations to Team Powerhouse (Sander and Ella) for defeating the Marshmallow Dragons (Lauren and Sean) in the Championship round of our 8th grade Pickleball tournament! Powerhouse will now get the chance to win a free Slim's lunch if they can beat Mr. Hotaling and Mr. Hirsch!

Slope Intercept form/Standard Form/Point-Slope-Form

This week in 8th grade we are continuing to work on linear equations.  We have spent a great deal of time reviewing slope and slope intercept form and seeing how they can be used in everyday life.  For the rest of the week we learn about two other ways to graph linear equations using standard form and point-slope-form.

Upcoming Assignments:

POW Laser Tag due on Monday Dec. 14
Quiz on Monday Dec. 14 on sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5
POW Pizza Puzzle due Tuesday Dec. 15
Test and alternative assessment on Wednesday Dec. 16 or possibly 14

I realize that many students have the selective enrollment test this coming weekend, but all of these assignments have been given to the class already and I encouraged them all to start working on them now to lighten their loads.

8th Grade Language Arts: Project Fair

8th Grade students enjoyed sharing their graphic novels during Project Fair.

1920s Menu

This week, the 8th graders are working independently on several different projects.  They are working on 1920s menu items and researching a influential figure from the era.  They will prepare a speech about their person for our Prohibition Party, which has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 17.

Upcoming Dates:

• 1920s Menu due     Mon. 10/14
• 1920s Test               Wed. 10/16
• Prohibition Party   Thurs. 10/17

Question for your 8th grader:

• Which 1920s character are you researching for the Prohibition Party?

Proportions/Linear Equations

This week in 8th grade math we are continuing to work on our unit on linear equations.  We started the week reviewing proportions and similar figures so that when we continue to review slope we can make the connection between similar triangles and slope.  Today most of the class had to go to the art room to finish their Calder Mobile's so that they would be ready for Project Fair on Thursday.  For the rest of the week we will be continuing to work on slope and slope intercept form.

Upcoming assignments:
Quiz on Friday Dec. 4th
POW Slippery Slope due Monday Dec. 7

1920s Socratic Seminar

Over the past several weeks, the 8th graders have been teaching each other about different events that took place in America during the 1920s.  Students did research, asked each other questions, and created projects that taught the information to their classmates.  They are also creating menu projects about the era. Today and tomorrow, students are participating in a Socratic Seminar.  Each student will ask a thought provoking question about their topic for the group to discuss.  Students in the inner circle discuss verbally, while students in the outer circle discuss using a Schoology discussion.  The students make amazing connections to past and current events and really think critically about these topics when they discuss them together.  Check out some of the discussions below.  Next week, the 8th graders will have their Prohibition Party, where we turn the classroom into a speak easy and the kids listen to jazz music and take on the persona of a famous person from the era.  They will give biographical speeches about their influential figure.

Upcoming Dates:

• Prohibition Party Thursday, December 10
• 1920s Menu due  Monday, December 14
• 1920s Test            Wednesday, December 16

Questions for your 8th Grader:

• What menu items are you working on?
• What is your 1920s topic?  Do you think this topic shows innovation or conservatism?

Week 14: 8th Grade Science

Week 14

Topic: Friction and Gravity.

Students will be able to: 

Describe the friction, and identify factors that determine the friction force between two objects.

Identify the factors that affect the gravitational force between two objects.

Explain why objects accelerate during free fall.

Essential Question:

How does distance affect gravity?  How did Newton do it?

This week the kids discover how mass, distance, weight, acceleration, speed, and gravity are all related.

Key Terms:

friction

weight

gravity

free fall

air resistance

terminal velocity

projectile

Differentiated Instruction:

predicting

observing

math integration

measuring

data analysis

concluding

creating labs

compare and contrast

Upcoming:

The Laws of Newton, momentum, and Conservation of Momentum.

8th Grade Language Arts: December Projects

Eighth graders started writing book reviews this week.  During the review writing process, our focus will be on crafting attention grabbing introductions, providing an interesting portrait of the novel’s story, developing opinions, and giving explanations that show strong analysis and conclusions.  Additionally, students will do research about the author or other interesting details to provide insight beyond the story.  Lastly, students will include their own recommendation for the novel.  

Students will draft their writing during class time this week and submit their first draft for teacher feedback through Schoology next week.  A plan for improvement for the final draft stage will be discussed during workshop conferencing.  Students will have opportunities during class to share their reviews with classmates inside and outside their book club groups.

They will also begin working on their group project this week.  The Soundtrack Project requires each group to choose at least ten songs that represent events from their book club novel.  They will prepare one complete paragraph for each song explaining how the song relates to an event in the novel.  Students will cite and explain the song lyrics and use textual evidence that they find most profound.  They will submit their song list and explanations prior to the presentation.  Soundtracks will be previewed and explained during the group presentation on December 16th.  

The goal of this project is to see if students can apply the plot, themes, and symbols of their book club book to another text—music.  Additionally, I am hoping that they can see the connections between the novel and real life.  There is a direct relationship between the themes and attitudes of music and the society for which the music is performed.  Students will make comparisons and connections between our music, our society, and themes present in their dystopian books.

Upcoming Due Dates:

Book Review First Draft Due: Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Book Review Final Draft Due: Monday, December 14, 2015

Book Club Soundtrack Project and Presentation: Wednesday, December 16, 2015