Week 6: Metric Conversions

Topic:  Standards of Measurement:  Converting Metric Measurements

Objectives: 

Students will understand that measurements are important in science. 

Essential Question:

Why is it important to make measurements using a standard?

This week the kids will see that the metric system was the first system based on powers of 10.  In the Si system, each type of measurement has a prefix and a base unit.    Each type of measurement has a base unit (meter is the base unit of length.)  Prefixes are used with the base units to indicate what power of ten should be used with the base unit.

Differentiated Instruction:

Using the stair method to find metric equivalencies.  

Upcoming:

Forces and Motion.

Fractal, Fractals, and more fractals

This week in math we are continuing to learn more about fractals.  We watched a movie yesterday and today about fractals.  The kids had to to draw Sierpinski's Triangles and we are starting to figure out what type of fractal we are going to make for project fair.

World War I

This week, the 8th graders are starting their World War I unit in Social Studies.  The started out the unit looking at a pre-war map of Europe and a post-war map and made predictions about the outcome of the war based on the changes in territory.  Then, they learned about the causes of the war using the mnemonic device MANIA!  Later in the week they will learn about the many events that led up to United States involvement in the war.

Question for your 8th grader:

-What does MANIA stand for?
-Show me the Mania cheer.

 Give me an A!  What does that stand for?  Alliances!

Give me an I!  What does that stand for? Imperialism!

MANIA!

8th Grade Language Arts: Steppenwolf for Young Adults Opportunity

Steppenwolf for Young Adults is featuring a stage adaptation of George Orwell’s classic novel Animal Farm.  The production runs from October 15, through November 9, 2014.  Although we will not be attending this play as a class (since it is not part of the Language Arts curriculum), I wanted to post information about the play for families interested in attending the play on their own.

Here is the play summary:

“George Orwell's revolutionary masterpiece comes to the stage with Steppenwolf for Young Adults’ world premiere adaptation of Animal Farm. After revolting against the reign of their negligent human master, the animals of Mr. Jones’s farm create their own ideal society in which all animals are equal and rules are set by democratic vote. It's all working pretty well, until the allure of power leads the animals to a chilling fate. Animal Farm illustrates how new tyranny replaces old and power corrupts even the noblest of causes.

Here is the link to buy tickets:

http://www.steppenwolf.org/Plays-Events/productions/index.aspx?id=631

8th grade students continue to draft their graphic novels this week and they will be working on this project throughout October.

Upcoming 1st Quarter Assessments & Due Dates:

Literary Elements and Techniques Final Test: Thursday, October 9th, 2014

Graphic Novel Final Due: Friday, October 17, 2014

Language Arts Office Hours: Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:45-8:15 a.m.

Chuck Close Self-Portraits in Art.

Self-Portraits
The 8th graders are working on their Portraits in the style of Chuck Close. They learned how to enlarge an image in math last year using a grid and we revisit that technique so they can enlarge their photos.  They draw themselves going square by square and next they start to paint in the squares. They need to choose a color palette that is either complimentary, warm and cool or analogous colors and they are required to choose one area of their image to fill the squares in with a pattern. This is a great project to learn about color and to practice color mixing.

Chuck Close working in his studio on one of his large scale self-portraits.

So far so good, don't you think?? 

Pascal's Triangles and Fractals

This week in Math the 8th graders are working on the Pascal's Triangle/Fractal project.  We have started looking into Pascal's Triangle and the patterns in it.  They have created their first fractal called a Sierpinski's Triangle and next week they will create another fractal called Koch's Snowflake.  We will then watch a movie about Fractals.  We have no major assignments coming up.

Ragtime

As we move forward in our music curriculum, our students are beginning to study the social trends with music and dance.  Seen as a rebellious music, Ragtime uses syncopation to create melodic interest in the melody while the lower and bass notes keep a steady beat.  It was new in the 1910's and made famous by Scott Joplin.  With new music comes new dance styles.  Since young people were said to be "acting like animals," the younger generations of the time would make up dances to portray animal behavior, as to mock their parents' comments.  Examples of these dances are the Turkey Trot, Fox Trot, and the Grizzly.  In class, we explored a modified version of the Grizzly.  Typically, instead of circling with your partner while step-hopping, dancers would turn cheek to cheek with their hands in the air and step-hop.  For educational purposes, the dance was modified.  The students enjoyed the bear-like dancing.  Our next class, students will be like teenagers of the Ragtime Era and create their own animal dance.