Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thursday, May 5 (F-Day)

Culinary Arts had a wonderful presentation by Chef Schoenbart, a recent graduate of Schoolcraft's culinary arts program (and former Norup student). She demonstrated delicious raspberry yogurt parfaits with home-made granola! YUMMY!

Science: Sound stations with tuning forks, pitch of percussion, wind & string instruments as well as graphing of sound based on temperature. Quiz corrections are due tomorrow.

Geometry: 12.4 notes (volume of prisms & cylinders) were completed in class as well as an activity to find out how the volume of a pyramid compares to the volume of a prism using rice krispies! 12.4 worksheet is homework. 12.1-12.4 quiz on Friday.

Algebra: We discussed vertex for (10.5 extension). The homework is going to take some time. We had about 20 minutes in class to work on it. 2nd and 4th hour: Test on Monday 5/16 (7th graders have test on Friday 5/13 ooooh!). 5th hour: Test on Thursday 5/12

LA - students took an Appositive quiz during class, they were allowed to use their notes. They also have a take home quiz as well which is due on Monday May 9th. This is also an appositive quiz (10 appositives in their paragraph). I passed out the 4 square organizational sheet so students could start to organize their final project/paper. The rough draft is due on Thursday 5/12. HW - working on the quiz and the paper.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wednesday, May 4 (E-Day)

Science: Finished the Waves & Sound notes and worked on the Properties of Sound worksheet. No homework, but quiz corrections need to be turned in by Friday.

Geometry: 12.3 notes (surface area of pyramids & cones). 12.3 worksheet is homework. 12.1-12.4 quiz on Friday.

Social Studies: Students were informed of grades to date, checked 16.2 guided reading and read 16.3 aloud in class.  Homework is to complete 16.3 free choice. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

Pre-Algebra: We will have a mini-quiz Friday on lessons 8.1 and 8.2.  We made a "cheat sheet" today.  You may use it on your quiz on FRIDAY!!

LA - students took their quiz on their novels today. I then introduced them to their final paper/project. We went over and discussed and if they had an questions they were answered.  They started brainstorming as well. For the students that have been recommended by me or you, the parent, into honors English next year, they were assigned a more challenging topic, which is choice #3, story analysis. This assignment is also worth more points. They did not have a choice in doing the other topics I provided for the students.  HW - start on their paper. The rough draft is due on May 12 for peer editing. We will be working on this assignment in stages.  The assignment is attached

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Tuesday, May 3 (D-Day)

Science: Jigsaw notes pages 456-461. I-Search Research paper is due tomorrow.

Geometry: 12.2 activity investigating the concept of surface area. 12.2 notes (Surface are of prisms and cylinders) in class. 12.2 worksheet is homework. 12.1-12.4 quiz on Friday, May 6.

Technology - Today was another work day on the Family Budget.  No more due dates until the final project is due on May 19th.   FYI- the next grade check is Monday, May 9th - due to the fact that we are working on a large project and seeing the students so infrequently- there are only two grades for this marking period.  I will be sending out a grade check for any failing students by the end of today.

Art 7/8: 4th and 5th hrs. are still completing the "Color Explosion." Today, 2nd. hr. will begin plans for a fiber weaving! I am asking students to collect dryer lint from their dryers at home to add to the weaving!

 Advanced Art grade 8: Students have organized their portfolios for high school review. I will be sending them this week to the high school. They have also designed a flower centerpiece still life arrangement for each table.. Students have received canvas for their paintings.They have started their sketches on the canvas. I demonstrated a variety of painting techniques yesterday. Students will begin painting with acrylic paints tomorrow!!

Social Studies: Students received folder grades, checked 16.1 and worked on 16.2 guided reading in class. Homework is to complete 16.2. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

Algebra: 2nd and 4th hours- section 10.4 homework p. 655 (4-48 multiples of 4) 5th hour - section 10.5 homework p.666 (12-44 evens not #42). Upcoming test- test over sections 10.4 to 10.8 (2nd and 4th hour on 5/13) and (5th hour on 5/12)

LA - Today we started or continued working on our paragraphs.  We literally took a topic and wrote a paper together. We talked about a good introduction and how to write one. How to write a thesis and were it should be placed in the paper. We went through transitions, supporting details etc. Tomorrow we will finish up with the conclusion. This is in lieu of their last literary analysis and what they need to focus on. They should not retell a story, but support it.  Students will take their A.R. quiz tomorrow, days were mixed up on the calender. I will also introduce their final paper project tomorrow as well. HW - finish your book if you didn't already! Luckily you got one more day!!!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Monday, May 2 (C-Day)

Science: Worked on quiz corrections and did Wave Stations. I-Search Paper is due on Wednesday.

Pre-Algebra: We continued to work on lesson 8.2. We are now writing equations in function form. Homework-worksheet 8.2, # 23 - 27, rewrite in function form and then graph.

LA - I only saw one 8th grade class today. We literally took a topic and wrote a paper together. We talked about a good introduction and how to write one. How to write a thesis and were it should be placed in the paper. We went through transitions, supporting details etc. Tomorrow we will finish up with the conclusion. This is in lieu of their last literary analysis and what they need to focus on. They should not retell a story, but support it. We will be doing the same thing on F day, May 5th for the rest of the 8th grade. I will be introducing their new writing assignment tomorrow.  HW - Students will be taking their A.R. quiz tomorrow so their  novels should be completed.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Friday, April 29

Science: Peer reviewed the I-Search Instrument project. The final draft is due on Wednesday. Rubric is attached.

Geometry: 12.1 notes in class, 12.1 worksheet is homework.

Pre-Algebra: We continued to work on lesson 8.2. Today we learned how to graph linear equations. Homework-worksheet 8.2, #14 - 22. Make sure you write your ordered pairs and then graph each equation.

LA - students watched the video about Stephen Crane who wrote the book "The Red Badge of Courage" and it gave a synopsis of the story and the protagonist Henry. This is a story about the Civil War. They had the remainder of the hour...20 minutes, to read and complete their novels.  HW - reading their novels which need to be completed by Tuesday 5/3.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thursday, April 28 (A-Day)

Science: Worked on rough draft for the I-Search instrument research project. Peer review of rough draft is tomorrow. Final draft of paper is due on Wednesday, May 4.  Click here for the rough draft planner and rubric.

Geometry: Made Platonic solids to introduce chapter 12. 12.1 notes are homework.

Social Studies: Students reviewed 15.4 and were introduced to chapter 16 in class. Homework is to complete 16.1 free choice (notes, summary, section assessment, etc.) by Friday. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

Pre-Algebra: We started to work on lesson 8.2 (linear equations in two variables). Homework-worksheet 8.2, # 2-9.

Algebra: Test tomorrow over sections 10.1-10.3. Look over practice test and your notes. Know how to find axis of symmetry and vertex of a parabola-and find its domain and range. Happy Studying!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wednesday, April 26 (F-Day)

Science: Investigation 21 A & B (frequency & pitch and straw instruments). Students also had an opportunity to work on their rough drafts of the I-Search paper and quiz corrections.

Geometry: Took the chapter 11 test. No homework!

Social Studies: Students shared current events and reviewed the causes of the Civil War. 15.4 guided reading and homework folders due Thursday. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

Algebra:  (2nd and 4th only) Lesson 10.3.  Homework (odds only) attached.  Remember test on Friday over sections 10.1 to 10.3.

Technology - Students worked on their Family Budget. Project and rubric are attached.

LA - Today was F day so another block schedule where I do not see every 8th grade student. Today they read "Louisa May Alcott's Civil War Journal and also a story on Abe Lincoln. This is to give student's more background information on the Civil War, since students are reading historical fiction novels based on the Civil War. They also had to do 3 grammar exercises on Appositive's. Once students completed all of their classwork they were free to continue reading their novels. HW - novels are to be completed by Tuesday May 3rd. I will be introducing their writing assignment on Wednesday may 4th.