Friday, March 11 (D-Day)

Science: Worked on preparation for circuit building. Students recieved supplies to get them started (light bulbs and lengths of wire) and we also practiced removing insulation from the wires. Students may choose to use a buzzer instead of a light, but it is NOT required! Students also got to look at examples of projects from past years and we went over the rubric. Students should begin building their circuits this weekend so that they have enough time to fix any problems they may have prior to the due date. They do not need to bring their circuits in on Monday.

March 14 - Initial Circuit Built

March 14-21 Work on Perfecting Circuit and Project Write Up

March 21- Testing & Revisions of Alarm complete

March 21- Class Presentation & Write-Up Due

Geometry: 9.6 Notes (Symmetry) in class and we investigated with pattern blocks (your students LOVED getting to play with pattern blocks). 9.6 worksheet is homework. Chapter 9 "Quest" on Wednesday, March 16.

LA - Students worked on mini lesson #9 - Writing a conclusion. Students then wrote conclusions to their literary essay. They then worked on their literary essay rough drafts which are due Monday 3/14. The rough draft does not have to be typed it just has to be completed for peer editing.  HW - Completing the rough drafts if they ran out of time in class. Read Ch 9 and 10 in "The Outsiders" which is due Monday for discussion.

Social Studies: Students shared projects and current events in class. No homework. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

Algebra: Finished notes from 8.5 (exponential growth). Discussed section 8.6 (exponential decay. Homework: wkst 8.5 (18-20) and finish graphs from 8.6 notes. Upcoming Events: 2nd/4th hour chapter test Wednesday 3/16 5th hour chapter test Friday 3/18. Conferences 3/16 and 3/17. Have a great weekend!

Technology - Students handed in their signed EDPs, if they didn't please get them in Monday. We began our "Family Budget" project. The packet is attached. Students had their "Lottery of Life" and picked their City, Marital Status, and number of children from cups. Many were upset they had no girls, or were divorced, or didn't want to live in LA...it is always a very rowdy day in my room.  Due dates haven't been set yet as this is the first time I'm doing this project with the split schedule. I'm shooting for "Investigate" being due by March 31st (last day before break), this will be all research and print evidence of their research checked by me.

Thursday, March 9

Science: Completed notes and Investigation 15-A (Static Charge). Time-line for the "What is Safe Project":
March 14 - Initial Circuit Built

March 14-21 Work on Perfecting Circuit and Project Write Up
March 21- Testing & Revisions of Alarm complete
March 21- Class Presentation & Write-Up Due

LA - Today was C day so I only met with one 8th grade class. Students were handed back their thesis statement. If they were good, they got started on their rough drafts, if the thesis statement needed revising they worked on it, and had to get it approved by me before starting their rough draft. The paper is a literary essay based on the short story that they chose to write on. Students also caught up on reading "The Outsiders." HW - none

Art 7/8: 5th hr. meets today only. Re-demo of colored pencil portion of "Round Robin Picasso" drawing. Students will continue coloring with colored pencil.



Advanced Art grade 8: Day 3 of weekly still life. Students will continue drawing the five chairs today.

Pre-Algebra: We reviewed for our test on chapter 5 tomorrow.  STUDY:)

Wednesday, March 9 (B-Day)

Science: Students worked on the research component of the "What is Safe" project. We also had mini-meetings to discuss students' plans for the project. Circuit building should begin as soon as possible! Click here for project planner and rubric.
March 14 - Initial Circuit Built

March 14-21 Work on Perfecting Circuit and Project Write Up
March 21- Testing & Revisions of Alarm complete
March 21- Class Presentation & Write-Up Due

Geometry: 9.3 Notes (Reflections). 9.3 worksheet is homework. Chapter 9 "Quest" on Wednesday, March 16.

Art 7/8: Students will begin the colored pencil portion of their "Round Robin Picasso."



Advanced Art grade 8: Students will begin the "Cubist Chair Collage Painting" today. They will be begin by drawing 5 different chairs in the classroom.

Social Studies: Students presented projects in class today. No homework. Current events due "C" and "F" days.

LA - Students went down to the media center to watch a short video on what will be available for the book fair next week. We came back to class and discussed Ch.5.6.7 in the "The Outsiders." HW - none - students will begin working on their rough drafts from the writer's workshop starting on Friday.

Tuesday, March 8 (A-Day)

Science: Began working on the "What is Safe" project. Students brainstormed ideas about alarm circuits, saw examples of past projects, and began planning their circuit. Tomorrow we will be working on research. Students will need to begin building their circuits this week. See time-line below:
March 9 -Circuit Idea and Plan Complete
March 14 - Initial Circuit Built
March 14-21 Work on Perfecting Circuit and Project Write Up
March 21- Testing & Revisions of Alarm complete
Mrch 21- Class Presentation & Write-Up Due

Geometry: Went over 9.2 notes (Properties of Matrices). 9.2 worksheet is homework. This is a brief chapter with only 4 sections. The chapter 9 "Quest" is on Wednesday, March 16.

Pre-Algebra: We took a review test for chapter 5. Chapter 5 test is Friday. Homework-finish practice test.

Social Studies: Students continued to work on projects and shared current events in class. Projects are due Wednesday (tomorrow).

Algebra- Reviewed scientific notation. Did a "Skeeter Activity". No homework!

Monday, March 7 (F-Day)

Science: Investigation 14-A (Series and Parallel Circuits).

Geometry: Took the chapter 8 test.

Social Studies: Students continued to work on projects in class today. In addition, students were able to share current events. Projects are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Technology - Students completed the following on the EDP in Career Cruising: 1 - Answered all Matchmaker and Skills questions. 2 - Chose 2 careers from results and saved to EDP. 3 - Chose 2 Career Pathways and saved to EDP. 4 - Wrote Short Term Goals and Long Term Goals and saved to EDP. 5 - Printed Signature sheet (in EDP blue buttons on left of screen - Printer Friendly Version). Signature Sheet is due at next class - Friday March 11

LA - Students worked on thinking up with their own thesis statements regarding their short stories they have been reading while doing writer's workshop. They also need to be able to support their thesis statement with information from their stories. HW - making sure that they are up to and through Ch.6. There will be a short quiz on Chapters 1-6 Tuesday 3/8.

Art 7/8: 2nd and 4th hrs. are still completely the marker drawing for the Common Ground Mosaic Mural installation piece sponsored by S.N.A.P.

Advanced Art grade 8: Charcoal gesture drawings are completed and have been graded. This class did not meet today but will be completing Common Ground Mosaic Mural drawing tomorrow.

Algebra: Discussed scientific notation, homework p. 515 (3-48 multiples of 3)

Friday, March 4 (E-Day)

Many 8th graders have not yet turned in the 8th grade privelages letter. Students will not be able to participate in any 8th grade events until this letter has been submitted! Click here if you need another copy of the letter. Thank you!

Science: Finished simile posters & paragraphs. Series and Parallel worksheet is homework.

Geometry: Went over the practice test. Chapter 8 review, odds only, is homework. Chapter 8 test on Monday.

Social Studies: Students continued to work on projects in class. Projects are due Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Homework is to work on projects. Remember, paragraphs on relevance and IB traits are due Monday and Tuesday.

Pre-Algebra: We took notes on lesson 5.7. Homework-worksheet 5.7, #10 - 18.

Algebra: Discussed section 8.3 (negative exponents!). 2nd and 4th hours, Homework: p. 506 (28-42) evens. 5th hour, Homework: p. 506 (4-42 evens). Have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 3 (D-Day)

Science: Began working on similes for our electricity unit. We will continue tomorrow by making posters and writing paragraphs explaining our similes. No homework!

Geometry: Went over 8.6 notes & worksheet. Quizzes were also returned. Chapter 8 practice test is homework. 

LA - Students were introduced to the novel "The Outsiders".  Ch1 and 2 and due today and we will have a discussion in class regarding what is going on. We also did an activity were the students had to come up with titles for each chapter and tell why that would be a good title. The list was put on the board and students voted for the best title. For some reason S.E. Hinton does not put chapter titles in her books. We also discussed what types of people might be "outsiders" in our society and why. HW - Chapter 3 and 4 due Friday for discussion.

Pre-Algebra: We finished lesson 5.6.  We are solving 2-step equations with fractions. Homework-worksheet 5.6, #13-24.

Algebra: Take home quiz!! Due BEFORE 1st hour.  Points will be taken off for each class period it is late.

Good luck!

 

Technology - Began our EDPs in Career Cruising today, next meeting we will complete all the requirements and print out the results for parent signature.  Career Cruising (as well as Moodle) is accessible from home/library.  Check it out with your student :)