Thursday, January 31

Science: Today we designed the roller coasters for the "How Efficient is my Ride?" lab and worked on writing the purpose and hypothesis. Students must have the hypothesis completed for class tomorrow. 

Geometry:  Went over the 7.6 homework and took notes on 7.7 (solving right triangles). Homework is the 7.7 worksheet. Chapter 7 test is Wednesday, February 6. 

Art Grade 8  hour 1 : Nylon sculptures have been painted base color. Now students are adding the painted details.

Art 7/8  hours 5 & 6: Louise Nevelson inspired sculptures are complete and displayed in the front hallway showcase. We have now started a unit about the artist Faith Ringgold. Students are creating their own quilt piece which tells a story about a past or present event. Students will be using felt, muslin, and water color pencils to create their quilt piece. Faith Ringgold quiz tomorrow for 6th hr. Monday for 5th hr. Each class will receive class time to study prior to the quiz. Students may also bring home their notes to study too.

Advanced Art grade 8  hour 7: Mixed media fruit still life now completed! Students are now building their own paper sculptures using ONLY earth tones. They will use these sculptures as their still life for their next drawing. 

Spanish I: Quiz on Monday, on the words on the 2.2 vocab packet that is due Monday. Sentences with verbs on pg 143 are due on Monday. The comic strip is due on Monday.

Humanities: Students completed chapter 8 test in class today. Homework is to complete 9.1 section assessment and current events for tomorrow.

ELA - Students read quietly or checked out books while others finished checking their 2.5 packet.  We then did Grammar 3.3 Object Pronouns and 3.4 Possessive Pronouns together, with the rest to be finished as homework.  I have attached Tuesday's assignment as well, as I was not here to post it on Tuesday! Homework: READ! Journal Entry #2

Course 3: We worked on graphing linear equations.  Homework is worksheet 11.4, #13-23 odds.

Pre-Algebra: We started our Chapter 5 test.  We need more time to finish it tomorrow.  No homework.

Algebra: We started the substitution method of solving systems today.  Our homework was one problem, but it needs to be solved using 2 different methods.

Wednesday, January 30

Science: Completed Investigation 10-B, analyzing the flow of energy during a car's motion on the track. Tomorrow we will begin the Roller Coaster lab, midterm will be February 13/14.

Geometry: Went over the 7.5 homework and took notes on 7.6 (sine and cosine), homework is the 7.6 worksheet. Chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, February 6. 

Pre-Algebra: Test tomorrow on Chapter 5.  I have attached the homework (evens)

 

Algebra: We started systems of equations today.  It is very important that students are comfortable graphing lines.  Homework:  Worksheet (1-10)

Course 3: We went over homework.  We started to graph equations.  No homework.

ELA - Students checked Grammar 2.5 Nouns as Subjects and Complements. We then checked (through demonstrating correct answers through body movements) Grammar 3.1 What Is a Pronoun and 3.2 Subject Pronouns. Reading Requirement for 3rd Marking Period -4 total books - 3 Independently read books and To Kill a Mocking Bird. Personal Journal Entries are restarting again for 3rd Marking Period, tonight is the first required entry. Homework: READ! Journal Entry #1

Humanities: Students checked test questions and answers 8.3 in class.  Questions and answers are below.  Please remember that all students received these questions last Thursday and were expected to study over this past weekend.  In addition, students were given two class periods to review for the test.  That said, I am sure all will do well.  Study hard and good luck! Homework is to review test questions and study for the test on Thursday. Current events and 9.1 section assessment are due Friday.

-What are the Articles of Confederation and why didn't they work?

The Articles are the first attempt at forming a national government.  They did not work because they gave too much power to the states, and the national government could not do things like collect taxes, pay debts, etc.

-What is the Northwest Ordinance and how did it work?

The Northwest Ordinance was a plan for settling lands west of the Appalachians.  You needed 5,000 free men to make a government, and 60,000 people to apply for statehood.

-What is Shay’s Rebellion and why was it important?

Former soldiers, and farmers, marched on the Mass. Government because they did not receive pay for the war, and were expected to pay tax.  This scared the national government, because they could not stop them, and led to the Constitutional Convention.

-What is the Great Compromise and what did it create?

The Compromise combined the New Jersey Plan that wanted one house based on equal representation, and the Virginia Plan that wanted two houses based on population.  The Compromise created the modern Legislative branch of government with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation.

-What is the 3/5 Compromise and why was it "good," and "bad"?

The Compromise counted 3/5 of slave populations for taxes and representation.  It was good because the south agreed to the Constitution and bad because it allowed for slavery.

-Who were the Federalists and what did they want?

The Federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution because they wanted a strong national government (strong executive).

-Who were the Anti-Federalists and what did they want?

The Anti-federalists did not want to ratify the Constitution because they believed that it gave too much power to the national government, and wanted a Bill of Rights.

-What is the Bill of Rights and why was it important?

The Bill is the first ten amendments to the Constitution.  The Amendments protect our rights and were important because they allowed for the ratification of the Constitution.

-What are the three parts of the Constitution and what does each do?

The Preamble is the introduction, and tells the “goals” of the Constitution.

The Articles are the body, and tell how the government will work.

The Bill of Rights is the conclusion, and defines our (citizens) rights.

-What are the three branches of government, who is in charge of each and what does each do?

The Executive Branch enforces law, and is led by the president.

The Legislative Branch makes law, and is led by the Congress.

The Judicial Branch interprets law, and is led by the Supreme Court.*All answers can be found in chapter 8 of the textbook (pp. 205-221) and the Constitution Handbook (pp. 228-231 and p. 245).

Tuesday, January 29

Geometry: Took notes on section 7.5 (tangent ratio), homework is 7.5 worksheet. The chapter 7 test will be Wednesday, February 6. Project grades should be done tomorrow. 

Science: Completed the Unit 3 notes and did some practice calculating efficiency. Homework is the Efficiency worksheet. We will start our inquiry lab for this unit Thursday and will begin reviewing for the midterm next week. The midterm will be around February 14. 

Spanish I: Study vocab on the 2.2 worksheet for a quiz on Monday, Feb 4th. 2.2 vocab packet is due Feb 4th also.

Humanities: Students checked 8.3 and current events in class.  In addition, students reviewed test questions that were given last Thursday (All answers can be found in chapter 8 of the textbook (pp. 205-221) and the Constitution Handbook (pp. 228-231 and p. 245) ). Homework is to review test questions and study for the test on Thursday. Current events and 9.1 section assessment are due Friday.

-What are the Articles of Confederation and why didn't they work?

-What is the Northwest Ordinance and how did it work?
-What is Shey's Rebellion and why was it important?

-What is the Great Compromise and what did it create?
-What is the 3/5 Compromise and why was it "good," and "bad"?

-Who were the Federalists and what did they want?

-Who were the Anti-Federalists and what did they want?

-What is the Bill of Rights and why was it important?

-What are the three parts of the Constitution and what does each do?

-What are the three branches of government, who is in charge of each and what does each do?

Course 3: We worked on finding equations with two variable.  Homework is worksheet 11.3, #3 - 19 odds and 20 - 23 all.

Pre-Algebra We did stations to review for our Chapter 5 test that will be on Thursday.  Whatever is not finished is homework.  Many finished in class.

 

Algebra: We went over the midterm.  No homework!

Thursday, January 24

Science: "Quests" were returned and students had an opportunity to do quest corrections for partial credit. All corrections must be turned in tomorrow (even if they don't have science class!) to be counted for the card marking. We also worked on the last section of notes. 

Geometry: Went over the 7.4 homework and practiced more problems from 7.3 before taking the 7.1-7.4 quiz. Projects are due tomorrow and we are having breakfast during the presentations!

Spanish I: Study the 20 oral questions for the last part of the midterm on Monday, Jan 28th.

Humanities: Students reviewed 8.2, were introduced to 8.3, and worked on 8.3 section assessment in class. Homework is to complete 8.3 section assessment and a current event for tomorrow.

ELA - Students checked their work from last night and started work on 2.5 "Nouns as Subjects and Complements" and 2.6 "Nouns in Phrases".  This is not due until Monday as tomorrow is a half day, I will only see hours 1-4.  Journals were handed back, but the first journal entry for 3rd Marking Period will be Monday evening.  Reading Requirement for 3rd Marking Period - 3 Independent books + To Kill a Mockingbird.  Students should be reading now before we start TKM. Have a great evening. Homework: READ!  

Course 3: Today we worked on scatter plots.  Homework is worksheet 11.2, #6-13. 5th hour- NO HOMEWORK.

Wednesday, January 23

Science: Took the "Quest" today, no homework except if students are missing any assignments, all missing work must be turned in tomorrow to be counted. (Mrs. Kettner's class is taking the Quest tomorrow).

Geometry: Went over the 7.3 worksheet and 7.4 notes (special right triangles). Homework is the 7.4 worksheet, quiz on chapter 7 tomorrow. Project is due on Friday. 

Spanish I: Study for the midterm tomorrow and on Monday.

Humanities: Students checked 8.1, were introduced to 8.2 and began to work on 8.2 guided reading in class. Homework is to complete 8.2 guided reading. Current events are due Friday.

Course 3: We continued to find an equation given a set of ordered pairs. 5th hour-Homework is worksheet 11.1, # 14 - 19.

ELA - Students turned in their Journals for 2nd Marking period. They then worked quietly on studying for mid-terms and/or Grammar Packet - 2.4 Compound Nouns.  Homework: Read, Grammar Packet 2.4.

Tuesday, January 22

Science: Went over Investigation 4-A and the Work/Mechanical Advantage homework from last week. Quest is tomorrow!

Geometry: Went over notes for 7.3 (similar right triangles and geometric mean). 7.3 worksheet is homework. Quiz for chapter 7 is on Thursday and Kitchen Geometry Project is due on Friday.

Spanish I: Study for the midterm tomorrow and Thursday. Study the oral questions for Monday, January 28th.

Humanities: Students were introduced to chapter 8 and began to work on 8.1 guided questions in class. Homework is to complete 8.1 guided questions.

ELA - Literary Analysis papers were handed back and we had a discussion as to the need to come in at lunch for any individual help needed.  Many students did not follow the lessons taught in Writer's Workshop, did not follow the rubric, and did not come in to get help during lunch.  The average grade for the class was very low in my eyes. We reviewed the Grammar Packet from Friday and will move on with our grammar study tomorrow.  Remember Journals are due tomorrow, no ifs ands or buts.  This should have been done during Writer's Workshop and every night during the marking period, it should be an easy "A". Homework: Journal entry #56

Pre-Algebra: Homework: Practice 5.6B (multiples of 5)

 

Algebra: Study for Midterm!  Test starts tomorrow.

Friday, January 18

Geometry: We spent a good chunk of classtime reviewing ways to solve quadratics (graphing, factoring, completing the square and quadratic formula) and 7.2 homework. Quadratics are back in full swing for much of the remainder of the year! Students had the remainder of the time to work on their Kitchen Work Triangle Projects, which are due on Friday, January 25. We will have a quiz on chapter 7 Thursday, January 24.

Science: Completed Investigation 4-A (work and simple machines) by comparing the amount of force needed to lift a weight using different combinations of pulleys and how that affected the distance of rope used. No homework, Unit 3 "Quest" Wednesday, January 23. A "Quest" is a combination of a quiz and a test: Open note, corrections for partial credit, entered as a test grade.

Humanities: Students completed our chapter 7 quiz, finished a video on the American Revolution, discussed the importance of Dr. King, and shared current events in class. No homework. Have a great weekend.

Spanish I: Study for the midterm on Wednesday and Thursday next week. The vocab packet and study guide packet are due on Tuesday.

Course 3: We started to work on if a relation is a function or not.  Homework is worksheet 11.1, #6-9. 5th hour-Students should complete the function machine if they did not turn it in.  Make sure you include:  Domain, input, x, range, output, y, an equation and function.

Algebra Study! We have our exam on Wednesday and Thursday. I have attached all the review materials. Good luck! Email me with any questions lgraham@berkleyschools.org
1-6 Practice
Study Guide
Midterm Organizer
Practice Exam