News from 8-L

Team 8L March Blog

Science - In Science we have continued with our weather and climate unit.  We have done an activity using a map and the students’ hand to simulate High and Low pressure systems.  Students have identified the various air masses and fronts associated with these systems.  Using station models, students did a virtual lab to predict what the weather would be like over a four day period.  They have looked at several different types of weather maps and then interpreted what the weather would be in various parts of the United States.  As an activating strategy, students created the beginning of a cloud using a plastic water bottle.  They then learned about how clouds are named and where they are located.  The conclusion of our weather unit will be forthcoming.

English - In English class this marking period, students will be exploring a variety of text structures. The next unit of study is Craft and Structure of Fiction Text. Students will understand how to analyze the craft and structure of fiction to construct meaning. They will be examining an author's point of view, and the influence of words and phrases in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings, to develop tone, voice and mood. Some of the selections they will be reading include; The Monkey's Paw, Flowers for Algernon, Hunger, and various poetry selections by renowned poets. The unit will end with an in-depth compare/contrast essay of two different text selections, a poem and short story. Students will analyze the influence of the words, phrases, and structure on how they shape meaning, tone, and voice.  In addition to the core content, students will also begin test preparations for the PSSA test.

Social Studies – In Social Studies we have just concluded our unit on Thomas Jefferson and are ready to see how war escalated between England and the United States once again in the War of 1812.  We will be learning how that war affected us as a country and ushered in the first Industrial Revolution in America.

Math - All math classes are currently preparing for the upcoming PSSA exams later in March.  While still adhering to the outlined curriculum, we have also been reviewing some Geometry concepts and getting some practice via Study Island with the (expected) new format of questions on this years state test.  Graphing and writing of linear equations / inequalities remains a central focus for all classes. 

Honors Algebra students also have the added "bonus" of preparing for the Keystone exams, which will be given in May.  Parents and guardians of these kids, make sure they get plenty of rest!  Their math schedule is content-heavy and they really have been working hard to keep up with everything :) 

Post PSSAs, PreAlg-2 pupils will complete their graphing unit, then learn in more detail the rules of exponents with regard to multiplication & division.  Algebra 1A students will also be completing their unit of graphing, then move into Linear Inequalities.

During the ROAR period, students with Miss Herr have selected a math-related topic to (informally) research and on which they have given a short presentation.  Topics have included Hexadecimal and Binary Numbers, Combinatorics, The Golden Ratio, Probability, Pi, Cryptology, Pascal's Triangle, Even/Odd Functions, Fractals, Java Script, Euclid's Elements, the Fibonacci Sequence, Truth Talbes, Complex Numbers, and Quadratic Equations.  It's been most insightful hearing some of the information presented!

Health - Health class is putting the finishing touches on Growth and Development and is headed toward learning more about other parts of the human anatomy. The first unit that will be learned is the Skeletal System where all eighth graders will learn the 206 bones of the body!

Academic Literacy - Students in Academic Literacy class are continuing to develop their writing and reasoning skills. Most recently students worked in groups to write a claim about a potential crime scene using the evidence and a close analysis of that evidence. Together they composed a focused, detailed and well-organized written response by using color-coded sentence strips.  Each response included a thesis statement, topic sentences, supporting evidence from the text, an analysis of all the supporting evidence and a conclusion. 

Microtheme Notes Example

Microtheme activity

 

Students collaborating on their microtheme

	Currently, students are working to find bias in media and print and using their newly polished thinking and reasoning skills to conduct a close article analysis of several texts.

 

Microtheme Activity