8 South Newsletter

8 South Newsletter March 2014

Language Arts algebraic language to describe these During the months of March and April, students transformations. will be working on a unit of study focused on the genre of dystopia. Students will be reading Algebra students are finishing their two pieces of fiction during this unit: a short investigation of lines of best fit by gathering story, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, and their own data, analyzing the data, and one of a number of different young adult novels.interpreting the results. They have learned how Many of the novels that we will be choosing to use the correlation coefficient to help with from are award nominees or recipients. Some this interpretation and judge the accuracy of of the titles are: The Giver by Lois Lowry, their predictions. In the next unit we'll be Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, The House of the exploring systems of linear equations. Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, and Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Each Science student will be given one of the titles to read; 8th graders worked hard reviewing for the however, he/she may read others based on science CMT and are happy to move back to the interest. current curriculum of force and motion and Newton’s Laws. In the next two weeks we will To finish the unit, the students will be writing anassess their level of understanding and then essay that explores one of the major societal review any areas of weakness before moving on issues, such as censorship, totalitarian to the next unit – Earth in the Solar System- government, and abuse of the environment. TheHow does the position of Earth in the solar students will research the issue in modern day system affect conditions on our planet? and take a stand on whether that is currently an issue and whether the issue is portrayed in a realistic way by the author. Global Studies Students were very busy working the Rome Finally, a reading calendar has been posted on research project in the month March. In my website. Students should follow this addition to the essay, students were required to calendar rather than completing reading logs share their information with the class in the during the next two months. form of an oral presentation. Overall, there has been a large improvement in the students’ abilities to make a formal presentation since the Math beginning of the year. They should be proud of their growth. Pre-algebra students will be studying transformations such as reflections, dilations, In the month of April students will be learning rotations, and translations. Last year, they about the Middle Ages time period. This unit learned what these were and this year we're involves two simulations, one on the Feudal learning how to combine them to create system and the other on the Bubonic Plague. congruent and similar shapes. In the real world, Both simulations are intended to give students this connects to computer programing and a better understanding of how these systems and digital animation. The students are learning the events impacted Europe in this time period. Some of the essential questions that go along with this unit include:  How does religion play a role in the development and sustainment of society?  What does a society need in order to function and survive?  What role should government play in society? Questions or Comments?  What factors contribute to the spread of disease? Team Leader and Math: Writing Mark Gostkiewicz [email protected] Students are continuing to draft, conference and revise their argumentative essay on teens and Language Arts: plastic surgery. Towards the end of April Joshua Strecker students will begin to develop and write a narrative essay based on the Mysteries of Harris [email protected] Burdick drawings. Each drawing is quite unique and curious, and below each drawing is aScience: quote. Supposedly, there was a story to go Robb White along with each, but no one has ever found [email protected] them. Students will pick one of these images and develop their own story. Global Studies: Upcoming Dates and Events: Rebecca Suntheimer 4/3: Quarter 3 ends [email protected] 4/7- 4/11: Spirit Week 4/11: Half day for students Special Education: John Woitovich 4/14-4/18: Spring Break [email protected] 4/21: Report Cards issued School Counselor: 4/24: Band Day Doug Gagne [email protected]