8th Grade Course Updates - October

What are some milestones on the path to growing up?

The skills of standards being taught are:

• analyzing particular lines of dialogue, events in text, characters’ actions.

• identifying and analyzing themes.

• summarizing a text.

• reading informational text.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• marking a text to show our analysis and understanding.

• summarizing a text to support a theme.

• citing textual evidence.

Students will be able to:

• cite textual evidence that most strongly supports an essential question.

• compose a well-structured nonfiction narrative that reflects on their new understanding of our essential question.

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Unit 1 Reading Test

• Unit 1 SummatIve Writing Performance Task

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Exit Tickets

• Performance Task #2: Nonfiction Narrative

• text summaries

• We are working on Unit 2: Congruence. Please check out this website for family information and activities to complete with your student.

  
  

  Here’s what’s coming next:

  • We will finish Unit 2 in November, and then begin Unit 3: Similarity

  
  

  Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

  • 1.16 Cool Down

  • Unit 1 Test

  • 2.2 Cool Down

  • Unit 2 Checkpoint A

• Current Unit - Force and Motion

  
  

  The skills of standards being taught are:

  • Apply Newton’s third law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objectS (MS-PS2-1).

  • Plan an investigation to provide evidence (MS-PS2-2)

  • Construct and interpret graphical displays of data (MS-PS3-1).

  
  

  Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

  • Relationship between force, change in velocity, and mass.

  • Plan and conduct investigations with physical materials.

  • Use of digital models.

  • Obtaining information from science texts to investigate these relationships.

  
  

  Students should be able to:

  • Conduct investigations.

  • Analyze data from digital models.

  • Construct oral and written arguments.

  • Understand the proportional relationships (scale, proportion, and quantity) between force and velocity change.

  
  

  Here’s what’s coming next:

  • Force and Motion Engineering Internship.

  
  

  Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

  • Lesson 2.4 Critical Juncture Assessment.

  • Lesson 3.1, Activity 2 - Asking Deeper Questions.

  • Lesson 3.2 Activity 4 - Applying Cause and Effect to Understand Forces in Collisions.

  • Lesson 3.4 Activity 4 - Final Models of the Missing Seconds.

  • Lesson 4.1 Activity 4 - Engaging in Argument from Evidence.

• History: Patterns change over a period of time - Explain patterns of change over time in the community, the state, the United States, and the world.
• History: Effect - Use multiple perspectives to analyze and explain effects of issues or events within and across time periods, events, or cultures.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• One pager on French and Indian war

• Notes and Part 1 of Events leading to the American RevolutionI can complete my graphic organizer on my topic

• I can collaborate to design a poster on our topic

• Poster gallery walk

Students should be able to:

I will be able to examine how dramatic change happens gradually through analyzing events leading to the American Revolution.

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Gallery walk

• Road to revolution

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Perform: I can demonstrate the ability to sing on pitch and in rhythm.

• Connect: I can explain how music relates to self, others, and the world.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Deepening our connection to our music and our understanding of it.

• Expanding our comfort zone with singing - singing in small groups and in more parts.

Students should be able to:

• Sing in unison, in two parts, and three parts, matching pitch and independent rhythms;

• Sightread basic melodies using solfege (do, re, mi);

• Consistent use of entire vocal range, low and high;

Reminder About First Concert Date:

• Thursday, October 30th - 6:30 pm

Link to Concert Schedule

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Perform: I can demonstrate the ability to play on pitch and in rhythm

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Rehearsing concert music

Students should be able to:

• Play all of their concert music with correct notes, rhythms, and dynamics

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Concert: Monday, November 3rd 6:30 p.m.!!!!!

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• One Pager

• Concert Speaking Plan

• Performance Assessment Video

Link to Concert Schedule

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Understanding and applying the elements of art (value, form, color, and proportion)

• Developing observational drawing skills through grid drawing techniques

• Using value, blending, and highlights to create the illusion of realism

• Applying technical skill with markers and Prismacolor pencils for controlled shading and color transitions

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Practicing value scales and blending techniques with colored pencil

• Photographing individual Ring Pops to use as personalized reference images

• Creating and aligning 1in x 1in grids to accurately transfer proportions

• Studying examples of photorealism and traditional art

Students should be able to:

• Demonstrate accurate proportions using the grid drawing method

• Apply a range of values and color blending to create realistic effects

• Identify and render highlights and shadows to enhance three-dimensionality

• Show control and craftsmanship when layering color with markers and pencils
  
  

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Finishing their final photorealistic Ring Pop drawings

• Photographing and turning in their finished work

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Ring Pop Drawing: Due in November

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Understanding and applying the elements of art: form, texture, and space

• Demonstrating handbuilding techniques in clay (slab, pinch, and sculptural methods)

• Developing craftsmanship through careful construction and attention to detail

• Exploring functional and decorative design in three-dimensional art

• Understanding the ceramic process: building, drying, firing, and glazing

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Practicing different handbuilding techniques such as slab rolling, scoring, and slipping

• Designing sketches and planning the structure of their fairy houses

• Adding texture and surface details using sculpting tools and found objects

• Learning how to create openings and hollow forms safely for firing

• Discussing examples of ceramic sculpture and decorative clay design
  
  

Students should be able to:

• Construct a stable and balanced 3D form using appropriate handbuilding methods

• Apply texture and detail intentionally to enhance visual interest

• Demonstrate craftsmanship by smoothing seams and securely attaching clay pieces

• Understand how to prepare a clay piece for bisque firing and glazing

• Reflect on their design choices and creative process

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Turning in the project

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Wheel-thrown Piece

• Clay FairyHouse Due in November.

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Presentational Speaking

• Interpretive Listening

• Culture & Extension

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Listening to short stories

• Reading the text

• Using A has or doesn’t have enough room for B

• Recording the dialogue

Students should be able to:

• Answer the relevant questions

• Read the text

• Make sentences with vocabularies

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Chapter 1 Section 3: Doing enough of something

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• C1S1 Notes

• C1S2 Notes

• C1S1 Worksheets

• C1S2 Worksheets

• C1S2 Dialogue

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Presentational Writing

• Interpersonal Speaking

• Interpretive Reading

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Writing sentences to practice new skills

• Speaking with peers using simple questions and responses

• Vocabulary building games

Students should be able to:

• Describe their families

• identify vocab words (family members and pets)

• use the verbs “to have” and “to be called”

• use singular and plural pronouns

• differentiate between the subject and direct object of a sentence

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Describing family members traits and appearances

• Reading practice

• Writing Assessment: Family

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Self-portrait

• Empowering Words Practice

• Practice: Describing Family

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Interpretive Listening

• Interpersonal Speaking

• Interpretive Reading

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Listening Activities related to free time activities

• Describing the day’s weather and comparing it with the weather in Spanish speaking countries

• Describing what they like to do in certain kinds of weather

Students should be able to:

• Talk about free time activities they like to do / don’t like to do

• Describe the weather

• Write about activities they like to do in different weather conditions

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Character Traits

• About Me Flipbook Assessment

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Listening comprehension (Likes and Dislikes)

• Progress Check (Reading & Writing)

• Reading Comprehension (Likes and Dislikes)

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Fitness Concepts

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Fitness Testing and Video Production

Students should be able to:

• Identify a specific fitness area to improve on.

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Football / Soccer

• Passing, Receiving, Game Play

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Fitness Testing Result Sheet

• Daily Activity and Fitness

• Creating a SMART Fitness Goal

The skills of standards being taught are:

• 2024.678.AFNR.PS.2.B - Apply knowledge of plant anatomy and functions of plant structures to activities associated with plant systems.

• 2024.678.AFNR.PS.4.A - Demonstrate plant propagation techniques.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Creating a 3-D Flower

• Greenhouse watering, planting, organizing, and propagation.

Students should be able to:

• Students should be able to identify the parts of a flower and explain how pollination helps plants reproduce.

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Plant Life Cycles Lap Report

• Plant Cell Unit

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Mystery Seed Lab Report

• Notebook Check 2

• 3-D Flower

• Flower Test

• The skills of standards being taught are:

  • Demonstrate an ability to persevere through authentic, open-ended problems. ( 2020.8.INF.ID.2)

  
  

  Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

  • Cutting out puzzle pieces

  • Completing measurement activities where they are following a sequence of instructions to create a drawing up to a 1/16” of precision.

  • Using their tool knowledge to design and create a wooden cutout of their initials.

  
  

  Students should be able to:

  • Know how to use the:

  • Drill press, and hand drills

  • Band Saw

  • Scroll Saw

  • Jig Saw

  • Various sanders

  
  

  Here’s what’s coming next:

  • Working on a personal project idea. Developing a plan, getting measurements, initiating the design, and implementing it. The focus will be on joining and laminating wood to make corners and/or larger boards for projects.

  • Catapult project where students design and build a catapult to launch a foam golf ball.

  
  

  Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

  • Personal Project Developments (watch out, some of them might be surprise gifts for family!)

  • Catapult project documents

• The skills of standards being taught are:

  • Demonstrate an ability to persevere through authentic, open-ended problems. ( 2020.8.INF.ID.2)

  
  

  Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

  • Computer Autopsy Project

  • Students investigated the components that make up a computer, found them and created a presentation sharing them with me.

  • Logo Design Project

  • Students chose a corporate, team or other logo that they wanted to recreate.

  • Students developed and used their CAD skills to recreate that logo using an online 3D design tool

  • I printed them a copy of the logo they created.

  
  

  Students should be able to:

  • Create moderately complex digital designs that would make solid printable objects.

  • Identify the 3 main components that make up a computer, namely; input/output, processing, and memory.

  
  

  Here’s what’s coming next:

  • Students will be assembling, testing, and programming VEX robots.

  
  

  Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

  • VEX robot construction updates

  • VEX robot challenges

  • VEX robot programming assignments

  • 3D printed object assignments

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Demonstrate health-enhancing practices and behaviors that help maintain or improve the health of self and others.

• Analyze the relationships between healthy behaviors and personal health.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Mental Health Awareness

• Suicide Awareness

• Learning about the components of fitness

Students should be able to:

• List ways one can take care of their daily mental health

• Understand the warning signs of someone contemplating thoughts of suicide

• List the health and skill related components of fitness

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Nutrition and the types of energy we receive from the foods we eat

• Awareness on choking victims/CPR/AED/NARCAN

• Dangers of substance abuse

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Personal Mental Health Test

• Fitness Reflection

• Nutrition Exit Ticket

• Compression Only Skills Test

• AODA Reflection

The skills of standards being taught are:

• 2020.8.BW.BPFP.1 - Develop original solutions, products and services to meet a given need.

• 2020.8.BW.BR.4 - Conduct market research to determine consumer trends and product development needs.

• 2020.8.BW.BPFP.2 - Work creatively with others to develop solutions, products and services.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Kub’s Closet trainings (customer service, register, etc.)

• Marketing posters

Students should be able to:

• Use a persuasive technique in their marketing posters

• Run a cash register and make proper change

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Kub’s Closet - grand opening and working shifts!

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Marketing posters

• Market research project

• Pricing

• Charity research

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Identify the different stages of development.

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Creation of a toy and/or board game that is developmentally appropriate for an infant, toddler, or preschooler.

• Analyze children’s books for diversity and inclusivity.

Students should be able to:

• I can identify 3 characteristics from each Realm of Development.

Here’s what’s coming next:

• Writing a children’s book based on a monster they created with a focus on PIES child development.

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Toy/Board Game Evaluation

The skills of standards being taught are:

• Peer Collaboration

• Focused Note Taking

Some learning experiences we’ve been engaging in are:

• Scholar Groups

• Focused Note Taking

• Learning about High School AVID

Students should be able to:

• Identify a point of confusion in a text

• Collaborate with peers

• Set goals and create steps to achieve those goals

Look for this month’s assignments in PowerSchool:

• Binder Check #1

• Scholar Group POC #1

• Binder Check #2

If you have questions, please reach out to the course teacher.