Science: Mr. Dave Suchy
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Students are finishing up their climate/climate change projects this week. They will be presenting their ideas about how to solve the problems created by climate change and climate change itself to their classmates. The new unit they will be starting is Evolution. Students will be investigating the evidence Charles Darwin provided to prove his theory of evolution through a series of hands on activities and computer simulations. Ask your student to explain evolution to you!
Social Studies: Mr. Everhart
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Eighth grade social studies classes are working though their “Age of Ideas” unit in which we examine the European Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and their impact on modern political and social beliefs. We are currently reading excerpts from Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” and will soon shift to the study of Humanism in art, literature and government. Next week, we explore the change in scientific thought through the works of Copernicus, Galileo and Newton. Ask your student to explain that shift to you. As we approach February break, students will begin preparing for their research paper…more on that to follow soon!
English: Mr. Saveriano
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8th graders readers and writers are now navigating through the world of short stories. As readers, we are unearthing the characteristics that make this genre so compelling -- unique protagonists and antagonists, internal and external conflicts, the use of symbolism, the use of foreshadowing, and the manipulation of plot structure. As writers, we are creating our own complex protagonists who face relevant conflicts as they travel through an exposition, climax, and resolution. Please encourage your child to pick up a collection of short stories as their independent reading book.
Math (On-Grade Level): Mr. Jose Oliveira
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Students have been learning about what functions are in class. They have been making the connections between functions and equations. Later in the week we will begin to look at systems of linear equations. Students will have to find the solution to the system while working with two equations. We will learn to solve these systems through multiple methods. Ask your student how constant rate of change, unit rate, and slope are related.
Math (Accelerated Math): Mr. Jose Oliveira
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Over the next week or so we will be winding down the portion of our unit about systems of linear equations and also systems of linear inequalities. We will move into non-linear functions after wrapping up systems. Students have solved systems of equations through graphing, substitution, and elimination methods. To assist with a visual on systems of inequalities, students have used two different colors while graphing. Ask your students what the overlapping portion of a system of inequalities means.