1/31/08 Homework Post (B Day)

***Important Notices ***

1. Due to the severe weather, the 8th grade Curriculum Night at CHS has been rescheduled to next Tuesday, February 5th from 6-9. Ask your son or daughter to see the handout that was distributed during core time today. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact an 8-South teacher.

2. On Wednesday, Feb. 6, all eighth grade students will be writing to an essay prompt during morning core time. This will be one of several factors that will be used to determine placement into English classes for next year. Please try to make sure that your child arrives to school on time on that day. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Baker.

3. IF THERE IS NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, THEN MONDAY WILL BE A “B” DAY.

Literacy:

During class today, we worked on an apostrophes Smartboard activity, a vocabulary pre-test, and drafting for the Literary Tea Party.

Homework:

At least three of your five drafts for the Literary Tea Party are due next class. The final project is due on Friday, February 8th.

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Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

During class, we went over the homework and had a group discussion on our wikispace page. Mr. Powers was absent on professional business. Mrs. Shepard, the District Math Coordinator, came and spoke about course offerings at the high school.

Homework:

Finish 5.1 and ACE problems 1-3 and 19.

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Science:

Today in class we completed PS15. Some students did not get their lab completed and, therefore, they need to arrange their schedules to complete this work before or after school or at lunch.

Homework:

Students should, obviously, continue their research towards their Elements Project. They should use the data collected from today’s lab to complete the CTQs and summary questions for PS15. Already in their comp book (per the pre-lab) would be the problem, procedure, materials, diagrams and variables.

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Social Studies:

Homework: Read pp. 289-293 and take Cornell Notes. In addition, write out 5 main points apiece about the trading kingdoms of Ghana. Mali, and Songhai on a separate piece of paper. These can be in bullet points or in full sentences.

Also, finish the physiographic map that we started in class.

1-30-08 Homework Post (A Day)

Literacy:

During class today, we worked on an apostrophes Smartboard activity, a vocabulary pre-test, and drafting for the Literary Tea Party.

Homework:

At least three of your five drafts for the Literary Tea Party are due next class.

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Mathematics:

Challenge Algebra -

• First, we practiced tracking points from their original location on the parent function to their new location on the transformed function.
• Next, we checked out homework from Lesson 9.6.
• Last, we reviewed how to transform reciprocal functions and exponential functions and then had some time to start our Chapter 9 Review

Homework:

• Chapter 9 Review #1-24

Algebra 8-

• First, we discussed our answers to the Investigation 3 Review packet
• Second, the students took the Investigation 3 Quiz
• Last, we started problem 5.1 which covers how to write rules (directions) for drawing images on grid paper.

Homework:

• Problem 5.1 A1, A2, A3

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Science:

Students spent half of the class with Mrs. Sermos going over the expectations, tasks, and assessments involved in the Elements Project. The latter half of the class period was spent with Dr. Jones in the library covering research websites and actually starting their research for Pen Pal Letter One. Their handout, in case they lost it, can be downloaded here: Pen Pal Handout.

Homework:

Students have two tasks ahead of them. One, on Friday we will start our PS15 lab. They need to have their pre-lab work entered into their comp book prior to class. This would include the problem, procedure, materials, etc. Second, they now have their entire Elements Project (with deadlines) right in front of them. The first task is a Pen Pal Letter…that is where I would advise they start…

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Social Studies:

Homework: Read pp. 284-288. Answer questions 1-6 on p. 288. This is due on Thur. Jan. 31 (B day) and Feb. 1 (A day). We will start the unit on Africa next class.

1-29-08 Homework Post (B Day)

Literacy:

During class, we discussed the Literary Tea Party and students began brainstorming ideas.

Homework:
By next class, you need to post to the following forums:

1. Lesson I’ve Learned

2. Monsters and Ghosts and the Bogey Man: Oh My

Also, you need to write drafts for the Literary Tea Party in your writer’s notebook

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Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

• First, we discussed our answers to the Investigation 3 Review packet
• Second, the students took the Investigation 3 Quiz
• Last, we started problem 5.1 which covers how to write rules (directions) for drawing images on grid paper.

Homework:

• Problem 5.1 A1, A2, A3, B, C1

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Science:

Students spent half of the class with Mrs. Sermos going over the expectations, tasks, and assessments involved in the Elements Project.  The latter half of the class period was spent with Dr. Jones in the library covering research websites and actually starting their research for Pen Pal Letter One.  Their handout, in case they lost it, can be downloaded here: Pen Pal Handout.

Homework:

Students have two tasks ahead of them.  One, on Friday we will start our PS15 lab.  They need to have their pre-lab work entered into their comp book prior to class.  This would include the problem, procedure, materials, etc.  Second, they now have their entire Elements Project (with deadlines) right in front of them.  The first task is a Pen Pal Letter…that is where I would advise they start…

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Social Studies:

Homework:

1/28/08 (A Day Homework)

Literacy:

During class, we discussed the Literary Tea Party and students began brainstorming ideas.

Homework:
By next class, you need to post to the following forums:

1. Lesson I’ve Learned

2. Monsters and Ghosts and the Bogey Man: Oh My

Also, you need to write drafts for the Literary Tea Party in your writer’s notebook

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Mathematics:

Challenge Algebra -

• We started class by reviewing the Mid Chapter 9 Quiz and correcting our mistakes.
• Next, we checked our homework answers from Lesson 9.5.
• Then, we explored combinations of transformations and we found out that if we track a certain point from the parent function to the transformed function, the order in which you apply the transformations has an effect on where the point ends up.
• We concluded that their is an order to apply transformations to the points of a function.

Homework:

• Lesson 9.6 #8-14, #16-23

Algebra 8-

• We discussed constructing reflections of geometric shapes using an angle ruler in problem 2.1.
• Then we reviewed for our Investigation 3 quiz.
• We brainstormed ideas for how we could use ed.voicethread.com in our math class as online review resources.

Homework:

• Finish the review packet
• Study for the Investigation 3 Quiz Tuesday.

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Science:

It was not easy, but we are mucking our way through the concepts of chemical and physical reactions. What separates them? Can both be “undone?” How can I tell one from the other?

Homework:

Students are to prepare for their PS15 experiment. This involves two tasks.

1. Complete the pre-lab write-up. The procedure, materials, and background are in a handout given to the students.
2. Students are to complete the research questions on the back of a handout given in class today. The “Chemistry” handout has a dozen concepts and vocabulary words that students will need to know to completely grasp what occurs during PS15. Find the answers. I have text sources if you would like to use them, but you have other research tools at your disposal as well.

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Social Studies:

Homework: Test on Rome.

For homework, read pp. 244-248. Answer questions 1-6 on p. 288.

1/25/08 post (B day)

Community Service Alert!!

The results of the caucus are posted to Clayton Online Learning. The “Team 8 South” area has a forum set up for the Dog Walking, Project Peanut Butter, and LifeStraw ideas. Please add your thoughts in the “goal setting” forums. Thank you for your hard work on community service projects so far. Now, let’s make these projects as successful as they can be.

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Literacy:

During class, students worked on finishing their persuasive essays using Google Docs.

Homework:

Rather than writing in your WNB this week, you are going to write three posts to Clayton On-Line Learning. Go to C.O.L. and click on 8-South Literacy. You are to follow the directions under each of the following:

“8-South Reads…” “Sentence Imitations” and “Black History Month at Wydown”

2. You should be finishing your novel, as you will starting an assignment relating to that novel later this week.

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Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

• We discussed constructing reflections of geometric shapes using an angle ruler in problem 2.1.
• Then we reviewed for our Investigation 3 quiz.
• We brainstormed ideas for how we could use ed.voicethread.com in our math class as online review resources.

Homework:

• Finish the review packet
• Study for the Investigation 3 Quiz Tuesday.

---

Science:

It was not easy, but we are mucking our way through the concepts of chemical and physical reactions. What separates them? Can both be “undone?” How can I tell one from the other?

Homework:

Students are to prepare for their PS15 experiment. This involves two tasks.

1. Complete the pre-lab write-up. The procedure, materials, and background are in a handout given to the students.
2. Students are to complete the research questions on the back of a handout given in class today. The “Chemistry” handout has a dozen concepts and vocabulary words that students will need to know to completely grasp what occurs during PS15. Find the answers. I have text sources if you would like to use them, but you have other research tools at your disposal as well.

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Social Studies:

Homework:

Study for the test on Rome. Test will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 (B day) and Wednesday, Jan. 30 (A day). The study guide should include vocabulary words, as well as key people, dates, and events. You need to also write out 5 short answer questions and answers as part of the study guide. See the notice for the test below. EXAM ON ROME

WHEN? TUESDAY, JAN. 29 (B DAY)
WEDNESDAY JAN. 30 (A DAY)

WHAT TO STUDY: ALL CLASS NOTES; HOMEWORK NOTES,
CHAPTER 6, SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 5 NOTES
ROMULUS AND REMUS WORKSHEET,
ROMAN REPUBLIC WORKSHEET
MAP OF ROME (AND QUESTIONS)
12 TABLES AND CODE OF JUSTINIAN WORKSHEET
ULTIMATE EMPIRE WORKSHEET

WHAT TYPE OF QUESTIONS?

THERE S A VOCABULARY MATCH, QUESTIONS CONCERNING IMPORTANT DATES, AND A SERIES OF SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THESE QUESTIONS MAY BE ANSWERED IN A FEW WORDS, A COUPLE SENTENCES, OR 4-5 SENTENCES. YOU WILL BE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS WITH EACH QUESTION.

IS THE TEST OPEN NOTE? NO. THE TEST IS CLOSED NOTES.

HOW MUCH IS THE TEST WORTH? THE TEST IS WORTH 60 POINTS.

THIS IS A LARGE UNIT THAT COVERS 1200 YEARS AND HALF THE GLOBE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STUDY HARD FOR THE TEST, USING YOUR NOTES FROM THE BOOK AND CLASS AND THE VARIOUS WORKSHEETS.

GOOD LUCK!

1/24/08 post (A day)

Community Service Alert!!

The results of the caucus are posted to Clayton Online Learning. The “Team 8 South” area has a forum set up for the Dog Walking, Project Peanut Butter, and LifeStraw ideas. Please add your thoughts in the “goal setting” forums. Thank you for your hard work on community service projects so far. Now, let’s make these projects as successful as they can be.

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Literacy:

During class, students worked on finishing their persuasive essays using Google Docs. Ms. Baker collected writer’s notebooks.

Homework:

Rather than writing in your WNB this week, you are going to write three posts to Clayton On-Line Learning. Go to C.O.L. and click on 8-South Literacy. You are to follow the directions under each of the following:

“8-South Reads…” “Sentence Imitations” and “Black History Month at Wydown”

2. You should be finishing your novel, as you will starting an assignment relating to that novel later this week.

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Mathematics:

Challenge Algebra-

•  In class we checked our homework from Lesson 9.4. Then we discussed translating functions.
• Students took formal notes in class
• Students had some time to work on their homework in class.

Homework:

•  Lesson 9.5 #7-30

Algebra 8-

• Students received their KHM Investigation 1 Quiz and corrected them in class
• We checked Problem 3.2 and ACE(3) #1-4 in class.
• We explored the different congruent triangles in ACE(3) #5 and we learned how to organize an elementary geometric proof.

Homework:

• 1-2(B) Problem 2.1 (back to the future) Letters A-E. There were two lab sheets passed out in class for students to use with these questions.
• 5-6(B) Some students need to complete ACE(3) #5, while other students need to complete what they can from Problem 2.1 A-E. Please remember that I passed out 2 lab sheets in class that go along with this problem. If you received these sheets, that means that this is your homework.

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Science:

Homework:

Today in class we completed the “Reaction in a bag” experiment. Our data was observational in nature and, therefore, our post-lab will be slightly different. Students should answer their CTQs, draw a diagram of the experiment, identify the independent and dependent variables, and list their materials. We will use this as a starting point to discuss chemical and physical properties and reactions. Quizzes have already started to include elements from the Periodic Table.

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Social Studies:

Homework:

Prepare a study guide for the test on Rome. Test will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 (B day) and Wednesday, Jan. 30 (A day). The study guide should include vocabulary words, as well as key people, dates, and events. You need to also write out 5 short answer questions and answers as part of the study guide. See the notice regarding the test.
EXAM ON ROME

WHEN? TUESDAY, JAN. 29 (B DAY)
WEDNESDAY JAN. 30 (A DAY)

WHAT TO STUDY: ALL CLASS NOTES; HOMEWORK NOTES,
CHAPTER 6, SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, AND 5 NOTES
ROMULUS AND REMUS WORKSHEET,
ROMAN REPUBLIC WORKSHEET
MAP OF ROME (AND QUESTIONS)
12 TABLES AND CODE OF JUSTINIAN WORKSHEET
ULTIMATE EMPIRE WORKSHEET

WHAT TYPE OF QUESTIONS?

THERE S A VOCABULARY MATCH, QUESTIONS CONCERNING IMPORTANT DATES, AND A SERIES OF SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THESE QUESTIONS MAY BE ANSWERED IN A FEW WORDS, A COUPLE SENTENCES, OR 4-5 SENTENCES. YOU WILL BE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS WITH EACH QUESTION.

IS THE TEST OPEN NOTE? NO. THE TEST IS CLOSED NOTES.

HOW MUCH IS THE TEST WORTH? THE TEST IS WORTH 60 POINTS.

THIS IS A LARGE UNIT THAT COVERS 1200 YEARS AND HALF THE GLOBE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STUDY HARD FOR THE TEST, USING YOUR NOTES FROM THE BOOK AND CLASS AND THE VARIOUS WORKSHEETS.

GOOD LUCK!

1/23/08 Homework Post (B day)

Community Service Alert!!

The results of the caucus are posted to Clayton Online Learning.  The “Team 8 South” area has a forum set up for the Dog Walking, Project Peanut Butter, and LifeStraw ideas.  Please add your thoughts in the “goal setting” forums.  Thank you for your hard work on community service projects so far.  Now, let’s make these projects as successful as they can be.

---

Literacy:

During class, students worked on finishing their persuasive essays using Google Docs. Ms. Baker collected writer’s notebooks.

Homework:

Rather than writing in your WNB this week, you are going to write three posts to Clayton On-Line Learning. Go to C.O.L. and click on 8-South Literacy. You are to follow the directions under each of the following:

“8-South Reads…” “Sentence Imitations” and “Black History Month at Wydown”

2. You should be finishing your novel, as you will starting an assignment relating to that novel later this week.

---

Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

• Students received their KHM Investigation 1 Quiz and corrected them in class
• We checked Problem 3.2 and ACE(3) #1-4 in class.
• We explored the different congruent triangles in ACE(3) #5 and we learned how to organize an elementary geometric proof.

Homework:

• 1-2(B) Problem 2.1 (back to the future) Letters A-E. There were two lab sheets passed out in class for students to use with these questions.
• 5-6(B) Some students need to complete ACE(3) #5, while other students need to complete what they can from Problem 2.1 A-E. Please remember that I passed out 2 lab sheets in class that go along with this problem. If you received these sheets, that means that this is your homework.

---

Science:

Homework:

Today in class we completed the “Reaction in a bag” experiment.  Our data was observational in nature and, therefore, our post-lab will be slightly different.  Students should answer their CTQs, draw a diagram of the experiment, identify the independent and dependent variables, and list their materials.  We will use this as a starting point to discuss chemical and physical properties and reactions.  Quizzes have already started to include elements from the Periodic Table.

---

Social Studies:

Homework:

Prepare a study guide for the test on Rome. Test will be Tuesday, Jan. 29 (B day) and Wednesday, Jan. 30 (A day). The study guide should include vocabulary words, as well as key people, dates, and events. You need to also write out 5 short answer questions and answers as part of the study guide.

Homework 1/22/08 (”A” Day)

Literacy:

During class, students worked on finishing their persuasive essays using Google Docs. Ms. Baker collected writer’s notebooks.

Homework:

Rather than writing in your WNB this week, you are going to write three posts to Clayton On-Line Learning. Go to C.O.L. and click on 8-South Literacy. You are to follow the directions under each of the following:

“8-South Reads…” “Sentence Imitations” and “Black History Month at Wydown”

2. You should be finishing your novel, as you will starting an assignment relating to that novel later this week.

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Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

• We discussed the basic geometric properties discussed in problem 3.1.
• We practiced finding corresponding angles in ACE(3)#1-4.
• We learned the basics of writing geometric proofs for conguent triangles in problem 3.2

Homework:

• Finish ACE(3) #1-4
• DO ACE(3) #5

Challenge Algebra -

• We checked the homework from Lesson 9.3.
• We discussed effective methods for graphing the parent function and the transformation on the same graph.
• Students then took the Mid Chapter 9 Quiz.
• Students took their own notes on lesson 9.4 “Reflections.”
  • We took notes as a class on the difference between vertical reflections and horizontal reflections

Homework:

• Lesson 9.4 #8-22 Evens

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Science

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Social Studies:

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Homework: Take Cornell notes for pages 144-148 and 5-6A needs to finish the blue worksheet.

Science Update!!!

How do I write a lab report?

Here are a few websites you might find handy when deciding how to write your lab report.

Donna Young

Western Kentucky University

Virginia Tech

Falk Science

Each of these have characteristics that make them stand out.  A lab report is a personal document.  A scientist uses it to tell the story of their experiment and I feel, a specific rubric cannot fit every experiment.  You, as a student of science, need to analyze which parts belong to your report.  For example, the last website includes and “error analysis” section.  If you have anomalies that need description, you would do well to include that section in your lab report.  Every lab report, though, should have AT LEAST an abstract, hypothesis (including problem), materials, design description, procedure, data, results, and conclusion.  I would also think you should include the names of your lab partners.

Did you know it is okay to confer with others when writing a lab report?  That’s right, you can discuss the experiment, the data, results, conclusions, and everything.  So long as you include your collaboration in the paper and the writing/thoughts are your own, there is nothing wrong with group data analysis.

Homework 1/18/08 (B Day)

Literacy:

Homework:

1. In WNB this week, you need to do each of the following:

a. Respond to reading (see handout, which should be taped into WNB)

b. Tape in an article about the Presidential election. React to the ideas in that article.

c. Free choice

You should be reading a novel, which you need to finish by January 24th.

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Mathematics:

Algebra 8-

• We discussed the basic geometric properties discussed in problem 3.1.
• We practiced finding corresponding angles in ACE(3)#1-4.
• We learned the basics of writing geometric proofs for conguent triangles in problem 3.2

Homework:

• Finish ACE(3) #1-4
• DO ACE(3) #5

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Science

CHECK THE SCIENE UPDATES POST DIRECTLY BELOW THIS ONE!!!

We began class by reviewing our “Ice, Ice Baby” lab. Some students went the wrong path with their CTQs and we used this time to identify how to answer those questions properly. Some students need to go back and attempt these questions again. We then discussed the different states of matter, their physical properties and, most importantly, HOW WE KNOW these properties to be true. Students have seen a video that explains solids have atoms that don’t move much, but HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT IS TRUE? We created several demonstrations and attempted to rub the skin off our hands.

Homework:

Students need to freeze two cups of water (one room temp water, the other hot water). They should test to see which freezes first. They should also read the Clayton Online Learning forums that have been posted. For each lab, there are level I, II, and III problems. At their leisure, they should answer at least the level I. Those choosing to, can also answer level II and III.

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Social Studies:

Homework:

Cornell notes pp. 144-148.

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