Classroom News
Energy & The Phases of Matter
Submitted by Mrs Bush on Thu, 2008-02-07 21:52.On Jan. 25th we started  the Energy and Phases of Matter unit.Â
Energy is all around us! Â It can move by conduction, convection, and radiation.Â
What Happens When We Heat Substances? Â
Read and do the worksheet - Nature of Energy ( 3 pages)
Due 2/1 Read & TN - Matter book, pp. 33-40
Classroom demonstrations: Ice Melts (or not) on The Magic Black Blocks  - heat and energy can pass through materials (a conductor) -- and sometimes NOT! ( an insulator)Â
The Candle - an example of several forms energy and how heat moves
The Lava Lamp - density AND phase changes!
2/5 - Applying the Heat lab (Read Red book, pp. 56-60)
2/6 & 7 - Heating Ice Water lab (Read Red book, pp. 64-67)
Due 2/8:Â 2 Lab write-ups AND worksheet "Heat and Changing"
Due Mon 2/11: Read & TN in Matter book, pp. 41-50 Â plus worksheet "Just A Phase"Â
Science Fair on Feb. 5
Submitted by Mrs Bush on Thu, 2008-02-07 21:05.At the Lighted Schoolhouse event on February 5th we celebrated all of the 8th and 7th graders' work of the past few months with a huge display of poster boards. Many parents, teachers and the administrative staff came to meet the young scientists and see the projects.Â
January 30, 2008
Submitted by Mrs Lorentz on Wed, 2008-01-30 10:33.Week of January 14, 2008
Submitted by Mrs Wagner on Tue, 2008-01-15 15:51.  Â
   We have begun our unit on the Holocaust. Our class discussions have focused on the events in Germany that influenced Hitler’s rise to power. We have also focused on the concept of identity. What things have defined our identity in our lives? What factors have made us who we are? Every day small groups of students have brought to class and have shared some objects from home that define who they are in terms of name, gender, culture, religion, and family. The concept of identity has helped us to understand Hitler’s irrational thinking toward minority groups.
   We have started to read Elie Wiesel’s Night. He had been still a teenager when he was taken from his home to the Auschwitz concentration camp and then to Buchenwald. His memories of that experience have unforgettably been recorded in Night.
Cosier Classroom Content
Submitted by Mrs Cosier on Fri, 2008-01-11 15:53.    This first week back at school has been very productive in Reading/LA. We continued with the COWS (Computers on Wheels) in the classroom for 40 minutes each day until we finished our science research papers. The final product contained a title page, a several-page paper, an outline, and a reference page. Most students were very successful with this paper, which required in-text citations every paragraph.
    In grammar, we began a study of personal pronouns. Students were asked to memorize subject, object, and possessive pronouns in both the singular and plural forms, and a not-so-pop quiz (students were warned) given on Friday. Â
January 7, 2008
Submitted by Mrs Lorentz on Mon, 2008-01-07 11:47.Happy New Year 2008
Mon Jan 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Read Chap 20 (BIG) or 14 (little) on Industry
Tues Jan 8      Video: „Patent Pending‰ / Assign „Immigration Story‰ Due 1-22
Wed Jan 9Â Â Â Â Â Â In class Industry activity
Thur Jan 10Â Â Â Â Â Â Finish Industry activity & go over in class / collect
Fri Jan 11      Video: „Greek Americans‰ with guided notetaking for grade
         (Switch with LA teacher for Immigration Day Prep activity)
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Mon Jan 14Â Â Â Â Â Â Read Chap 19 (BIG) or 13 (little) on Last Frontier
Tues Jan 15Â Â Â Â Â Â Cowboys v Sheep Farmers activity / collect
Wed Jan 16      Video: „Polish Americans‰ with guided notetaking for grade
classsroom news
Submitted by Mrs Cosier on Sun, 2007-12-09 20:57.    In our Reading/LA block, we have begun writing our science research paper. So far, this had entailed taking our 35 notecards and separating them into topics, developing an outline, and beginning to write, using our first main topic. We will continue writing, using the COWS (Computers On Wheels) until December 19, when the paper is due.
    Grammar this week will focus on a review of nouns. Our test will be this Friday.
   We are reading a multicultural novel for independent reading. We will give an oral, "brown bag" report on this story beginning Tuesday, December 18. Ask your seventh grader what this project entails!
     We will tackle one more vocabulary unit before winter break. Watch for your child's vocabulary cards, and test them on the definitions!
Reading/LA Early December
Submitted by Mrs Cosier on Mon, 2007-12-03 20:54. Â
We have begun reading Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" to practice fluency. There are six scenes, and we will each be graded on one. The idea is to practice our roles so that we sound accurate, smooth, and have expression in our voices.
Our writing is focused on voice right now. The pieces we write must be as individual as a fingerprint, be compassionate and compelling, be anxious to be read aloud, and be suitable for the audience
The current grammar unit is nouns. We have this week discussed the difference between a direct object and a predicate noun.
Finally, in the area of vocabulary, we are completing
our second unit. We will have a test on our latest words on Friday.
Reading/LA Happenings
Submitted by Mrs Cosier on Thu, 2007-11-15 15:17.    This week, students completed the last of four assignments on the writing trait of organization, then began work on the trait of voice. The first writing assignment featuring voice was also completed. We will continue the study of voice after Thanksgiving vacation.
    In reading, students finished a recitation of "The Hobbit" in eight scenes. Both the practice of fluency and the comprehension strategy of visualization were the focus of this unit. A quiz on the story will be given next week.
     Finally, our several-week study of punctuation culminated in a test this week, on which most students did well. Nouns are next.
    Next week, students must drop off their report on the fantasy novel they have been reading for the past three weeks. The report is based on the book "Fortunately" in which events are presented in alternate positive and negative sequence.
miércoles, el 14 de noviembre
Submitted by Ms Ricotta on Wed, 2007-11-14 11:15.
Español II
La clase has taken their chapter 4.1 exam. We are preparing for our next chapter on gifts and bargaining. We will have a vocabulary quiz el martes, or Tuesday, of next week.
Español GII
Los estudiantes have been learning classroom vocabulary and how to conjugate verbs. Later this week the class will begin writing a skit using the vocabulary and grammar from the unit. The skits will be performed in front of the class on Tuesday of next week.
