In the coming weeks, our primary focus will continue to be on Scientific Investigations (Module 3). Within this framework, students will develop their skills in formulating scientific inquiries and using evidence to derive solutions. As they master the techniques of scientific inquiry, students will also learn to execute investigations, analyze evidence from various sources, and construct well-founded explanations.
Key concepts covered will include: Recognizing Scientific Questions, Formulating Hypotheses, Identifying Variables & Groups, Evaluating Data, and Writing a Conclusion Summary
These foundational skills will also prepare students to compose detailed Laboratory Reports for future lab activities. This approach will ensure that students build a solid understanding of scientific methods and are well-prepared for hands-on investigations and reporting.
This week, students will present their Arcade Games, highlighting interesting features and demonstrating how they will be played. We'll have a fun-filled STEM day where Kindercats will get to enjoy and play the arcade games created by our 8th graders.
Next week, we'll shift our focus to our next crop: apples. Students will explain how new apple varieties are developed and propagated to meet consumer demand for tasty, uniform, and consistent products.
Anticipating exciting events:
- The first-quarter STEM field trip is scheduled for October 02nd. An email containing further details and a permission slip will be sent out this week.
- The presentation of the arcade to the Kindergarten students is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 05.
Next week, our 8th graders will dive into two compelling short stories: Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Lather and Nothing Else." Students will focus on determining relevant key details from the plot and crafting objective summaries. These skills are essential for understanding and interpreting literature. To demonstrate their learning, students will take an assessment on both theme and summary at the end of the unit.
Following our exploration of key details and summarization, our 8th graders will shift their focus to character analysis. Using Rudolph Fisher's The Conjure Man Dies and Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, students will learn to identify and analyze how dialogue and events reveal aspects of character, provoke decisions, and propel the story's action. This objective will deepen their understanding of character development and narrative structure. We’re excited to see how they connect these elements to the overall story.
We have finished Transformations and are moving into Angle Relationships and Triangles! Students will be identifying the 5 main angle relationships that occur when parallel lines are intersected. We will also be finding angle and side values in triangles.
Upcoming Dates:
9/6 - Transformations Project Due (Period 3 Only)
9/6 - Last day to turn in missing work (Period 4, 5, and 6)
9/10 - Angle Relationships Quiz (Period 4, 5, and 6)
Last week we learned about the English and Colonial Governments. In particular, how the Colonies, out of necessity, had to learn to self govern from a Crown an Ocean away. We learned about the start of Parliament (Representation) from the Magna Carta, and the right of a fair trial in Habeas Corpus. And finally the direct result of the French/Indian War. The next few weeks we will delve into the direct time between the end of the 7 years War and the causes and start of the Colonies War for Independence. We will cover the taxes and Act’s levied on us from King George. Such as: the Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act, the Intolerable Acts, Quarterly Act, Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party. And understand why the Colonies had the power and reasons to declare Independence and ultimately go to War with the greatest Military power on Earth at that time the world had ever scene.
8th Grade Team
Math ~ robyn.kindell@dvusd.org
Social Studies ~cody.rohlwing@dvusd.org
8th Grade Website: https://www.dvusd.org/Domain/5737