Week 32

April 30th - May 4th

Math

Ms. Knippen

jknippen@foxbay.org

Hours 1 and 8 - Algebra:

We forge on to Ch. 9-the Quadratic Formula! The class will be working right up to the end of the year, as they will take the second semester final exam in June. There will be a study packet.

Hours 3 and 7 - 8th-grade math:

We will spend some time studying probability and statistics. We will be applying our graphing, fraction and percent skills.

Science

Ms. Waller

twaller@foxbay.org

This week we'll complete our unit on Human Genetics with a section on Mendelian genetics. The students will learn about the difference between genotype (genetic makeup) and phenotype (how the trait is expressed). We will look at dominant and recessive genes and use Punnett squares to predict the probability of different genotypes in the offspring produced by two parents. This will lead us to an activity where students will apply their understanding of genetics to choose rabbits to selectively breed for a particular fur color.

English

Mr. Heimerl

zheimerl@foxbay.org

This week, students will be finishing pre-writing for the graduation speeches and will get to writing the actual speech. They will have a rough draft due Tuesday, May 1st. From there, students will explore grammatical and rhetorical patterns and revise their speeches to include various style elements. The final draft will be due Thursday, May 3rd. After that point, students will begin practicing the delivery of their speeches. Performances will begin the next week on Tuesday, March 8th.

Reading

Ms. Brinnington, Ms. Traska, Ms. Hiir, Ms. Allen

dbrinnington@foxbay.org, straska@foxbay.org,
ghiir@foxbay.org, jallen@foxbay.org

This week we will be finishing up reading The Outsiders.  We will be watching the movie next week.  Please make sure to sign the electronic permission slip sent to you. Journals for the book will be collected at the end of the week as part of the unit assessment.  Our final assessment for the unit will be a debate on May 23.

Social Studies

Mr. Blahnik

bblahnik@foxbay.org

This week, we will have started Chapter 22: The Reconstruction Era. Students are working on a Reconstruction project which is due on Tuesday of next week. We will also be having our unit test next week on Chapters 20-22. Students will be issued a study guide before the test to help them study for the test.

Week 31

April 23rd - 27th

Math

Ms. Knippen

jknippen@foxbay.org

1st and 8th-hours - Algebra - We are finishing Ch. 8 on factoring and graphing quadratic functions. There will be a quiz and test this week.

3rd and 7th hours - General - We are finishing our unit on systems of equations. There will be a quiz and test this week. Please check to be sure your child has a calculator and pencils to finish the year.

Science

Ms. Waller

twaller@foxbay.org

This week students will be learning about natural selection and adaptations through a simulation-type lab. In this lab the students will be birds looking for "stick bugs" in a forest. They will have 30 seconds to pick a color of stick bug out of the forest (there are red, yellow, green and tan). Then we will determine how many stick bugs are left of each color and they will reproduce in proportion to the number surviving. We will be able to track several generations within the class period so students can see how the environment can help shape the traits of the organisms that live there.

English

Mr. Heimerl

zheimerl@foxbay.org

This week, students will begin the pre-writing process for their graduation speeches, reflecting upon what graduation means to them, reflecting back upon their years in the Fox Point-Bayside School District, looking at and analyzing sample speeches, and brainstorming possible frames for their own speeches.

Reading

Ms. Brinnington, Ms. Traska, Ms. Hiir, Ms. Allen

dbrinnington@foxbay.org, straska@foxbay.org,
ghiir@foxbay.org, jallen@foxbay.org

The week our root word is pol/pos/val, meaning "power/strength". Sentences will be due on Wednesday and the quiz will be on Friday.

We will be reading through Chapter 8 of The Outsiders and doing the journal for Chapters 7-8.

Students will need to complete Flipgrid number 3 for independent reading on Friday.

Week 30

April 16th - 20th

Math

Ms. Knippen

jknippen@foxbay.org

Hours 1 and 8 – Algebra:

We are now graphing quadratic functions. Today we graphed quadratic functions from situations, charts, equations, and graphs. There will be a quiz tomorrow on the first section of the chapter.

Hours 3 and 7 – 8th-grade Math:

We are working on Ch. 5, solving systems of equations. We will be reviewing the first two lessons. There will be a quiz on Wednesday.

Science

Ms. Waller

twaller@foxbay.org

This week we continue our study of evolution by examining similarities and differences in DNA of different organisms and observing embryonic development in different species. After completing the reading and two activities we will do a Socratic Seminar on this topic. Students will have a quick ungraded quiz after the Socratic Seminar. Then we will begin the next section of reading which focuses on the process of natural selection.

English

Mr. Heimerl

zheimerl@foxbay.org

This week, students will finally finish their research essay. On Monday, a complete rough draft is due, including an intro, body, and conclusion. Monday and Tuesday, students will engage in a peer review and revision process. We will also create the cover page and works cited page. On Wednesday, students will make their final edits. The final draft will be due at the end of class Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday, we will begin to discuss our next major unit – the graduation speech. We will explore example speeches, discuss what makes a good speech and a poor speech, and begin to brainstorm ideas for student speeches.

Reading

Ms. Brinnington, Ms. Traska, Ms. Hiir, Ms. Allen

dbrinnington@foxbay.org, straska@foxbay.org,
ghiir@foxbay.org, jallen@foxbay.org

We will continue reading and discussing The Outsiders this week. We will get through Chapter 5. There will be Forward Testing on Wednesday and Thursday, so there will not be class on those days.We will not have a root word this week.

Social Studies

Mr. Blahnik

bblahnik@foxbay.org

In History Class, the students are finishing writing their DBQ essay on The Battle of Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point? The essays are due next week. We are also finishing Ch. 21 the Civil War this week and will be starting Ch. 22 Reconstruction Era. The essential question of the chapter is: To what extent did Reconstruction bring African Americans closer to full citizenship? We will be gaining background content through the TCI textbook and students will be starting a project on Reconstruction of the US next week.

Week 29

April 9th - April 13th

Math

Ms. Knippen

jknippen@foxbay.org

Hours 1 and 8-algebra –

We are factoring quadratic functions. There will be a quiz on the first half of the chapter on Thursday or Friday next week. Then we will begin graphing the functions.

Hours 3 and 7-General 8th grade math –

We are graphing systems of equations. We will then be solving equations to find the point of intersection. We have also been reviewing the laws of equations. The retake on the Ch. 10 test will be on Friday of next week. Please be sure your child is reviewing this material by practicing problems from their text or on-line.

Science

Ms. Waller

twaller@foxbay.org

We begin a new unit called Human Genetics this week. In the first part of this unit students will learn about how life on Earth has changed over time. After our first introductory reading the students will do a follow-up activity where they will have a chance to examine the forelimb structure of various animals noting patterns. Then they will compare fossilized skeletons of whales from various time periods. Another activity will have students exploring the changes in animal embryos throughout development. Lastly they will be analyzing DNA sequences from various animals.

English

Mr. Heimerl

zheimerl@foxbay.org

This week in English, students will continue drafting the rough drafts of their research essay. Monday through Wednesday, students will engage in peer review, providing and receiving advice on how to improve their essay and then using that advice to draft their essays. Thursday and Friday, we will move onto their introductions and conclusions, reviewing sample intros and conclusions, discussing what is included in effective intros and conclusions, and starting drafts of their own. By Monday, April 16th, students should have a complete rough draft that is 3- 5 full pages, double-spaced.

Reading

Ms. Brinnington, Ms. Traska, Ms. Hiir, Ms. Allen

dbrinnington@foxbay.org, straska@foxbay.org,
ghiir@foxbay.org, jallen@foxbay.org

We will begin the novel The Outsiders this week in reading. We will start with an introduction of the author and setting. Students will be expected to respond in their journals regularly to prompts given in class.

Because of Forward testing this week, there will be no root word.

Social Studies

Mr. Blahnik

bblahnik@foxbay.org

The students are currently working on a DBQ packet and writing a 5 paragraph essay response to answer the DBQ question: The Battle of Gettysburg: Why was it a turning point of the Civil War? The students are going to organize and start writing their DBQ response on Monday. We will then be finishing Ch. 21 The Civil War by the end of the week. The essential question for Chapter 21 is: What factors and events influenced the outcome of the Civil War? After this chapter, we will be moving into Chapter 22 The Reconstruction Era. The essential question for this chapter is: To what extent did Reconstruction bring African Americans closer to full citizenship?