Happy Purim from 8th Grade!
Humanities
This week in ELA, students are beginning our 8th Grade unit on Elie Weisel’s Night. Throughout the next 5 weeks, students will explore the essential question “How do one’s circumstances and experiences of trauma shape their identity?” Using the idea of the Universe of Obligation, students will work through the difficult terrain of choice in the face of absolute horror and devastation. I must admit that this is a particularly difficult text to teach, but as always, I am impressed with the 8th grader’s sensitivity and nuanced understanding of complex readings.
In Social Studies, students are exploring key concepts in the Constitution, including popular sovereignty, limited government, republican democracy, separation of power, checks and balances, and federalism. Ask them to explain each concept to you! They are now experts. 馃檪
Science
Students have started their unit of physics of motion. Students each week will focus on a physics topic and conduct two experiments. One is provided to them in order to understand the concept and variables behind the physics concept. The other experiment is created by them in order to be creative and understand the different variables that need to be considered in their experiment design. This week鈥檚 topic was velocity. Everyone conducted themselves as focused scientists and collected data accurately in order to report results. We cannot wait to continue this unit in the weeks to come. Our next physics topic will be acceleration, I look forward to more of their custom experiments around acceleration
聽Mike Noll
Math
The 8th grade has been learning about different types of polynomial factoring such as factoring out the GCF of a polynomial, factoring three-term polynomials called trinomials, factoring two-term polynomials called binomials by using a method called the difference of perfect squares, and then using a combination of these methods to factor various types of polynomials.
Shana