Eighth Grade Newsletter March 2016
PBIS:
We are have a basketball themed month of incentives to help celebrate March Madness!! Students
will be taking part in watching an NCAA basketball game and playing in a student-staff basketball game if
they earn their stamps!!
Science: We are continuing our study of genetics in March.
Students will study their traits, both
dominate and recessive and learn how these traits are inherited. During their study of genetics, students
will also study pedigree charts to understand traits within a family. Eighth graders will also study evolution
to understand how favorable traits are passed through several generations and why non-desirable traits
often die off.
**SUNY ESF Science Fair is May 17th. If your child wants to participate, please let Mr. Dubey or Ms. Bastedo
know ASAP**
Automation and Robotics:
The students have completed a unit on Logic Circuits and have had some
instruction on RobotC used to program the testbeds they built. We will continue to add to the programs so
they can move to the next phase of designing, building, and programing robots to solve specific problems.
The students can do additional home study by going through the tutorials at:
http://www.education.rec.ri.cmu.edu/products/cortex_video_trainer/
Social Studies: We will be studying the many factors that contribute to the outbreak of World War I.
Students will learn about the important battles and events of WWI. Students will learn new vocabulary and
write evidence based answers to questions using documents.
ELA: In 8th grade ELA. we are doing a unit that asks students to read deeply across a variety of both
literary and informational texts. Students interpret, analyze, and evaluate a novel (Monster by Walter
Dean Myers), and they make connections to other texts (poetry and informational texts). Students learn
and apply methods of literary analysis throughout the unit, paying particular attention to authors’ use of
literary devices and figurative language. Students will write frequently and will conclude the unit with a
literary analysis essay.
Math:
In Math 8 we are getting ready for the upcoming state test in April. We are reviewing everything
we have covered so far including Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation, The Concept of
Congruence, Similarity, and are now finishing up Linear Equations. In Algebra we are taking our second
practice regents and covering linear and exponential functions. Algebra review classes have started and are
available during lunch period on Wednesdays in Mr. Carroll's room.
Spanish: Eighth grade Spanish scholars are currently working on leisure time and sports unit. They are
using their speaking skills along with their knowledge of conjugating verbs to express their likes and dislikes.
They are currently working on a presentation project in which they research an athlete from any Spanishspeaking country of their choice. They are comparing the differences between leisure activities for
American teenagers and leisure activities for teenagers in Spanish-speaking countries. We will be continuing
to practice the four skills needed to be successful in Spanish; speaking, reading, listening, and writing!