Thursday April 29th

Thursday April 29th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: In science students began class with a quick genetics activity that had them determining if they have specific traits. Class then had a lecture/discussion for the definitions and other background information on chromosomes, DNA, genes and alleles.
Homework: none

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders began the Building Design Project. Students have been learning about units and unit rates as well as scale and scale factors. Students will now apply and demonstrate an understanding of these skills by designing a cabin or other small building. They will make scale drawings, calculate the cost of building materials, and then build a scale model. Today, students brainstormed with their assigned partners, ideas and drawings of different designs.
Homework: None

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders took part in the MAPS math test, so there was no math today.
Homework: None

Tuesday April 27th

Tuesday April 27th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: In science students concluded the unit on human body systems with a quiz and a post assessment to follow up on the pre assessment the students took part in five weeks ago. Afterwards, students were introduced to the genetics unit with a quick activity that will be completed tomorrow.
Homework: none

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders introduced to the idea of scale and the proper times to use scale models. Students completed an activity in class to help stimulate their learning by converting scale factors on a worksheet.
Homework: Complete Review Homework #6 (due Wednesday)

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders took part in the MAPS reading test, so there was no math today.
Homework: Review homework # 6 is due Wednesday

Monday April 26th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: In science students presented their group's vitamin skits in front of Mr. Watts and Mr. Kovach's classes.
Homework: none

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders reviewed how to use rates and unit rates. We then completed an activity where students used unit rates to calculate the costs to build a "classroom" based upon the number of windows in our room, doors, surface area of walls (for paint and drywall), surface area of floor (for carpet), # of light fixtures, sprinklers, sinks, and cabinets.
Homework: Complete Review Homework #6 (due Friday)

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders completed a pop quiz over using the percent formula. We discussed the classroom expectations for behaviors & work habits when completing outdoor math activities during the coming weeks. As a class we reviewed the percent activity we worked on in class on Friday. We then introduced section 7.5 from the textbook, which covers the formula for percent change.
Homework: Review homework # 6 is due Friday

Tuesday April 20th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: In science students worked with their groups toward completing their skits or board games for the vitamins project. Students will have class time tomorrow (Wednesday) and Friday to work on their projects before the due date which has been pushed back to Monday of next week.
Homework: Continue working on the group work for the vitamins/minerals project

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders began looking at how to make scale drawings of floor plans to a house. They were asked to draw a sketch of their own house's floor plan and consider what tools would be needed to make their drawings more accurate and precise.
Homework: Complete Review Homework #4 (due Wednesday)

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders went over their tests from yesterday. The class then reviewed how to solve percent problems by using proportions. The remainder of class was spent introducing how to solve percent problems by converting percents into decimals.
Homework: Review homework # 4 is due Wednesday

Monday April 19th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science 8th graders met with advisors from the high school to discuss enrollment and course selection. Students have until Friday of this week to have their parents sign the class requests form (bring back to school and return to Mr. Kovach). Meanwhile, 7th graders worked on their social studies project in a two hour block period. We will resume working on the vitamins/minerals project tomorrow.
Homework: Continue working on the group work for the vitamins/minerals project

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders completed a test over chapter 6 (integers, the distributive property, and coordinate graphing).
Homework: Complete Review Homework #4 (due Wednesday)

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders completed a test over Chapter 6 (rations, unit rates, proportions, and probability).
Homework: Review homework # 4 is due Wednesday

Thursday April 15th

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today students continued with the Standard Based Assessments. Students completed the mathematics assessment today.
Homework: Continue working on the group work for the vitamins/minerals project

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders completed a pop quiz over integers and the distributive property. Students then began a review activity to practice the type of problems they have been introduced to in chapter six. Students then reflected on how well they feel they understand the material that has been presented. Finally, they were asked to write a specific question, topic area, or subject from chapter six that they would like extra help on tomorrow.
Homework: Study for the chapter 6 test which has been rescheduled for MONDAY of next week.

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders finished section 7.2 which covers solving percent problems. Students then began reviewing material from Chapter 6 for the upcoming test on MONDAY.
Homework: Study for the Chapter 6 test which has been rescheduled for MONDAY of next week.

Wednesday April 14th, 2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today students continued with the Standard Based Assessments. Students took the writing assessment today.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders began class with their flashmasters. Next, we introduced students to coordinate planes. We talked about the origin, quadrants, and the x and y axis. After some group discussion, students did some guided practice problems. Once students could do these problems together, they were handed a worksheet to practice their skills.

Homework: The chapter 6 test will be this Friday.

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders began class by going over the three types of percent problems they will see on the test on Friday. After separating the three types of problems into a table format and doing some example problems of each kind of problem, students were handed a worksheet to practice their skills.

Homework: The chapter 6 test will be this Friday.

Tuesday April 13th, 2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today students continued with the Standard Based Assessments. Students took the reading assessment today.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders began class with their flashmasters. After five minutes, we transitioned into discussing the distributive property of multiplication for about fifteen minutes. Next, we introduced students to coordinate planes. We talked about the origin, quadrants, and the x and y axis. The chapter 6 test will be this Friday.
Homework:

• Review Homework #3 is due Wednesday.

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders began class by grading the 7.1 worksheet as a class. We then transitioned into learning about percents and proportions. After some whole class discussions and doing some practice problems together, students were given some examples to work on themselves. We will go into more detail tomorrow. Chapter 6 test will be this Friday.
Homework:

• Review #3 is due Wednesday.

Monday April 12th, 2010

Monday April 12th, 2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science students got into their groups for the "Vitamins Project" and began the planning stage of the project. Most groups got their research done last Friday, so today was about developing a plan for putting together their skit or board game. Filling out the story map is a big key in developing the script for either the skit presentation or a board game. Students had to have Mr. Olsen sign off on their plan for the coming days at the end of class.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders began class with their flashmasters. After five minutes, we transitioned into discussing the distributive property of multiplication. We started with the verbal explanation, before moving into practice problems. After some guided instruction, students were handed a worksheet to practice their skills.
Homework:

• Finish section 6.7 Practice (odds) if they did not finish in class.
  
• Review Homework #3 is due Wednesday.

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders began class by practicing their division skills on their flashmasters. We then transitioned into learning about percents and fractions. We talked about how fractions are basically division problems, and in order to convert a fraction into a percentage, you just divide the numerator by the demoninator. We also talked about how to find the percent of a number. After some guided practice, students were handed a worksheet to practice their skills.
Homework:

• Finish Section 7.1 practice (odds)
  
• Review #3 is due Wednesday.

Thursday April 8th, 2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science students got into their groups for the "Vitamins Project" and they made a decision on the final product that they would be working together to create. After meeting within their group they divided up research responsibilities between each member.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: In math 7th graders reviewed associative and commutative properties of multiplication and division. We then launched into section 6.6 which covers rational numbers and additive and multiplicative properties of identity and inverse. Students ended class by completing #1-6 and 10-15 (all) on 6.6 practice. If they did not finish in class it was assigned as homework.
Homework:

• Finish section 6.6 Practice (#1-6 and 10-15)
• Review Homework #2 is due Friday.

8th Grade Math: Today 8th graders continued learning about probability by studying "tree diagrams" and using the "counting principle" to solve situational probability problems.
Homework:

• Finish Section 6.8 practice (2-12 evens)
• Review #2 is due Friday.

Wednesday 4/7/2010

Wednesday 4/7/2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: 8th grade students spent their morning completing the science SBA test, while 7th grade students spent their morning with their social studies teacher in a block period.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by working with their flashmasters for the first five minutes of class. Students then worked on examples of dividing integers as a class, including conversions between fahrenheit and celsius.
Homework: Review Homework #2 is due Friday.

8th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by working with their flashmasters for the first five minutes of class. Afterwards, we finished up the probability activity we started yesterday, where students created a spinner board by drawing a circle, dividing it into four equal parts, coloring each part red, blue, yellow and white, used a paper clip as a spinner and began an activity to practice experimental probability. Part two of this activity involved flipping a penny and calculating the experimental and theoretical probabilities of that activity.
Homework: Review #2 is due Friday.

Tuesday 4/6/2010

Tuesday 4/6/2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science students spent the first 25 minutes of class finishing up the vitamin and mineral activity from yesterday. Then, the next and final project from our human biology unit was introduced. Students were broken into groups of three and each group was assigned a specific vitamin to research. Each group will be responsible to produce a final product, either a board game or producing a live skit to be performed in front of the class. They were given a worksheet detailing the essential questions they will need to answer concerning their assigned vitamin or mineral, and a scoring guide to help them along the way. On Wednesday, 8th grade students will spend their morning completing the science SBA test, while 7th grade students will spend their morning with their social studies teacher in a block period.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by working with their flashmasters for the first five minutes of class. Students then worked on the section 6.5 worksheet for most of the hour practicing their skills on dividing integers. Near the end of class, we went over specific examples and covered any questions students had concerning those problems.
Homework: Review Homework #10 is due Wednesday.

8th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by completing quiz number one on sections 6.1 through 6.4. After the quiz, we began a probability activity, where students created a spinner board by drawing a circle, dividing it into four equal parts, coloring each part red, blue, yellow and white, used a paper clip as a spinner and began an activity to practice experimental probability. We will continue the activity tomorrow.
Homework: Review #10 is due Wednesday.

Monday 4/5/2010

Monday 4/5/2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science we transitioned into the next piece of our human biology unit, with an introduction to vitamins and minerals. Students spent the first bit of time trying to classify a list of vitamins and minerals into the correct groups, before being handed a packet with information concerning all of the vitamins and minerals. Students will have to choose six vitamins and six minerals and go into further detail concerning each of them tomorrow when we continue with this activity.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by working with their flashmasters for the first five minutes of class. Students then took a quiz covering sections 6.1 through 6.3. Afterwards, students reviewed the rules of multiplying integers, before introducing the rules for dividing integers (section 6.5). We will jump head first into dividing integers tomorrow.
Homework: None.

8th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by finishing the backside of the section 6.4 worksheet. We then introduced section 6.7 and probability to the students. After some instruction and a few practice problems, students were given a worksheet to practice their skills.
Homework: Review #10 is due Wednesday.

Thursday 4/1/2010

Thursday 4/1/2010

7th & 8th Grade General Science: Today in science students dissected a frog! We had a block period today, so students in our second science class (our homeroom) were in science from 10-12 this morning. Students were to partner up and complete the activity presented to them at the beginning of class. Students were to locate, identify and draw the different organs and associate them with the proper body system. They also had to determine the function of each organ and get the weight of each organ as well. Most students were able to complete this activity and worksheet in class, if they did not finish the worksheet in class, then it will be due on Friday morning.
Homework: None

7th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by working with their flashmasters for the first five minutes of class. Section 6.3 was introduced to the students next, and students began working with subtracting integers. After a bit of instruction and a few practice problems, students were given a worksheet to apply their skills.
Homework: Finish section 6.3 worksheet the odds.

8th Grade Math: Today in math, students began class by completing a practice science benchmark quiz. Section 6.3 was then introduced to the students, dealing with porportions and ratios, and after a bit of instruction and a few practice problems, students were given a worksheet to apply their knowledge.
Homework: None.