Expedition

We have wrapped up our unit on the exploration of our universe,
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away with a trip to Fleischmann’s Planetarium in Reno. The students demonstrated their understanding of complex topics by creating an encyclopedia that included illustrated models of concepts, explanatory text, and relevant vocabulary. Using technology, students presented difficult concepts to the class including information about types of stars and galaxies, nebulae, black holes, gravity, and more. They created activities and note-catchers for their peers to help further their understanding. We have started our Case Study May the Force be With You as we jump into the study of physics. We are currently learning about the basics of force and motion. Yesterday Kirk, from the Tahoe Institute of Natural Science, came into the classroom and gave the students an eye-opening presentation about the physics of bird flight. The best part was looking at real bird wings and understanding how they work. Field work for this unit is expected to include the Aerospace Museum in Sacramento, the Truckee Airport, the physics department at UNR, and a possible UNR basketball game.

Who Am I?

Students are continuing to grapple with their global issues research argumentative essays. They have written proposals, formatted an outline, and are working on their first drafts. They are learning how to properly use in-text citations, how to write transition sentences, and how to edit their own work using a rubric.

Math

We have just finished Chapter 3 as the students found patterns, created tables based on those patterns, and then graphed and wrote rules for their findings. The students did very well on this assessment. Chapter 4 builds on these concepts. It contains only 1 section, as it focuses solely on the connections between the four representations of data: patterns, tables, graphs, and equations (also referred to as “rules”).

Writing

The 8th graders are continuing to work with the students in Akers’ Crew as they assist their peers in editing. The Who Am I Expedition is guiding the students through the process of formal research. We are also exploring poetry as we relate it to our science expedition.