Most of the classes are moving into Biology this week. The seventh graders and I were talking about the importance of fire in the Longleaf Pine forest. We talked about how even though we typically think of forest fires as horrible, scary, and destructive (because of “our” homes), certain ecosystems need to burn in order to thrive. If the Longleaf Pine Forest doesn’t have a healthy burn every 7-10 years, the biodiversity is impacted and species migrate or disappear.
We have burned down our first trimester! Everyone has a hundred in every class until their first assessment for Trimester 2. The students get this opportunity to start fresh and make changes to habits, motivation, and even relationships. Now that it is getting darker earlier and cooler, it feels like we are in the middle of the school year, when we buckle down and get down to business. The burn down and restart allows us to let the first trimester drift out and settle into the next important part of the school year.
LD
Math:
This week in Algebra, we took our test on Tuesday and began unit 4 which introduces functions as inputs and outputs. Next week, we’ll work on analyzing the rates of change in a function’s graph and take a quiz over the first few lessons.
ELA:
8th grade kicked off our novel study of To Kill a Mockingbird this week, studying the layers of history that influenced the novel. We also identified the different iterations of irony in the novel and how ironic moments impacted the story. 8th grade also transitioned to a verb study in grammar, with a test coming up next week.
Next week, we continue our reading of To Kill a Mockingbird with analysis of key plot turning points and the meaning behind the title. 8th grade will test for grammar on 11/21.
Social Studies:
The eighth grade worked hard this week on nationalism and the rise of European nationalism and the creation of many of the new European nation states. It was a lot of reading and discussion, but it led to a lot of good conversation and information being shared. We will continue to grow this topic and start to talk about the rise of militarism and how that will lead into WW1.
Science:
Eighth graders presented their Rube Goldberg machines this week! Every machine worked! Whoop! Whoop! They also started their next unit, which is all about the different types of waves that are all around us. They will continue to learn about the electromagnetic spectrum until winter break.
Important Dates:
November 22: Harvest Feast @ 10:30 (11:30 Dismissal)
November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break
