In math class, we are currently starting a new unit called “Analyze and Solve Percent Problems”. This unit will extend student's knowledge about ratios and proportions from 6th grade and their last unit. They will soon learn that a percent is a specific type of proportion that represents the part of the whole, where the whole is measured in hundredths. Students will come across many different situations and word problems involving percent. They will be able to use this knowledge to solve and interpret percent change, percent error, sales tax, and simple interests! 

For the past few weeks, students have been focusing heavily on text dependent analysis responses.  We have created a simplified scoring checklist, deconstructed sample prompts, and scored sample student responses. In the upcoming weeks, students will write a final TDA response. All of this is in preparation for the upcoming PSSAs, which will be given at the end of April.  Also, students have been practicing skills in a program called IXL.  IXL is a comprehensive learning program offering unlimited language arts practice across thousands of skills—all of which are aligned to the Common Core.  

We are in the middle of our Matter and Energy in Ecosystems Unit right now.  Students are learning how energy cycles through the processes of Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration.  We also use this opportunity to learn more about plants and how they grow.  Students completed a seed germination lab where they watched how seeds started to grow over the course of a week.  

In April, students in Mr. Cernuska’s Western World Geography class will begin their study of North America. They will be examining the North American Indian Cultural Regions, the influence of European colonization, early nation building, and what life is like in both the United States and Canada. Students are also working on their 4th Marking Period Project, The Big Deal. For this project, students will begin a better understanding of an important event in history and how timelines change as a result of singular event. Students will research, write a summary, provide historical analysis, and present to the rest of the class.