Students have determined the best method for heating Bellefonte Area Middle School and explained why it is superior to the Water Heater System. After investigating heat transfer, average kinetic energy, and thermal energy with several hands-on experiments and simulation activities, students constructed their final models and explanations of the heating systems via a letter, a poster, a slideshow, or a video.

Next, students will be investigating force and motion in the upcoming physics unit. This unit will differ from previous ones in that an anchor phenomenon will not be presented at the beginning of the unit. Instead, students will create rules of motion by explaining 3 mini-phenomena, one for each rule of motion, via performing multiple experiments. At the end of the unit, students will apply the rules of motion to a final phenomenon.

Lastly, mini-lessons on past science content are being conducted in Skills in order to prepare students for the Science PSSA Test in early May. Topics that students found challenging on the Winter Science MAP Test determine the content of these mini-lessons. So far we have covered the rock cycle, density, and ecosystems (food chains and food webs). Future topics include space science (planetary motion, seasons, etc) and genetics. Students will be assessed on these topics with PSSA-type questions in Skills class.

Image: Newton's Law of Motion; Source:https://geniebook.com/tuition/secondary-3/physics/how-newtons-laws-motion-impact-real-life-exploring-fun-and-engaging-examples 

This past month we wrapped up our study of the first amendment discussing and learning about how particular rights apply to students in a school setting.  The students completed a case study on the landmark Supreme Court decision of Tinker vs. Des Moines.  In the landmark case of Tinker v. Des Moines, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of students' First Amendment rights within the school setting. The case arose when students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, leading to their suspension. The Court held that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." This decision affirmed that students have the right to express their opinions, as long as it does not cause a substantial disruption to the school environment. Tinker v. Des Moines set a precedent for protecting students' freedom of speech in educational institutions across the United States.  To learn about this case, the students read, analyzed and interpreted excerpts from both the majority and dissenting opinions of the court in this case.  The students then practiced responding to document based questions to practice their written response skills as we approach state testing season.

Most recently the students have moved on to study Bill of Rights amendments 2-10.  With this lesson being so heavy with an abundance of new vocabulary, the students have been completing and working on Frayer/Four Square vocabulary graphic organizers.  This gives the students plenty of practice with the definitions of the words, creating visual images for visual-spacial learners, and applying and connecting the meanings of the words.  

Up next, we will be shifting gears and begin to study the early Americas and its native cultures.  We are excited to change things up a bit for the end of the year.  It’s hard to believe how fast the end of 8th grade is approaching for this bunch!!

In March students learned about the way the brain learns, reading several articles on different intelligence tests and even completing sample questions. From IQ tests to multiple intelligences, students were challenged to write about which tests they found the most valuable in measuring intelligence, as well as expanding their own definition of the word. We also completed our second TDA essay, using our knowledge of the elements of a good argument to examine the validity and strength of an editorial published in Sports Illustrated. Students used revisions they made to their first TDA and compared their work to the various categories official scorers will use on the PSSA. Students will revisit these essays for one more revision before putting their skills to the test on the PSSA itself. 

As April approaches students will complete a reading of “Flowers for Algernon,” a story that focuses on the consequences someone might face if their intelligence was tripled. Our studies of Vocabulary and language structure via IXL will continue as well.