8th Grade White Team

Ms. Matush

8th Grade Science

In 8th grade, we are continuing our Chemistry unit which aims to discover what the rust-colored substance is Bellefonte’s water. So far, students have participated in laboratory activities to compile evidence and understand the basics of describing how matter can change in a chemical reaction. In an effort to inform the Mayor of Bellefonte about their findings, students were responsible for writing a letter describing how the rust in our water formed while creating an atomic model to describe the chemical reaction taking place. They are looking forward to hearing the Mayor’s response!

To end the unit, we will encourage students to bring in a water sample from their homes to test in class. Their samples will be used to determine the elements and chemical compounds in their water at home. This will be a great opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and share their findings with parents/guardians!

Class Model Created by Students:

Mrs. Rogers

8th Grade ELA

Students learned about the archetypal path of a hero and created a project to demonstrate their understanding. The kids worked nicely in groups and presented their projects to the class. We are just starting the fan-favorite novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. As they read, students will analyze the feelings and motivations of major characters, make multimedia connections, and identify important themes connected to their own lives.

This month students also took MAP testing in reading, math, and science. Individual conferences to discuss the results took place in homerooms. The reading MAP data results have been uploaded into the IXL program. This will allow students to have an individualized plan to help remediate or accelerate their learning based on the MAP results.

Mr. Friel

8th Grade Math

This month we have continued building our 8th grade mathematical skills in both Algebra 1 and Intro to Algebra. The Algebra 1 classes continue to explore, solve and graph equations & inequalities. The Intro to Algebra classes have been working on exponent problems and will apply those skills to scientific notation. The Algebra 1 curriculum will lead into Linear Relationships next while the Intro to Algebra classes will tackle their Statistics unit next prior to starting their Linear Relationships unit. If your student needs a calculator from their teacher, then please have them talk with their teacher. Check your math teacher's website for additional information.

Mr. Friel: https://sites.google.com/basd.net/friel-math/home

Mr. McManus: https://sites.google.com/basd.net/mcmanusmath

Mrs. Heverly: https://www.basd.net/o/bams/page/heverly-billie

Image: Linear Relationship; Source: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/linearrelationship.asp

Algebra 1 Calculator:

Intro to Algebra Calculator:

Mr. Jones

8th Grade Social Studies

This month, our 8th grade social studies class has wrapped up Chapter 1, diving into the essential themes of being an American, becoming a citizen, and understanding the duties and responsibilities that come with citizenship. Students showcased their learning through a mini project on local volunteering opportunities, highlighting the importance of civic engagement in our community. I'm proud to share that our class is performing about 10% higher in GPA compared to last year's cohort at this time! As we move into the second nine weeks, we'll shift our focus to Chapter 9, which covers Voting and Elections—an especially timely topic given the current election cycle. Exciting discussions and learning ahead!

Generative picture produced by Magic School via their Adobe Express Tool powered by FireFly3

*(picture is for artistic purposes & does not represent actual class or students.)

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