8th Grade Red Team

Mr. Nye

8th Grade Science

We are continuing to explore what happened to the methane lake on Titan (Saturn’s largest moon) and how it could have occurred. Students have performed several hands-on experiments and investigated phases of matter on the molecular scale. Also, two models have been created by students depicting what they believe happened to the methane lake. Lastly, we will explore kinetic energy of the particles and the attractions between the molecules before they solve the anchor phenomenon.

Amplify Science: Phase Changes Unit; Online Source: https://7mathscience.weebly.com/uploads/3/7/4/1/37410577/module_2_chapter_1_packet.pdf

Mrs. Bucha

8th Grade Social Studies

In Social Studies, students have been learning about the voting and election process. We completed a webquest to learn about the specifics of voter registration, polling places, and the voting process in Pennsylvania. When the Presidential election rolled around, the students did a deep dive into the issues of Election 2024. With our informed voter project, students modeled being an informed voter by researching the election issues that were most important to them. After learning about the issues and formulating their own opinions, the students investigated the stances of this years’ Presidential candidates.

Now that our election unit is complete, it only seemed natural to kick off our next unit of study on the three branches of our federal government with the Executive Branch, headed by the President of the United States. In upcoming lessons on the Executive Branch, we will discuss how the executive branch is outlined by the U.S. Constitution. We will learn about the qualifications of the President and Vice President, their term of office, the powers and responsibilities of the President, and the many employees of the executive branch and their role in supporting the President and governing our country.

Finally, in observance of Veterans Day all students created letters and cards for A Soldiers’ Hands, a State College based organization that creates care packages for soldiers. The students are very excited to have their cards and letters included in packages for some very deserving recipients!

https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/election2024

https://www.nps.gov/places/white-house.htm

https://www.asoldiershands.org/index.html#/

Mr. McManus

8th Grade Math

In both the Algebra 1 and Intro to Algebra classes, we have wrapped up the skills-based unit that we will use and apply the rest of the school year. These skills include, but are not limited to, solving equations, solving inequalities, simplifying expressions using different properties, and scientific notation.

Moving forward for the Intro to Algebra classes, we completed a unit on Statistics and Data Analysis. This unit helped students revisit some of the concepts they previously studied in 6th and 7th grade and helped them refine their analytic skills which they will then be able to apply in their science classes. We are now progressing through our main topic of the 8th grade year, Linear Relationships. Students will be analyzing, graphing, and solving linear concepts during our winter months.

As for the Algebra 1 classes, we have begun our unit on Linear Relationships. We have discussed the building blocks to these relationships, the patterns they follow, and will now build our own tables, graphs, and equations based on a linear problem. This will culminate in the students being able to solve real-world problems & situations based on their knowledge of linear patterns & relationships. On a side note, if a student ever forgets their graphing calculator and they are in need of one, a downloadable graphing calculator version is available at https://www.tinspireapps.com/Online-Calculators/TI84-Calculator-Online.php

TI-83 calculator & Velocity VS Time graph

Mrs. Morris

8th Grade ELA

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold”

Over the past month, the students have been getting to know Ponyboy, Johnny, Darry, Sodapop, Dally and all the other greasers and socs in S. E Hinton’s The Outsiders. Our focus has been on characterization and (soon) theme, with an emphasis on making inferences. The students are learning that Dally, the thug who was first arrested at ten, is a lost puppy with no one who cares for him. And Johnny, the gang’s pet is the glue that holds them all together.

We are also exploring themes about conformity versus individuality; family and friendship; social class; and, perception versus reality. The students will end the unit by connecting a song they know to one of the characters and explaining their connection. In advanced English, we have also been comparing music from the Tony Award-winning production The Outsiders: A New Musical to the novel. After Thanksgiving, we will watch the movie production of The Outsiders – much to the joy of many students – and discuss making a movie from a text impacts the telling of and meaning behind a story.

On November 22, the students will take part in a Greasers/Socs day where they can dress up as Greasers, Socs or specific characters from the book.

"The Outsiders" book cover

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