This week in ELA, all 8^th graders finished their research-based argument essays, as a culminating summative for Unit 4. We are excited to kick off Unit 5, an exploration of The Holocaust, through a variety of survivor accounts in literature as well as non-fiction articles and texts. Students will also be conducting independent research related to the theme of "How the Spirit Triumphs," as we read and examine historical documents, art, and literature. Please encourage your student to be doing independent reading outside of class!

We are finishing up our Unit on Clothing and Shopping. Students have been practicing with Clothing vocabulary and Stem-changing verbs, and today they completed a Performance-based Writing Assessment. They wrote 2 paragraphs describing where they shop, what items they need and buy , and how much these items cost.

Our next unit deals with Food. Students will be able to identify food items, and say what they like to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Our next assessment will be the week of March 14.

In 8^th Grade Math, students are solving systems of equations utilizing three different methods (graphing, substitution, and elimination). Once the system is solved, students can determine how many solutions there are (one, none, or infinitely many) based on visual assessment, inspection of an equation, or solving an algebraic equation. Our test for this Unit is planned for Friday, March 4.

Algebra one is starting our Unit with factoring quadratics. We will be quizzing February 17^th!

Accel A is now studying statistics. Over the next several weeks, we will learn about how to represent data in different ways. We will also learn how to describe and interpret the data and use it to make predictions. Our next summative assessment will be on March 4^th.

Hello Parents!!

We are currently working on our Motion unit. Throughout this unit students are exploring the concepts of speed, velocity, and acceleration. We will do lots of hands on labs throughout this unit, including calculating our speed, calculating the speed and acceleration of matchbox cars, and lots of graphing practice.

Advanced students will be completing a project for this unit that will require them to write a scenario about a scavenger hunt. The students will calculate the distance, displacement, speed, velocity, and acceleration changes and create a map of those changes.

Important Dates:

Unit 9 test Feb 25

Advanced Unit 9 Project is due on Feb 25 as well

Reminders:

• Now that we are in 2^nd Semester it may be time to replenish your child’s pencils. We are running out in the classrooms.

• Calculators are needed for the physics units. If your child has one they should bring it everyday to class.

Thanks for all that you do to help make this year successful!!

8^th grade Science Team

All classes are concluding our study of the Great Depression in Georgia and President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs that spurred on economic recovery in the state. Classes will wrap up Unit 7 on Tuesday with a summative. Georgia Studies classes will also be working on high school course registration next week before introducing Unit 8. Unit 8 focuses on Georgia’s economic and military contributions to WWII. Students will also learn about Georgia’s leadership following the war to better understand Georgia’s political and economic growth post war. In Unit 8, students will be assessed on the notes and vocabulary before taking the Unit 8 Test on March 9^th. For quiz dates, please refer to individual teacher course pages on its learning.

PE and Athletics: Parents, we have an enormous amount of PE clothes in our Lost and Found area. Some have names on them and some do not. If your child has missing PE clothes, please remind them to come to the gym to look for their items.