October 24, 2025

Math 8

Algebra

Spanish 2

We're taking a break from our traditional Spanish curriculum to share one of the most fun and colorful cultural celebrations in several Latin American countries: "El Día de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead").
Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2 to honor and remember our deceased loved ones. "It is a joyful celebration of life and memory, not a time for mourning, where families gather to welcome the spirits of the departed back to the living world with offerings, altars, and festive activities".
During this time of the year we decorate our classroom with beautiful altars, flowers, candles and colorful hand made paper skulls .
Students are encouraged to visit the biggest Día de los Muertos celebration in Marin at Pickleweed Park in San Rafael. HERE is the link for more detailed information.

Language Arts

We are past the halfway point of ourt class novel, and have been analyzing how incidents reveal aspects of character. Next week we will begin identifying motifs and themes in the story.

Additionally, students this week had their first socratic seminar - a fully student led discussion of some big ideas and deeper meanings in the novel. We ripped the bandaid off this week trying it for the first time, and we will continue to fine tune our academic conversations as we go.

Next week, students will also begin drafting their narrative - after researching monsters of Latin American Folklore, they will write a standalone chapter where the sisters from the story will face off with a deadly monster.

Science

KINETIC ENERGY and ROCKETS: This week consisted of hands-on designing and construction. Students converted water bottles and manila folders into rockets which will be powered by air pressure in order to “do the math” and determine the POTENTIAL and KINETIC ENERGY of their projectiles.

PHYSICS OF SPORT PROJECT: Our final project starts next week and will take 2 weeks (10 class periods) to complete. Students are asked to improve sports here at Hall by working together to make a 3 minute video focused on the PHYSICS of a specific sport. They will show what they have learned about PHYSICS this year by explaining the math and finding the SPEED, ACCELERATION, KINETIC AND POTENTIAL ENERGY, FORCE, MOMENTUM, AND NEWTON’S LAWS involved in a specific skill (shooting a basketball, throwing a football, serving a volleyball, etc.). Each student is responsible for a portion of the group project and group videos include editing to add their own creative and instructional flare. Ask your student to fill you in on what they are doing with it next week!

STEM and Design

How well can you measure? How accurate can you cut and create? Can you make adjustments to things that aren't ideal? These are the questions students looked to answer and put in to practice as we compete in the SKIMMER CHALLENGE. Each student has created their land-hugging projectile and, if they made it precise, will see their accuracy in action!

We are in our BRACKET-CHALLENGE pitting students against eachother in their design. Each student gets 3 attempts to get as many points as possible based upon how accurately they can get their skimmer to go. Score more than your opponent and you advance! It is a fun, challenging and competitive way to design with accuracy.

Physical Education

Corbolotti: Last week we introduced flag football in PE class! Hall boys are now in season, and the girls will play in the spring. Redwood recently held their first girls’ season, showing how quickly this sport is growing.

This week, we’re transitioning to volleyball in the gym. Students will work on serving, passing, setting, and teamwork, building skills they can use in class and intramural games.

Advanced Band

Today, I gave the students a new piece, "The Mandalorian," which they seem to be super pumped about playing. The adv jazz will be playing this friday morning for the SPARK fundraiser, from 7:45-8:15AM right outside the office. Hope to see you there.

Art

Our creative artists exploring color theory. Right now, students are painting self-portraits using carefully chosen color schemes, and learning how colors can work together in harmony or contrast. Next week, we’ll shift gears and dive into the exciting world of abstract art, where they’ll experiment even more with shape, color, and imagination. Stay tuned for bold colors and big ideas.

Social Studies

This week in 8th grade U.S. History, students presented their designs for middle schools that were based on the views of their assigned Enlightenment philosophers. We also learned about the Articles of Confederation (our first attempt at a constitution) and the event that led the early American leaders to throw it out and start over: Shay's Rebellion.

Next week, we begin our deep dive into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights!

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