8th Grade

2016-17

June 8th: Cap & Gown Photos

June 6th: Last Working Class!

  • Audrey: Film video!
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Finish and turn in assignment 018 End of Year Title Slide
    • Finish and turn in assignment 019 End of Year Keyboarding Speed Tests
  • Finished? Select some Transition Music options.

June 1st: 2 Working Classes Left!

  • Filming Day: With a partner/partners go out and film your portion of the video
    • NO VERTICAL VIDEOS!
    • Do NOT read your script - You were told to practice this at home.
    • Do not disturb other classes. Be aware that K-5 will be going to recess at about 12:30 and will be getting ice cream when they finish their lunch.
    • Film somewhere relatively quiet - do NOT sit by the fountain. You can film in the computer lab which would let you have a teleprompter with your script which you still shouldn't just read.
    • If you do not take this seriously or if you do not finish recording, you will be required to come in before school or stay after school to record.
  • If done, sign in to Google Classroom and finish and turn in assignment 018 End of Year Title Slide

May 30th: 4 Classes Left

  • "Selfies" for End of Year Title Slide
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Finish or fix Assignment 017 End of Year Script - Everyone needs to check this.
    • Work on Assignment 018 End of Year Title Slide
  • HOMEWORK: Practice Your Script - out loud!

May 25th:

  • Whole Class: How to fill out Transition Music form
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Work on Assignment 017 End of Year Script - Everyone needs to add specific stories/examples to back up what they are saying.
    • Work on Assignment 018 End of Year Title Slide
  • Finished? Select some Transition Music options.

May 16th & 18th:

  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Work on Assignment 017 End of Year Script - Everyone needs to add specific stories/examples to back up what they are saying.
    • Work on Assignment 018 End of Year Title Slide

May 11th:

  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Audrey & Rebecca: Complete and turn in Assignment 016 Arduino RGB LED
    • Work on Assignment 017 End of Year Script

May 9th:

  • Whole Class: Introduction to End of Year Assignment
    • Watch part of Class of 2015 8th Grade video
    • Expectations for the assignment:
      • A thoughtful, well-written script with specific stories and examples of your St. Martin's experience.
      • This is a legacy that you and your classmates will have. A "teaser" of it will be shown at Graduation Breakfast and your teachers will get a copy. Next year's 8th grade will also see a portion of it!
      • A movie file of you delivering the message in your script - NOT reading your script!
      • A title slide for the final movie
  • If not done, sign in to Google Classroom and complete and turn in Assignment 016 Arduino RGB LED
  • Start your End of Year Script

May 2nd & 5th:

  • Whole Class:
    • What are the primary colors of light
    • What colors did you combine to make the secondary colors of light & what are the secondary colors of light
    • Why did you need 3 resistors
    • What is the difference between analogWrite() and digitalWrite()
    • What is the path of the electric current through the RGB LED
  • Finish the RGB Color Activity: See April 28th.
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and complete and turn in Assignment 016 Arduino RGB LED
  • Do one or more the the Go Further activities from April 28th

April 28th:

  • Whole Class: What your RGB program should look like when done.
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and fix problems identified on Assignment 014 and add a comment that you have done so
  • Continue with the RGB Color Activity:
    • Program the Arduino - after you have completed and run your code, please comment it so that you (and others) will know what the code is doing. Save your program as YourName_RGB1
    • Add code to make the three secondary colors - make sure to add comments for the secondary colors of light and save the program
    • Take screenshots of your RGB program and save them into your folder as 8th-YourName-RGB1-1 and 8th-YourName-RGB1-2, if you need multiple screenshots OR 8th-YourName-RGB1, if you can fit all of the code in one screenshot.
    • Take a video of your running RGB program - try to start the video with the Red showing. Make sure that you can see the colors. If not redo the video until you can.
  • Go further with one of the following and save your program as YourName_RGB3. Use Color Picker to find RGB values for the colors you want to use.
    • Make your LED cycle through all the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
    • Create a blinking color theme. Have your LED blink colors that make you think of your favorite book, like the Hunger Games or Harry Potter OR your favorite song.
    • Create a theme of the ocean, or fire, or your favorite sports teams.
    • Look at what you’re wearing and create a color display that matches your outfit.

April 27th:

  • Whole Class: RGB Color Introduction
    • What are primary colors?
    • What are secondary colors and how do you make them?
  • Use the RGB Color Activity Guide to:
    • Build the circuit as shown - it would be helpful to you to use the jumper wire colors as shown
    • Program the Arduino - after you have completed and run your code, please comment it so that you (and others) will know what the code is doing. Save your program as YourName_RGB1
    • Add code to make the three secondary colors - make sure to add comments for the secondary colors of light and save the program
    • Take screenshots of your RGB program and save them into your folder as 8th-YourName-RGB1-1 and 8th-YourName-RGB1-2, if you need multiple screenshots OR 8th-YourName-RGB1, if you can fit all of the code in one screenshot.
    • Take a video of your running RGB program - try to start the video with the Red showing.

April 25th:

  • Cardboard Grad Cap pictures

April 4th:

  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 015 - Q4 Keyboarding Speed Tests
    • Assignment 014 - Fix problems identified and add a comment that you have done so
  • If you did not need to complete Assignment 015 because you had previously done so, grab a keyboard cover and complete all of the following on TypingTest.com WITH a cover. You will need to select the proper test and 2 minutes for the time:
      • Aesop's Fables
      • Space Cowboys
      • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
      • The Enchanted Typewriter
  • Do you remember?
    • Open your blinkbug Arduino program on your computer and fix it so that it will compile and will blink an LED on and off with a 1 second delay
    • Wire an LED to the Arduino and make sure that your blinkbug program works

March 28th & 30th:

  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Assignment 014 - Fix problems identified and add a comment that you have done so.
    • Assignment 013 - Fix problems identified and add a comment that you have done so.
    • Assignment 011 - Fix problems identified and add comment(s) that you have done so. Make sure on your comment for this one that you say which task you fixed and include the link to your Google Site post. This is optional but can improve your grade and may result in candy or other prizes. :)
  • Done? Redraw a 2nd Grade Monster (or two) in Tux Paint (what 2nd grade used) or Pinta, if you prefer that.

March 21st & 23rd:

  • Whole Class:
    • Review parts used for your Blinking Lights Activity
    • Review circuit for Blinking Lights Activity
    • Review code
    • Review how to add and turn in this post.
  • Finish code comments and save a screenshot of your commented code into your folder as 8th-YourName-Blink
  • Take a video of your blinking lights project, if not previously complete - do NOT show faces of anyone, no vertical video, and introduce yourself on the video and say it is your blink project.
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and complete and turn in Assignment 014 - Arduino Blinking Lights. If previously turned in, check for comments from me and fix anything that needs to be fixed and add a comment to let me know you have done so.
  • Complete a Blinking Lights Challenge: Choose one from below OR make up one of your own and make sure to add comments to the code you add and to save your code as Blink2.
    • Blink the lights in Morse code for SOS (short-short-short long-long-long short-short-short) OR create Morse code for another word (use this for Morse code)
    • Add three or four lights, and make them light up in a row, like a marquee sign
    • Make the lights alternate like railroad crossing lights
    • Adjust the lights to blink at the same rate as your heartbeat
  • Save a screenshot of your code in your folder as 8th-YourName-Blink2
  • Take a video of your completed Blinking Lights Challenge project while it is running - do NOT show faces of anyone
  • Add to your Google Site post from Assignment 014:
    • A brief description of what you did for the challenge
    • Your commented code
    • Your video

March 14th:

  • Go to Google Classroom and finish and turn in Assignment 013 - PokéTech Reflection, if not done. 3 of you have not turned this in.
  • Complete Blinking Lights Activity:
    • Get ONE light to blink
    • Modify your code to make the light blink slower or faster
    • Add an additional light and make it blink
    • Add comments to your code so people know what it is doing
    • Take a video of your completed lights project while it is running - do NOT show faces of anyone and introduce yourself on your video
    • Save a screenshot of your code in your folder as 8th-Name-Blink

March 9th:

March 7th:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 013 - PokéTech Reflection
    • Fix any outstanding items on Assignment 011 - PokéTech

February 14th - March 2nd:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Continue work on Assignment 011 - PokéTech
      • Check for feedback and fix any problems identified on all tasks previously turned in
      • Continue working on PokéTech tasks

February 9th:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 012 - Q3 Keyboarding Speed Tests
    • Continue work on Assignment 011 - PokéTech
      • Check for feedback and fix any problems identified on all tasks previously turned in
      • Continue working on PokéTech tasks

January:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Check for feedback from me and fix the problems on task WP01. Don't forget to add a comment to the assignment that you have done so. This MUST be corrected before you receive credit for other tasks!
    • If you have finished and turned in other tasks, again check for feedback, fix any problems, and add a comment to the assignment that it is fixed.
    • Continue working on PokéTech.

December 6th - 15th:

  • Whole Class: Presidential Medal of Freedom 2016
  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • If you have finished and turned in task WP01, check for feedback from me and fix the problems. Don't forget to add a comment to the assignment that you have done so. This MUST be corrected before you receive credit for other tasks!
    • Continue working on PokéTech.
    • In honor of CS Ed Week, if you complete and turn in any of the CS Tutorials before Christmas break, you will earn double the XP. If you do any Scratch project tutorials, you should sign in and save them because they must be included on your Google Site post.

November 29th & December 1st:

November 15th - 22nd:

November 10th:

  • Whole Class: Review questions in Assignment 010 Quiz
  • Go to Google Classroom and complete Assignment 009: Q2 Keyboarding Speed Tests
  • Grab a microphone and practice using Kazam. Things to remember:
    • Change the preferences in Kazam for Screencasts to be:
      • Framerate 30
      • Record with MP4
      • Automatic File Saving OFF - you will save these in your folder

November 8th:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 010: Presidential Election
    • Work on Assignment 009: Q2 Keyboarding Speed Tests

November 1st & 3rd:

  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 008: Haunted House Escape
    • Check for comments from me on Returned assignments and fix any problems. Make sure to add a comment to the assignment to let me know you have fixed something.
  • Create your Pokémon Trainer Avatar using one of the following:
  • Grab a keyboard cover and complete all of the following on TypingTest.com WITH a cover. You will need to select the proper test and 2 minutes for the time:
    • Aesop's Fables
    • Space Cowboys
    • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
    • The Enchanted Typewriter

October 27th:

October 20th & 25th:

  • Take 2nd Grade's Survey
  • Go to Google Classroom and:
    • Complete and turn in Assignment 007: Marshmallow Challenge
    • Complete any additional outstanding assignments
    • Check for comments from me on Returned assignments and fix any problems. Make sure to add a comment to the assignment to let me know you have fixed something.
  • Grab a keyboard cover and complete the following WITH a cover:
  • Grab a microphone and practice using Kazam. Things to remember:
    • Not recording? Open the Volume Control and make sure your microphone is in the Device List and make sure it is the one selected for Recording
    • Don't see a microphone in Devices on Volume Control? Keep microphone plugged in and Restart Machine (Activities/Quit/Restart) and then check again
    • Change the preferences in Kazam for Screencasts to be:
      • Framerate 30
      • Record with MP4
      • Automatic File Saving OFF - you will save these in your folder

October 18th:

October 13th:

  • Whole Class: Review of Assignment statuses and what they mean to you
  • Whole Class: Introduction to Kazam
  • Whole Class: Setup your Google Site for this year:
    • Rename Quarter 1 to PokéTech (both the title and the name of the page) - NOTE: You can't type the accent mark so if you want that copy it from here. The name of the page should be lower-case and should not have the accent.
    • Rename Quarter 2 to Ignition (both the title and the name of the page). Again, the name of the page should be lower-case.
    • Delete Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 pages
  • Grab a keyboard cover and complete the following WITH a cover:
  • Sign in to Google Classroom and:
    • Check for comments from me on previously completed work & fix the problems. NOTE: Assignment 002 will not be re-graded but the problems should be fixed on Assignment 006 or they will count against you again on Assignment 006. You can fix them in LibreOffice Writer before you upload to Google Drive or fix them after the upload.
    • You must add a comment to any assignment that you fix to let me know you fixed the problems or I will not re-grade anything.
    • Complete and turn in outstanding work
  • Grab a microphone and practice using Kazam. Things to remember:
    • Not recording? Open the Volume Control and make sure your microphone is in the Device List and make sure it is the one selected for Recording
    • Don't see a microphone in Devices on Volume Control? Keep microphone plugged in and Restart Machine (Activities/Quit/Restart) and then check again
    • Change the preferences in Kazam for Screencasts to be:
      • Framerate 30
      • Record with MP4
      • Automatic File Saving OFF - you will save these in your folder

October 11th:

September 29th - October 6th:

  • Finish any previous outstanding work and turn in in Google Classroom:
    • Free Dress Typing
    • Self-portrait - Make sure that you turn in the PNG version and also set your profile picture in Google Classroom to your new self-portrait.
  • Take the Keyboarding Speed Tests for the beginning of the year. The instructions and links to the speed tests are included on Assignment 003 in Google Classroom.
  • Complete in Google Classroom and turn in:
    • Assignment 004 to update your Google Site for the start of the year
    • Assignment 005 to create your yearly folders
    • Assignment 006 to reformat your Free Dress Policy document in MLA Format

September 27th:

  • Google Classroom:
    • Join class
    • Set your profile picture
    • If done, turn in self-portrait (PNG version) - Assignment 001
  • Complete Free Dress Typing in LibreOffice Writer
    • Set margins to 1" - Under Format / Page
    • Select a plain font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.)
    • Type the K-5 Free Dress Policy matching the format you were given.
      • The words oversized and sideless will be underlined in red. Anything else underlined in red is incorrect and must be fixed.
      • Your bulleted list will be indented and that is fine.
      • Do not worry about indenting the final sentence.
    • When done, save this in your folder in Microsoft Office 2007-2013 format named as 8th-FirstName-FreeDress. You will get a warning message when you do this. Continue saving in this format.
    • Sign in to Google Classroom and follow directions to turn in assignment 002.
  • Finish and turn in your self-portrait, if not done

September 20th & 22nd:

  • Finish your self-portrait in Pinta. When done, save final layered image and then do a File/Save As and change the type to PNG and save again - do NOT change the name of the file; just change the image format.
  • Middle School Free Dress Typing: LibreOffice Writer
    • Set margins to 1" - Under Format / Page
    • Select a plain font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.)
    • Optionally, set line spacing - Under Format / Spacing.
    • Save this in your folder in Microsoft Office 2007-2013 format named as 8th-FirstName-FreeDress. You will get a warning message when you do this. Continue saving in this format.
    • Type the Middle School Free Dress Policy matching the format you were given.
    • When done or at the end of class, save this using the Save icon.

September 15th:

  • Continue work on your self-portrait in Pinta. When done, save final layered image and then do a File/Save As and change the type to PNG and save again - do NOT change the name of the file; just change the image format.

September 13th:

  • Whole Class: A few tips about Pinta
  • Complete Responsible Use Policy Form, if not finished last class:
  • Complete your self-portrait in Pinta:
    • NO FLOATING HEADS.
    • Save your self-portrait as 8th-YourName-Portrait in your folder (ask how to create this when you save!)
    • If you would like a template, you can download one here; make sure you save this in your folder or just copy & paste it into a new image in Pinta. Add a new layer to draw each of your features and then erase guidelines from the template which should be the bottom layer.
    • To save layers, save as .ORA file type.

September 8th:

  • Whole Class: Review what we are doing today
  • Warm up with Alpha Quick - 2 times only! Add your name & fastest time to the board.
  • Complete the 2016-17 Technology Survey
  • Alpha Quick Time - no more than twice. Did you beat your previous time? Update the time on the board.
  • Complete the Responsible Use Policy Form
  • NOTE: The Responsible Use Policy needs to be reviewed and signed by a parent or guardian and returned by your next class.
  • Last Alpha Quick try! Did you beat your previous time? Update your time on the board.
  • Done? Explore Pinta (on your desktop)