Students of the Month: September

The Supernova teachers would like to congratulate the following Supernovas for earning student of the month honors for the month of September.

Science: Claire F.
English: Caitlin K.
Social Studies: Natalie W.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Estee C.

Supernova Sprint: 14-15

The 8th grade science students conducted a lab to analyze their velocity and acceleration throughout a 30 meter dash. Below are a few pictures of the Supernova students conducting their experiment.

Measurement Week: 14-15

The Supernovas just finished conducting various science labs that involved different types of measurement. The students practiced using units in the modern metric system while conducting their labs.

9/15 - Length Lab
9/16 - Volume Lab
9/17 - Mass Lab
9/18 - Density Lab

English 8 & Advanced English 8: "The Tell-Tale Heart" Vocabulary List

The vocabulary list for "The Tell-Tale Heart" has been posted on Quizlet. The vocabulary practice homework is due on Thursday.

Advanced English 8: Extended Vocabulary List # 3

Extended Vocabulary List # 3 has been posted on Quizlet.  You can access the list by clicking the link.  The quiz will be on Thursday and worth 10 points.

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Class on Friday, September 12th

First:
You are to log on to No Red Ink using the account that you created last week in class.  If you need assistance with this, you are to check the blog post from last week with the instructions. You will have to scroll down on the blog because there have been many posts since I made that post.

When you have logged on, you will see that you have an assignment labeled: 
Grammar Practice 1: Sentences and Fragments
(Note: If your teacher used No Red Ink last year, you should "leave" that class so that you don't get confused about what you need to do when you log on to No Red Ink. 

This assignment has 50 questions.  This assignment is not for a grade.

Second:
When you have finished the assignment in No Red Ink, you are to log on to the online textbook by using the links on the Supernova Team blog.

Step 1: You are to log on and click the link that says "Go to the Online Textbook" which appears next to the picture of the book.

Step 2: Select from the first drop-down menu "Unit 1: Plot and Conflict" and "The Ransom of Red Chief" from the second and click "Go!"

Step 3: Click the tab that says "Student Resources" 

Step 4: You are to go through the "Level Up" activities under the heading "Online Extras". You are to go through the level up activities for conflict, making predictions, and fragments and run-ons.  * For each of the three level up activities you need to click the "Tutorial" tab first and then click the "Practice" tab. 

Step 5:  If you get done with this, you can click on the "Grammar Notes: Run-On Sentences".

Third:
You can also use the link on the Supernova Team blog for Quizlet and practice your vocabulary terms for your test on Tuesday.  Be sure that you are selecting the list for "The Ransom of Red Chief". 

Reminder:  The work for "The Ransom of Red Chief" is due on Monday.

ACS - National Chemistry Week: 2014 Illustrated Poem Contest

The Pittsburgh Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) is sponsoring an illustrated poem contest for students in Kindergarten - 12th grade.

Contest Deadline: Entries must be received by Friday, October 24, 2014.

Details: Contest Information

Scientific Models: 14-15

The Supernovas took a hands-on and creative approach to learning about how physical models can be used to replicate an object on a more convenient scale. In addition to physical models, the students also learned about mathematical and conceptual models.

English 8 & Advanced English 8: "The Ransom of Red Chief" Terms

The vocabulary list for "The Ransom of Red Chief" have been posted on Quizlet.  You may access the website by clicking on the link.  The vocabulary practice assignment is due on Thursday, September 11th.

Advanced English 8: Extended Vocabulary List # 2

Extended vocabulary list # 2 has been posted on Quizlet.  You can access the list by clicking the link.  The quiz will be on Friday and worth 10 points.

Science Class: Schoology Sign-Up

1. Sign-in to: Schoology

• Note: If you do not already have a Schoology account, you will need to create one using the access code listed below and your school email/password.  You will also need to enter your first name, last name, and your birthday.

2. Click on "Courses" and select "Join"

3. Enter the following access code: 9VVJQ-Z7FFN

4. Explore the Schoology site, the Supernova Blog, and/or the Science Materials page while the rest of the class completes the sign-up process.

The "Wright" Stuff

The Scientific Method

After learning about how the American aviation pioneers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, used scientific processes while designing their aircraft, Mr. Wolf's science class took to the skies in an attempt to utilize the scientific method to improve on their own paper airplane design.

Steps of the Scientific Method:
1) Ask a question
2) Form a hypothesis
3) Test the hypothesis
4) Analyze the results
5) Draw conclusions
6) Communicate results

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Schoology Instructions

Step 1:  Go to Schoology

Note: If you already have a Schoology account, you do not need to create a new one.  You just need to log in using your username and password and click courses. Next, you will click join, add your class code from the list below, and click join. (If you created a Schoology account for another class and did not follow the directions that I have below for new users, you need to edit this in Schoology.) 

Step 2:  Click the blue sign up button in the top right-hand corner of the screen and click student.

Step 3:  Enter the access code for your class period.  The best option is to copy and paste from the list below.

Period 1:    N8F8Z-NQ2V5

Period 4/5: T6TJ2-N87WW

Period 6/7: CVX7W-QHFB3

Period 10:  FNVZJ-62GQ6

Period 11:  SP5ZW-6KQ25

Step 4: Type your first and last name

Step 5: Type your school email which is 19 your last name first initial (in most cases) @ cmsd.k12.pa.us

Step 6: Type your password which is your student I.D. number followed by cmsd.

Step 7: Select your birthday from the drop-down menu.  This is just to verify your age for access to the site. 

Step 8: Click the blue register button.  

English 8 & Advanced English 8: NO RED INK Instructions

English 8 & Advanced English 8: No Red Ink!

NoRedInkis a web-based learning platform that helps students improve their grammar and writing skills. Click the link in the title of the website to learn more about it.  If you are interested, you are to follow the directions below to create an account.  It is not mandatory that you create an account. 

Note: If you already have a No Red Ink account, you do not need to create a new one.  You just need to log in using your username and password. You will copy and paste the class code from the list below and click join class. (If you created a No Red Ink account for another class and did not follow the directions that I have below for new users, you need to edit this in No Red Ink.) 

Directions for an Account with No Red Ink

Step 1: Type the address  http://www.noredink.com/ in the search bar.

Step 2: In the center of the page, it says: "Sign up for free" and click student.

Step 3: Type in the class code for your specific class period.  Be careful and use the correct class code.  The best option is to copy and paste the code that you need from the list below.

Period 1: English 8: Class Code: 45574a52

Period 4/5: English 8: Class Code: bbf55b6a

Period 6/7: English 8: Class Code: 2e0bd751

Period 10: Advanced English 8: Class Code: fe86a87e

Period 11: English 8: Class Code: 544cb6ef

Step 4: Type in your username.  It has to be 19 your last name first initial (You are to use whatever you use to log on to the student computers or the first part of your school email address.)

Step 5: Type in your password.  It has to be your student ID number followed by cmsd

Step 6: Type your first name, last name, and select your gender.

Step 7: Click the box to agree to the privacy policy.

You are to use this site to practice grammar skills.

Science Homework and Bonus Opportunity: Designing a Controlled Experiment

Required Homework:

• Complete the following paper: Designing a Controlled Experiment
• Due: 9/12/14
• This homework assignment is worth 2 points.

Optional Bonus Opportunity (4 Bonus Points Possible): 

• Actually conduct the experiment that you designed during the homework.
• 2 Bonus Points: Provide visual proof that you conducted the experiment.  
• This can be as simple as a photograph of your experiment. 
• 2 Bonus Points: Organize the data you collected in a chart, table, graph, or written paragraph.  
• This bonus work can be turned in with the homework, or it can be emailed to Mr. Wolf.  
• Due: 9/12/14 - (Unless arrangements are made with Mr. Wolf due to your experiment requiring additional time.)

Are any of Mrs. Porter's students Interested in bonus?

You can earn 15 bonus points in English by entering The Sky's the Limit Writing Contest.  In order to receive the bonus points, you must follow all of the requirements that are specified on the contest's website. The deadline to submit the project to Mrs. Porter is October 20th so that the bonus points can be added to the first quarter's grade.  The contest's official deadline is November 1st.  

Advanced English 8: Extended Vocabulary List # 1

The first extended vocabulary list for the year has been posted on Quizlet.  You can access the list by clicking the link.  The quiz will be on Friday and worth 10 points.