Students of the Month: October

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

Social Studies: Kayleigh V.

Science: Zachary B.

English: Thomas S.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Maura O.

Girls Of Steel Robotics - FREE Workshop

Girls in 8th grade are invited to learn about safety, tools, mechanical parts, and the electronics at the Chassis Building Workshop with the Carnegie Mellon University Girls of Steel Robotics Team on Sunday, November 22, 2015, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for a Girls of Steel FIRST Robotics Competition Chassis Building Workshop at the IU1 Fab Lab.

 Mentors from Carnegie Mellon University’s Girls of Steel Robotics Team will guide participants to assemble and drive the robot. Workshop goals include:

• Learning about mechanical subsystems
• Learning about electronic subsystems
• Assembling a robot chassis and driving it!

The workshop is free for all interested 8th grade girls and no prior experience or knowledge is needed! Space is limited so make sure to register today at the online registration form. Registration closes November 15, 2015.

Registration Form

Informational Flyer

Girls of Steel Robotics Website

Science Class: 10/23/15 and 10/26/15

Please complete the following items in order. Please remain quiet and on-task during the entire class period.

1. COMPLETE ALL LATE WORK THAT YOU OWE.  Below are the two assignments that some students haven't completed.

• Laws of Motion and Momentum (10 Points) - DUE 10/19/15
• CH 6: Forces in Motion - Test (40 Points) - DUE 10/21/15

2. Complete your "CH 8: Work and Machines" guided note packet:

• Open "Chapter 8 - Work and Machines" PowerPoint.
• Go to slide 38 and check your answers to the key questions for section 2.  
• Read through each slide in section 3 of the PowerPoint.  Complete the rest of your guided notes for chapter 8 as you view the presentation. Examine, in detail, how each simple machine (lever, inclined plane, wedge, wheel and axle, pulley, screw) makes work easier. 

3. Check your answers on the following worksheets:

• Answer KEY: Mechanical Advantage - (Math in Science)
• Answer KEY: Mechanical Advantage and Efficiency 

4. Complete the "Work and Simple Machines" activity.  Once the electronic document loads, you can click on the link at the top of the sheet to take you directly to the website.  This handout was given to you earlier in the week.  Check the make-up folder if you were absent.  Ensure you fill in your answers on the answer sheet as you work through the activity. Turn in the activity sheet once you are finished.  (Due 11/5/15)

5. Complete "Webquest: Simple Machines".  Once the electronic document loads, you can click on the link near the top of the sheet to take you directly to the website.  This handout was given to you earlier in the week.  Check the make-up folder if you were absent. Ensure you write in the answers on your handout as you work through the activity.  Turn in the activity sheet once you are finished.  (Due 11/5/15 - Bonus)

6. Click on "Science Materials" under the "Helpful Links" on the right side of the blog.  Please explore the format of this website.  Try accessing the "Rube Goldberg Project" from the "CH 8 - Work and Machines" section.  Read through the project.

7. If you finish early:
Option 1: Click on the following link to explore some interactive websites on simple machines.
Simple Machines: Interactive Websites
Option 2: Complete a "Read and React" paper for bonus.

The Other Midnight Riders Cross-Curricular Project

   The students read and discussed the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride” in English class with Mrs. Porter. While in social studies with Mr. Faith, the students studied Colonial America. For the project, the students were to research the other midnight riders who assisted in warning the people about the impending British attack. The students were to determine how accurate Henry Longfellow’s poem was as compared to the actual historical accounts. The students researched and analyzed the real-life accounts of the other midnight riders in order to gain a richer knowledge of the events that lead up to the American Revolution. After the research was completed, the students rewrote Longfellow’s poem. However, this time, the students were to be as close to the actual events as possible in their poems. By writing their own historically accurate poems, they gave each rider the credit that they deserved for their contributions to the American Revolution.

Standards Covered: Social Studies: 8.3 America History & English 1.3.8 A-F, H-L; 1.4.8.M-W

 Pictured above are students gathering research on the other midnight riders. 

Pictured above are group members analyzing the poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride”. 

 Pictured above are students composing their historically accurate poems.

The Hitchhiker Vocabulary Terms

The vocabulary terms for the radio play, The Hitchhiker, have been posted on Quizlet. The test on the radio play and these terms will be on Thursday, October 22nd.

English Class on Monday, October 12th

Today, you will be taking your Accelerated Reader Quiz in class by clicking the link below.

Accelerated Reader Quiz

Mrs. Porter has posted the list of usernames and passwords for the Accelerated Reader website on the front table.

If you received a 90% or higher on your AR quiz, you can see Mrs. Porter for a sticker for your bingo card.

When you have finished the quiz, you are to complete your citation in NoodleTools by clicking the link below. 

NoodleTools

You are to follow the AR NoodleTools citation instructions. If you lost your copy, you can get a copy from the extra copies' bin in Mrs. Porter's room.  So, if you did not complete the citation rough draft for homework, you are just to write your citation in NoodleTools.  I don't need the rough draft copy of your citation.

Remember: You need to share your citation with Mrs. Porter to receive credit. If you do not share your citation with the drop box for your class period, a point will be deducted from your AR quiz grade.

Drop box name: Period #: October AR Book
# = your class period (1, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9, or 10)

If you turned in your novel early, and did not record your ISBN number, you are to follow these instructions: You can look up your ISBN on Destiny. There's a link to Destiny on the Looking for a Book? page on the LMC website. Once you find your book in Destiny, you can click on the title link and you will see the title details for your book. One of the things listed is the ISBN #. You can even just copy and paste the ISBN number right into NoodleTools. 

Once you have finished both tasks, you are to turn in your library book to Mrs. Porter.

You can complete are to complete the online textbook activity by following the directions on the slip that you received when you came in today.  You will need headphones for this activity.  They are located in the bin at the front of the room by Mrs. Porter's desk.

If you get done with the online textbook activity, you are to go to No Red Ink and complete an activity on Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. If you don't get this activity done, it is not homework even though No Red Ink labels this activity as an "assignment".

English 8: Bonus Opportunity

Challenge 1: Writing

"Nearby Nature Haikus"

Each of Mrs. Porter's students received an informational flyer on Thursday, October 1st, that explained the specific requirements for competing in the Fairchild Challenge that is organized by Phipps Conservatory. For more information on the contest, you are to use the link to the Fairchild Challenge.

Bonus Points for Competing: If you follow all of rules for the contest, you will receive 10 bonus points towards your grade in English class for the first nine weeks. 

Additional Rewards: If your project is submitted by Miss Moniodes, Enrichment Support Teacher, to be entered in the Fairchild Challenge, you will receive two free passes to Phipps Conservatory. 

If you are interested in competing, please see Mrs. Porter or Miss Moniodes with any questions. Miss Moniodes will be mailing all entries to Phipps Conservatory on Friday, October 23rd.  Your project is due to Mrs. Porter by Monday, October 19th.