How the Universe Works: Black Holes

Video Link - How the Universe Works: Black Holes

Advanced English 8: "Art in the Style of ..." Project

For the next few weeks, Mrs. Porter’s Advanced English 8 students will be working on the “Art in the Style of…” project. Students will work in pairs or individually to complete their works of art. We will also be working with our building’s gifted support teacher, Miss Moniodes and our art teacher, Mrs. Angle, on this cross-curricular project.

As teachers with a variety of backgrounds, we believe in the importance of a holistic approach to teaching and learning. Incorporating art into the regular education classroom helps promote creativity and foster confidence within our students and their work.

The Task: Students will create a drawing, painting, or sculpture of a local structure, landmark, or feature found within our community and render it in the style of an artist they have researched.  Students will then create a PowerPoint presentation or Prezi that explains the style of the artist, his or her works, or a fundamental belief that he or she had. Students will also explain how they incorporated their artist’s style into their art work.

The student’s projects will be evaluated with a teacher-designed rubric that focuses on content and creativity. The project will conclude with some final products being displayed at Canonsburg Middle School’s “Celebrate the Arts Night”, held on Wednesday, May 27th.  Visitors to the event will be able to hear or see the students explaining their works of art through the use of QR codes that will be placed next to the students' works of art.  

ASSET STEM Education: Engineer Your Summer Fun Day Camp!

Information: www.assetinc.org

Science Behind Devastating Nepal Earthquake and Avalanches

Astronomy: Think-Tac-Toe - 2014-2015 (Optional BONUS)

Mr. Wolf's 8th grade science classes are conducting an optional student choice activity in which they choose and complete astronomy activities for bonus points.  The due dates for the optional bonus activities are listed below.  The students can complete up to two projects worth 2.5 bonus points each.

Project # 1 - Due Date: May 7th (2.5 Bonus Points Possible)
Project # 2 - Due Date: May 14th (2.5 Bonus Points Possible)

Helpful Astronomy Websites

Astronomy Think-Tac-Toe (Printable PDF File)
Note: Each project is worth 2.5 bonus points instead of the 25 points listed on the document.  This optional bonus assignment will be discussed in detail during science class on April 29th.

Student Song Examples from Previous Years (Option # 2):
Solar System Song
Space Story Song

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Class on Tuesday, April 28th

Activity 1

The vocabulary list has been posted for Act One, Scenes 1-3 from the play, The Diary of Anne Frank. The test on these terms will be on Thursday, April 28th.  You are to follow the steps below for class today. You will need headphones to complete the steps. You can repeat each step as many times as you want.

Step One: You are to click "Cards" and go through the flashcards.
Step Two: You are to play the "Scatter" and the "Race" games to review the terms.
Step Three: You are to click "Learn" and complete this activity.
Step Four: You are to click "Test".

Finally, when you feel confident on the terms, you are to complete Activity 2.

Activity 2

The vocabulary list has been posted for Act One, Scenes 4 & 5 from the play, The Diary of Anne Frank. The test on these terms will be on Thursday, April 28th.  You are to follow the steps for Activity 1.

Activity 3: Touring the Secret Annex & Learning about Anne Frank

You are to use the embedded links to explore the Secret Annex that Anne called home during her time in hiding. You will need headphones for this activity.

The steps below take you through navigating the Anne Frank website. You are to take your time and explore. Along the top of the page is a bar with different options for you.
1. Click on the "Enter the 3D house" link at the top of the page and explore the 3D house. This page can take a while to load. You can get to the 3D house by clicking the Secret Annex link.
2. Click on the “About the house” link and explore the page. Be sure to click on the link that says “See it on Google StreetView”
3. Click on the “Who is who?” link and explore the page by clicking on the arrow beneath the person's picture and caption.
4. Click on the “Outcome” link and explore the page by clicking on the various links.
5. Finally, you are to explore the timeline to gain an understanding of that time period.

This can be an emotional and mature topic. If at any time, you are uncomfortable with the subject matter, you are just to click on another link. You do not have to view the entire Anne Frank site.

English Class on Friday, April 24th

English 8

You are required to take your AR Quiz before the end of the period today unless you have special permission from me for a time extension to read your novel. If you read a novel that was not AR, your summary is due at the end of the period today.

You also need to complete your citation on Noodle Tools by the end of the period today.  The drop box for this citation is April AR Book.

Advanced English 8 

You must turn in your Anne Frank project by the end of the period today.  You are not required to complete a citation, but you must take the AR Quiz on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Act One, Scenes 4 & 5 Vocabulary List

The vocabulary list has been posted for Act One, Scenes 4 & 5 from the play, The Diary of Anne Frank. The test on these terms will be on Thursday, April 28th.

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Act One, Scenes 1-3 Vocabulary List

The vocabulary list has been posted for Act One, Scenes 1-3 from the play, The Diary of Anne Frank. The test on these terms will be on Thursday, April 28th.

English 8: Class on Tuesday, April 14th

You are to use the embedded links to explore the Secret Annex that Anne called home during her time in hiding. You will need headphones for this activity.

The steps below take you through navigating the Anne Frank website. You are to take your time and explore. Along the top of the page is a bar with different options for you.

1. Click on the "Enter the 3D house" link at the top of the page and explore the 3D house. This page can take a while to load. You can get to the 3D house by clicking the Secret Annex link.

2. Click on the “About the house” link and explore the page. Be sure to click on the link that says “See it on Google StreetView”

3. Click on the “Who is who?” link and explore the page by clicking on the arrow beneath the person's picture and caption.

4. Click on the “Outcome” link and explore the page by clicking on the various links.

5. Finally, you are to explore the timeline to gain an understanding of that time period.

This can be an emotional and mature topic. If at any time, you are uncomfortable with the subject matter, you are just to click on another link. You do not have to view the entire Anne Frank site.

Andrea Perry Visits the Supernova Team

The published poet, Andrea Perry, visited Mrs. Porter's afternoon classes as part of "The Poetry Picnic Grant" that Mrs. Barbarino, Library Media Specialist, and Mrs. Porter won. Mrs. Perry discussed what first influenced her to write, how she became published, and where she finds her inspiration today. She also shared excerpts from her various works such as The Bicklebys' Birdbath, Here's What You Do When You Can't Find Your Shoe, and The Snack Smasher. As pictured above, the students participated in a brainstorming workshop where they used a strange creature as inspiration for a poem.  

If you would like to learn more about Andrea Perry, you are encouraged to visit her website.

English Class on April 9th & 10th

You are to complete both activities.

Activity A: Review & Practice

You are to click the link to Quizlet and practice the poetry glossary terms.  You are to follow the steps below for class today.  You will need headphones to complete the steps.  You can repeat each step as many times as you want.

Step One: You are to click "Cards" and go through the flashcards.
Step Two: You are to play the "Scatter" and the "Race" games to review the terms.
Step Three: You are to click "Learn" and complete this activity.
Step Four: You are to click "Test".

Finally, when you feel confident on the terms, you are to complete Activity B.

Activity B: Test

You are to log-on to Schoology and complete the figurative language test in the poetry folder.  You are to try your best because this will be counted for a grade. You can take the test up to three times to improve your grade.  Your final attempts are due on Monday, April 13th.  If you unable to use a computer at home to retake the test, you must see me for a pass to the lab.

If your team won the Grammar Wars competition, you will receive five bonus points on this test. 

When you have finished, you are to read your independent novel.  The next AR Quiz and Citation are due on Friday, April 24th. 

Students of the Month: March

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

Social Studies: Madison W.
Science: Wesley R.
English: Elena E.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Aidan K.

Students of the Month: February

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

English: Nick B.
Social Studies: Brooks R.
Science: Sydney S.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Lily O.

CH 11: The Flow of Freshwater (Vocabulary)

CMU: Summer Engineering Experience for Girls

Dates: July 13th - July 24, 2015
Information: http://www.cmu.edu/ices/outreach/see/

2015 PSBR Annual Essay and Poster Contest

Informational Flyer: http://psbr.org/images/Contests2015/Contests-Flyer-2015.pdf

CH 10: Weathering and Soil Formation - Vocabulary

English 8 & Advanced English 8: Bonus Opportunities

Bonus Option 1

Black History Month denotes a time of year to celebrate, pay homage, and recognize many inspirational African Americans whose contributions have encouraged society. Breaking the baseball color barrier on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson serves as an inspiration for all and forever changed Major League Baseball.

In honor of this historical event and in celebration of Black History Month, the Pittsburgh Pirates have invited our school to participate in the 2015 Jackie Robinson Art, Essay, and Poetry Contest.

To enter, the students need to see Mrs. Porter for the directions and an entry form. All submissions are due to Mrs. Porter by Monday, March 9th.  Mrs. Porter will only send the submissions that have followed all of the directions for the contest.  Any student who enters the contest and follows all of the given instructions will receive 10 bonus points towards his or her grade for the third nine weeks.

Students can also submit their piece(s) on their own by following the instructions on the entry form. All submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 13th. If a student enters the contest on their own, he or she must provide Mrs. Porter with a copy of his or her submission so that the 10 bonus points can be added to his or her grade.

Winning prizes include (subject to change & availability):

- Pre-game awards ceremony with Pirates celebrities

- Special pre-game on-field ceremony for contest winners

- Autographed item(s)

- Teachers of the winning entries will be invited to PNC Park to cheer for their winning student(s)

- One raffle ticket per school per entry for a special Pirates prize

Bonus Option 2

There is also a 2015 Jackie Robinson Breaking Barriers National Essay Contest, hosted by the M.L.B. For more information on this contest, please visit http://www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/kids/

If a student enters this contest, the same due dates that are posted above apply. The student must provide Mrs. Porter with a copy of the submission in order to receive the bonus points.

CH 4: Rocks and the Rock Cycle - Vocabulary

How the Earth Was Made - Hawaii

Advanced English 8: Survival Quiz

When you finish the questions, you are to take the survival quiz. The questions are due tomorrow.

Fun Dough Lab

Mr. Wolf's 8th grade science classes used Play-Doh to model and identify various types of stress and faults.

Students of the Month: January

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

Social Studies: Jamison R.
English: Alex G.
Science: Lianna C.

Outstanding Supernova Citizen: Jenna R.

The Science of Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes