In The Classroom

Algebra – Ms. Cytron

In eighth grade Algebra this month we:

• Completed our Quadratics unit in which the students learned three methods to solve quadratic equations
• Completed a Projectile Motion project in which the students, working in pairs, chose a hypothetical object to launch and determined its arc through the air using the Quadratic Formula.

Posters are on display in the classroom, and one is even posted on Dr. Levi’s door. Go visit to find out why!

Coming up:

• Our final major unit of the year, Polynomials
• A review of test taking strategies in preparation the upcoming Terra Novas

Geometry – Mr. Broms

Proportions & Reasoning in Geometry

As we begin to wrap up our eighth grade year we have much to complete while we also celebrate the progress we have made this year. We will first complete work on the Terra Nova standardized tests early in May. Preparation has taken place during the last part of April, just before the DC trip. Once that work is completed we will start to wind down the year, but not before learning about proportions and reasoning in geometry. We will focus on the following:

• Similar Polygons
• Similar Triangles
• Proportions with Area
• Proportions with Volume
• Proportions of Segments Between Parallel Lines

Finally, we will discover why elephants have big ears? We will explore the relationship between surface area and volume, and the proportions of each.

After our previous project, which was to create an alphabet book using vocabulary words we have learned this year, we will use that work for the upcoming unit. The kids will have to use their vocabulary words from the previous project to create a unique crossword puzzle. They must use all 26 of their words and include clues for each word. Once all of the puzzles have been turned in, I will make booklets of everyone’s individual projects and each student will receive one. This project is intended to help them learn both spelling of our geometry terms and also help them learn and remember the definitions to each word.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Language Arts – Mr. Brook

The eighth graders are only a couple weeks away from their curriculum night on May 15. They will present their multimedia presentations as a culmination of their research on a social issue that is important to them. To wrap up the year, they will study Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the powerful things that language can do.

Science – Mr. Mintz

Following our unit on energy, we returned to our study of chemistry, looking at acids, bases and chemical equations. Along with the content of the science curriculum perhaps the most important learning is related to chemical safety, as the chemical we used (like HCl) are potentially dangerous chemicals. We appreciate the support for strict adherence to the safety rules for behavior in the lab.

If you or someone in your life is an amateur or professional chemist, , electrician, nuclear engineer… and would like to come in as an expert as we study energy, please email me at smintz@hmjds.org. We’d love to have you visit.

Current and Upcoming Units:

• Acids, Bases and Chemical Equations
• The Periodic Table (No they won’t have to memorize it)

Social Studies – Ms. Becker

In eighth grade, students finished their month long study of the history of U.S. engagement in the Middle East and present day issues of the region. The culminating activity was a panel debate on topics that often divide our political parties. Students did a wonderful job representing their party’s views. Since the Washington D.C. trip is only days away, students are learning the history of our nation’s Capital as well as fun and interesting facts about the city. Students have been assigned to a scavenger type activity while they are in D.C. where they have to find places and objects that they learned about. When students return from their trip, we will debrief and discuss their discoveries and experiences.

Hebrew – Ms. Berman and Ms. Faleschini

We are in the midst of the Israeli movie Etz Hadumim Tafus. We will continue to analyze the characters, see how the Holocaust affected their lives, learn how Israel helped them rebuild their lives, and look at how they have helped in building Israel.

• We will read the original story HaTsfira by Etgar Karet. This is a story that describes today’s teenagers’ reaction to the Holocaust in Israel.
• In grammar we will do a last review of all the major topics that we have learned so far and get our students ready for their high school Hebrew studies.

Judaic Studies – Rabbi Shlimovitz and Mr. Portnoe

Our students have researched and studied seven genocides of the past 100 years to put the Holocaust in a broader context. They have done their own reflections on what aspects of the Holocaust are unique as well as asking if genocide is somehow built into the fabric of human DNA. We hope this study will enrich their visit to the US Holocaust Museum next week.

As we move toward the end of the year, we will look at Zionism. The students will examine the Prayer for the State of Israel as it appears in four different siddurim (prayer books). This will introduce modern Israel and ultimately try to have our students find the meaning of Zionism today. We will conduct a round table after students have researched major historical figures in the development of Zionism. Acting as the character that they have researched (and ultimately discussing their own views of the current situation), the students will speak at a congress and answer how their character would have:

• Responded to the Uganda proposal
• Voted about the partition plan
• Resolved the current issues with the Palestinians

The last major unit for the year will be defining their own Jewish identity. We will look at the landscape of modern American Judaism and students will identify what issues are most central to how they will live Jewishly in high school and beyond. In addition to looking at the current practices of the major denominations, the students will examine key statements of Jewish identity. Their writing about the core values and what the school has transmitted to them will be developed into part of the graduation ceremony.

Shabbat Shalom.

Expressive Drawing and Painting – Ms. Thor

Students have been experimenting with a variety of materials and creative processes. We have used charcoal, acrylic paint, watercolors, markers, graphite sticks, Mask-It, masking tape, and Kosher salt (reacts to paper and watercolors). We’ve completed the following exercises:

• Horizontal rhythm & rhythmic drawing with several motifs
• Flux
• Automatic drawing
• Rhythmic repetition
• Three shape composition

We will be exploring a few exercises through printmaking by creating monotypes and using different printmaking techniques. Due to scheduled all school assemblies and the eighth grade trip to Washington DC, we will be working fervently to complete all our work. Students have a final piece that will be their own interpretation of the methods and materials they used throughout the trimester.

Students were given an assignment to write a brief paper on an Abstract Expressionist artist of their choice. They were given a packet with directions and resource information. This paper was due Tues. March 27th. Please ask your child if they have completed this assignment. I need them completed ASAP. If you have any questions, please send me an email.

Library – Ms. Oskow

Heads up, pardners! School year’s end creeps closer!

All student library books are due mid-May (unless needed for class project).

• Enables inventory to ensure books’ availability for next year.
• Overdue notices will be sent home with students.
• Return books to librarian’s desk or bin outside library door.

So round up those literary dogies!

Many Upper School students are enjoying checking out new books from the Book Fair. Students also take advantage of library recess study halls and library computers.

Nearly $11,000 in books was sold at the Fair! That means over $2,200 in profit for HMJDS Media Center, plus over $1,650 in books and materials!!

A big thank you to Book Fair Chairs Beth Jasco, Ellen Berkelhamer and Micki Litton!

And thank you to all of the great volunteers:

Judy Finkelstein, Gail Freedman, Michelle Gendlin, Alyssa Golob, Diane Greenberger, Michael Keller, Wendy Khabie, Becky Madigan, Melissa Mark, Emer O’Connor-Keller, Mark Roth, Laura Schmieg, Heidi Schneider, Beckie Skelton, Lisa Villalta, Kim Kotzen Wear, Lauren Weiser and Dana Beth Weisman.

And student volunteers: Talia H., Daniel H., Felicia & Haley J., Liang J., Avia K.-R., Chyna L.-L., Isaac M., Talia N., Ora R., Emmy S., and Zachariah W.S.

Hunger Games Mockingjay Pin Raffle

Thank you to everyone who bought books, donated books or pins, or entered the Mockingjay raffle! Your purchases enable us to buy many books to enhance curriculum and students’ love of reading, as well as help us update the library with 21st Century electronic resources.

Jacob Z. – pin

Esther G. – pin

Numi K. – poster

Literary Magazine Elective – Ms. Thor

Students have almost completed the design and layout of the student submissions. We are now using a page layout template from http://www.magcloud.com/ – an online publishing site. It has not been determined yet if we will print the magazine in house or through Magcloud, or if we will be selling the magazine. We will be gathering soon to edit each design and text, arrange the page order, and discuss a cover design for the magazine. We enjoyed working with the nursery rhymes so much that we might put together a small book or include them in the magazine too.

Painting – Ms. Halpern

The 7-8 Painting class has been exploring different styles of painting. Using acrylic paints, they are creating several small paintings in the style of various painters. Below are examples of paintings 7-8 students have done using the pointillism style of Seurat. Following this series of smaller painting studies, students will work on a larger painting in the style of their own choosing.

Photoshop – Ms. Thor

Here’s what we are up to:

Photoshop I: students have completed or are working on the following:

• Cut-Insert
• Photo to Sketch
• Color Masking
• Mandala

Final project: next up

Altered Space

Photoshop II:

• Cut-Insert – 3+ layers – 3+ objects
• Photo to Sketch – create a scene
• Color Masking- 3+ layers -3+ objects
• Movie Poster

Final project: next up

Surrealistic Me – using a photo of yourself.

Eighth grade students will miss 2 classes while on the Washing DC trip. I have offered recess time in the Idea Lab when they return to make up for lost time.

Ask your child if they are doing their homework: to watch tutorial videos. In their folder on the school’s server, students will keep a log of Photoshop video tutorials. Their homework is to watch a video tutorial, log the website address, and write a brief description of the skill they learned. They will be asked to share what they have learned with their classmates. I have provided a list of videos to start with. There are many very instructive videos on YouTube.

Gym – Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Sztainer

We wanted to send out a quick reminder that our Fitness week/field day is right around the corner (Thursday, May 31), and we are sending home a form with your child regarding information about the activities available on field day. Please take time and look over the form to make sure your child is able to participate in the activities he/she signed up for.

In our individual class, students continue to push themselves with their workout programs and their spring fitness testing. Students have maintained great numbers in their own workouts and are all striving to continue to make improvements. Our team sports class has just wrapped up the volleyball unit. Next we will move into spring fitness testing/dodge ball unit. The students are all working hard trying to better their fitness testing times from the fall. Finally, we are getting ready to get back outside and enjoy the rest of the school year in the sun. Some of our units coming up are going to be Ultimate Frisbee, baseball/softball, and possibly track and field. These are great units for the outdoors as we are almost ready to hang up the gym shoes for another year.

Algebra – Ms. Cytron

In eighth grade Algebra this month we:

• Finished powers and roots
• Began our quadratics unit, including using the Quadratic Formula – yay! Ask your children if they can recite it from memory!

Coming up:

• A Projectile Motion project
• Solving quadratics through factoring

Geometry – Mr. Broms

Volume: “A measure of the amount of space contained in a solid, expressed in cubic units”

While last month we focused on the study of area in various shapes and sizes, the month of April will be filled with the study of volume of various shapes. As in previous units, we will again do a quick review of algebra, specifically solving for variables in formulas. We will also continue learning and proving additional conjectures and proofs throughout the unit. During the next several weeks we will focus on finding volume for multiple figures including:

• Prisms
• Cylinders
• Pyramids
• Cones
• Spheres

Finally, we will learn about displacement and density. Why does your glass overflow when you put a scoop of ice cream into a glass filled with root beer? This is what our projects will focus on during this unit.

Last month’s projects, creating an alphabet book using vocabulary words we have learned this year, turned out beautifully. There were many different processes used, from electronic to hand drawn and everything in between. They were very well done and creative, and I am certain that the kids learned much from this exercise.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Language Arts – Mr. Brook

The eighth graders have completed the first draft of their social issue paper and are currently turning their attention to multimedia presentations. These presentations will give them a chance to present their findings in a visual way. Using their best communication skills, they will persuade their audience of the importance and urgency of their issues along with an overview of an organization that is working hard to address the issue.

Pre Algebra – Ms. Moore

Our eighth grade math class is “on fire.” They continue to work on mastery of two- step algebra problems. We also continue to explore functions and their relationship to algebraic equations. April will see this unit come to an end, and we will begin our new unit on the graphing of algebraic equations and inequalities. Highlights of the material we are studying are:

• Design function graphs to represent real life situations
• Understand the differences in concept and procedure between one and two step problems and why these differences matter
• To continue to develop mastery over two-step problems with variables on both sides of the equation
• Two step problems that incorporate fractions, decimals and percentages
• To continue to gain confidence and skill in the use of positive and negative numbers

The growth that I have seen in these students between the end of last year and now is phenomenal. As we move towards the end of the year, it is clear to me that they will be well prepared for high school algebra.

Science – Mr. Mintz

We’ve continued our physical science exploration by looking at numerous forms of energy: thermal, nuclear, electrical, etc. In the lab, we experimented with electromagnetism and explored some alternative energies. Next up we are studying waves, and then it is back to chemistry so we can learn how to set up and balance simple chemical equations. We will be using some potentially dangerous chemicals (Hydrochloric acid); please support us as we take very seriously the safety rules for behavior in the lab.

If you or someone in your life is an amateur or professional physicist, electrician, nuclear engineer… and would like to come in as an expert as we study energy, please email me at smintz@hmjds.org. We’d love to have you visit.

Current and Upcoming Units:

Acids, Bases and Chemical Equations

Social Studies – Ms. Becker

In eighth grade social studies, students are busy at work preparing for an in-class debate on how the different political parties (and views) support the security of the State of Israel. After we finished the ancient civilization research reports, we updated ourselves on the status of Israel in light of the nuclear threat posed by Iran. Students went on to read about the modern history of the Middle East and foreign policies of western governments based on oil and security in that region. Students will explore the platforms and resolutions of the Democrat and Republican parties as well as the views of isolationists regarding U.S. policy on Israel’s security. More information as we get closer to the debate.

Hebrew – Ms. Berman and Ms. Faleschini

Suddenly a man gets up and Builds a Nation

This year the eighth grade students will lead the Yom Hazikaron and the Yom Ha’atzmaut assemblies. This year’s theme for the Yom Ha’atzmaut assembly is water as Israel is the first country to build a desolation system to purify sea water. Many years back, even before Israel was established (almost 200 years ago), Herzl knew that there would be a problem providing water to the southern part of Israel- the Negev. Five years after Israel was declared as the home of “The Jewish people”, they have started building the “National Water Carrier.”

• The students will learn the geography of Israel
• In grammar we are learning new vocabulary that is related to our subject “The National Water Carrier”
• The students will have a test on the new vocabulary and general questions
• The students will choose one of the following topics to present in class; the “National Water Carrier” or a desolation system.

Judaic Studies – Rabbi Shlimovitz and Mr. Portnoe

The students have been very engaged in studying and preparing for their Pesah divrai Torah. The students have been studying haroset with Rabbi Olitzky from Beth El Synagogue, B’dikat Hameitz with Rabbi Shlimovitz, or Matzah with Mr. Portnoe. Some of the sources the students will be covering are:

• Torah texts
• The Haggadah
• Mishnah and G’mara
• Rashi and Tosafot
• Midrash Shir Hashirim
• Kitzur Shulhan Arukh by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried
• Nefesh Harav by Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik

These sophisticated texts give the students and their teachers much to think about. Remind the students that sharing these divrai Torah with you or at the seder will earn them some extra credit.

After Pesah we will begin studying Judaism in the modern world. We will begin our study with the opportunities and challenges presented by the collapse of the ghetto walls. The changes in the Jewish community reflect many strands of modern thought including the balance between the individual and society, the relationship of Jews to the broader society, the role of Israel in Judaism and the world. We will begin by exploring the question of the individual and his/her relationship to the Jewish community by looking at Barukh Spinoza, the Wissenschaft Judentums movement (scientific study of Judaism, Jewish texts, and Jewish culture), and the development of Reform Judaism.

At the end of the month, we will waive a fond farewell to the eighth grade as it embarks on its Washington, DC trip.

Shabbat Shalom and Have a Hag Sameah (a wonderful Passover)

Expressive Drawing and Painting – Ms. Thor

World of Abstraction:

Students are studying the work of 20th century modern, non-figurative artists (a good representation of Jewish artists here) and are creating a body of work that explores the rich possibilities of abstract art using the Elements and Principles of Design through a series of exercises and individual work. Students will write a brief paper on an Abstract Expressionist artist of their choice. They were given a packet to assist them in writing their paper. The paper was due Tuesday, March 27. The students informed me that some of them had a big project due near this date. I told them that I would accept papers a week later if needed.

Students were given sketchbooks and will be using them in class each day.

Painting – Ms. Halpern

The Painting class has gotten off to a great start. We began with a review of color theory, after which students painted their own color wheels, which they will use as a reference for the rest of the trimester. Students then worked on an exercise in which they painted the same design three times. They each completed a monochromatic color scheme (pure color/Chroma, with mixtures using white and black), an analogous color scheme (using 4 or 5 adjacent colors on the color wheel), and a complementary triad (colors opposite each other on the color wheel). Students are then going to learn and experiment with painting in the styles of several famous artists, after which they will each do a painting choosing to paint in the style of a painter they studied.

Below are examples of monochromatic painting and the beginnings of the analogous painting.

Physical Education – Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Sztainer

In seventh and eighth grades our students are really working hard and continue to learn about themselves and their abilities as well as their own limitations. In our team sports classes students are finishing up volleyball. In class, the students play many games. We polish our skills and look to incorporate the various skills we have learned throughout the years. We always have a lot of fun during this unit. Our seventh and eighth HMJDS volleyball team is having a great season, and it’s is always great to see our teams perform well. The individual students are continuing to work on their cardiovascular endurance, as well as their strength and agility by working on both machines and on the track. The students are engaged and continue to show improvement on a daily basis.

While the weather is getting nice; we do ask that you still help your child remember to bring gym appropriate shoes to class as we do things both in and outside. This will ensure their safety which will make for a fun and enjoyable rest of the school year. Thank you your support.

Geometry – Mr. Broms

It’s All About Area

Area: The measure of the size of the interior of a figure, expressed in square units.

While last month we focused on the study of circles, the month of March will be filled with the study of area of various shapes. Again during this unit we will do a quick review of algebra including products, factors and quadratic equations. As in previous units, we will continue learning and proving additional conjectures and proofs throughout the unit. During the next several weeks we will focus on finding areas for multiple figures including:

• Parallelograms
• Regular Polygons
• Rectangles
• Trapezoids
• Triangles
• Circles
• Kites

There will also be a project assigned during this unit. The students must create an “alphabet” book using vocabulary words that they have learned so far this year. To do so they must choose a geometry term for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – Angle. B – Bisect. Etc.

Each page in the book will be a different letter, term, brief description of the term and an illustration of the term. Once the projects are complete we will share the projects with the rest of the class. These will be worked on independently outside of class.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Language Arts – Mr. Brook

As the students wrap up the To Kill a Mockingbird unit with a final paper and project, they will turn towards their capstone project. This is an exciting project that will take them all the way to the 8 grade curriculum night on May 15.

The project will involve choosing a significant social issue, researching the issue and a local organization that is working on that issue, visiting that organization, and then writing a paper and creating a multimedia presentation based on this research. Note that the visits to the organizations will happen outside of school hours and will require support from a parent.

Each student will have a faculty advisor to help guide them through this large but exciting process.

Pre Algebra – Ms. Moore

As March begins, we start Unit 8 on Equations and Inequalities. This promises to be a fun and challenging unit with lots of learning building on the information we’ve previously learned. Areas of focus in the unit will be:

• To solve equations with 2+ steps
• To translate verbal statements into equations and to analyze word problems
• To solve equations where variables are on both sides which require simplification of expressions and combined operations
• To write and add polynomials
• To solve inequalities using 2+ steps and which may require simplification of expressions and combined operations.

This unit will present a number of challenges to our students, and the work they’ve been doing on recording and checking all steps will become an absolute necessity. Mastering this process has been challenging for a number of students and this unit highlights why we learned these steps. Assessments will take the form of class participation, homework, quizzes, projects and a unit test.

Science – Mr. Mintz

Our exploration of fundamental physics was challenging, going well beyond the simple machines studies of elementary school, we looked at gravitational potential energy, acceleration, forms of friction and much more. But if you ask your students about inertia or Newton’s laws of motion, s/he should be able to explain the concepts thoughtfully. After the break we continued our physical science exploration by looking at numerous forms of energy: Thermal, Wave, Nuclear, Electrical, etc.

If you or someone in your life is an amateur or professional physicist, electrician, nuclear engineer… and would like to come in as an expert as we study energy, please email me at Smintz@HMJDS.org. We’d love to have you visit.

Current and Upcoming Units:

Acids, Bases and Chemical Equations

Social Studies – Ms. Becker

In Social Studies, the eighth graders have finished their ancient civilization reports. Now that this lengthy phase of the project is over, students are focused on doing the creative piece of the project, the visual presentation. Students have the opportunity to create something that reflects the civilization they wrote about to present to their class. For example, students can design and assemble a garment worn in ancient times, or they can create a piece of pottery that reflects the period they researched. Another option is to create a multimedia presentation with pictures and text to show the class.

The idea is for students to share with the rest of the class information about their civilization by using an “artifact” that reflects the life and time period. The work on this part of the ancient civilization project will be done at home. Students have information about due dates and requirements. Please ask them for more information.

Judaic Studies – Rabbi Shlimovitz and Mr. Portnoe

The eighth grade students have completed the development of Jewish communities following the exile and the period of the Gaonim (Heads of the Babylonian academies). We have looked at how independent communities were created around the Jewish world including in Spain, North Africa, and Europe. The students will begin a number of exciting projects in March. Our text focus will be looking at the development of an idea through a series of texts from the Talmud or before to modern times. The students will choose from one of the following topics:

• The development of the idea of “destroying hameitz” and how that is accomplished
• A question in Halakhah (Jewish law) or a specific prayer and how the practice develops during the medieval period to the present day
• Ideas in the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism)

We will also be creating hanukkiyot (menorahs) for our VOICE project. These will be distributed as part of the “Jewish boxes” to help immigrant families. Our other major project will be having students research topics related to Pesah in order to give a d’var Torah at the seder.

We hope you have a frailich Purim (a joyous Purim)!!

Clay Sculptures – Ms. Thor

The wrap up:

Project #1: Mezzuzah covers (3)

Project #2: Whoville House

Project #3: Free choice

On the last day of class, students enjoyed a light breakfast while they completed evaluations for all three projects and took a quiz on ceramic terms.

Three students did demonstrations on clay sculpture techniques. All the Whoville Houses were placed in an installation and the other work is on display in the case across from the school office. Students will be taking their work home mid-March.

I hope your child enjoyed the class. Returning students can register for this class again next year and experience new projects.

Hope to see you at conferences!

Graphic Design – Ms. Thor

Students completed their projects:

• Arts Night Poster
• Magazine cover
• Cereal Box design
• New product packaging

Students also completed evaluations of all their projects. They even had the opportunity to stretch their creativity by creating a multi-layered Illustrator “painting.”

I hope your children enjoyed learning about graphic design and will pursue other opportunities next year or in high school.

Please stop by during conferences.

Upper School Arts Night was a hit!

Thanks to those students who did demonstrations in the Idea Lab.

Library – Ms. Oskow

HMJDS Scholastic Book Fair March 25-30!!

Biggest fundraiser of the year for the library

Books available for preschool through adults at Scholastic’s discounted prices. 25% of money collected goes to the library.

Book Fair Hours:

Sunday, March 25 - 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Monday, March 26 - 8:00 AM-7:15 PM – HMJDS Class Preview Day

Tuesday, March 27 - 8:00 AM-7:15 PM – HMJDS Class Preview Day

Wednesday, Mar. 28 - 8:00 AM-8:00 PM – HMJDS Conferences PM

Thursday, March 29 - 8:00 AM-7:15 PM – HMJDS Conferences PM

Friday, March 30 - 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Student Preview Days

Each HMJDS class visits the Book Fair Monday, March 26 or Tuesday, March 27. Students write a Wish List of books and may buy books.

Teacher Wish Lists

Teachers post Wish Lists and families can buy books or Gift Certificates to dedicate for classrooms, specialists, or the library.

Contests to Win Free Books

Parents or adult relatives can enter their students in a drawing anytime they stop by the Book Fair together through Thursday, March 29 (once per student). On Thursday, March 29, two students’ names will be drawn to win $25 worth of books—and a winning student’s teacher also chooses $25 worth of books! Students’ names are drawn for other prizes, too.

Additional drawing: for students who design posters celebrating their favorite book to decorate the library. Posterboard available from Ms. Oskow. Posters due by March 22.

Visit the Book Fair Online

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/hmjds

The Online Book Fair:

• allows your child to send wish lists, and invite family and friends to participate in the Book Fair
• offers an expanded book selection – books for all ages, even adult titles
• is available for an extended time: Monday, March 19 to Sunday, April 8.

Volunteers Needed For Book Fair

• Set up the Book Fair on Friday, March 23
• Tear down the Book Fair on Monday, April 2
• Staff the Book Fair during open hours

Please contact Book Fair Chairs Micki Litton, Beth Jasco or Ellen Berkelhamer – or sign up on the sheet that will be posted outside the library.

Physical Education – Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Lindquist, and Mr. Sztainer

In our individual and team sports classes, the students are working very hard and learning a lot about themselves. In our individual class, students just finished up another round of their fitness testing; throughout the trimester they have compared their progress and the success they are having. They are also working hard understanding fitness programs and how to set them up for themselves.

In team sports, students are finishing up their small unit of pickle ball. This is a great racquet activity that works with both individual and team sport activities. Students learned the history of the game as well as the rules and skills needed to play. They then applied what they had learned through smaller and larger games. At this age we continue to have them play a lot as playing helps them apply their skills faster and it also challenges them in the activities.

Moving forward Individual students will continue to work on their fitness learning and applying skills they have learned. Team sports students are going to be moving into our next unit of volleyball. This is such a great unit for this age. We work very hard on their skills and apply that with the history and rules of the game to make a very fun and enjoyable unit. We like to take extra time to mold their skills of digging, setting, serving, and, for some, spiking. These are all valuable skills needed for success.

Yearbook – Ms. Thor

Grading: students will be graded on a pass/fail scale.

What we accomplished so far:

• Reorganized the portrait library so student portraits are now organized by homeroom/grade level.
• Applied any portrait re-takes to the correct class sort.
• “Flowing” the student portraits onto their class page.
• Triple checking that all students are included, their names are spelled correctly, and preferred nicknames used.
• Insert text to identify classes; i.e. “Grade 1 Alef.”
• Completed the class collage pages as much as we could.

I enjoyed working with these students. Their efforts are much appreciated and they will be credited in the yearbook. I hope the current seventh graders will consider being in involved with the yearbook again next year.

Trimester III Classes Taught by Ms. Thor

Expressive Drawing and Painting: World of Abstraction

Students will study the work of 20th century modern, non-figurative artists (a good representation of Jewish artist here) and create a body of work that explores the rich possibilities of abstract art using the Elements and Principles of Design through a series of exercises and individual work. Class critique sessions and 2-3 homework assignments are included in this class. Location: Art Studio B

This class is being offered for the first time. There are no prerequisites.

Literary Arts Magazine: pre-requisite: Graphic Design

Students will lay out and publish HMJDS’ first literary arts magazine using Adobe Illustrator. This class will be graded pass/fail (report cards will have comments but no grade). Location: Kaplan Family Idea Lab.

Photoshop I & II – Pre-requisite: Graphic Design

Learn how to enhance and manipulate photographic images.

Students will work from open source photo images, and photos they have taken themselves with their own digital camera. The focus of this class is not how you take photos, but what you can do with them as a digital file. For students who took photography during the first trimester, this class will offer a different photo experience. Students will also learn about online photo manipulation web sites that they can access from home. Location: Kaplan Family Idea Lab

Algebra – Ms. Cytron

In eighth grade Algebra this month we:

• Finished our slopes and lines unit
• Reviewed for and completed a mid-year cumulative exam
• Learned how to solve systems of equations with two variables by substitution and graphing

Coming up:

• More solving of linear systems and a unit test
• Products of powers – multiplying and dividing variables with exponents

Geometry – Mr. Broms

Going Off On a Tangent!

While last month we focused on the study of polygons, the month of February will be filled with the study of circles and proving properties associated with circles. Also during this unit we will do a quick review of algebra and solving systems of linear equations. We will continue learning and proving additional conjectures throughout the unit as in previous units. There will also be a project assigned during this unit. During the next several weeks we will focus on the following properties of circles including:

• Arcs
• Chords
• Tangents
• Exploring Pi
• Central & inscribed angles

Finally, I want to report on the huge success of last month’s project. The unit project was for the kids to design and create a textbook cover for a “new” edition of our textbook. They had to use their geometry kits, tools, and terms they have learned thus far throughout the year. The students then voted on the most creative, innovative and “most likely to be used” in real life for their new textbook. There was a tie for first place between two projects, and a four way tie for second place. The final projects are all laminated and displayed around our classroom. Please feel free to stop by and see the class’ creative work.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Language Arts – Mr. Brook

The eighth graders are continuing working on a unit based on Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird. While reading the book, the students will discuss and write about how stories help us understand growing up as well as the tension between social and legal justice. We are also focusing on learning new reading strategies to become independent and confident readers of all texts.

Pre Algebra – Mrs. Moore

February finds our class actively finishing their stock market graphs. For the last several weeks, students have selected several stocks and tracked them daily. Now, they are putting together graphs to show how their stocks changed over a one-month period. While they are working on this, our new unit focuses on rational numbers and their multiplication and division. This is both a fun and challenging unit for our students. Topics to be covered include:,/p>

• Multiply/divide rational numbers expressed as fractions and mixed numbers
• Solve equations using the multiplicative inverse
• Write word problems using algebraic expressions with rational numbers
• Continue to gain experience with exponents and negative exponents
• Use of scientific notation
• To develop at least one more problem solving strategy

We are halfway through the year and into the heart of pre-algebra. I am most proud of our class and their continuing desire to gain math mastery.

Science – Mr. Mintz

January was excellent. Students designed their own labs to identify the effect of temperature on the solubility liquids. Through the process, we discovered the importance of thoughtful experimental design as well as how following procedures precisely can help ensure valid results. As a group, the students did better on the unit “quiz-let” (it sounded much less threatening than a unit test), than any previous formal assessment, scoring a class average of 83%. They now have a class goal. If the eighth graders can score a class average of 87% on any of our unit assessments, I will personally make chocolate malts (or vanilla) for everyone.

Shifting gears (mechanical reference intentional), eighth grade will be moving into several units on physics, starting with work, force and motion. We’ll be looking at Newton’s laws, measurements of work, and energy, as well as how these forces impact our daily lives.

Current and Upcoming Units:

• Work, Force and Motion
• Energy Sources
• Sound, Light and Waves

Social Studies – Ms. Becker

In eighth grade Social Studies, students continue to work on their ancient civilization research reports. For the first couple of weeks students spent their time reading for information and to gain knowledge about their country. They have since moved into note taking and creating outlines that will help them structure the first draft of their research paper. On February 1, outlines are due in class. On February 15 the first draft of the research paper is due and the final completed research paper is due in class by February 22. As I mentioned in earlier communications, if students need time beyond what we have in class, or if they have been missing classes, they should be working on the project at home. I look forward to reading students’ work! Remember, the next step of this research project is the creative expression piece. Students will make either a media presentation of their civilization to show the class, or create something that represents their civilization. More on this in future communication.

Hebrew – Ms. Berman

In our next unit we will read a chapter book about the lives of five families during the Holocaust. Before reading the story we will learn about the city Kovno, Lithuania as it was before the Holocaust, which was where these families lived.

• Read the book, The Children from Mapo Street.
• Write a paper in the first person about one of the characters in the book.
• Grammar: Learn the new banyan Niphal.

Hebrew – Ms. Faleschini

We’ll be starting a unit which will expose the students to a world they love-Rap Music! Only this time in Hebrew! Fish Snake, Hadag Nahash, have been major contributors to the Israeli hip-hop scene, and is presently one of Israel’s most successful bands, with six albums behind them. The band’s songs call for peace, tolerance and equality, and include political and social protest.

• In grammar we are wrapping up binyan hitpael
• We will continue to work on possessives
• We will also learn about the construct state (noun pairs)

Judaic Studies – Rabbi Shlimovitz and Mr. Portnoe

The students have just finished presentations about the Dead Sea Scrolls, Early Christianity, The Mishnah, and the Great Revolt including the events of Masada. A final unit quiz will pull together the rabbinic material on Jews and non-Jewish culture in the rabbinic period.

We will begin a unit on the centralization of the Jewish community in Bavel, modern day Iraq. This Jewish community ties together an increasingly spreading Jewish world. The land of Israel has begun a gradual decline and the Bablylonian community produces the compendium of learning and lore, The Talmud. We will look at the role of the Gaonim, heads of the major schools of learning in Bavel, and how their answers serve to create Jewish life in the diaspora.

This short unit will be followed by the experiences of the Jewish community in Spain during “The Golden Age.” We will look at how independent Jewish communities develop and assert their unique characteristics. Our study of Jewish life in Spain will look at the struggle to be Jewish and participate in the culture and society around them. We will look at the great Kabbalistic work, “The Zohar,” which appears in Spain during this time. The students will understand the world and God’s role from an entirely different point of view.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Shlimovitz and Mr. Portnoe

Clay Sculpture – Ms. Thor

Here’s what we’ve been up to:

Project #2:

A Whoville House. Our houses are almost built. A number of students have completed their house and have set them aside to dry for a bit. The other students are right behind. They are great!

A video day interlude. On Tues. 1-24, I shared a number of videos from the Ceramic Arts Daily website. They offer many instructive videos. There are so many creative options when working on clay. It can take a lifetime to discover them all. These videos will be useful as students consider what they want to make for their third and final project. Here are links to a couple of the videos the students saw.

• Artist Gerit Grimm talks about her work: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/wheel-throwing-techniques/ceramic-sculptor-gerit-grimm-discusses-her-wheel-thrown-and-handbuilt-figurative-sculpture/http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/wheel-throwing-techniques/ceramic-sculptor-gerit-grimm-discusses-her-wheel-thrown-and-handbuilt-figurative-sculpture/
• Surface techniques: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/ceramic-decorating-techniques/pottery-decorating-video-making-beautiful-marks-on-pottery-with-fluting-carving-and-painting-with-wax/http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/ceramic-decorating-techniques/pottery-decorating-video-making-beautiful-marks-on-pottery-with-fluting-carving-and-painting-with-wax/

For their final projects students are encouraged to try a new building, technique, surface treatments, and glazes. Students will be challenged to create a piece of art with a capital “A.” Students can choose to create a sculpture that is representational or abstract. I’m looking forward to seeing where their imagination and skills take them!

Graphic Design – Ms. Thor

We’re rolling through the assignments!

Design I

Students are wrapping up their personal logos or have completed them.

Those students who have completed their personal logo have started their magazine cover design. They will work in pairs, acting as both the designer and client, each creating the cover according to their partner’s specifications – just like a real designer/client relationship.

Upcoming: A Cereal Box Design

Design II

Students have been redesigning an existing company logo. While keeping with the basic theme to support the company branding, they were free to “freshen” up the design.

Students were given an assignment that they did in art class some years ago, “The Illustration Game.” Students created an illustration from a list of characters, conditions, characters and feelings.

Some students have begun their product package design. They were given a variety of box designs to choose from. We will print out the boxes and put them together.

Extension projects: CD cover design, Cover for the favorite book

Upper School Arts Night! Students will take a break from their assignments to create posters for the Art Night. Look for our Graphic Design Exhibit!

Library – Ms. Oskow

HMJDS Scholastic Book Fair March 25-30!!

Biggest Library Fundraiser

The Scholastic Book Fair runs Sunday, March 25 – Friday, March 30. It is the single biggest fundraiser of the year for the library. Books will be available for all ages from preschool through adults, at Scholastic’s discounted, tax-free prices. Shoppers can make purchases for themselves as well as consider donations directly to the library or to HMJDS classrooms. 25% of all money collected will go to the library.

Look for more information following Mid-Winter Break.

Volunteers Needed For Book Fair

Volunteers are needed to help:

• set up the Book Fair on Friday morning, March 23
• tear down the Book Fair on Monday morning, April 2
• staff the Book Fair during the hours it is open

Please contact Book Fair Chairs Micki Litton, Beth Jasco or Ellen Berkelhemer – or sign up on the sheet that will be posted outside the library after Mid-Winter Break.

Please help your students remember that library books are due back two weeks after checkout.

Paper Arts – Ms. Halpern

Students in the Paper Arts Visual Arts class have been working on completing their papercuttings, which look wonderful! Following an introduction to acrylic paints and a series of painting/color exercises, students are working on painted backgrounds for the papercuts. We plan to have the papercuts on display at the Upper School Arts Night on Tuesday, February 21.

After the students complete their painted backgrounds and attach their papercuts to the backgrounds, we will begin making pop-ups out of cut and folded paper.

Please plan to join us Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00pm for the Upper School Arts Night.

Physical Education – Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Lindquist, and Mr. Sztainer

In our seventh and eighth grade physical education electives our students continue to work hard perusing avenues that helps them to find success and achieve goals they set at the beginning of each semester.

In our individual fitness, students are working hard in the weight room and on the track. They continue to work on the personal plans they have set up with their instructor to achieve their personal goals, and we are pushing them to see what they can do. We have been very impressed with the class and the way everyone continues to work.

In our team sports elective, students finished up our floor hockey unit. This was such a great unit for these students as they were able to use what they have learned throughout the years and put it all too good use. The class played games and worked on their skills to have a very fun and safe unit. As we continue to move forward in our class, we are now getting into our jump roping and gymnastics unit. This is always a great unit because it allows all of us to work individually and hone in on our skills. Balance, cardiovascular, motor movements, and core power are just some of the areas we are going to be discussing and using throughout this unit.

As we continue to look ahead in our class, individual students will continue to work on their overall performance while team sports will be getting geared up for volleyball.

Yearbook Elective – Ms. Thor

Grading: students will be graded on a pass/fail scale. Attendance is important. Students will be working with partners since there is a lot of editing and proofing required before the yearbook is “put to bed.”

What we have accomplished so far:

• Reorganized the portrait library so student portraits are now organized by homeroom/grade level.
• Applied any portrait re-takes to the correct class sort.
• “Flowing” the student portraits onto their class page.
• Triple checking that all students are included, their names are spelled correctly, and preferred nicknames used.
• Insert text to identify classes; i.e. “Grade 1 Alef.”

Next up:

• Begin creating each class/grade level collage page.
• Placing photos on the activity pages.

The students will get as far as they can completing the yearbook layout. I do not expect them to finish it completely, but their assistance has been great! I hope they had fun and perhaps will take these skills with to high school.

Our leaf motif is a hint to the theme of the yearbook cover.

Algebra

In 8th grade Algebra this month we:

• Learned the 3 major forms of equations of lines (y-intercept, point slope and standard)
• Solidified the understanding of the relationship between a line’s equation and its graph
• Connected the above concepts with real-world situations in the form of word problems

Coming up:

• Linear systems – solving systems of equations with two variables
• Another fundamental skills quiz – most students have qualified for calculators already!

Geometry

Polygons, Kites, and Trapezoids, Oh My!

While last month we focused on the study of triangles, the month of January will be filled with the study of polygons and proving properties associated with polygons. Also during this unit we will do a quick review of the algebra and writing linear equations. We will continue learning additional conjectures throughout the unit as well. During the next several weeks we will be asking the following questions:

• Is there a polygon sum formula?
• Is there an exterior angle sum?
• What are some properties of kites?
• What are some properties of trapezoids?
• What are the midpoint segment properties?

Finally, we will again work on projects relevant to our unit of study. This unit’s project will have the kids working independently to design and create a textbook cover for a new edition of our textbook. They must use their geometry kits, tools and terms they have learned thus far throughout the year. The students will vote on the most creative, innovative and “most likely to be used” in real life for their new textbook. The final projects will all be laminated and displayed around our classroom. Please feel free to stop by and see the class’ creative work.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Language Arts

The eighth graders are working on a unit based on Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird. While reading the book, the students discuss and write about how stories help us understand growing up as well as the tension between social and legal justice.

Pre Algebra

Our pre-algebra class continues to work hard in our unit on fractions. We have just begun a stock market project. The students were given $2,500 (in paper money) to spend on stocks. Before they purchased the stocks, they had to spend several days thinking about, doing a bit of research, and following their stocks on line. After purchasing their stocks, they will start each class with a 10 minute computer time to check their stocks and record the ups and downs. Through this, students will discover one set of connections between fractions and the “real world” and will have to track and graph the results of their stock experience. As we move further into the year, we will spend more time doing project-based learning that gives real-world applications to our studies. As always, we will continue to gain skill and comfort level using algebraic expressions.

Science

Happy Gregorian New Year. I hope you had a restful break and a meaningful Hanukkah.

Just before the break, we completed our Characteristic Properties and States of Matter unit. It was challenging, but through our lab work and class discussions, everyone increased their knowledge of basic chemistry. Currently we are studying solubility. Students are safely using burners in the lab, continuing to emphasize the difference between observations (both qualitative and quantitative) and conclusions, and improving their lab report skills. We will even try our hand at writing a simple chemical equation.

Current and Upcoming Units:

• Solubility
• Mixtures

Social Studies

In eighth grade Social Studies, students are working on their ancient civilization reports. The skills that students are learning are multiple and varied. Students are learning to read for a specific purpose, audience and goal. Students are learning to take notes from their reading that will assist them in the creation of outlines and writing drafts. Students are learning to read with a focus that is different than reading novels and other non-textual literature. Students are learning to budget time in order to meet deadlines and create a final written product.

Please ask your child to show you the parent letter and packets they received that outlines this phase of the ancient civilization research project. The second phase of the ancient civilization project will be a multimedia presentation or an alternative artistic expression of students’ creativity.

Judaic Studies

Hanukkah is over, but its lessons are still being learned. Both classes touched on the conflict between some religious Jews in Israel and their co-religionists. We are still learning to live together.

Our text study is the story of Shimon bar Yohai in the cave. We are using this text to explore:

• The relationship between the Jews and the Romans
• The balance between the spiritual and physical worlds
• Connections to other stories such as the Garden of Eden and the Philosopher’s Cave of Socrates.

The students are also looking at how Aramaic is related to Hebrew. This unit will also give students some insight into the historical period of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the writing of the Mishnah, and the Great Revolt, and Bar Kokhba revolt.

Our next unit will look at the primacy of the community which develops in and around modern day Iraq. This community called “Bavel” or Babylonia (not to be confused with the Babylonians of the ancient world) becomes the Jewish center from around 500-900 CE. This is also where the Babylonian Talmud is compiled. We will look at a number of pieces of Responsa literature pieces (Questions and Answers) that show the increasing spread of the Jewish community and how Jewish religion and culture were standardized (at least temporarily).

We want to congratulate the following students who participated in the 2012 Holocaust Essay Contest: Michael Stiefel Alperin, Julia Birnberg, Talor Blustin, and Sara Feldman.

Clay Sculpture

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful vacation. Here’s a recap and what we will be doing this month:

• Many students have completed the first of three mezzuzah covers. Students are making one for themselves, one for school, and one that may become part of the HMJDS Benefit auction (details pending). The first kiln firing will occur when all the mezzuzot are done. The first firing is a bisque firing which hardens the clay. Students can apply colorful under-glazes prior to this firing. The second firing is a glaze firing. A clear glaze can be applied over the under-glazes for a shiny or matte finish, or colored glazes can be applied.
• Project #2: A Whoville House. Students will refer to the work of Dr. Seuss and his zany illustrations of Whoville from his popular books. This project will provide students an opportunity to learn a number of essential clay sculpture methods and processes. We will assemble all the houses into our own Whoville for the Upper School Arts night. Many clay sculpture artists create assemblage work that incorporates multiple pieces that become “one.” Sometimes in art, it “takes a village.”

• Upper School Arts Night is on Tues., Feb. 21. Please mark your calendar. This year’s event will have some new and exciting features.Your child’s work will be on display. Students will lead demonstrations of art processes, guests can view all student art during an art “crawl”, and musical and dramatic performances are planned for this special night. Bring the entire family and celebrate our students’ creativity!

Graphic Design

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful vacation. Here’s a recap and what we will be doing this month:

Exciting News! We now have 20 iMacs in the Idea Lab!No more need to share computers. Thank you to the Kaplan Family for their vision and generosity.

Design I students have been working on their introductory exercises that acquaint them with the Adobe Illustrator Program: zendoodle (selection & pen tools); design concepts assignments that cover layout skills (color, shape tool, overlap); and a one concept design (one word with illustration image).

Students are beginning their personal logo design. Homework: magazine clippings for examples of inspirational images or mood for their personal logo. Due January 17.

Design II students have been brushing up on their Adobe Illustrator skills with some brief introductory exercises: a word cloud (selection & rotation tools, text and color); wavy line text (2) (direct selection tool, text, text wrapping, & color); designs using the brush tool (to familiarize students with the brush library).

First major project: REDESIGN an existing company logo. Homework: bring in original company logo.

Optional evening fieldtrip at the Walker – Thursday, January 19, 7-9pm I will meet students in the lobby of the Walker for a visit to:

Graphic Design – Now in Production is now on display at the Walker Art Center. Admission is free on Thursday nights and the first Saturday of every month. Here is a link to the exhibit: http://calendar.walkerart.org/canopy.wacid=6189&hp=link&poster=Flash

This activity is optional and parents will be asked to provide transportation. Please join us for a tour!

Papercutting

Students in the Paper Arts Visual Arts class began the trimester with a series of drawing exercises. After learning about Jewish images and symbolism, students learned about papercutting, a traditional Jewish art form. Students designed their own papercuts using imagery they have studied. Paper Arts students are transferring their designs and will begin cutting their papercuts using x-acto knives. After reviewing characteristics of acrylic paint, students will then paint backgrounds for their papercuts.

Physical Education

Currently:

In our individual and team sports the students are working hard to achieve goals set both on a personal and team level. The classes are very engaged and have shown great improvement over the last couple of weeks. We are excited to continue as they work for success.

What’s going on?

In our individual activity class, students continue to work hard on their weight training and cardiovascular programs each day. Students are always learning about new muscles and how they work.

In team sports students are vigorously working on our floor hockey unit remembering the fundamentals while also continuing to play games with safety in mind. It is very important to review safety on a daily basis. Students play games of floor hockey and an assortment of other games that combines skills from multiple units this year. This is a good way to help students review and remember what we have covered.

What’s coming up?

As we move forward in our classes, individual students are going to continue to work on their individual plans, looking to improve on what they are currently doing while achieving higher goals along the way. Team sports students are going to be enjoying our next unit of gymnastics and jump roping. This is such a great unit for our students as they work on both individual and group muscles while mastering balance.

Technology

The Macs have Multiplied!

The Julie Kaplan Idea Lab looks different these days. Through a generous continuing grant from the Kaplan family, we now have double (20) the number of computers in the Idea Lab! This doubles the number of full computer labs that we have at HMJDS! While Mac computers are fairly new in our school, many of our students and faculty are already comfortable with the platform. Students who are new to using Macs will have many experts to help them navigate. In our experience, students adjust very easily to the new platform, are quickly up to speed with familiar programs and enjoy learning new Mac based tools as well.

This lab helps our ability to put technology at the fingertips of our students and integrate technology with other classroom subjects.

Yearbook

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful vacation.

This is our premier Yearbook elective class. Students will be assisting me in creating the HMJDS yearbook via Lifetouch’s ™ yearbook creation web site. The entire yearbook layout and design can be done online! Lifetouch’s ™ web site makes it easy.

Having this experience as 7th and 8th graders may inspire your child to seek a position on their high school yearbook staff. Extra-curricular activities are important for a well-rounded high school experience and are often noticed by college admissions advisers. It’s a fun, collaborative experience that values dedication and responsibility.

Grading: students will be graded on a pass/fail scale.

Attendance is important. Students will be working with partners since there is a lot of editing and proofing required before the yearbook is “put to bed.”

What we have accomplished so far:

• Reorganized the portrait library so student portraits are now organized by homeroom/grade level.
• Applied any portrait re-takes to the correct class sort.

Next up:

• “Flowing” the student portraits onto their class page.
• Triple checking that all students are included, their names are spelled correctly, and preferred nicknames used.

• Insert text to identify classes; i.e. “Grade 1 Alef.”
• Begin creating each class/grade level collage page.

The 2011-12 yearbook cover was designed by Graphic Design II students from the first trimester class. The cover design will not be revealed until the book is distributed at the end of the year.

Language Arts

The eighth grade language arts classes will finish the Inherit the Wind unit that addresses freedom of speech and other ideas in the play as well as how a play itself tells a story.

Next they will move into a creative writing unit where they will learn to craft effective forms of self-expression with poetry, short stories and short plays.

Algebra – Cytron

In eighth grade algebra this month we:

• Learned how to solve equations and inequalities in the format ax + b = c by isolating x on one side of the equation
• Learned how to graph equations by substituting for x and solving for y
• Made a bridge out of spaghetti – ask your kids!

Coming up:

• Slope and equations of lines
• Our next fundamental skills review focus: percents

Geometry – Broms

CPCTC – Alphabet Soup

The month of December will be filled with the study of triangles and proving properties associated with triangles. Also during this unit we will do a quick review of the algebraic distributive property. We will be reviewing whether or not there are congruence shortcuts by comparing three parts of triangles. In all, we will explore six different possibilities:

1. Side-side-side (SSS)
2. Side-angle-side (SAS)
3. Angle-side-angle (ASA)
4. Side-angle-angle (SAA)
5. Side-side-angle (SSA)
6. Angle-angle-angle (AAA)

Finally, we will learn the proof that corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent (CPCTC).

Lastly, in our geometry class we periodically work on projects relevant to our unit of study. While this newsletter looks ahead, I must insert here a comment on the projects that the students completed right before the Thanksgiving break. Working in pairs the students had to create a “town” using all of the tools we have learned thus far, including parallel lines, perpendicular lines, angles, etc. Included they needed to provide directions between locations using only geometry terms. The outcome was awesome! Please ask your child about these projects.

Homework problems are assigned on most days with some limited time in class to work. Please remember to check Homework Hero for assignments and important upcoming dates.

Math – Moore

We have moved from number theory into our unit on the addition and subtraction of rational numbers. At the start of the unit, students will feel they are reviewing, but very quickly we take these concepts and add algebraic expressions to our studies. This includes:

• Equivalent and improper fractions
• Mixed numbers
• Comparing and ordering rational numbers
• Continued reinforcement of multiplication logarithms
• Addition and subtraction of rational numbers
• Problem solving and logic exercises

The area we will spend most of our focus on is in the application of these skills and concepts to real world situations. In setting up their own equations, students will need to decide what information is needed and how a variable can be used to problem solve. This can be challenging for students, and I am confident that they will continue to grow in their math skills and abilities.

Science – Mintz

Thank goodness for Mr. G. With the help of Mr. Gawronski, we are re-organizing the lab and creating a new, and hopefully, easier format for lab reports. I am grateful to all as our eighth grade science class gets up to speed. Thanks for making me feel so welcome.

With our Conservation of Mass chapter under our belts, we move into December with an exploration of properties of substances: density, boiling point, melting point. In addition to the emphasis on basic chemistry, we’re focusing on the scientific method, independence and precision. Eighth grade science students are learning how to read scientific material on their own, identify vital information, and find ways to accurately communicate their observations and conclusions (and tell the difference between the two).

Current and Upcoming Units:

• Properties of Substances
• Solubility
• Mixtures

Social Studies

In eighth grade Social Studies, students continue to learn more about the ancient world, specifically in the Fertile Crescent region. As students learn about the past, we take time to contrast it with present day events. While the geography of the region hasn’t changed, the geopolitical events have, making for wonderful observations and discussions.

We have finished our unit on Sumer and are now learning about the civilization of Babylon and the contributions they made and the impact they had on the ancient world.

Students are getting closer to choosing an ancient civilization for their research project. They will know which civilization they will be researching before winter break thus allowing them the opportunity to select books and find sites for research. More detailed information to follow.

Hebrew

Can you turn your worst enemy to a friend?

We’ll begin to study about Israel’s Nobel Prize winning author, Shai Agnon. We will read the story M’Oyyev L’Ohev (From an Enemy to a Friend). The story tries to teach us how to move past conflicts with someone and find a new path forward.

• Because one of the main characters in the story is the wind, we learned many expressions that use the word for wind, ruach
• The students will write about a conflict that they have experienced- with a person, or even with something like the weather- and how they worked through it
• In grammar we are wrapping up binyan hitpael and will continue to work on possessives
• We will also learn about the construct state (noun pairs)

Additionally we have begun something new and terrific as a way to give the students a solid background in modern Israeli history. Each week we are viewing a segment of the outstanding Israeli documentary series, Amud HaEsh (Pillar of Fire) that covers the period from the rise of modern Zionism in the 1880s to the creation of the State in 1948. It includes amazing archival photos, videos and interviews with people who were witnesses to this history. The students have questions to answer for each segment.

November 2011

October 2011