The 8th Grade builds bridges:
Well, to many classroom sceptics, we successfully built bridges!!! Congratulations go out to High Wire Bridge Inc (Sam, Mary, and Whitney) and Build-a-Bridge (Alex, Jackie, and Jacob) for beating the bridge supporting goal of 18 pounds. High Wire Bridge Inc ended up winning the competition by building a bridge that was able to support 24 pounds. It did no earn the Bowtie Award though, as the boat and car could not successfully navigate under or across the bridge. All teams built their bridges within budget and according to their blueprints, and many learned the importance of following directions and working as a team. We have now moved on to motion, forces, and energy. The students are learning about speed and acceleration as we venture into Newton’s Laws of Physics. A few lab projects will be due over the next month or so as we end the year studying actions and reactions finishing with our egg lab : )
Students should be reviewing notes, studying definitions, or writing their key terms (vocabulary words) when homework has not been assigned. Bonus points are given on tests for students who have done all the vocabulary words in back of their notebooks or on index cards. Remember your son or daughter is preparing for high school. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in homework on time and to be studying a little every night. At least 2 days notice is given before quizzes and at least 3 days is given before tests, so there should be no excuse for waiting until the last minute to study. If your son or daughter is absent the day before a quiz or test (that has been assigned days before) they are still expected to take the test the day they are back in school. The excuse of “but I didn’t have my books” does not work as that means the student was waiting until the night before to study.
