Mrs. Degrassi's Page

8^th grade

SCIENCE:  8^th grade has been learning about the periodic table of elements, valance electrons, and chemical reactions.  They can balance chemical equations, and tell about single and double replacement reactions.  They have worked in the lab with acids and bases, as well as endothermic and exothermic reactions.  8^th grade has also been studying light, and worked in the lab with UV rays, and bending light.  They will begin studying the solar system in April and we are visiting Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena.

SOCIAL STUDIES:  8^th grade finished our unit on Western Expansion in the 19^th Century.  We kept journals along the Oregon Trail. We are now learning about the events that led to the Civil War and Reconstruction.  We have been learning about the geography of the United States, and are now learning about Canada.  We will be going to the Museum of Tolerance in April.

Language Arts: Students have been improving their writing skills.  They have been practicing grammar and usage skills.  They do weekly spelling and vocabulary units.  They have just finished with their major research papers.

Religion: The 8^th graders put together all of the Stations of the Cross for Lent.  They sponsored a drive for coats for homeless.  They have been working on their Passion Play which they perform on March 19.  They read the weekly Gospel in discuss it in class.

Spanish:  Students continue to learn vocabulary.  We are beginning to learn how to conjugate AR, ER, and IR verbs.

7^th Grade

Social Studies: Students have finished their units on China and Japan.  We made paper dragons and had a Chinese New Year Party with Kindergarten buddies.  We wrote Haiku’s and painted Japanese fans.  We also learned about India, Buddhism and Hinduism.  We have learned about geography in Africa and Asia and are working on geography research reports for those continents.  We are starting our unit on the Middle Ages and will be visiting Medieval Times in April.

6^th Grade 

Social Studies: 

6^th graders have finished their unit on India.  We learned about Hindus and Buddhism.  We looked at the 3000 year old caste system.  We have studied ancient China, Emperor Qin, and the amazing terra cotta army.  We then learned about ancient Meso-America.  We learned about the Nazca, the Olmec, and the Maya.  We are currently learning about the ancient Hebrew and their impact on western civilization.  We will then begin our unit on Greece.  We have studied the deserts and lakes of the world, and also looked at different time zones.  Students are working on  geography reports for countries from the Middle East.