Month: November 2022

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonVeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week we begin Chapter 4, in particular, we will investigate and extend our understanding of ratios and rates. A ratio is a comparison between two quantities and a rate is a comparison between two quantities that have different units. We use rates and ratios in everyday life, like when we discuss the cost per pound of apples or the miles per gallon that our cars are capable of giving. This week, challenge your 6th grader to notice rates all around them! Here is a summary show the difference between ratios and rates:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will begin to use percentages in more complicated and useful ways that we have in the past. As percentages surround us, this will be a very applicable set of lessons. We will need to be able to move between fractions, decimals and percentages fluently in order to work these lessons well. Here is a review of how make these simple transitions:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will continue to practice using the laws of exponents that we learned last week. We will also learn how to write very large and very small numbers using scientific notation. We will then practice using roots and squares in expressions. We will finish the week with a heavy quiz on Friday. Here is a good video about scientific notation:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we continue to use linear equations in all ways. We will learn how to write equations in different forms such as slope-intercept, standard, or point-slope form. We will also look at how to rewrite equations to go from one form to another.

It is important to learn to apply linear equations to real-life situations. A slope represents the growth of the function or a rate of change. Examples include miles travelled per gallon or a cost per unit. The y-intercept represents where a functions begins. Examples include one-time fees paid or the amount in a savings account before monthly saving. We will continue to include problem solving examples to demonstrate how Algebra is applicable to real life.

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week in 6th grade math, we will finish our study of Chapter 3 with a test on Monday and a graphing activity on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the sixth graders will miss math due to their service project. For students who need help for the test, here is a reminder of graphing on the coordinate plane:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will take the test on Module 4 that we did not have time for last week. We will not have a long class on Monday due to the Human Food Chain, but we will do a little review and then have a double session on Tuesday to do our tests. We will have a proportional relationship activity to do on Wednesday. An email went out to all 7th grade math students with videos to help them review for the test.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will learn how to manipulate exponents using the exponent laws. These are important rules to memorize so that we can use them fluently. We will have a quiz on these rules on Wednesday. Here is a brief synopsis of the rules shown by sciencenotes.org:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will review how to graph equations in slope-intercept form wrapping up with a fun turkey activity on Wednesday. Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week in 6th grade math, we will graph ordered pairs on the coordinate system. We have, in past years, graphed in the first quadrant, in which both x and y coordinates are positive (x,y). Now we will graph in 3 other quadrants in which both x and y can be positive or negative. After we practice graphing points, we will find distances between points and solve problems using a coordinate system.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will extend our understanding of proportional relationships by graphing them. We will familiarize ourselves with what proportional relationships look like when they are graphed (straight lines that go through the origin). Proportional relationships are those that have constant rates and can be represented by a unit rate, also known as the constant of proportionality. Here is a video showing how to graph a proportional relationship:

We will finish this module after graphing, review and do an assessment at the end of the week.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will finish up Chapter 2 with a project in which we will represent numerous real world situations in equations, tables and graphs. Here is an example of what this looks like:

Upon finishing our projects, we move into Chapter 3, in which we will expand our understanding of exponents, beginning with negative exponents.

Here is a video review of what we should already know about exponents from previous years studies:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will wrap up Chapter 3 and test on Thursday. The biggest focus this chapter was on graphing linear equations. We learned how to find the x and y intercepts – two points make a line. And we learned how to graph an equation from slope intercept form: y = mx + b. We also added function notation as a fancy way of identifying functions.

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt and Mrs. Evans

This week in 6th grade math, we will be investigating rational numbers which include positive and negative fractions, mixed numbers, decimals and integers. We will plot them, order and compare them. We will also learn about absolute values and work problems involving them. Here is a good video about absolute value:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

In 7th grade math this week we will continue to investigate how to show relationships between two things using rates. We will use what we learned last week about writing rates as unit rates to determine whether relationships are constant (proportional). For those rates that are constant, we will learn to create tables and graphs to show the relationship. Here is a video that describes how to tell if a relationship is proportional:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week we will come to understand that equations are functions in which we input one variable (usually designated as x), and it outputs a unique value (usually designated as y). We will graph the ordered pairs (input, output) or (x, y) that are solutions to functions, thereby representing the equation on a graph. This is a very useful skill that we will use in algebra. We will finish Chapter 2 this week, with a review on Wednesday and then do a special project in which we will use our new graphing skills to represent real-world relationships on graphs. Below is a website introducing the mathematical concept of functions.

https://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/function.html

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will explore linear equations written in slope-intercept form (y=mx + b). If we can find the slope and y-intercept of a line, we can quickly write an equation in slope-intercept form. Conversely, if we have an equation written as y = mx + b, we immediately know the slope and y-intercept of that line. This week, we will also look at direct variation functions which are just linear relationships that have a y-intercept of 0. Many relationships in everyday life vary directly such as cost of gas per gallon, miles driven per hours traveling, cost of bananas per pound, etc. Below is a fun video to help remember the formula y = mx + b: