Month: April 2024

This update covers two weeks as we will all be off on fieldtrips most or all of the second week.

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt

The sixth graders are beginning their unit on geometry. This week and next, we will be using area formulas to calculate the area of common polygons such as parallelograms, triangles, and trapezoids. They are working very hard on using the formulas to guide these calculations. Formulas help organize our calculations which will really help as we move into finding the area of composite figures in a few weeks.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt & Mrs. Evans

We are moving from statistics into our study of probability. We will begin this week with a general introduction of what it means to find the probability of an event and then we will move into finding experimental probabilities. Here is a video to help you and your student with a basic understanding of probability:

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week in 8th grade math we will add a few new concepts to our understanding of linear equations before we do an assessment at the end of the week. We will investigate relationships that are special linear relationships. The first is called direct variation. Direct variation occurs when the value of y/x remains constant for the relationship. The y-intercept in direct variation equations is (0,0).

The other special conditions we will investigate are parallel and perpendicular lines. Parallel lines all have the same slope, but different y-intercepts. Perpendicular lines have slopes that are the negative inverse of each other. Students can find help for these topics and practice in IXL.COM, section AA of the 8th grade level. Next week, all our 8th graders will be in Washington D.C. and we will pick up on the remaining lesson in chapter 8 when we return.

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

We continue to solve quadratic equations in algebra. This week, students will add three strategies to their toolkit: solve by graphing, finding square roots, and completing the square. Any of these methods will allow students to solve problems that involve a quadratic function. The key will be to determine which method is the most efficient for each problem. The video below explains how to complete the square when the leading coefficient of the quadratic is 1:

Worth posting again….. 🙂

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will look at relationships between variables. We will begin by discussing independent and dependent variables. A dependent variable is the value that DEPENDS on the other quantity. For example, the amount earned (dependent) DEPENDS on the number of hours worked (independent). We use our relationships to create input/output tables, and write equations to represent situations. By the end of the week, students should be able to graph ordered pairs from their tables on coordinate planes.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt & Mrs. Evans

This week we will continue studying statistics as we learn to compare two data sets by comparing their dot and box plots. The objective is to use the data gathered in a study to make good decisions. We will do a project to finish up this unit. Our project will involve designing a product, determining it’s manufacturing costs and assessing sampling data to determine what price we should place on our product in order to make adequate profit.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week in 8th grade math we will add to our understanding of linear functions by studying the point slope form of lines. Here is a video about linear functions that can help students and families build understanding:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week in Algebra we are exploring parabolas, the graphs of quadratic functions. Each team has created a quadratic poster and has come up with things they notice and things they wonder about parabolas. We will discuss how to quickly find the vertex, x and y-intercepts, and line of symmetry of a quadratic function. Once we have these key pieces, graphing becomes quick and easy!

Spring is full of nature’s fractals – see if you can find some! Fractals are math!

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we will finish our study of equations and inequalities. The Chapter 8 test will be on Friday. We have learned how to solve equations by using inverse operations. We have also learned to compare quantities using inequalities. We can write inequalities from verbal statements and can also graph them on a number line. The Math Antics video below is a great summary of basic inequalities:

7th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt & Mrs. Evans

This week we will finish up our studies in Module 10. We have learned that we can take a random sample of a population of things or people that we are interested in understanding better, poll them with non-biased questions and gather data that we can use to make inferences. We can find the mean, median, mode and range, create frequency tables, dot plots and box plots. We can use proportional thinking to infer things about our population. This week we will learn more about how to take random samples, with and without technology and then we will have a heavy quiz on the module at the end of the week.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week in 8th grade math we will continue to learn about linear equations as we learn about the standard and slope-intercept forms of lines. We will learn to write equations for lines that are graphed, 2 points, and when we are given a slope and y-intercept. Here is a summary of the 3 ways we might see linear equations represented:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week in Algebra we are finishing up Chapter 8 on factoring. The test will be on Friday. Quadratic functions are extremely useful in real life. We will review some of those situations this week and use factoring to solve for unknown values. In the next chapter, we will learn more strategies for solving quadratics.

6th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week we continue to solve one-step algebraic equations using inverse operations. We will learn to undo multiplication and division. The process is just as important as the solution as we are setting ourselves up to solve multiple-step equations in the future. The Math Antics video below is a good demonstration on how to set up and solve one-step equations.

7th Grade Math – Mrs. VonFeldt & Mrs. Evans

Before spring break, we finished our study of geometry and now we begin to investigate statistics.

Statistics is the study of data regarding things we want to understand better. Here is an example of a statistical study: suppose we are interested in better understanding a large group of students for whom we are planning an ice cream social. There are too many students to gather data from ALL students, so we gather data from a carefully selected portion of the students (a random sample) by asking good (non-biased) questions. We analyze the data we collect, by finding the mean, median, mode, range or maybe plotting it. Then we can use the information to make good conclusions (inferences). This can help us choose the right kind of ice cream to buy and to know whether we should have sundaes or shakes! We will begin with a quick review of how we find the mean, median, mode and range of small data sets. We learned this in 6th grade and will be using it a lot this year. Here is a summary to help students and their families who have forgotten how to find these standard values of data sets:

Also see www. mathantics.com for a great video on these topics

We will then learn how to find a sample of a population. It is important that a sample be random and of adequate size in order for our sample to represent the population well. We will investigate how to tell if sampling is random or not and how to create survey questions that are not biased. If we ask biased questions of our sample, we will not be able to rely on the data we gather to represent our population. We need to remember, however, that a population which we are studying is not necessarily people. It might be objects or times or ideas.

8th Grade Math – Mrs. Evans

This week in 8th grade math we will return to our study of functions, extending our understanding to linear equations. Linear equations are those which, when graphed, form a line. We tell a great deal about the equation by learning about it’s graph. This week, as we move into chapter 8 in our textbook, we will learn about slope. Slope is the steepness of the line and can be positive or negative. Here is a picture the general differences between slopes.

We find the slope of lines by comparing different points on the lines. The slope can be described as the rise of the line (distance it goes in the x direction) over the run of the line (distance it goes in the x direction). Here is a video to help students understand the slope of a line:

Algebra – Mrs. VonFeldt

This week in Algebra we are solving quadratic equations by factoring. We have learned to factor quadratics where the leading coefficient is NOT = 1 (ax² + bx + c). The Khan Academy video below instructs on how to use grouping to factor these type of polynomials. At the end of the week, we will focus on the importance of quadratics by solving real-world problems.