Hendricks High School Happenings
September 10-21 2018
Welcome to our newsletter!
Math
So far this semester we have gone over the basics of Stats: qualitative vs quantitative data, statistical study design and biased data. We are now covering measures of central tendency, variance, and standard deviation.
Pre Algebra
We have learned about operations on integers. This included do a human number line activity where one person gave directions to someone standing on a number line to help them understand adding and subtracting integers. We have since moved one to operations on fractions and will finish out the unit doing operations on decimals.
Algebra 2
We have solved equations and inequalities to review some Algebra 1 at the beginning of the year. We have since hit the ground running with more advanced math concepts such as evaluating function for a number and for expressions, performing operations on functions, and compositions of functions.
Algebra 1
We reviewed operations on integers to start out the year and have since moved on to looking at properties of square roots and cube roots and estimating non-perfect square roots.
~Mrs. Gentry
Social Studies
6th Grade Minnesota Studies: The students were able to study through the Civil Rights movement. As a class we realized that the reason this had such an impact was that media was able to display powerful images. The students worked on individual art projects to portray a message (i.e. some students did art projects that were anti-bullying). Currently they are creating Board Games that cover important key cases, amendments, and documents! They're having a lot of fun trying to "beat" each other at one another's game, all while learning.
11th and 12th Government and Econ: The students re-wrote the Declaration of Independence in their own vernacular to get a better understanding of it. Many realized that the Declaration of Independence is essentially a break up letter to King George III, which made it more interesting. After that they got to create their own court case in order to see how the court process worked! We're currently covering popular trial stories in recent history, and deciphering whether our justice system has any biased based on perception.
7th and 8th Global Study: Students are going over Economics! We got to have a really fun Tootsie Roll Market day, where the students were given "play money" as I simulated a market event to show them various ways to apply law of supply and demand, as well as various marketing strategies. (*Other candies were made available for students with allergies).
9th and 10th Human Geography: After each of the students survived the Zombie Apocalypse unit, we've moved on to Australia! The purpose of the Zombie Apocalypse Unit was to have students realize that populations move based on what the environment can provide, but that in turn people also have an impact on their environment. It was to help them realize that while others' are different, there is usually an environmental purpose that reflects into their culture. Now... we are spending some time studying Australia. We'll get to end our unit by celebrating with Australian food and music. ( There have been promises of fairy bread made. TRY IT!)
5th American Studies: American Studies has spent the last week making baseball cards in honor of our Founding Mothers and Fathers that touch on their biggest accomplishments and successes (their stats essentially.) Prior to that, the students had a chance to see how a bill passes through Congress by getting to pass their own bill toward "President" Chick. They learned how a bill gets presented, various committees that get put together, and then how the House of Representatives and the Senate bounce the bill back and forth before being presented to President Chick. He let them sweat it out a little for 10 days (which is the time allotted for a President to sign or dismiss a bill), and had them lobby to him each day on why they should earn some educational movie time on snow make up days. Spoiler alert to parents: They did awesome, and some of the students are very excited about bringing in blankets and snacks!
~Ms. Epperson
Science
The 6th graders started the year learning how to set up a scientific investigation with controlled variables. After designing many investigations about the properties of M&Ms, we have moved into a unit about chemical and physical properties and changes.
The 7th and 8th graders are learning about the solar system. Check out their models of the planets in the pictures below! We are finishing the unit by learning about what causes day and night, the seasons, and the phases of the moon.
The 9th and 10th graders began the year by learning about electricity. For their final project, they had to use their electricity knowledge to design an electric fencing system for Mrs. Dorn's farm and be able to explain how it would be installed, how all the different parts work together, and how to troubleshoot any problems that an electric fence might have. Check out one design in the pictures below!
The 11th and 12th grade chemistry class is beginning with a unit about atoms and the periodic table. Stay tuned for three-dimensional models of atoms. Our first test will be Friday, September 28th.
~Mrs. Dorn
English
We have been having a great start to the year in English class. Below you will find a quick bit of information on current units of study and some pictures for your enjoyment. Have a great weekend.
Grade 7: We had been working hard on writing thematic statements, and we have just recently moved on to reading Redwall!
Grade 8: Short stories, plot and theme have been our topics of study in grade 8.
Grade 9/10: We just finished up a big unit on literary elements. Students read short, short stories from great authors such as Tolstoy and Twain.
Grade 11/12: We began the year with Anglo-Saxon Lyric Poetry and have just finished reading Beowulf!
~Mr. Adams
Physical Education/Health
We have been enjoying our unit on Archery!! Students in 5-6 and 7-8 and 9-10 all went through our Archery in the Schools Program. Winners of the 9-10 are pictured.
~Mr. Midtaune
Hendricks Public School
Hendricks, MN 56136
Phone: (507) 275 3115