Hendricks High School Happenings
October 23-Nov 10 2017
Social Studies
In MN Studies, the sixth graders are learning about Fort Snelling and its early role in the fur trade. They also wrote a fictionalized diary from the perspective of a voyageur. In American History, the 11th and 12th graders created a museum exhibit on pre-Columbian native American societies, and are currently reading a primary source on the life of Mary Prince, a former slave. In middle school, the seventh and eighth graders played the classic Oregon Trail video game to simulate life on the trail in the 19th century. Lastly, the fifth graders are learning about famous explorers and created a poster on an explorer of their choice.
Mr. Thoresen
Science
As we continue our chemistry unit, the sixth graders designed an investigation to determine which antacid is the most effective at neutralizing an acid--and the winner was pure old fashioned baking soda! We are now moving into studying the energy changes that occur during evaporation and condensation.
The seventh and eighth graders are learning about body systems, and our poor classroom cutout of John Wayne is serving as our model. The picture below shows The Duke with his organs labeled and described in all their glory. But he has it easy--we will start dissection soon!
The high school biology class is learning how to predict the genetic traits that are passed down from parents to offspring. As promised, I have attached a picture of an "alien species" that a student created, based on its parents' genetic "code."
In chemistry, we are learning how to name compounds, how to grow grass in chemically different soils, and how to analyze the physical and chemical properties of gunshot evidence left at a crime scene. I am excited to get some results and share them!
~Mrs. Dorn
Math
Pre-Algebra: We are in our fractions unit. They are currently comparing and adding/subtracting fractions.
Geometry: We have some rock star students who are 2 weeks ahead of schedule in our self-paced classroom. The flipped classroom model seems to be benefiting everyone! We are learning about different parts of triangles including their interior and exterior angle sums.
Pre-Calc: We recently learned how to solve systems of equations in two and three variables by substitution and elimination, and are now moving on to learn about matrices.
Algebra 1: We just started our exponents and roots unit and we are learning about the rules of exponents.
Mrs. Gentry
English
9/10 grade students have just started a short story unit. They will be focusing on TEA (thesis, example, analysis) short responses and literary elements.
7/8 graders have finished up Eragon and are creating a character body map which details their character's growth throughout the novel.
~Mr. Adams