Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Wednesday, May 19th

Sixth Grade

Today was our last day for 6th grade math. The class took a test to finish up the year. I am looking forward to seeing everyone back in the fall for 7th grade!

Seventh Grade

Don't forget!!! Spelling is due tomorrow. We will grade the unit and take the final test.

We will also be finishing up Tom Sawyer tomorrow and watching Tom and Huck....a movie that is based on the book. Be forewarned, it doesn't follow several things. A lot of stuff is different, but it still sticks with the spirit of the book. I think everyone will enjoy it.

Today, the class took a math test over Chapter 9. I think everyone did pretty well since they got to use their Geobooks.

Tomorrow, we will be cleaning up the room too....so come prepared with plastic bags and paper sacks. Each person can also bring a CAN of pop. Please don't send 20 ounce drinks or larger. I will have popcorn for everyone when we watch the movie!

Also, during Friday morning's mass, the 7th graders will be commissioned as 8th graders! It's a quick little ceremony, but is still pretty neat for the 7th graders. They will be our new school leaders and I don't doubt that they will do a fantastic job.

Eighth Grade

The class took their last test today over Chapter 12. I can't believe it's been three years since I started teaching most of these students! How time has flown by. I will miss you all! Good luck in high school.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, May 17, 2010

Monday, May 17th

Sixth Grade

Lesson 105. Pi. Remember, use 3.14 for pi. Multiply 3.14 by the diameter to find the circumference. If you are given the radius, first double it and then multiply by 3.14.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 36. You will do the whole unit this week. It is due on Thursday!

Literature - We read through the end of chapter 31. Define the 12 words for chapters 29-conclusion. There is a QUIZ tomorrow over chapters 22-28! Be sure you are looking over the words.

Math - We reviewed for a test on Wednesday. The test will be over information in your Geobook, so be sure you are studying it! The Geobook is due on Wednesday as well, so if you have lost it, you have until then to redo it.

Grammar - pp. 233-334 Exercise F, G, and DWS. Follow the instructions.

Eighth Grade

We did not have class today. There will be a test on WEDNESDAY and tomorrow we will be reviewing and making a cheat sheet for the test. You MUST bring calculators for the test. If you don't have one, you will have to do all the problems yourself.

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tuesday, May 11th

Sixth Grade

Lesson 102. Perimeter of complex shapes. Remember, to find the missing sides, use the other sides that are the same. Look at the other vertical sides, to find the missing vertical side. Look at the other horizontal sides to find the missing horizontal side.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Remember, the unit is due on Friday!

Literature - Worksheet over Chapters 23, 24, and 25. Due tomorrow!

Math - Lesson 9-7 #2-20 All and #22-28 evens.

For the front, you will need to know the name of polygons and how many sides and angles each has. (Hint - a four sided polygon has four angles - they are always the same!)

For the triangles at the bottom, here is an example:


To find the sum of the interior angles of a polygon, you will use the formula (n-2) times 180, where n = the number of sides in the polygon. Here is an example:



To find the measure of each interior angle on a regular polygon, you would do the exact same thing as above to find the sum of all the interior angles and then divide by how many sides there are. If the above was a regular octagon (which it isn't because the sides aren't all equal), then we would have divided 1080 by 8 to find out the measure of each. You will do that on #26 and 28.

Eighth Grade

Lesson 12-7, #2-12. Volume of Spheres. Here is an example:


Remember, if you are given the diameter, you FIRST have to divde it by two to get the radius. Then do everything as above. Also, for the fraction 1/3, you can just use 0.3 (so, 2 1/3 would be 2.3)

See you tomorrow!
Mrs. Swickey

Monday, May 10, 2010

Monday, May 10th

Sixth Grade

Lesson 101 - Remember, proportions are just two equivalent ratios or fractions. That's it! Don't reduce. Just write the proportion as stated, or find the missing part of the proportion by using equivalent fractions just like you've always done.

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Unit 35 is due Friday. Be sure you get started on it! You will be doing the whole unit.

Grammar - pp. 228-230. Exercises B and C. Follow directions! Remember to leave out extra words and make the verb match the subject. Also, for exercise B, you have to name whether the verb is singular or plural. Remember that to do that, you look at the subject too - a verb isn't plural if it has an s on the end - it's plural if the subject was plural.

Literature - We read more of Tom Sawyer. No homework!

Math - Lesson 9-5. #2-12. For the problems on the front page, you are naming the congruent parts of polygons. Remember, the angle marks and tick marks identify congruent angles and sides. Here is an example:

To do the angle and line bisectors on the back page, remember to first draw the angle or line on your paper. (You can extend the angles to make it easier, but draw the lines the exact same length as in your book.)

For angles:

Use your compass and put the center of the circle (the little gold thing) on the vertex. Draw an arc across both rays of the angle. Then, take the center of circle on the compass on the point where the arc crosses one of the rays. Draw another arc, making sure you remember what hole you put your pencil in. Then, put the circle on the compass on the other ray where the first arc crossed and draw one more arc. This should cross the second arc you drew. Then, draw a ray connecting the vertex of the original angle with the point at which the two arcs cross. Here is what it will look like:


For drawing a perpendicular bisector, remember to draw a large arc from each endpoint of the line segment. Where the two arcs cross above and below the line segment is where you draw your perpendicular line. Here is what it will look like:


Eighth Grade

Lesson 12-6, #2-6, #11-17. You are finding the volume of pyramids and cones. The formula is:

Area of the base x height divided by 3.

First, you need to identify what the base is. Remember, on three dimensional shapes, the base is talking about the flat surface on the bottom - NOT one of the edges. You will be working with three different shapes. Rectangular or square based pyramids; triangular based pyramids, and cones. For rectangular and square based pyramids, it is VERY easy. The area of a rectangle is just length times width. Then you'd just multiply by the height of the pyramid and divide by 3.
The area of a square is just side times side...so then multiply by the height of the pyramid and divide by 3.

Triangular pyramids are little trickier. The base is a triangle so you have to first find the area of the triangular base. Remember that to find the area of a triangle, you multiply base x height and divide by 2. Then, you'd multiply by the height of the pyramid and then divide by three. Here is an example. The shaded part shows the base of the pyramid:



I'll give you one other example - finding the volume of a cone. Again, the shaded portion shows the base. Remember the formula: area of the base x height divided by 3.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Wednesday, May 5th

Sixth Grade

Today, the class worked on a test review. There will be a test tomorrow!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - The unit is due tomorrow. Please complete everything except the Vocabulary Connections pages.

Vocabulary - The cards with pictures are due tomorrow!

Literature - We read part of Tom Sawyer, Chapter 25, today. No homework.

Math - Lesson 9-4, #2-27. Remember all of the things you wrote in your Geobooks. Here is some of it:



Eighth Grade

Lesson 12-5. #2-20 ALL. Volume of prisms and cylinders. Remember the formula: Area of the base times the height. First, find the area of the base of the shape. For triangular prisms, the base is one of the triangle ends. Remember to find the area of a triangle, you have to multiply the base x height and divide by 2. (that's the base and height of the triangle only, not the whole prism)

For cylinders, the base is the circle. To find the area of the circle, multiply pi times the radius squared, then multiply by the height.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Tuesday, May 4th

Sixth Grade

Lesson 100! Today, we completed the activity to discover that the diameter of any circle will fit around it's circumference three times plus a little more. That's pi!

Seventh Grade

Spelling - Remember, the unit is due on Thursday...except for Unit 34.

Vocabulary - Cards with pictures are due on Thursday. The unit is due on Monday.

Grammar - pp. 207-214. Exercises A, B, and C. Just follow the instructions. Be sure to double check the meanings of some of the words because they are confusing!

Literature - Define the Tom Sawyer vocabulary words.

Math - Lesson 9-3. #2-34 evens and all of the Mental Math box. (#36-41)

Remember to use your Geobook for definitions of the words...and remember that vertical angles have equal measures. This will help you determine the measures of angles in the diagrams on the back page.

Eighth Grade

Lesson 12-1. #2-17 ALL.

Email me if you have any questions.

See you tomorrow!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Monday, May 3rd

Sixth Grade

Lesson 99. To find the volume, remember to multiply length times width times height.

Seventh Grade

Vocabulary - We discussed the words today. Do the vocabulary cards the same as for unit 14. Do all 20 cards, but on 10 of them draw a COLOR picture representing the word or tape a printed picture or clip art. Cards are due on Thursday. The unit will be due Monday.

Literature - We read part of Chapter 22 from Tom Sawyer. Finish reading the chapter tonight.

Spelling - Unit 34. First two pages.

Math - Lesson 9-2. #2-44 evens. Be sure to use the notes you take in your Geobook. For the problems involving the clock, think about how many 5 minute segments there are on a clock. You won't divide 360 by 5, but by the number of 5 minute segments. Then, you will use this to find the reflex angle for 4 o'clock.

Eighth Grade

Polyhedrons - Finish your octahedron from class and do one other polyhedron that I passed out today.