Thursday, December 9, 2010
WordMasters Update-8th Grade
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Podcast of 8th ELP WordMaster Words- List 1
Eighth grade WordMaster students are invited to try out a new way to study for the WordMaster exam-the WordMaster podcast. Each word on the first list is defined and used in a sentence. Download the file to any mp3 player.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Science Fair Working Lunch November 30
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
8th WordMasters
During the short first session, students will create flash cards for each of the 25 words with the word written on one side and the word, part of speech and all definitions on the other. Learning the definitions of each of the words and being able to use the words correctly in sentences will help students on the analogy based exam.
7th WordMasters
WordMasters uses the Websters dictionary. By learning all definitions of the words and comparing and contrasting the definitions, students will solve analogies using the words on the exam.
Words on the first list are listed below.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Upcoming Events
All 7th grade students and all 8th grade Algebra and Geometry students will participate in the first meet of the Continental Mathematics League tomorrow (November 10) during their math class. Any 8th grade students wishing to participate should contact Mrs. Dixon.
Wednesday, November 10: Science Fair Working Lunch
Students working on research projects for the Science Fair of Iowa are invited to the ELP room for lunch on Wednesday, November 10. These lunches are informal discussions of ideas and concerns about the projects, and will be scheduled frequently throughout the fall. It's not too late to start a project! Anyone who is interested is welcome to come.
Tuesday, November 16: AMC8
All Algebra and Geometry students and selected 7th and 8th grade students will take the AMC8 (American Mathematics Competition-8th grade) next Tuesday. All students not in algebra or geometry will do the competition in the Media Center during 2nd period and homeroom. Algebra and geometry students will do it during their math class.
Tuesday, November 16: Geometric Origami ELP Lunch
Bring a hot or cold lunch to the ELP room during your lunch period and learn how to make a stellated octahedron (the star shape in the picture) or a cube.
Thursday, November 18: Learning@Lunch
Mr. Phil Propes from the City of Ames Water Department will talk about the impact of the August floods on the Ames water treatment system.
Friday, November 19: Math Challenge Group
The Math Challenge Group for 7th grade Math will meet during the math classes to continue working on an equation to describe how much a spring is stretched when a weight is suspended from it. Time permitting they will also explore how weight affects the bounciness of the spring.
Friday, November 19: Science Fair Working Lunch
See above.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Letters About Literature Cluster Group
Reminder: Terrific rough drafts were returned to participants in English class on Monday. Your next draft in letter formation is due on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.
November ELP Conferences
The ELP Conference schedule is as follows:
Monday, November 8, 2010: 4:00-7:00
Tuesday, November 9, 2010: 4:00-7:00
Wednesday, November 10, 2010: 4:00-7:00
Thursday, November 11, 2010: 8:00-11:00
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Letters About Literature Cluster Group
Iowa State Talented and Gifted Association Convention
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Science Fair Update
Challenge Math Group
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Storyteller Visits AMS
Ms. Blake-Alston's visit was made possible by the Story City StoryTelling Festival committee. Students and families interested in hearing more of Ms. Blake Alston's work can visit Story! Festival, September 16-19, 2010, in Story City, Iowa.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Interested in Writing? Check This Opportunity Out!
Nationally Recognized StoryTeller Visits AMS
A former teacher, Charlotte presents traditional and contemporary stories from African and African American oral and cultural traditions. Her performances are often enhanced with instruments such as djembe, berimbau, nkoning, mbira, shekere, or the 21-stringed kora.
Ms. Blake Alston is participating in STORY! Celebrating the Art of Storytelling from September 16-19th in Story City, Iowa. Additional information about the festival can be found at < www.STORYfestival.net>.
September Learning @ Lunch Seminar
Monday, August 30, 2010
September ELP Lunches
Optical Illusions:
Words of the Week: August 30, 2010
Back To School Night
Back To School Night. Please meet in the Media Center.
We are looking forward to seeing you!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Learning @ Lunch Panel Discussion
Thursday, May 13, 2010
8th Grade Lunch
7-8 ELP Room
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Summer Opportunity!
Foreign Language Summer Institute
6-8 graders
Studying Chinese language and culture
Two week residential program (July 4-16)
$1,000 summer scholarship
Financial aid is available
http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/old/summer/programs/6-8/flsi/
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May ELP Lunch
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
8th WordMasters Schedule
7th Grade WordMasters Schedule
We have begun the final session of WordMasters. Students will meet in the ELP room on the days lifted below. Check out the assignments for due dates. Don't forget to bring your WordMaster folders and word cards to class!
7th Grade WordMasters-Blue Division-Final List
8th WordMasters- Gold Division-Third List
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
March ELP Lunch - Rubic's Cube Championship
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Science Fair Update
Twenty AMS students are conducting research in a wide variety of science fields and preparing to present their findings at the Science Fair of Iowa on March 26 and March 27 at Hilton Coliseum. The twelve research topics range from educational psychology to electrical engineering. A sampling of the questions:
Food Science: Can fiber be added to chocolate chip cookies without changing the flavor?
Electrical Engineering: Is it possible to make an ion lifter that works at low voltages?
Psychology: How does background music (Mozart, hip-hop, and rock) affect short-term memory?
Horticulture: Does gray water inhibit or help the growth of plants?
Aerospace Engineering: How does airfoil shape affect the lift-to-drag ratio?
Important note for participants:
You will find useful information about the fair at http://www.sciencefairofiowa.org/students.html
In particular, see "Writing an ABSTRACT" and "Project Board Design" (pdf version)
We will have a practice session for the Science Fair on March 22 during homeroom in the Media Center. Homerooms will be invited to come see the projects and ask questions about them.
You must be registered online by Monday, March 1 so that the paperwork can be delivered to the Science Fair Director on March 2. Please record your registration number on the SSTFI permission form and turn this form in to Mrs. Dixon.
Research Paper (OPTIONAL)
It should have 6 sections:
1. Introduction: describe your question and why it is interesting.
2. Literature review: background information about your topic that you learned in your reading.
3. Procedure: a complete description of the experiment you designed to answer your question. An explanation of how you analyzed your data.
4. Your conclusions. Do the data support your hypothesis or refute it? Did you find any interesting or unexpected results? Are there new avenues of investigation that you would pursue as a result of your findings? How do your results connect with the larger picture, for instance your research field, society, or the planet?
5. Bibliography. There are binders in the MC with format information.
6. Acknowledgements. Thank the people who have helped you to conduct the research, particularly if you have had outside help (eg. from ISU students and staff) or unusual help within the school.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Attention Science Fair Participants
Monday, February 22, 2010
8th Grade Second Trimester Goal Session-AHS Registration
Sunday, February 21, 2010
WordMaster Test!
There are many effective methods for studying for this test. Need some ideas? Try one of the methods below one day and another the next. Remember that frequent review, rather than one long study session, will help store the words in your long-term memory.
1. Use your word cards and have someone quiz you on the definitions.
2. Group the words. Which words go together? Do they have similar meanings? Opposite meanings? How can they connect?
3. Review the analogy patterns that WordMasters uses. Can you make analogies using the 50 words?
4. Tired of review? Visit the Wordles website to create word art with the word and words connected to the definition. This may help you to remember words.
5. Use the VisuWord website to reinforce definitions and see how words are connected.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Iowa Governor's Institute on Leadership-Summer Opportunity
Students nominate themselves for the Institute. Application forms are available at the Belin Blank Center website
Please see Mrs. Staniforth or Mrs. Dixon if you have any questions.
website for application and information: http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/old/summer/programs/6-8/igi/
Monday, February 1, 2010
8th Grade WordMaster Words for Session II-Gold Division
denounce
tenuous
entreaty
divine
resplendent
paroxysm
redolent
jargon
retrench
prepossessing
exculpate
milieu
vitiate
fetid
reprobate
extol
obsequious
libel
pontificate
winsome
retrospect
vilify
banal
sycophant
entreat
fetor
banality
denunciation
retrenchment
pontification
libelous
vilification
divination
sycophancy
exculpatory
8th Grade WordMasters-Session II Due Dates
PHYSICAL: ENVIRONMENT :: SOCIAL : _____________________________________________
a. cloister b. jargon c. interstice d. milieu e. bastion
The second session of 8th grade WordMasters begins on Tuesday, February 2,2010.
Due dates for Session II are as follows:
Tuesday, February 9, 2010:
Word cards for words 1-12 due at the beginning of class
Tuesday, February 16, 2010:
Word Cards for words 13-25 due at the beginning of class
February 23, 2010:TEST
Test over all 50 words (first and second list)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
7th WordMaster Words-Sesion II
transgress
ardent
mediator
insinuate
benign
minutiae
atone
incensed
hovel
rail
surreptitious
nomad
discharge
rapacious
subterfuge
encroach
itinerant
miser
attest
salutary
vestige
defray
blasé
feint
7th WordsMaster- Session II
The 7th grade WordMaster schedule is as follows:
Thursday, January 28th: Introduction to next 25 words
Thursday, February 4th: First 12 word cards due
Thursday, February 11th: All 25 word cards due
Thursday, February 23th: WordMaster Test in Media Center
Sunday, January 17, 2010
February ELP Lunch: Can YOU Solve the Rubik's Cube?
Archive-It/ Library of Congress Project
National Geographic Bee @ AMS
Welcome to the AMS-ELP Blog for grades 7 and 8!
Visit the 7-8 ELP Blog to learn what is happening each month in ELP. Information about class activities, ELP Lunches, Learning @ Lunch presentations, and contests will be updated regularly. Check back often!