Rube Goldberg Machines

By: Stephanie Geething and Brianna DeAmicis.

The 7^th graders had to build a Rube Goldburg Machine for GTT (Gateway to Tech). A Rube Goldburg machine is a long chain of events that completes a series of simple events that in the end completes a simple task. They learned about the six types of simple machines. They had to use at least five of the simple machines to build their machine.

Inclined plane: an inclined is a inclined flat surface that allows you to exert your input force over a long distance.

Wedge: a wedge is a device that is thick at one end and tapers to a thin edge at the other end.

Screws: a screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.

Levers: pulling a nail from a board with a claw of a hammer

Wheel (and axle): Ex screw driver (handle=wheel and shaft=axel)

A wheel & axle is a simple machine made of 2 simple circular or cylindrical objects that are fastened together and rotate a common axel.

Pulley: Ex: raising and lowering a school flag each day. A pulley is a grooved rope or a cable wrapped around it. When you pull the rope you change the amount & direct of your input force.

7th Grade Stars Team

LANGUAGE ARTS- Dystopian Literature: We are reading novels about dystopian societies. These are some of the books we are reading: The Maze Runner, The Last Book in The Universe, Matched, and The Giver. We are making a brochure about the place in our book and trying to make it like a place you would want to visit.

SCIENCE-  We are learning about Energy and students are designing investigations to study energy transfer. We are also learning about experimental design.

SOCIAL STUDIES- We are finishing learning about the fall of the Roman Empire and the causes of it failing, including Germanic tribes attacking. We are preparing for Byzantine Empire.

MATH-We are studying variables and patterns. We did jumping jacks to help us figure out how to make graphs. We are also studying tables and graphs. gr

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6th grade intramurals

6^th graders get an opportunity to sign up for various sports throughout the year. They get randomly put into teams and whoever gets the most points in the end wins. We have a two loss elimination bracket and keep going until we have a champion. Mr. Moody and Mr. Myers are two referees and the people who organized the whole thing. We asked them a few questions:

Why do we do intramurals?     To give 6^th graders the opportunity to do sports in school because it is not offered. It’s also an organized opportunity that promotes teamwork, positive relationships and an energy releaser.

Why are you the referee?       Mr. Moody and Mr. Myers are the referees because they organized the whole thing. Also, to make sure people follow rules in an organized positive manner.

How many times a week do we do it, when and why?       We do it every Tuesday and Thursday because it fits the schedule.

What type of intermural do we do throughout the year?          We do football, soccer, basketball, dodge ball, and whiffle ball.

We have already done football and are almost done with soccer!


 -Stephanie Geething & Brianna DeAmicis

 

Mathmatical B-Days

 

The following pictures are of both 8th Grade Algebra classes having mathematical birthday parties. You see, 4 high school students asked these two classes to split into groups and plan theoretical birthday parties for them. Of course, to be a high stakes party there had to be a high price limit. Personally, I think 5,000 dollars is more than enough for a party, but that's just me. Overall, the 8th graders did very well and even the superintendent got to see them!

Healthy Choices Blog

How to make a healthy pizza

 

By: Carly Hoffman

 

 

 

    There are many different ways to make pizza. Most people usually eat frozen pizza or pizza from local places like Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, or Little Caesars. However, in 7th grade Healthy Choices, we learned how to make an easy, home-made, healthy pizza.

   First, we learned how it is more healthier than frozen pizza. It's healthier because it has less calories and less fat. We had to have whole wheat crust, low-fat cheese, and vegetables, which were optional. Their were many steps in the process.
 Things you'll need:
-crust ( you can use whole wheat tortilla, or English muffins, or hamburger buns)
-low-fat cheese of chose
-vegetables(optional)
-other optional toppings like peperoni
- pizza sauce
 

   First, pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Get your supplies. You'll need things like the crust, which you can use whole wheat tortillas, hamburger buns, or an English muffins. then you'll need the sauce, low-fat cheese,  vegetables( optional), and peperoni or ham (optional).

   Next you'll need to put the sauce on the crust that you chose. Then, you'll need to sprinkle a light layer of cheese. But make sure its not too thin or thick. Then add your selected vegetables and meat. Next, add another light layer of cheese so it holds the toppings.
   Then its time to cook it. Put the pizza(s) on a cookie sheet. Then, put the pizza into the oven carefully for 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizza is hot through-out.
   Finally, you'll have a healthy, fun-to-make, tasty, home-made pizza.

Click here to visit the healthy choices blog for other healthy recipes and information:
 

Things that are not as usual in 8th grade...

For the past few days 8th grade teachers have been helping kids a lot more than usual. I mean, they are always helpful, but they are having to help a lot more and providing us with great information. We even have 8th graders wanting to read more than usual. Our Healthy Choices teacher likes teaching us what is healthy in life so we can make smart decisions. On team Discovery we have a song of the week called Thriller by Michael Jackson. I think it is a great song. Mrs. Semer has us analyze the lyrics to see if we can come up with what they mean. We are also doing a whole unit on poetry and Edgar Allen Poe. Mrs. Semer explains to us how he is all on horror. I myself am working with the poem called "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe.

-Austin Kline

 

CAN YOU HANDLE THE CANS!!!!!!!!

 

This is truly an awesome magnitude of can collecting power for the United Way! These photos were taken of several Van Wert city school students collecting over 900 cans!!! The bottom photo is of our leading class of can collectors, Mrs. Thompson's class who, by themselves, collected 171 cans! Keep checking this blog for more exciting updates and thrilling stories.

- By: Austin Voors