News from Lakeside Junior High School
by Lakeside Junior High School Staff
February 25, 2010
NEWS FROM LAKESIDE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mrs. Ahlvers
Seventh Grade Science-
The seventh graders have been studying genetics and the structure of the DNA molecule.
Gregor Mendel is considered the “father of genetics”. Mendel studied traits in pea plants he grew in the monastery garden. With modern genetics, scientists are now transferring genes into viruses, and then the viruses deliver the normal genes to the defective cells of humans. Crop scientists are modifying plants to produce more and better food. Bacteria chromosomes are cut and human genes for insulin are placed in the spliced gene. Then bacteria can make the insulin needed by diabetics. In our next unit the students will study evolution.
Mr. Jones
7th Grade Kansas History
The 7th graders are currently studying about Bleeding Kansas. The turmoil that occurred in Kansas during this time period is said to have been the beginning of the Civil War. The 7th graders will be writing a newspaper describing the events in Kansas during this time period. Some groups will write as if they were southern reporters, while others will write as northern reporters. The next Kansas History unit will focus on Kansas statehood, and Kansas’s involvement in the Civil War.
8th Grade American History
The 8th graders are going to be headed west over the next few weeks. The Oregon and Santa Fe Trails will be something to focus. As these settlers moved west, they settled areas along the way. The students will be seeing how this movement affected both Native Americans and African Americans. As we move ahead, we are going to see how the issue of slavery begins to divide our country. Then we will head into the Civil War era to finish our studies.
7TH AND 8TH GRADE READING– MRS. GASPER
Both the seventh and eighth graders have been busily preparing for the State Assessment Test. Along with practice tests, the students have also had access to an Internet program called “Study Island” to help with the preparation. This program provides the students with multiple reading passages and questions that practice each of the indicators that will be tested on the Kansas Assessment. It has been a very useful and fun way to prepare.
Reading State Assessment Testing Schedule
Seventh grade – Mar. 1, 2, 3 -- starting at 12:15
Eighth grade – Mar. 4, 5, 8 – starting at 12:15
**Please make every effort to have your child in attendance on these days.**
Upcoming AR Deadlines
March 5
April 7
May 5
7TH GRADE ENGLISH – MRS. GASPER
The seventh grade English students have been practicing their grammar skills with a verb unit. They have learned 14 different tenses of verbs and how to use them correctly when writing. They have completed Pattern 4 in the Shurley classification system which is identifying linking verbs and predicate nouns.
State Assessment Testing for Reading will be done in the Jr. High March 1 through March 8.
Testing for Math will be done March 9, 10, & 11.
Please refrain from scheduling appointments on these days
since attendance is of primary importance.
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