It is hard for me to believe that next week we will be in the month of October. Time flies when you are working hard and having fun! Students, parents, teachers and staff have been doing both at Ridgeview this first six weeks. As many of you know, we are on the "verge of greatness" at Ridgeview. Last year we missed being a "Recognized" school because of Science scores. Our students have performed at the "Recognized" level in math, and in Reading, Writing and Social Studies we have reached the "Exemplary" level. We know that our students can perform better next year with the correct support. We also know that it cannot be done without help. Therefore, we are adding a "Science Spot" to our newsletter with ideas, science facts, and information you can use as parents to support science learning at home. 　

Success is the ONLY Option!

Holly Galloway Ph.D.
Principal

Can you answer the following questions? Ask your students; they should be able to help! Eighth grade students will need to be able to answer questions like these on the 8^th grade Science TAKS test.

Which of the following most promotes chemical weathering in limestone?

A. Freezing water

B. Blowing wind

C. Running water

D. Growing roots

Which of these is an example of a chemical reaction?

A. A pot of water boiling

B. An iron nail rusting

C. Corn being ground

D. Sugar dissolving in tea

Can you answer the following questions? Ask your students, they should be able to help. Hint: Use the Periodic Table. Eighth grade students will need to be able to use the Periodic Table successfully on the 8^th grade Science TAKS test.

The following are substances that you are probably familiar with. Beside each substance is a chemical formula; write the names of the elements (not the symbols) in each and also include the number of atoms of each element.

Example: H₂S (smells like rotten eggs) Hydrogen - 2 Sulfur - 1

1. NaCl (table salt)

2. SiO₂ (glass)

3. C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ (sugar - sucrose)

4. CaCO₃ (chalk)

Need practice for the upcoming Science TAKS test?  Use this file to practice TAKS like questions to brush up on test-taking skills and science knowledge needed for the test.  Science 8th grade Warm-Ups

Take a raw egg from the refrigerator and balance it on the end; you'll need a flat, smooth surface to do this. Do you know why this is unique? Is there something special about this week that allows the egg to stand on end that might not happen during other times of the year?

Currently, in eighth grade science classes students are learning about the interaction of matter and energy through waves. By the end of the unit, students should be able to recognize the properties of waves and demonstrate wave forms. Students should be able to answer the following questions.

1. What are the parts of different types of waves?

2. How are different types of waves similar and different?

3. How do different media affect waves?

Science Spot for October 2

Eighth grade science classes are finishing the unit on the interaction of matter and energy through waves. Use these questions to quiz your students.

1. What kinds of waves do you encounter?

2. Can you think of a few examples of waves?

3. Waves transfer energy from one place to another. How do the waves that you thought of transfer energy?

4. What types of energy do your waves transfer?

5. Where does that energy come from?

The next unit is on the forces that shape the earth. The students will learn about the unbalanced forces that change features of land. This includes plate tectonics and the rock cycle. By the end of the unit, students will be able to answer the following questions:

1. How do natural forces impact land features?

2. What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

3. How can land features be used as indicators of previous natural events?

4. How can we predict land features that will result from unbalanced forces?

5. How do rocks change from one type to another?

6. How do we know what the next step is in the cycle of a rock?

Science Spot for October 9th

Eighth students continue to work on forces that shape the earth. The students will learn about the unbalanced forces that change features of land. This includes plate tectonics and the rock cycle. By the end of the unit students will be able to answer the following questions:

1. How does natural forces impact land features?

2.  What evidence supports the theory of continental drift?

3. How can land features be used as indicators of previous natural events?

4. How can we predict land features that will result from unbalanced forces?

5. How do rocks change from one type to another?

6. How do we know what the next step is in the cycle of a rock?