Literature

Shakespeare Comes to Class!

In Literature class we are moving forward in time to the 1500's and moving north to Europe.  

We just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and am now beginning The Merchant of Venice. 

The students will be reading this as a play in class and working on comprehension questions.  They will also be working on projects that explore different aspects of the theater during this time period. 

Subject Update: US History

For about the last month, we have been setting the stage for what caused our country to fight a Civil War in the 1860's.  This week, we have been exploring the specific events that led to half our country seceding from the Union and creating the Confederacy.  This will be followed up with a study of the war itself, as well as the period of Reconstruction that immediately followed the war as our country tried to piece itself back together.  If you want to help review with your 8th grader some of the topics we have discussed in class, you can ask them to tell you about...

Missouri Compromise

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Dred Scott

The Final Verdict . . .

We have reached the end of our novel study.  Many were surprised and yet, how else could the story ended?  A great question to ask your student is "Was Dantes' right / justified in what he had done? Why do you think this way." I am sure you will receive some wonderful conversation and insights from your student.

With the conclusion of the book we will be reviewing the characters, plot, and delving into these thought provoking questions.  The final test will be Tuesday, March 14 and then we will begin watching the movie.  Permission slips will be coming home for the movie.

Subject Update: US History

This last week, we started a long look at events that led to the Civil War.  Our first topic was an era of reform that swept the nation in the mid-1800's.  This helped reform prisons and schools, as well as help civil rights causes for African Americans and women.

Next week, we will spend some time choosing research topics for their upcoming research papers (8th grade has presidents!).  Then, we will start looking at the differences in lifestyles between the North and the South before the Civil War.