8th Grade Traditions

September

T-Bar-M - Eighth Grade students travel to T-Bar M Ranch for an overnight retreat to build team leadership skills as well as begin preparing for high school application.
Egg Drop (IPC) - After studying about different forces, students will create a craft to protect an egg. The craft will be dropped from a second floor balcony. Much is learned and cleaned up after this project.
Explorers - Students research an explorer that was responsible for the colonization of the Americas. Students prepare a PowerPoint presentation that analyzes the goals, success of exploration, technology involved, lasting impact and role of geography.

Colonies - Students learn about the similarities and differences among the New England, Middle and Southern colonies. Students work in groups to create a colony booth that promotes one of the colonies. Students present their booth to the class. Each group must create a musical jingle, a sales brochure with a sales gimmick to encourage settlement and a sales presentation.
Hobbit Banquet (Literature)-Students participate in the annual Hobbit Banquet which celebrates the culmination of Bilbo's journey through Middle Earth. During the banquet, each student comes dressed as his or her favorite Hobbit character and prepares a toast to give recognizing another character's contribution to the successful journey.
Roller Coaster Physics (IPC)- Students will research a site to find out what makes a fun and safe roller coaster. After they get the "thumbs up" for both fun and safety, they move on to design their own roller coaster while manipulating speed, friction, gravity, mass and other variables.

American Revolutionary War - Students research one of the battles in the American Revolutionary War. They prepare a Publisher Newsletter that analyzes the date and location, leaders on both sides, was it a decisive battle, graph the number of men fighting on each side and the strategy used by both sides. They then recreate the American Revolutionary War key battles by playing “Capture the Flag”. Students can learn how and why the Continental Army defeated the British Army by engaging in “battle”. Students also recreate an “age appropriate” Declaration of Independence for 2nd Graders. Students prepare a poster that illustrates and rewords the US Declaration so that a second grade student understands the meaning of the document that broke the ties between the colonies and Britain.
The Physics of Toys (Science) - Students will bring toys to class and explain how they work using principles of physics. Once explained, the students will be allowed to have a "play" day.
I.I.I.- Inane, Innocuous, Inventions (IPC) - After learning about simple machines, students will plan, create and build a "Rube Goldberg" type of complex machine. All inventions must perform a task and include at least three different types of simple machines.

Constitutional Convention - Students recreate the Constitutional Convention. Students role play participants and debate the three critical issues that our founding fathers debated as delegates from their state in May 1787. The delegates “come to Philadelphia” to resolve the problems created by the Articles of Confederation.
Adopt an Element (IPC) - Students will choose an element to "adopt." They will get to know this element, its properties, uses, price, advantages, and more. Students sell their element to the class, using their own advertisement, slogan and logo.

Constitution Unit - Students spend a month studying in depth the Preamble and the Articles of the US Constitution as well as the Amendments. Students understand the goals and principles of the Constitution, recite the preamble, learn about how a bill becomes a law, and understand how the three branches of government interact, as well as the roles of the state and local governments.

Chemistry Careers (IPC) - Students will research different careers in Chemistry. Interviews will be conducted either in person or through mail or email.
Visual Elements -Students cover the chemistry basics, using a Web site to research certain elements. Students investigate name origins, uses and other information regarding those elements.
Current Events Speech -Students research and prepare a “Current Events Speech” in preparation for participation in PSIA. Students determine the critical issues of the topic, determine the pros and cons of both sides of the subject and defend and support one side with documentation.

ABC's of Washingoton D.C. - Students create and prepare a historical journal/information package that researches the venues on the 8th Grade Ultimate Field Trip and highlights information on these attraction. Students are responsible for utilizing each letter of the alphabet and tie it to one of the venues.
Forensic Friday (IPC) - Students will spend a Friday solving a mystery using fingerprinting, shoe prints, lip prints, handwriting analysis and chromatography.

Romeo and Juliet Project (Literature) - Students will present a three to five minute presentation of an original rap or story ballad put to music telling the story of Romeo and Juliet.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - Students prepare an essay on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. All essays are typed and numbered so that students pick anonymously three students to represent FBA at Arlington National Cemetery to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers as well as George Washington’s tomb at Mount Vernon.

Students As Teachers (IPC) - Students will take on the role of teachers and teach a class over various topics. The lessons must meet certain objectives and include notes and visual aides.
Washington , D.C. Trip - A five day field trip to the nation's capital, from Monday through Friday during the first week of May. Students have the opportunity to see the nation's landmarks, monuments and meet with our nation's leaders during the week. Highlights include a tour of the White House, Supreme Court and the Capitol Building . Students take pictures with our representatives and senators. Students enjoy going on an evening walking tour of the Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial and the WW2 memorial. The images stay with them and convey loudly the truth that Freedom isn't free. Students visit Colonial Williamsburg , for a visit back in time. The last day is spent relaxing and spending time with fellow students before graduation at Busch Gardens . Students are responsible for completing a math and history lesson during the trip for grades.
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony - Special graduation ceremony in main sanctuary where Choir performs, individual students sings and/or plays instruments and participates in various ways.