SEM is alive and well at wood dale junior high! check out some of the enrichment activities that are going on this year.
GENIUS HOUR
Genius Hour groups have been springing up throughout District 7, and WDJH is no exception. There are currently several 7th grade groups devoting one hour a week to planning and executing their Genius Hour projects. After learning the Genius Hour habitudes of imagination, curiosity, perseverance, self-awareness, courage and adaptability, students choose a topic based on one of their "passions", and begin the inquiry process. Eventually, students must decide how they want to share their passion with an audience, planning the steps they will need to take to make it all happen. Even difficult to motivate students are drawn in by the chance to share something that is important to them in a creative format of their own choosing.
$$$ STOCK MARKET GROUP $$$
Our Stock Market Group meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during Advisory time, and it's just what it sounds like. Roughly forty-five students from across grade levels research publicly traded companies, and use that knowledge (not to mention some challenging math skills) to virtually buy and sell stocks. Their goal is to parlay their starting bankroll of $50,000 into a portfolio that would impress Warren Buffet. We use the website http://www.howthemarketworks.com/ , which provides research tools, symbol look-up, minute by minute stock quotes, and so much more. Students are enrolled in a contest with their classmates, and keep track of their rankings in a friendly competition. Two of our participants have already turned their initial "investment" into well over a million dollars! Too bad for us, the boys are keeping their money making secrets close to the vest.
GEOLOGY WEBSITES
When some of Mr. McCann's science students tested out of the 8th grade geology unit, they were given the opportunity to create their own websites on a geology topic of their choice. Links for the websites appear below. Use the back arrow to return to the SEM website.
Keondrea V's Volcano Website http://109754.wix.com/volcano-science
Alexis C's Earth's Layers Website http://11392.wix.com/earthslayers
Hanna's Journey to the Center of the Earth Website http://2001364.wix.com/center-of-the-earth
Izabela Z's Earthquake Website http://1001083.wix.com/earthquakes
Jeff A's Website on Earthquake Alert Systems 2001385.wix.com/jeff
Matt McE's Volcano Website 1001051.wix.com/volcanoes
Bart B's Mineral Website 1001142.wix.com/minerals
Isabelle S's Earthquake Website http://3001379.wix.com/earthquakes
NATURAL DISASTERS GREENSCREEN PROJECTS
In the fall, a number of 8th grade Language Arts students created greenscreen newscasts on some famous natural disasters, tying in to their Common Core curriculum and standards. See their work below.
Genius Hour groups have been springing up throughout District 7, and WDJH is no exception. There are currently several 7th grade groups devoting one hour a week to planning and executing their Genius Hour projects. After learning the Genius Hour habitudes of imagination, curiosity, perseverance, self-awareness, courage and adaptability, students choose a topic based on one of their "passions", and begin the inquiry process. Eventually, students must decide how they want to share their passion with an audience, planning the steps they will need to take to make it all happen. Even difficult to motivate students are drawn in by the chance to share something that is important to them in a creative format of their own choosing.
$$$ STOCK MARKET GROUP $$$
Our Stock Market Group meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during Advisory time, and it's just what it sounds like. Roughly forty-five students from across grade levels research publicly traded companies, and use that knowledge (not to mention some challenging math skills) to virtually buy and sell stocks. Their goal is to parlay their starting bankroll of $50,000 into a portfolio that would impress Warren Buffet. We use the website http://www.howthemarketworks.com/ , which provides research tools, symbol look-up, minute by minute stock quotes, and so much more. Students are enrolled in a contest with their classmates, and keep track of their rankings in a friendly competition. Two of our participants have already turned their initial "investment" into well over a million dollars! Too bad for us, the boys are keeping their money making secrets close to the vest.
GEOLOGY WEBSITES
When some of Mr. McCann's science students tested out of the 8th grade geology unit, they were given the opportunity to create their own websites on a geology topic of their choice. Links for the websites appear below. Use the back arrow to return to the SEM website.
Keondrea V's Volcano Website http://109754.wix.com/volcano-science
Alexis C's Earth's Layers Website http://11392.wix.com/earthslayers
Hanna's Journey to the Center of the Earth Website http://2001364.wix.com/center-of-the-earth
Izabela Z's Earthquake Website http://1001083.wix.com/earthquakes
Jeff A's Website on Earthquake Alert Systems 2001385.wix.com/jeff
Matt McE's Volcano Website 1001051.wix.com/volcanoes
Bart B's Mineral Website 1001142.wix.com/minerals
Isabelle S's Earthquake Website http://3001379.wix.com/earthquakes
NATURAL DISASTERS GREENSCREEN PROJECTS
In the fall, a number of 8th grade Language Arts students created greenscreen newscasts on some famous natural disasters, tying in to their Common Core curriculum and standards. See their work below.
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***A 6th Grade greenscreen project is currently underway. Some of Ms. Jenkins Social Studies students will be creating "autobiographies" of famous characters from the Renaissance. They'll research and dress as their subject, choose appropriate backgrounds, and share some interesting information about their life and times.
AUTHOR STUDY GLOGSTERS
Check out these GLOGSTERS (virtual posters) created by 8th grade students for an author study project. Students had to answer how authors' experiences impact their writing. See what they came up with. (Use the BACK ARROW to return to this page.)
***NOTE: Hover your cursor over the text areas to activate scroll bar function.
Check out the Author Study Glogsters by clicking the links below.
***Mrs. Rafferty's students are currently working on Glogster projects to go with their recent novel study, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie.
STEM CLASS
With our new STEM teacher, Mr. West, students are using Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to challenge themselves like never before. One of the classes in our "Specials" rotation, STEM allows students to go through the phases of planning, creating, testing, and refining their designs, solving a multitude of problems along the way. You can follow Mr. West on Twitter @DanWest14.
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Check out other SEM opportunities at Wood Dale Junior High
PERFORMING ARTS
Our Band program, under the direction of Mr. Morong, and our Choir Program, directed by Ms. Gruben, are popular extracurricular choices for many of our students. Not only do students perform in multiple concerts throughout the school year in our Center for the Arts, but they're also a fixture in the Wood Dale community, marching in parades, collaborating with the Fenton High School bands, and performing at events such as the Christmas Tree Lighting and our own Pancake Breakfast. Both our Band and Choir programs regularly bring home awards from highly competitive showcases in the west suburban area.
Our spring musical, The Wizard of Oz, is only a few months away. With the audition and rehearsal process underway, it looks to be another terrific production. And while our talented actors and vocalists are hard at work, another small army of students will master the technical aspect of putting on a live theatrical performance. Watch for more information in April. Don't miss the chance to see` our students SHINE!
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
At WDJH, there are many after school pursuits that aim to help our students grow, not only intellectually, but physically and socially as well. Among the available choices...
CHESS CLUB - Friendly matches and competitive tournaments await anyone from beginners to aficianados of this strategically challeging game.
ART CLUB - Students refine and apply the theory and skills they learn in art class to produce original works of art. Art students reach an authentic audience when their works are selected for display at various community art shows during the school year.
YEARBOOK CLUB -Students learn and apply new skills, including the fundamentals of photography, layout and design, and publishing, to produce a hardbound record of our school year.
BOARD GAMES CLUB - Students play traditional board games in an informal setting, building language and math skills while also growing in terms of interpersonal communication.
BUILDERS CLUB, NoH8 CLUB, PANTHER PAC - These organizations emphasize service, citizenship, and positive interactions within our school and the greater community. These are students looking for ways to make the world a kinder, better place.
GIRLS ON THE RUN - This club promotes emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical development in our young women as they prepare for a 5K running event.
TECH SQUAD - Remember AV club? Well, this is the amped up modern version. Students help troubleshoot technical issues with equipment throughout the building for teachers and students alike.
ATHLETICS - Under the watchful eye of our dedicated coaches, our athletes challenge themselves to grow stronger physically and mentally, while building leadership, sportsmanship, and tenacity. Teams include boys and girls Basketball, boys and girls Volleyball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Cheer, and Poms.
Our Band program, under the direction of Mr. Morong, and our Choir Program, directed by Ms. Gruben, are popular extracurricular choices for many of our students. Not only do students perform in multiple concerts throughout the school year in our Center for the Arts, but they're also a fixture in the Wood Dale community, marching in parades, collaborating with the Fenton High School bands, and performing at events such as the Christmas Tree Lighting and our own Pancake Breakfast. Both our Band and Choir programs regularly bring home awards from highly competitive showcases in the west suburban area.
Our spring musical, The Wizard of Oz, is only a few months away. With the audition and rehearsal process underway, it looks to be another terrific production. And while our talented actors and vocalists are hard at work, another small army of students will master the technical aspect of putting on a live theatrical performance. Watch for more information in April. Don't miss the chance to see` our students SHINE!
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
At WDJH, there are many after school pursuits that aim to help our students grow, not only intellectually, but physically and socially as well. Among the available choices...
CHESS CLUB - Friendly matches and competitive tournaments await anyone from beginners to aficianados of this strategically challeging game.
ART CLUB - Students refine and apply the theory and skills they learn in art class to produce original works of art. Art students reach an authentic audience when their works are selected for display at various community art shows during the school year.
YEARBOOK CLUB -Students learn and apply new skills, including the fundamentals of photography, layout and design, and publishing, to produce a hardbound record of our school year.
BOARD GAMES CLUB - Students play traditional board games in an informal setting, building language and math skills while also growing in terms of interpersonal communication.
BUILDERS CLUB, NoH8 CLUB, PANTHER PAC - These organizations emphasize service, citizenship, and positive interactions within our school and the greater community. These are students looking for ways to make the world a kinder, better place.
GIRLS ON THE RUN - This club promotes emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical development in our young women as they prepare for a 5K running event.
TECH SQUAD - Remember AV club? Well, this is the amped up modern version. Students help troubleshoot technical issues with equipment throughout the building for teachers and students alike.
ATHLETICS - Under the watchful eye of our dedicated coaches, our athletes challenge themselves to grow stronger physically and mentally, while building leadership, sportsmanship, and tenacity. Teams include boys and girls Basketball, boys and girls Volleyball, Cross Country, Track and Field, Cheer, and Poms.