The focus for this nine weeks will be on conflict, ranging in history to the time period of the Texas Revolution, in science involving disease, and in literature involving the creation of a good “story.”

Students will realize that there are a number of ways—and a number of logical steps to follow—to solve problems and handle conflict.

Each student will design an organized webpage with cited sources about a specific disease with graphics to add to his or her digital portfolio.

Students will analyze a novel to show how conflict creates a story. Students will also learn citing sources by investigating a library’s resources for information on diseases, how diseases create a conflict for the competent function of body parts, and the correct manner to give credit for the information (later used for website creation)

Students begin the quarter’s studies with the era of Anglo settlements which lead to conflicts with the Mexican government. Enter the Texas Revolution and discussions about the conflicts and specific battles that lead to independence. The fight was not simple, but the intense and passionate Texans were persistent.

While performing ongoing preparation for the TAKS in April, students will see how to solve for inequalities by creating values for variables in algebraic equations. To attack conflicts, students learn how to solve in multiple steps how to connect number concepts, connect the order of operations with numbers to evaluate arithmetic sequence and algebraic expressions, and develop their individual understanding of methods for solving equations using logical strategies and steps.

Students will investigate living systems. During their survey of biology, students learn about organ structure and function, system interactions, diseases, defenses, and heredity. Students will become experts on individual maladies and broadcast their findings—including cures and treatments—in an audio-visual presentation to the rest of the class.

Students will produce a webpage focusing on a specific disease and how it disrupts some part or system of the body.