Riverside Township School District

Congratulations Ms. Murray!!!

Congratulations to Ms. Murray’s 8th Grade Science Class for earning the Lesson of the Week!

While students are eagerly anticipating all of the exciting end-of-year activities, Ms. Murray is making sure learning remains just as engaging and meaningful through the final weeks of school! 

To bring science concepts to life in a fun and hands-on way, 8th-grade students are beginning an exciting Project-Based Learning assignment where they will design and create their own carnival-style games using Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. This creative project challenges students to think like scientists, engineers, and designers while applying real-world physics concepts in an authentic and memorable way.

During the introductory lesson, students explored and analyzed popular carnival games such as ring toss and the classic strongman challenge. Working collaboratively, students identified how concepts like inertia, force, motion, acceleration, and action/reaction are demonstrated within each activity. Through discussion, observation, and inquiry, students began brainstorming ideas for their own original game designs while connecting science concepts to experiences they recognize from carnivals, amusement parks, and arcades.

The excitement and energy throughout the classroom were contagious as students combined creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and scientific reasoning to begin planning their projects. Lessons like this showcase how student-centered learning can make science both rigorous and fun while helping students create lasting memories during their final weeks at RMS.

Great job to Ms. Murray and all of our outstanding 8th-grade scientists for demonstrating innovation, collaboration, and Rams pride!