Grade 8

Students will learn the rudiments of grammar.  The work on vocabulary and learn an English cognate to help them remember the Latin vocabulary, which helps them build their English vocabulary.  Students read and translate from Latin to English and from English to Latin.  They also take dictations and listen to tapes.

This course introduces students to the concept that more than 340 million people speak Spanish world-wide, 35 million native speakers in the United States.  Student develop basic vocabulary and conversation skills.  Emphasis in this course is placed on understanding spoken Spanish and conversing with confidence, taking pleasure in replicating Spanish sounds.  An expectation is the memorization and recitation of vocabulary with perfect pronunciation.  An overall goal is to give students the developmental tools for proficiency in Spanish.  Vocabulary enrichment, reading, and some basic writing in Spanish, as well as study of Hispanic culture and customs round out the content of this course.

For the first few lessons students review the concepts learned in the previous year.  The student works with current vocabulary to compose sentences to put into use the words and grammar usage learned. They read the dialogues and respond to the questions in French. There are many exercises to reinforce the concepts learned.  The students also compose small autobiographies.  They give short talks on the subject of their choice.  They also do a major project on the subject of their choice.  Students will continue their study of the language through increased vocabulary, informal expressions, and exposure to the Francophone culture.

A comprehensive physical education program that will continue to provide learning experiences to meet the current and projected needs of individual students. Emphasis will continue do include physical fitness activities and team sports concepts at the highest possible level to enable students to demonstrate proper social skills in physical education and beyond. The emphasis on maintaining an active healthy lifestyle will be stressed to include nutrition and drug avoidance.

This course is designed in short units. Students will study, perform as a class and sing. Topics to be covered are, but not limited to, opera, musicals, movie music, contemporary, classical music, as well as individual projects.  Connecting to the language disciplines, students in grade 8 will sing in Latin.

This is a survey art course which emphasizes studio art. Students will apply media, techniques, and processes in creating their own artwork. Students will be expected to understand a variety of vocabulary with respect to the making of their studio art projects. Students will identify and use the elements and principles of design.  An understanding of composition and space is emphasized with respect to art criticism and the students’ own artwork. Students will draw often from life, including - landscape (outdoors), still life, portrait studies at home and in class, and figure studies. Mediums include (but are not limited to), pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink, scratchboard, oil or dry pastels, charcoal, markers, acrylic paint, watercolors, printmaking, collage, wire sculpture and clay. Class critiques are held as a way to enhance art appreciation and understanding of art criticism. In addition to studio art, art history subjects include Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and 20th century art.  During 4th marking period, 8th graders are given the opportunity for independent study. They must choose from several of the media listed above. Students are given home assignments at least once each marking period.

The eighth grade U.S. History curriculum continues from where grade seven leaves off with the 1800's and continues through the early 1900's.  Particular attention is paid to the time period of the Civil War and Reconstruction.  The Constitution and the U.S. government are further studied, along with current events and basic economics.  Skills are strengthened and advanced. The following skills are advanced: critical thinking, cause and effect, use of primary source materials, distinguishing between fact and opinion, map reading, and understanding a political cartoon.  Answering an essay question fully in a clear, factual manner is stressed.  Also being able to express oneself verbally and intelligently with facts to support one’s opinion is fostered.

Students study two units of astronomy, followed by units on motion, forces and energy. Students first study the Big Bang Theory, learning about the four forces of the universe, subatomic particles, the nature of light, and space studies of the origin of the universe. A second astronomy unit looks at Earth’s place in the universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, moon phases and tides, and history of the study of the stars. The astronomy units link with the study of motion and forces: velocity, acceleration, Newton’s Laws of Motion and Universal Gravitation, projectile motion, momentum, rockets, and satellites. Forces in Fluids looks at pressure, hydraulics, buoyancy, and flight. A final unit explains how forces are related to work and energy. The year ends with a look at energy conversions, the use of fossil fuels, alternative sources of energy, renewable energy, and the nature of heat. Students will work in teams to design and build a solar model car.

The goal of the eighth grade reading course is to teach students to appreciate literature through the careful analysis of an author’s style and use of literary techniques.  Instruction focuses on themes that specifically reflect Christian messages. Students are exposed to several different genres including memoirs, plays, poetry, novels, and short stories.  During the first semester the students study The Call of the Wild, Our Town, A Separate Peace, The Crucible, and A Retrieved Reformation.  Night, Lord of the Flies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various poems are studied during the second semester.  Supplementation of this list of works occurs frequently. Emphasis is placed upon careful note taking of each work.  Students are expected to analyze the works through oral and written means.  The Socratic method of inspiring students to discuss the many universal themes presented is utilized.Grade 8: The goal of the eighth grade reading course is to teach students to appreciate literature through the careful analysis of an author’s style and use of literary techniques.  Instruction focuses on themes that specifically reflect Christian messages. Students are exposed to several different genres including memoirs, plays, poetry, novels, and short stories.  During the first semester the students study The Call of the Wild, Our Town, A Separate Peace, The Crucible, and A Retrieved Reformation.  Night, Lord of the Flies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and various poems are studied during the second semester.  Supplementation of this list of works occurs frequently. Emphasis is placed upon careful note taking of each work.  Students are expected to analyze the works through oral and written means.  The Socratic method of inspiring students to discuss the many universal themes presented is utilized.

The Grade Eight curriculum focuses on the history of the Roman Catholic Church.  This course begins where the Grade Seven curriculum ends, namely, with the founding of the Apostolic Church, and it continues to the present time.  Students will learn a theology of church and come to understand how the Church continues to develop under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We will also look at other Christian denominations and how they relate to the Roman Catholic Church.  Lastly, students will be introduced to the basic moral teachings of the Church as they apply to students of their age.

 A formal course in basic algebra covering variables operations with real numbers, solving equations with transformations, polynomials, factoring, algebraic fractions, linear equations and graphing, and solving simultaneous equations.  Strategies and practice with solving word problems are included in each unit.

The basic operations with whole numbers, decimals and fractions are reviewed while learning and practicing with the basic algebraic concepts with negative and positive numbers (integers).  Basic geometric concepts are reviewed and expanded to include angles formed by transversals and to include volume and surface area of solid figures.  Extended practice with solving equations and inequalities is also included along with a thorough review of percent.

This course continues the development of our students’ grammar, usage, vocabulary, and communication skills. An emphasis is placed upon using these skills to write and to speak effectively. Students are required to write in several different styles, including descriptive, narrative, and expository. During the first semester students review narrative writing techniques and individually write a seven to ten page short story. Each story includes characterization, complete plot line, and a theme. Students are taught how to write a major research paper, and during the second semester, individually write a ten to fifteen page research paper using the MLA documentation style.  Additionally, short writing projects are assigned several times each month.   It is expected that the students have mastered identification and use of the eight parts of speech and the three parts of a simple sentence prior to beginning the eighth grade year.   By the end of eighth grade, students will have also mastered the use of complex sentences and verbals.  Methodology includes extensive use of diagraming, drilling, and student writing.  Vocabulary is worked on nightly; mastery of 200 vocabulary words by the completion of the eighth grade year is expected.    Usage and mechanics are reviewed throughout the year.
Finally, public speaking skills are reviewed.  Students are encouraged to prepare and to deliver several short speeches during the year.  During the fourth term, each student makes an oral presentation of five to ten minutes.