| ENGLISH A review of grammar will include the eight parts of speech, verbals, phrases and clauses, sentence structure, and capitalization and punctuation rules. These skills are incorporated into the following writing genres: paragraphs, five part essays, cliffhangers, group magazines, children’s books, poetry, short creative writings, and a formal research report with MLA documentation. Students are instructed in the process of writing and utilize detailed rubrics and guidelines, student and teacher conferencing, and technology such as the mobile computer lab to finalize their projects. |
VOCABULARY The vocabulary curriculum is designed to strengthen the bond between English and literature. During the course of the school year, the eighth graders will be introduced to hundreds of key words. Vocabulary is studied both in context and through skill development and usage in a supplemental book. Students are encouraged to gain ownership of new words by using them in their speech and writing and identifying them in their reading and everyday lives throughout the year. |
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| RELIGION The students will be encouraged to grow in belief and commitment to Christ and His Church through personal and communal worship. Students will be presented with a survey of the Church’s history as guided by the Holy Spirit and influenced by the saints of the Church. The sacredness of human life and sexuality will be identified through the R.I.G.H.T. START program and Family Life Series. Students will demonstrate their commitment to Christ and to His Church through preparation and reception of the sacrament of Confirmation. Identifying and using gospel values each quarter will encourage students to grow as Christian witnesses. |
MATH The students will develop their ability to compute rational numbers, simplify expressions, and apply the properties in solving multi-step equations and inequalities. The students will apply rules when simplifying expressions with positive and negative exponents. The students will review the applications of ratio, proportion, and percents. Coordinate graphing of linear equations and inequalities, slope, intercepts, and problem-solving strategies are introduced along with addition, subtraction, and multiplication of polynomials. Factoring polynomials with an emphasis on trinomials will be introduced. The students will write function rules and graph both linear and non-linear functions. Graphing will be graphed by hand and with the use of the TI-84 plus graphing calculations. The students will evaluate real numbers and use the Pythagorean Theorem when dealing with right triangles. Special projects are given quarterly to apply the skills being taught and challenge all students. A mid-term and final exam is given in eighth grade covering the entire curriculum to assess their development. |
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| SCIENCE The eighth grade science curriculum focuses on physical science. In physics, students will study methods of science, energy, forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, classification of matter, scientific laws and principles, and simple machines with an emphasis on application of content to real life situations and problem solving. In chemistry, students will study the atom, periodic table, chemical bonding and compounds, and chemical reactions and equations. The use of technology in science classes will enhance student understanding and provide instant feedback, practice, and opportunities for self-discovery. |
SOCIAL STUDIES The students will explore a survey of American history from early exploration to the modern age. Topics will include the fundamental documents of the government of the United States, the significant role of the United States as a world leader, the economic principles of a free market economy, and the many cultural groups that have contributed to the American society. The students will apply the tools of social studies’ inquiry and develop skills in note taking, understanding cause and effect, interpreting maps and graphs, analyzing, and comparing points of view. A current events magazine will offer topics for discussion of world and national news. |
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| LITERATURE In literature, students will read and respond to a variety of literary genre: short stories, drama, novels, poetry, and non-fiction. Students will become familiar with classic authors and relate the authors’ personal lives to their writing. Comprehension strategies will be modeled and discussed to encourage student use in both academic and personal reading. The students will identify and analyze literary techniques and figurative language and apply critical thinking skills and inferential thinking to new works of literature through class discussion and written responses. A workshop approach to short stories will allow the students a choice of both reading material and response format. |
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