EIGHTH GRADE HIGHLIGHTS

RELIGION:  Student text revolves around Church History Students prepare for Confirmation by studying prayers, basics of church doctrine and performing service hours in church and community settings. An interview with the parish priest culminates the year’s program before candidates receive the rite of Confirmation in the spring.

ART:  Eighth graders use a wide variety of materials. They are able to create works that show perspective, and use critical thinking to solve art problems. Students create and understand a work that is aesthetically pleasing and also to critique works of art. They are familiar with some American and European artists, and can recognize some careers in art such as painter, sculptor, graphic artist and commercial artist.

COMPUTER:  Students use time in the lab to work on classroom projects. They learn all about the internet - the history, search techniques, etc. in order to apply this to research assignments they might have. Presentation projects (Power Point) apply this to research. The level of computer skills and software are determined by the grade level and computer knowledge of the students. At all grade levels, time in the lab is used to reinforce skills of the basic curriculum. Computers are also available in the classroom for students to use.

ENGLISH/WRITING: Students continue in their mastery of correct grammar, usage, and mechanics, and have ample opportunities to develop different styles of writing and speaking skills that include eyewitness accounts, persuasion, poetry, imaginative writing, compare and contrast accounts, research reports, and the student newspaper. 

HISTORY:  American History is explored from the Civil War through the Civil Rights era with an emphasis on social conditions and resulting governmental policies.

LITERATURE:  Students have reading opportunities in many specific genres, including novels, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and the American Folk Tradition, through which their comprehension and reasoning is strengthened and honed, and their enjoyment is deepened. Field trips enhance the curriculum.

OUTSIDE READING:  Students are required to read and participate in three separate areas of reading, which include book club, current events, nonfiction research, and reading counts. Selected books include the classics, The Witness, The Westing Game, Walk Two Moons, and others The readings connect with Native American Month, Women in History Month, Black History Month, and other events.

MATH: ALGEBRA: Students explore the topics of number sense, order of operations, set theory, graphing geometry and problem solving skills.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:  A Specialist who works with all students. The program is designed to spiral so that a student may progress through different skills, from emerging to proficient levels in an activity unit. Students develop individual and team skills that can be used in lifetime,
recreational activities and group sports. The strategies of various games are emphasized.

SCIENCE: Students continue in their understanding of Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and the history of Science, while continuing to use the Science Plus series, supplemental texts, and the internet for research. topics addressed include the structure of plant and animal cells, chemical reactions, measurement, environmental concerns, frog dissection, heredity and the continuity of life, the human brain, and others.

SPELLING:  Students continue in the Steck-Vaughn series, which is a comprehensive and systematic approach that recognizes the importance of spelling as well as its inherent connection to writing.