EIGHTH GRADE DEVELOPMENT
The students plunge into the tumult of adolescence. The curriculum meets this with history stories and biographies extending from the Age of Revolution (Industrial, American, French) to modern times. The study of physics continues and Algebra concepts are expanded. New short story and creative writing skills are developed and practiced. The students organize and fund-raise for a final class trip. Each student prepares an artistic presentation for graduation, and the teacher helps them all to look forward to the next part of the journey -- high school.  

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EIGHTH GRADE CURRICULUM

LANGUAGE ARTS
Writing

• Practice all previously taught skills
  
• Emphasis on original composition
  
• Students continue to work toward independence in self-editing
  
• Dictations
  

Reading

• Students read one book a month as assigned by the teacher
  
• Reading for information in content areas as provided by the teacher
  

Grammar

• Continue to reinforce all previously taught skills
  

Speaking

• Daily speech work
  
• Class play
  

MATHEMATICS

• The world of numbers:  evaluating, simplifying, exponents, square roots, whole numbers, integers, real, rational, and irrational numbers on the number line. 
  
• The world of Algebra:  Simplifying expressions, factoring, solving linear equations, systems of equations and quadratics, graphing equations. 
  
• Geometry: the platonic solids
  

SCIENCE
Physics

• Hydraulics, electromagnetism, aerodynamics, acoustics, optics
  

Chemistry

• Organic chemistry - sugar, starch, protein, fat
  

Physiology

• Anatomy - bones, muscles, eyes, ears, 

Meteorology

• Weather systems, clouds, rain
  

SOCIAL STUDIES
Geography

• Geography of Africa, South America or Asia - land configurations, countries, history and culture

History

• Revolutions - political, cultural, industrial
• American history and government
  
• Biographies of major historical figures
  

ART
Painting

• Painting themes come from main lessons
  

Drawing

• Drawing themes come from the curriculum
  

Modeling

• Children model from main lesson topics
  

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
SPANISH AND GERMAN

• Continued expansion of all material from previous years
  
• Continued grammatical structures
  
• Use of the dictionary
  
• Explore text and include conversion of direct/indirect speech
  
• Cultural and historical elements
  

HANDWORK

• Sewing with machines
  
• Reading store-bought patterns
  
• Use of sewing materials
  
• Projects may include First Grade handwork bags and pajama pants, aprons, shorts, quilts
  

ORCHESTRA

• Students have the opportunity to play wind instruments or different string instruments
  
• Rehearse and perform with the advanced string ensemble
  
• More advanced repertoire in a number of musical genres
  
• Third position is emphasized
  
• Advanced music theory
  
• Music history
  

WOODWORKING

• Introduction to more complex tools
  
• Projects may include stools or lamps
  

GARDENING

• Six weeks of gardening in the fall and six weeks in the spring 
  
• Seed starting and prepping soil for planting in the spring
  
• Harvesting produce and seeds, planting fall crops, and preparing beds for winter
  

GYM

• Continuation of Grade 7 concepts and skills