8th Grade Curriculum
Literature and Composition
Course Objective: To prepare students to be able to communicate and express themselves as Christians in an ungodly world; to examine genres of literature.
Course Description: This course consists of five components: literature, composition grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. The literature component is built around selected books read by the class as a whole, as well as by using specific stories from the grade level literature book. Students are required to read daily and to complete a quarterly book report project. Composition assignments are taken from journal prompts and selected class discussions from literature books. The basic, writing process (outline, rough draft, editing, and final draft) is practiced. Grammar and Vocabulary/Spelling alternate weekly.
Areas to be evaluated: Vocabulary – Spelling, Comprehension and expression, Compose written work that is articulate, clear, creative, grammatically accurate and that has meaningful purpose, Appreciation of literature, Oral speaking
Summer reading
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Students select one from NC Battle of Books list
Class readers
Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Course Content/Themes
First Quarter: Lean on Me; autobiography; biography
Second Quarter: Mischief Makers; Short story; poetry
Third Quarter: Historical fiction: memoirs; diaries; drama
Fourth Quarter: Realistic Fiction; poetry; drama
Student/Teacher Resources and Texts
Textbooks
The Reader’s Choice Course 3: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 2000 edition
Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition 2nd course. Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1985 edition
Wordly Wise 3000 Grade 8, 2nd edition. Educators Publishing Service/ 2007/ Cambridge, MA
Vocabulary from Classical Roots Book B: Educators Publishing Service/2003/Cambridge, MA
The Winston Grammar Program: Teacher edition only. Battleground, WA: Precious Memories Education Resources, 1982.
Math – A Group (Pre-Algebra)
Objective: The challenge of middle school mathematics course of study is to acquire a deeper understanding of math concepts, a proficiency in math skills, mastering all arithmetic functions, fractions, decimals and measurements, rounding, estimating, interpreting data, using basic geometric terms and functions; further deepening problem solving techniques and algebraic thinking. The 7th grade B group is for those students who will be skipping Course 2 in order to take Algebra I in 8th grade. This will be the basic course of study for 8th grade students taking Algebra I in high school.
Textbooks: Saxon Math, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Course 3 and supplements
Time Allotment: 75 minutes for 175 days
Course Content
(The Saxon program mixes math concepts throughout the year in a cyclical pattern for planned practice and repetition – the following highlights areas of emphasis):
First Quarter: number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, analysis and probability, and problem solving
Second Quarter: number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, problem solving, data analysis and probability, problem solving, algebra
Third Quarter: number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, problem solving, data analysis and probability
Fourth Quarter: number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving
Areas to be Evaluated: Above course content and mathematical practices, Math – B Group – Algebra I
Math – B Group – Algebra I
Objective: The challenge of middle school mathematics course of study is to acquire a deeper understanding of math concepts, a proficiency in math skills, mastering all arithmetic functions, fractions, decimals and measurements, rounding, estimating, interpreting data, using basic geometric terms and functions; further deepening problem solving techniques using algebraic thinking. The Algebra I course of study is for those students who have completed Course 3 in 7th grade or who have test scores justifying a pre-high school Algebra I placement.
Textbooks: Saxon Math, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Algebra 1 and supplements
Time Allotment: 75 minutes for 175 days
Course Content
(The Saxon program mixes math concepts throughout the year in a cyclical pattern for planned practice and repetition, the areas of emphasis are listed
below):
First Quarter: algebraic foundations, numbers and operations in algebraic expressions, measurement, evaluating and simplifying variable expressions, exponents and roots, equations, probability and data analysis
Second Quarter: functions and relations, graphing on a coordinate plane, arithmetic sequences, multistep equations, linear equations, polynomials, rational expressions, simplifying and evaluating expressions, probability and data analysis
Third Quarter: linear equations, functions, rational expressions, polynomials, inequalities, systems of equations, problem solving with equations, identifying and graphing direct and indirect variations, probability and data analysis
Fourth Quarter: rational expressions and functions, compound inequalities, systems of equations and inequalities, quadratic equations and functions, absolute-value equations and inequalities, trinomials, probability and data analysis
Areas to be Evaluated: Above course content and mathematical practices
Science / Health
Objective: Students will experience how science is constant, historic, probabilistic, and replicable because our God is an awesome God – God who reigns over Heaven and Earth.
Textbooks: Matter and Motion (ABeka Books, 1994), Health in Christian Perspective (A Beka Book, 2012)
Time Allotment: 35 minutes for 85 days
Course Content
(approx. 2 weeks) Understand the properties of matter and how matter changes.
(approx. 2 weeks) Energy Conservation and Transfer - Explain the environmental implications associated with the various methods of obtaining, managing and using energy resources.
(approx. 3 weeks) Earth Systems, Structures, and Processes – Understand the hydrosphere and the impact of humans on local systems, and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans.
(approx. 2+ weeks) Structures and Functions of Living Organisms –
Understand the hazards caused by diseases that affect living organisms.
Understand how biotechnology is used to affect living organisms.
(approx. 2 weeks) Ecosystems – Understand how organisms interact with and respond to the biotic and abiotic components of their environment.
(approx. 2 weeks) Science vs. Evolution
Development: Sexual Awareness and Responsibility
Social Studies
Objective: Students will recognize God as the molder of history. Students will examine Biblical / historical events from approximately AD 33 – AD 871.
Textbooks: The Mystery of History, Volume II
Time Allotment: 35 minutes per day for approx. 85 days
Course Content
First Quarter: The Early Church, Nero, Dead Sea Scrolls, Pompeii, Constantine, Fall of the Roman Empire, King Arthur, and Gregory the Great
Second Quarter: Dynasties of China, Birth of Islam, Beowulf, Charlemagne, the Vikings, and MacBeth
Areas to be Evaluated: Course content through class participation, tests, quizzes, worksheets, maps and projects
Physical Education
Objective: Students will develop competent motor skills, behavioral strategies to demonstrate responsibility, respect of self and others, and understand the importance of achieving and maintaining a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
Time Allotment: 45 minutes a day; 5 days a week for 175 days
Course Content
3 Weeks: Personal / Social Responsibility
11 Weeks: Motor Skills
11 Weeks: Movement Concepts
11 Weeks: Health Related Fitness
Areas to Be Evaluated: Participation as an individual and in a group, Teacher observation, Role-playing, Checklists / FitnessGram / Assessments,
Quizzes