8th
Grade Curriculum
Reading
Text: Literature. Prentice Hall.
The
students will continue to comprehend, appreciate, and understand the relevance
of various forms of literature.
Therefore, we will be analyzing through class discussion and study guides
each short story, nonfiction essay, poem, play, and novel that we read. Because high school English classes are also
literature classes, the students will be writing many essays pertaining to the
literature they are reading. This will
help to prepare them for high school English.
Spelling/Vocabulary
Text: Vocabulary
Workshop. Sadlier Oxford.
Improving
vocabulary skills is a goal of this class.
Spending two weeks per vocabulary unit should help each student to use
more precise, effective, and fresh words in both writing and speaking.
Religion
Text: Christ Our Life: The Church Then And Now. Loyola
Press.
Through
the use of a variety of activities such as minor and major projects, class
discussions, and group activities, students enrich and expand upon their
faith. The history of the Church is
explored in depth, the exploration of the future of the Church, as well as the
students’ futures as Christians in an ever-changing world. Confirmation as a part of faith formation
will be studied in depth. Confirmation
service hours will be required. Students
are required to take an 8th Grade Religion exit exam administered by
Father Noessen.
Math
Text: Prentice Hall
Mathematics. Prentice
Hall.
Math
is a bit like learning a sport or a musical instrument. Students will only get better if they
practice and apply themselves to the task.
Please encourage your child to be neat and precise in his or her work.
We
use the Prentice Hall series in our Math program, but there will be material
drawn from other sources as well.
Expectations:
-Come
in, sit in assigned seat, and have the math notebook open to start class.
-Come
to class ready to learn and willing to work.
-Notes are vital to success. Any sample problems done in class should be
copied into the notebook.
-Seek
help when it is needed. It’s easier to
keep up than catch up.
History
Text: American Nation. Prentice Hall.
Topics for 8th grade
American history are as follows:
-The nation’s road to the
Civil War.
-How the issue of slavery
tore the country apart.
-The Civil War
-Battles,
Generals, Hardships, etc.
-Reconstruction the South.
-A second influx of
European immigrants creates tension and over crowding in large cities.
-Innovation and Invention
become center of American society.
-Political reform aims to
shut down corrupt urban government.
-United States
vows to stay out of World War I.
-1920's economic
prosperity.
-Stock Market Crash sends
nation into difficult times.
-President Roosevelt gets
country out of difficulties, war looms.
-United States joins World War II after Pearl Harbor attack.
-World War II, Holocaust,
D Day.
-Allied Victory, Atomic
Bombs.
-Suburbanization/Cold War
during the 1950's.
Students
will study current events including the November election. Also, all students will be required to take
and pass a test on the State of Illinois Constitution
and the United States
Federal Constitution.
English
Text: Language Arts
Today. Macmillian/McGraw-Hill.
The
eighth graders will continue to be challenged to write coherent, developed, and
organized essays. To write well is to
use the tools and instruments of standard English;
therefore grammar and particular problem areas will be stressed. To write clearly the students be able to organize, revise, and proofread all essays. In addition to expository and personal
writing, they will be introduced to narrative and descriptive writing. Students will again be required to develop,
organize, and deliver varied types of speeches.
Also, as the students work on their science fair projects, they will be
learning the proper steps toward writing a research paper complete with
hypothesis, outline, note cards, internal citations, and works cited page.
Science
Text: Physical Science. Glenco,
1999.
The
science program consists of two main areas chemistry and physics.
The
class will consist of the following topics:
1. The Scientific Method
2. Classification Of
Matter
3. Solids, Liquids, And
Gases
4. Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Of Elements
5. Elements and Their Properties
6. Chemical Bonds
7. Motion And Forces
8. Energy
9.
Waves, Light, And Sound
10.
Electricity
11.
The Peak Energy Program
Students
will participate in lab exercises following a safety contract. The lab contract rules will be strictly
enforced to protect all involved.
Behavioral problems will not be tolerated. The number and intensity
level of the lab exercises will be dependent upon the equipment available and
budget constraints.
All
8th grade students are required to complete a science fair project
which will completed
in combination of home and classroom work. A special packet stating all of the
directions, rules, safety requirements, time table of due dates, etc... will be given.
Homework
will consist of assigned text pages, text review questions, and text created
worksheets. Additional handout readings
with questions, small reports, and special projects will be assigned during the
year.
Grades
will be based on homework, class assignments, labs, projects, quizzes, and
chapter tests. Lab grades are equal in
value to quiz grades. All quizzes and
tests are to be signed by a parent. They
must be returned within 3 school days.
The papers are saved in a file for each student. This way they are available should any
concerns dealing with grades occur.
