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Eighth Grade

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

 

Bible

The objective of 8th grade Bible class is to read, discuss and apply biblical truth, train students to understand and defend their faith and challenge them to think about present and future life choices through the lens of a Christian worldview.  Studies focus on apologetics, biblical understanding and personal application of biblical truth.

Major topics:

  • Objections to Christianity
  • Christian Worldview
  • Comparative Religions
  • Theology
  • Ethics
  • Personal Evangelism

Classwork includes PowerPoint lectures, discussions, Bible studies, vocabulary building, Bible commentary understanding and Bible passage memorization.  The primary text is the Quest Bible.  The Case for Faith (Lee Strobel) is used for apologetics training and Lightbearers (Summit Ministries) is used for worldview understanding.

A New Testament major research project is assigned during the second quarter of the school year and completed during the fourth quarter.

 

 

English/Language Arts

The primary goal in English-language arts is to develop 21st century skills in these four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students read a mixture of classical literature, modern literature, and nonfiction text. Through these studies, students are taught to be critical readers and responders of literature and nonfiction text by asking the right questions, and through their developing skills in text analysis and interpretation. Students are also introduced to academic talk for the purpose of becoming mature listeners and speakers through Socratic seminars, vocabulary usage, and text accountability.

Major Units:

  • Poetry
  • Classic Novel
  • Persuasion
  • Research Paper
  • Novel

Classwork and homework include responses to literature or nonfiction text in a class notebook, independent home reading, annotation, vocabulary, essays, and group projects.

Major projects:

  • Literary Analysis Essay
  • Narrative Essay
  • Research Paper
  • Persuasive Essay

 

History (United States)

In eighth grade U.S. History, we seek to develop effective analytical skills, while evaluating historical issues, and demonstrating understanding of major historical events in American history between the mid-18th century and early 19th century.  As part of our studies, students strive to appreciate, and preserve events, documents and institutions which preserve our freedom.

Major units include:

  • Colonial America
  • The American War for Independence
  • History and Components of the U.S. Constitution
  • Early 19th Century America
  • The American Civil War
  • The American West, American Expansion and War with Spain
  • “Over There” (Yanks in the “Great War”)

Class work includes discussion, debate, PowerPoint presentations, document analysis, map memorization and analysis, and narrative presentation and analysis.  Our textbook is supplemented by historic documents, current news stories, and other scholarly texts.

Mastery of national and local geography (political and physical) is expected to be regularly demonstrated by eighth grade students throughout the school year.

 

Mathematics

Pre-Algebra is an introduction/foundation course for Algebra.  Students explore integers, variables, and expressions.  They learn to solve equations and inequalities and apply the rules of exponents.  They discover the connection between fractions, rational numbers, ratios, percents, proportions, and probability.  Students also receive an introduction to geometry, by studying right triangles and computing measurement, area, and volume.

Algebra builds on prior knowledge from pre-algebra. In addition, students are expected to master many skills which they will need in order to be successful in future math courses.  Algebra students solve equations and inequalities while exploring linear functions.  They understand the solutions of systems and rules of exponents.  Most of the course is spent studying polynomials, including multiplying, dividing, adding, subtracting, factoring, graphing and solving.

Geometry is an advanced level course which requires students to be independent thinkers and apply their knowledge to real life situations.  Students first learn geometry vocabulary, terms, and reasoning.  Next they explore parallel & perpendicular lines and properties of triangles.  Students learn ways to prove triangles are congruent, rules of right triangles, and triangle similarity.  Next they move on to discover attributes of polygons.  Students also receive an introduction to trigonometry and examine perimeter, circumference, and area.  Lastly, students learn and have fun with probability.

 

Science

In 8th grade Physical Science the objective is to prepare students for high school chemistry and physics. Students study the periodic table, forces, and motion to name just a few. The study of these concepts increases the students’ ability to relate to everyday occurrences and observations around them and connects to specific scientific findings they make throughout the year.

Major units:

  • Elements and the Periodic Table
  • Motion and Energy
  • Forces
  • Covalent and Ionic Bonds
  • Study of Atoms
  • Astronomy

Classwork includes lectures, discussions, group projects, presentations, field trips, and reading assignments, along with homework.

A science fair project will be assigned where students must complete a finished project and include an abstract, logbook, written report and oral presentation.

 

Spanish

All middle school students at CCS take Spanish 1A (7th Grade) and 1B (8th Grade). This is a high school level class that provides students with an introduction to the Spanish language by practicing a variety of vocabulary topics and grammatical structures in the target language. Students also learn about different countries and cultures where Spanish is spoken, making connections and comparisons with their own.

Students are engaged in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and hands on projects to be able to communicate in Spanish on various topics such as: introducing/describing oneself and family, school activities and subjects, school supplies, clothing and food, ordering food at a restaurant, housing and furniture, sports, healthy choices and the body, and extending invitations among others.