Eighth Grade Curriculum Outlines
Foundation for Writing and Literature (ENGLISH 8)
Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of world literature including a wide variety of classic and contemporary literature. They conduct in-depth analysis of recurrent themes. They deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey clear and distinct perspectives and demonstrate solid reasoning. Students write coherent and focused texts that convey a well-defined perspective and tightly reasoned argument combining the rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description. Students write and speak with a command of standard conventions of English.
Students also participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and are required to read selected works outside for Accelerated Reading credit.
Standard classroom texts:- ♦ Killgallon, D. Paragraphs for High Schools (2002)
- ♦ Prentice Hall. Literature 8e (nd)
Selected novels include but are not limited to:
- ♦ Lord of the Flies/ William Golding
- ♦ To Kill a Mockingbird/ Harper Lee
- ♦ The Old Man in the Sea/ Ernest Hemingway
- ♦ Silver / Norma Fox Mazer
- ♦ The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again / J.R.R. Tolkien
- ♦ The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn / Mark Twain
Mathematics
Students in grades 5-12 are tested and placed in the level of math they will be most successful in. Students who are accelerated will be tested and given the opportunity to take more advanced math levels. Saxon is a comprehensive system through pre-calculus, which emphasizes learning in small increments and review of all previously learned concepts throughout the year. Each night's homework consists of many different types of problems from all previous lessons.
- ♦ Math 8/7 (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
- ♦ Algebra 1/2 (Pre-Algebra) (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
- ♦ Algebra 1/Geometry (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
- ♦ Algebra 2/Geometry (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
- ♦ Advanced Math - Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
- ♦ AP Calculus - Advanced Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry (Saxon & Wang)
- ♦ Practical Math - Consumer Applications (Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1998)
Science (Lab Science: Active Physics)
This is a hands-on practical physics course to which students can relate. Active Physics is a solid, inquiry-based physics course designed to be relevant for all students. It is a "Physics First" approach to learning, which allows students of all levels to grasp physics concepts. It introduces physics concepts; which can then be further developed in biology and chemistry.
The students are provided with content in a way that they learn best. This will enable the students to:
- ♦ Understand and retain physics contents
- ♦ Realize that they can succeed in science
- ♦ Be able to apply science principles in real-world settings
- ♦ Be more likely to continue on with math and science
Active Physics adopts a thematic approach to physics. Students learn about physics on a need-to-know basis, through hands-on exploration of topics of interest. The four thematic units used at New Hope Academy are:
- ♦ Communication: students learn how light and sound signals are generated, propagated, and interpreted
- ♦ Predictions: this unit provides a solid foundation in science skills and philosophy; including measurement, probability and the distinction between facts, opinions and theories
- ♦ Sports: students gain knowledge and understanding of potential and kinetic energy as they collect and analyze data collected in investigations of speed, acceleration, velocity projectile motion and gravity
Social Studies: Geography
Text: Geography: The World and Its People (Glencoe/ Mcgraw-Hill 2002)
Students will learn about the characteristics of physical geography, such as landforms, bodies of water, and map reading skills, as well as the basic characteristics of human geography, generally broken down into the “Five themes of Geography.” Students will learn about the many ingredients of culture, and will appreciate that American culture is just one of many in the world.
Students will then study the physical and cultural geography of several regions of the world, generally including Latin America, Europe, Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and East Asia. Students will also be encouraged to share their own cultural experiences whenever possible.
Students participate in the National Geography Bee.
Foreign Language: Korean
The Korean language program is designed for students to develop and polish their skills in reading, writing, and speaking the Korean language. In addition, students will be able to identify Korean language and culture through a variety of special activities.
All students in middle and high school will have a chance to learn Korean in conversational dialogues and will be engaged in various activities throughout the year. The activities will include songs and projects that will give students the opportunity to make creative expression.
Middle school students are organized into two levels: beginner and intermediate. The lessons are oriented to teach more useful expressions in various situations.
Intermediate (8th grade): students will attend class three times a week. They will learn basic conversation and develop their speaking, reading, and writing of the Korean language. They will learn from Korean Reading II. They will study Korean cultural values, together with different cultural aspects between Korea and the USA.
Foreign Language: Spanish
Seventh and Eight Grades: The students will learn the basic structure of the language and acquire the skills necessary for oral and written communication in Spanish by using Spanish in meaningful contexts. They will be taught the cultural similarities and differences within the context of learning a second language, and understand the influence of other cultures in shaping America. Students will be able to use the language within and beyond the school setting. Materials used: Textbooks: Paso A, Paso A and B, published by Prentice Hall; Spanish/English dictionary; visual aids and worksheets.
Music
Students will apply the musical concepts they have developed from Kindergarten - 7th Grade. They will continue to build their piano playing skills. (Alfred’s Group Piano for Adults)
Information Technology
Students in the 8th grade will mostly learn about writing code for HTML pages using an online resource called “Khan Academy”, but will also be taught other skills that will help them throughout college and future careers such as building a resume, understanding advanced search functions for conducting research, word processing skills such as implementing proper citations, and more.
Programs used:- ♦ Notepad++
- ♦ Microsoft Word
- ♦ Gimp 2.0
- ♦ Tinkercad
- ♦ Windows Movie Maker
Units and Topics:
- ♦ Creating and designing web pages using HTML and CSS programming
- ♦ Making JavaScript programs with Notepad++
- ♦ Resume building tools for job hunting
- ♦ Advanced word processing skills
- ♦ Advanced Search functions
- ♦ Designing and creating multimedia projects
- ♦ Building 3D models for 3D printing
