EIGHTH GRADE LEVEL OVERVIEW

The primary focus of eighth grade is educating students in the knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ, along with equipping them with the skills in the assigned subject areas for the advancement into the high school experiences.  Personal responsibility for organizing and completing work is highly emphasized.  In addition, high expectations are put on the students to step into the role of “leaders” of the school, by both helping the younger students and making God-pleasing decisions about conduct.       RELIGION Basic Church History is the emphasis of these units.  Completion of each section is emphasized with a paper that students write digging into the specifications of a certain area covered.       READING, LITERATURE Short stories, prediction, fiction vs. non-fiction and literacy analysis lead to the continued skill of comprehension.  Vocabulary skills are enhanced by the continued expectation of useful resources to gain knowledge.       WRITING, SPELLING, HANDWRITING Review of grammar and parts of speech help enhance the many areas of writing.  Encompasses all different forms of writing with a trial piece written by students.  Elements of writing are learned and practiced in paper writing.  Neatness and orderliness are expected with each submission of work. Weekly spelling words continue to excel student vocabulary.  Neatness, and cursive are emphasized within their different education materials.       MATHEMATICS Basic operations are performed in algebraic formulas, fractions and mixed numbers.  Probability, rates, rations and geometry concepts are covered.         U.S. HISTORY Major concepts that involved the U.S. though positive or negative influences are major areas in each unit.  Some areas that are focused on are Colonization, the Civil War, WWI, WWII and current election proceedings.       SCIENCE Scientific method, cell make-up, cell division, vertebrates and invertebrates are areas of focus.  In-depth units help enhance learning. Projects are used to convey full understanding and unique ways of science.       ART, COMPUTER, MUSIC Students are asked to express themselves through their art skills.  Drawing, painting, radial designs, color schemes and directional art enhance artistic abilities.  Neatness and orderliness are expected with each project completion.   Students have music instruction each week.  Music involves singing, listening, and playing simple instruments.  Students will demonstrate understanding of rhythm patterns.  Students will recognize letter names of lines and spaces in the treble clef.  Students will recognize the importance of music in worship and everyday life.  They will learn a variety of Christian songs, hymns, and secular songs.  All students prepare and present a Christmas and Spring Musical.   Students will learn common computer programs such as Microsoft Word and Power Point.  These programs work with the classroom curriculum and prepare students for using technology in high school.  Students also study other topics in computer technology such as programs that protect the computer, computer hardware, and internet safety.         PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH Sports units enhance student skill level. Good sportsmanship and cooperation with others and rules are taught hand-in-hand throughout the different units.  Human body systems, nutritional care, and exercise encompass the areas of health education.        ELECTIVE Cooking, sewing, industrial technology, departmentalized art – Measurement with cooking utensils, reading recipes, and proper preparation are elements in cooking.  Making a dinner with classmates is a requirement.  Learning the tools to a sewing machine, proper materials with assigned measurements are expected all combine to enhance skills in sewing.  A project is required at the end of the unit.  Tools, proper usage, safety, and care of them make the learning of industrial tech a learning experience.  A woodworking project is involved in this unit.  A specific department of art is taught learning the skills and tools needed for this area.