8th Grade
Catholic identity must and does permeate the curriculum guidelines, instruction, and assessments. Curriculum guidelines provide a template for teachers to provide instruction, and assessments demonstrate that learners have achieved unsurpassed academic success. A process of continuous improvement ensures that curriculum guidelines are regularly examined and updated or revised where needed. For more detailed curriculum information, contact Mrs. Andrea Allen, Associate Principal, [email protected].
RELIGION
The eighth grade covers the history of the Church – its founding by Christ, its birth and life in the Holy Spirit, the marks of the one true Church, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the saints, and the role of religious communities in Church history. Also covered are the structure and hierarchy of the Church, the Magisterium, clergy, religious, and laity. Students come to know and love the Church as Christ’s Body, to better understand the nature of their life in the Church, and to respond to the teaching of the Magisterium as the sure voice of Jesus, strengthening their lives in the Church and leading them to discern their specific vocations and to live lives Christian holiness in the world today.
READING
In eighth grade, students analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new. The children also learn about Radio Plays and the impact of oral tradition on literary works.
WRITING
Our students prepare for high school through informational writing across the curriculum to fine-tune their abilities to express their academic knowledge through the craft of writing. Our students write a formal research report and write daily in the content areas. We also finish our study of English grammar in preparation for high school-level courses.
HISTORY
Our history curriculum is based on the Michigan State Standards. Our students explore history, geography, economics, government, and culture to gain a better understanding of their world. They are encouraged to relate past and present through the study of history and current events.
The study of American history involves names and dates, discoveries, and conflicts. Through the study of the facts, students will begin to see the relationships between individuals and groups that have shaped the history of the United States. It is important to present concepts that help students to understand the cause and effect of how historical circumstances have influenced the American experience. This course will cover the Civil War, Reconstruction, Progressive Era, World War I, Great Depression, World War II, and Cold War. Essay writing, analysis of historical events, note-taking, and memorization are all skill areas that students will work on. This grade will also participate in a class trip to Washington D. C. and surrounding areas in the spring of their academic year. This trip will bring many of the concepts we have studied over the past two years to “life” for the students.
RELIGION
The eighth grade covers the history of the Church – its founding by Christ, its birth and life in the Holy Spirit, the marks of the one true Church, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the saints, and the role of religious communities in Church history. Also covered are the structure and hierarchy of the Church, the Magisterium, clergy, religious, and laity. Students come to know and love the Church as Christ’s Body, to better understand the nature of their life in the Church, and to respond to the teaching of the Magisterium as the sure voice of Jesus, strengthening their lives in the Church and leading them to discern their specific vocations and to live lives Christian holiness in the world today.
READING
In eighth grade, students analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types from myths, traditional stories, or religious works such as the Bible, including describing how the material is rendered new. The children also learn about Radio Plays and the impact of oral tradition on literary works.
WRITING
Our students prepare for high school through informational writing across the curriculum to fine-tune their abilities to express their academic knowledge through the craft of writing. Our students write a formal research report and write daily in the content areas. We also finish our study of English grammar in preparation for high school-level courses.
HISTORY
Our history curriculum is based on the Michigan State Standards. Our students explore history, geography, economics, government, and culture to gain a better understanding of their world. They are encouraged to relate past and present through the study of history and current events.
The study of American history involves names and dates, discoveries, and conflicts. Through the study of the facts, students will begin to see the relationships between individuals and groups that have shaped the history of the United States. It is important to present concepts that help students to understand the cause and effect of how historical circumstances have influenced the American experience. This course will cover the Civil War, Reconstruction, Progressive Era, World War I, Great Depression, World War II, and Cold War. Essay writing, analysis of historical events, note-taking, and memorization are all skill areas that students will work on. This grade will also participate in a class trip to Washington D. C. and surrounding areas in the spring of their academic year. This trip will bring many of the concepts we have studied over the past two years to “life” for the students.
SCIENCE
Our Science curriculum is based on Next Generation Science Standards. Students will have the opportunity to study various topics of Physical Science including Matter, Chemical Interactions, and Introductory Physics. Students will develop skills necessary for scientific exploration including the application of the scientific method to questions, to test hypotheses, and to analyze data in the lab activities.
MATH
Our mathematics curriculum is designed to be challenging and motivating for all students. The mathematics curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards. The correct placement of students is essential for student success. Careful consideration of student abilities is critical to self-esteem. It is very important that all students be placed appropriately. Identification for math placement will occur in the spring of fifth, sixth, and seventh grade and will be based on multiple factors including grades, common assessments, and standardized tests.
Algebra Concepts: In this course, the foundations of algebra are developed with applications interwoven throughout. Topics include but are not limited to; operations with real numbers, solving single and multi-step equations, proportions, percent, inequalities, functions, linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, and polynomials. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and problem-solving. By successfully completing this course in 8th grade, students will be prepared for high school Algebra 1.
Algebra 1: Students will study the language of Algebra, single- and multi-step equations and inequalities, graphing, functions, linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, polynomials, quadratic functions, and radicals. By successfully completing this Algebra 1 course in 8th grade, students may be able to progress ahead in their high school math programs at an accelerated rate. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and problem-solving.
Honors Algebra: The prerequisite for this course is the successful completion of Grade 7 Algebra 1 with a final average > 80%. This course will continue to lay a strong foundation in Algebra and introduce topics from advanced Algebra and Geometry. The goal of Honors Algebra is to prepare students for the rigor of an advanced mathematics program at the high school level. This course will reinforce and deepen understanding of topics from Algebra 1, introduce selected topics from Algebra 2, reinforce basic Geometry, and introduce some advanced Geometry topics.
Textbooks
We choose books based on curriculum alignment, grade level appropriateness, and overall quality.
Our Science curriculum is based on Next Generation Science Standards. Students will have the opportunity to study various topics of Physical Science including Matter, Chemical Interactions, and Introductory Physics. Students will develop skills necessary for scientific exploration including the application of the scientific method to questions, to test hypotheses, and to analyze data in the lab activities.
MATH
Our mathematics curriculum is designed to be challenging and motivating for all students. The mathematics curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards. The correct placement of students is essential for student success. Careful consideration of student abilities is critical to self-esteem. It is very important that all students be placed appropriately. Identification for math placement will occur in the spring of fifth, sixth, and seventh grade and will be based on multiple factors including grades, common assessments, and standardized tests.
Algebra Concepts: In this course, the foundations of algebra are developed with applications interwoven throughout. Topics include but are not limited to; operations with real numbers, solving single and multi-step equations, proportions, percent, inequalities, functions, linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, and polynomials. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and problem-solving. By successfully completing this course in 8th grade, students will be prepared for high school Algebra 1.
Algebra 1: Students will study the language of Algebra, single- and multi-step equations and inequalities, graphing, functions, linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, polynomials, quadratic functions, and radicals. By successfully completing this Algebra 1 course in 8th grade, students may be able to progress ahead in their high school math programs at an accelerated rate. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking and problem-solving.
Honors Algebra: The prerequisite for this course is the successful completion of Grade 7 Algebra 1 with a final average > 80%. This course will continue to lay a strong foundation in Algebra and introduce topics from advanced Algebra and Geometry. The goal of Honors Algebra is to prepare students for the rigor of an advanced mathematics program at the high school level. This course will reinforce and deepen understanding of topics from Algebra 1, introduce selected topics from Algebra 2, reinforce basic Geometry, and introduce some advanced Geometry topics.
Textbooks
We choose books based on curriculum alignment, grade level appropriateness, and overall quality.