Grade 8

The science curriculum focuses on the skills and process of science. Grade 8 science students study chemistry, cell biology, genetics and evolution. Through laboratory investigations, research projects, debates, and modeling, students gain a deeper understanding of the nature of science.

In 8th Grade History, students prepare to be global citizens in an ever-more interconnected and interdependent world. The course fosters cross-cultural competency and a global perspective, two crucial 21st century skills. Students will be asked to reflect on their own identity and empathize with other people from different times and places. We will learn about some of the events that shaped the nations and peoples of the twenty-first century, as well as issues we all currently face. Topics covered include the development and interaction of five world religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism. We also touch on European colonialism and decolonization, as well as historical and ongoing conflicts across the globe.

Our Grade 8 students are able to apply their advanced world language skills in Spanish, French, and Latin by writing a full paragraph utilizing vocabulary and appropriate grammar, as well as demonstrate proficiency by reading short passages and stories, and completing interactive speaking and listening activities. All languages incorporate cultural competence.

Our coordination with the Wellness Collaborative program helps students understand the underlying causes and responses to stress, anxiety and self esteem. This program, in conjunction with social-emotional learning opportunities in advisory, provide students with strategies to help them navigate the pressures they face.

In our English curriculum, students complete analytical, personal, creative, and expository writing tasks, making full use of the writing process to produce high-quality and effective writing pieces, including a five-paragraph essay on moral courage. Reading journals for Grade 8 students highlight close reading skills as they summarize and make use of inferences, character observations, and setting observations, all while fostering higher level thinking skills. Students participate in class-led dynamic and organic discussion on reading selections, and even respond to peer journals and provide specific feedback on the use of elements for classmates.