By the end of 8th Grade, a student will:
Spelling/Language Arts
- Understand grammar, parts of speech, word usage, mechanics for writing, and punctuation
- Write a 6-8 page research paper
- Learn the elements of effective speech making
- Read and complete job application forms
- Write two to four page creative stories
- Give informative and demonstrative speeches
Mathematics
- Find the mean, median, and mode of a set of data
- Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals
- Evaluate numerical and algebraic expressions
- Use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve single and multi-step equations involving whole numbers, integers, fractions, and decimals
- Find the least common multiple and the greatest common factor prime factorization using exponents
- Change numbers expressed in scientific notation into standard form and vica versa
- Determine the slope, x and y axes of a given linear equation
- Convert between percents, decimals, and fractions
- Find circumference, radius, and diameter of a circle
- Use formulas to find area, surface area and volume of geometric figures
Reading
- Identify the literary techniques used by the authors of various selections
- Understand various literature terms such as alliteration, foreshadowing, imagery, irony, mood, protagonist, antagonist, etc.
- Identify the fantasy, realistic fiction, essays and anecdotes and non-fiction literature
- Summarize books in an appropriate form
- Identify major elements of a book or play
- Read orally with purpose, emphasis, and expression
- Identify climax, anticlimax, and turning point of a story and how a character changes
Science
- Define an atom and a molecule and connect the names of compounds to their constituent atoms
- Construct molecular models of simple compounds based on their chemical formula
- Read basic weather instruments and weather maps
- Classify and identify according to hardness, cleavage, luster, streak, color, and specific gravity
- Explain how crystals, minerals, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are formed
- Demonstrate how solar and lunar eclipses can occur
- Describe the rock cycle and how rocks can turn into other rocks through various processes
- Name Earth’s layers and describe what they are made of
Social Studies
- Evaluate the institution of slavery
- Analyze the causes of the Civil War and its impact on life then and now
- Analyze technological change and the advancements and problems it can create
- Explain the contributions of railroads to American expansion of the 19th Century
- Discuss the problems caused by urban expansion
- Study the cause and the affect of the Westward Expansion
- Learn the U.S. Constitution