Grade 8
GRADE EIGHT CURRICULUM OVERVIEW (2021-22 School Year)
“Of all stages of human development, adolescence is probably the most dramatic. Not only do adolescents change physically, they also experience a profound transformation of their soul. In terms of outlook, behavior, and capacities, the adolescent can sometimes seem like an entirely new person.” - Roberto Trostli
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility — these three forces are the very nerve of education.” -Steiner
Adolescence is indeed a time of great change in the children. Hormones begin to trigger dramatic physical growth, the skeletal system becomes heavier with their new, nearly adult frame, and the eighth graders often become too distracted to work and learn without apathy or anxiety. Adults must bear in mind the amazing work that this “growing into” a young adult human being is. Adults must also be sensitive to the feelings they are experiencing: physical discomfort, deep alienation, first attractions. Their sense of self and confidence will develop as they feel more and more connected to the curriculum, and this will help them through this transitional phase towards adulthood.
A child of this age needs inspiration through visual art, music, poetry, history, science and mathematics. This helps to carve an inward safe haven by finding the reflection of their feelings in things that are real and beautiful. Modern day history is understood through all of the curricular subjects this year, from The Age of Revolutions up until modern day, with biographies of historical figures: leaders, scientists, inventors, poets, writers, innovators.
Some of these figures will inspire, some will cause the adolescent, to begin to ask “Why?”. The adolescent, who is no longer a young child and not yet an adult, will begin to look out into the world and may, at times, feel lost at sea, questioning all things: the world, himself, the authority of parents and teachers, the meaning of life, his/her personal destiny, values of parents and even the value of life itself.
Adolescents can feel very lonely. Friends or classmates become their focus.
Taking on the task of being a reading buddy to a first grader will help the students to step outside of too much introspection, gazing outward to serve the community. To feel like a big brother or sister to a little one literally cures loneliness! This “stepping out” is an important part of developing leadership and learning to take on responsibility. It’s also a component to finding one’s star or destiny.
The mood of the curriculum in the Eighth Grade Year is, “You are here on earth to serve; how will you to choose do that?”
Block Rotation for the 2021-22 Eighth Grade
History Block 1 - Age of Enlightenment, 30 Years War, The Court of Louis XIV, Puritan and Anglican England, English Civil War, French Revolution and Bastille Day, Peter and Catherine the Great, Declaration of the rights of man, Napoleon Bonaparte, Oliver Cromwell, life in a preindustrial world, important inventions and steam power, steel, factory cities and working conditions, first people stories, Jamestown, The New World- The Speedwell and the Mayflower, Iroquois Confederacy, Thanksgiving, 13 colonies.
Math Block 1 - Geometry review and Platonic solids, area of plane figures, volume of solids, five regular solids and their elemental relationships (tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, icosahedron, dodecahedron), volume of solids, parts of a circle, volume area of a circle, surface area, Fibonacci and the golden spiral, and phi proportion.
Physiology - Muscles and Bones, reproductive system, Miracle Worker, the ear, reproductive system, nervous system, skin, yoga for teenagers, teeth, Hygeia, the Greek god of health, calories and energy, American nutrition facts, proteins, carbs and fats, vitamins and minerals, health goal journal for a week, muscles of the body, Andreas Vesalius, bones of the body (hand, foot, ribs, skull, hips, shoulder, leg, arm and human skeleton), joints, blood and lymphatic system
History Block 2 - and First Peoples Report Ben Franklin, The Crucible (play), Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere, American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, American Indian reports, Constitution, three branches of government, Jefferson biography, Bill of Rights, Louisiana Purchase, Texas independence and Mexican War, California Gold Rush, egalitarianism, Erie Canal, California Gold Rush, and origins of enslavement in the New World.
World Geography - China, and Asian country reports timeline of Chinese history, Silk Road, Creation story and the Chinese lantern, geographical and political maps of China, Confucius, Great Wall, Chinese Buddhism, Song Dynasty, Mongolian Empire and Ghengis Khan, Ming Dynasty, Republic of China, China under Mao, Cultural revolution, and modern China.
History Block 3 - Black History Month, enslavement in the USA, laws pertaining to enslavement, Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, pre-Civil War and Lincoln, Civil War, Gettysburg Address, Buffalo Soldiers, women in the Civil War, Reconstruction, Lincoln Assassination, Imperialism, Ghandi, Marxism, Stalin, Nazism, Russian Revolution, important inventors, environmental awareness and Rachel Carson, and biographies of Civil Rights leaders.
Math Block 2 - Algebra Expressions and equations, order of operations, properties of algebra, percent increase and decrease, exponents, square and other roots, FOIL method, combining like terms, mean, median, mode, range, graphing linear equations, scientific notation, using distributive property, multiplying polynomials, and graphing ordered pairs.
Physics and Weather - Three types of electrical circuits, switches and telegraph clicker, conduction of electricity, electro motor, air and water pressure, density of liquid, buoyancy, density and surface tension, boats, Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison, global air masses, clouds, wind, lightening, and Doppler effect.
Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and Health - Water as a solvent and catalyst, water cycle and forms of water, density of liquids, electrolysis, tasting and burning sugars, Fehling’s solution sugar test, iodine test for starch, gluten, capillary action, seven metals, smelting ore, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, opium and affects on our body.
Play Block - Students are writing and producing 2 fairy tale plays.
Final Block - 8th Grade projects and graduation work
THE ARTS:
Eighth grade art moves into the realm of the modern era. We will hear biographies of artists as we move through history into the 21st century, practicing their techniques, styles and famous works of art using the mediums of charcoal and watercolor. Art from people indigenous to the Americas as well as Asian art styles, landscapes, and weather themes will be practiced as our study of geography broadens. Styles of art and architecture throughout the early 20th century including art nouveau and art deco will be observed in building and various form drawings for the main lesson book. History is taught in large part through biography; thus we will draw portraits in charcoal from important and heroic men and women of our time.