Content Areas

Eighth grade English focuses on preparing students for the transition to high school. Students write for various purposes as they work through the writing process. Scholars construct organized expository texts that convey complex ideas and develop effective arguments using balanced reasoning and credible evidence. They practice literary analysis of both fiction and informational text. Numerous opportunities to write, debate, and participate in Socratic seminars strengthen their communication skills. Our students use technology extensively to access relevant information, build mixed-media presentations, and engage with the digital textbook. The eighth grade novels encourage awareness of civil rights, ethics, the Hero’s Journey, and cultural literacy from Shakespeare through contemporary literature. Highlights of the year include attending a live professional performance of a Shakespeare play, experiencing the Arizona Renaissance Festival, and participating in Decades Day, a cross-curricular experiential celebration of the influential time period of the 1950s to 1980s. 

Eighth Grade Math prepares for our students for High School Algebra. We begin by building on students’ solid foundation of all operations with integers and start the year with a unit solving multi-step linear equations. Next, we spend a considerable amount of time graphing linear equations and solving systems of equations. Students understand that the slope of a line is rate of change and we do a variety of activities in class to reinforce and master this new concept. In order to analyze and truly understand linear equations and slope, students complete a fun Bungee Barbie activity later in the year, when students analyze data to build and test a bungee cord here at school. The second semester focuses on grasping the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships. Next, we start our Geometry unit analyzing 2-D and 3-D figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem. We conclude with a unit on “Real Life Math,” simulating living on their own paying bills and maintaining a budget.

Eighth Grade Science combines the scientific method, scientific history, and technology, applying them to the fields of Physical Science, Environmental, and Life Science.

Energy and Matter, Properties of Matter and Changes, Earth and Human Activity, Genetics, and Animal Adaptations are just some of the topics studied. It is our purpose to connect these concepts to the living things in an ecosystem and to phenomena in the universe.

Eighth Grade Social Studies will focus on Citizenship and Civic Engagement in today’s society. Students will learn study skills through social studies curriculum beginning with information and media age. Next, students will study how the government was formed and the constitution. This unit includes formal institutions such as Congress, the courts, and the presidency, historical and current legislation and landmark Supreme Court cases, and amendments to the Constitution and ends with a fun Amendment Rap Battle between the 8th grade classes.  Students will spend several weeks understanding civics in the United States government to prepare for the Arizona Civics Test, which is taken by all 8th graders in November. Eighth grade students have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. in March to see their government at work and visit places and documents studied in the classroom. Second semester eighth graders will study units including civil rights, immigration, social movements, human rights, environmental issues, and terrorism.