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Eighth Grade Curriculum
English 8 - Daily, Full Year
In eighth grade English students develop reading, composition, grammar
and vocabulary skills as they explore the theme "Man and Our Nature."
Using analytical skills, students explore prejudice and the effects of
discrimination upon man and society, and the effect that the pressures
of "time" place on man. Major emphasis is placed upon self-expression,
basic writing skills, and response to literature. Special attention is
given to learning literary terms and developing written work. All students
read four novels and a variety of other genres.
Texts:
Explorations in Literature
The Writer's Craft
Elements of Writing
English Workshop
Skills Practice-Green Level
Vocabulary Workshop-Level D
Choice Novels: A Christmas Carol, Night, To Kill a Mockingbird
Pre-Algebra (Grade 6,7,8) Daily, Full Year
In pre-algebra, students are introduced to the language and reasoning
of algebra while reinforcing the rational number operations-particularly
with decimals and fractions, order of operations, ratios and proportions,
percents, number properties, exponents, geometric figures, areas, and
volumes. They begin the study of algebra with the following topics: multiple
step equations, operations with positive and negative numbers, evaluating
and simplification of expressions, linear equations with coordinate graphing.
Probability and radicals are also included in this study along with the
Pythagorean Theorem.
Text: Pre-Algebra I (Davison, Landau, McCracken, Thompson)
Algebra I (Grade 7,8) Daily, Full Year
Algebra I is the foundation for all other courses in mathematics. It supplies
the language and patterns of reasoning needed for other branches of mathematics.
Topics to be studied in depth are the real number system, axioms, equations,
inequalities, polynomials, exponents, linear equations with coordinate
graphing, systems of linear equalities, rational and radical algebraic
expressions, radicals or roots, and quadratic equations.
Text: Algebra I (Foerster)
Geometry Honors Full Year
Prerequisite: Algebra I and Departmental Recommendation
This accelerated and enriched course places emphasis on developing critical
thinking skills. Geometric concepts will be studied in depth as deductive
reasoning is developed. Students with a strong aptitude for mathematics
and with a high level of success in Algebra I will be considered as candidates
for this course.
Science (Grade 8) Daily, Full Year
An inquiry-based, lab-oriented curriculum provides an introduction to
chemistry, physics, and Earth science.
Text: Introduction to Matter, Interactions of Matter, Active Physics
Predictions, Earth's Changing Surface, and Interactions of Matter and
Energy: Laboratory Manual.
SOCIAL SCIENCE - American History (Grade 8) Full Year
This is a survey course about the history of our nation from "discovery"
through the present, examining the growth of our nation by looking at
the diversity of the people who settled here, the adversity they faced,
our coming of age as a nation, and our role in the world today. Research
and writing skills that have been introduced in the seventh grade will
be developed further during the eighth grade year. Some areas of emphasis
include the Spanish American War and the advent of yellow journalism,
the role of manifest destiny and American imperialism, the Roaring Twenties,
the Holocaust, as well as an in-depth look at the Constitution and the
Bill of Rights, including exploration of Supreme Court cases and Constitutional
issues, and the electoral process. A major term paper is due at the beginning
of the third term. The topic is individually chosen, subject to teacher
approval.
Texts: The Story of America
Foreign Language 1B (Grade 8) Daily, Full Year
This course is the equivalent of the second half of French I or Spanish
I, presented appropriately for middle school students. There is a comprehensive
final exam. Students successfully completing this course receive one high
school credit and normally take French II or Spanish II in ninth grade.
Texts: Discovering French Bleu-Deuxième Partie (& workbook)
En Español 1B (& workbook)
Discovery in Art (Grades 6, 7 & 8) Daily, One Trimester
The middle school art courses are a three-year, hands-on experience in
which students are challenged to work in many different media with projects
alternating between two-dimensional and three dimensional activities.
Artists, art in society, and art history are discussed as they relate
to what the students are discovering on their own, using art as a resource.
At least one project per year is a group activity in which students have
the opportunity to experience group planning and dynamics. Students are
taught to recognize the elements of design that they are using naturally
in their own work. Composition and the principles of design are introduced
at this time as they relate to the ability of the students to communicate
ideas successfully. Discussing why pieces work well and critiquing pieces
also start in these three years.
Music (Grades 6, 7, & 8) Daily, One Trimester
Students at the Middle School level will experience music through a variety
of challenging vehicles, including singing, composing, performing, listening,
and dancing.
Music concepts will be reinforced through various specific skills. Conducting,
group composition, rhythmic and melodic dictation, handbell ringing, and
comparative listening will further enhance the student's ability to make
individual and group judgment concerning the value of music.
Middle School music will include the study and analysis of vocal techniques,
instruments, musical scores, music history, and musical theater. Twentieth
century musical types including serialism, minimalism, jazz, musical theater,
folk, popular, and rock music will be investigated to demonstrate relevance
and will be dealt with in comparison with music of the past.
An individualized listening log will be required of all students. Students
will be challenged to discover the importance of music and the role it
does and will play in each of their lives.
Health (Grade 8 - World & Community Health) Daily, One Trimester
This class takes students on an in-depth look into the contemporary health
issues of our community and world. Current events are heavily utilized
as students learn about the choices made by individuals and how they impact
cultures and societies as a whole. Throughout the year students will be
responsible for researching pertinent topics and sharing new found knowledge
with the MVS Diversity Council and the school community. A finale of this
course is a 2-week demonstration of accumulated health and lifestyle skills
via the care of an independent individual (i.e. infant).
Resources: The New York Times Upfront; current events; community human
resources
Computers (part of one trimester)
This course reviews and advances word processing and spreadsheet skills
as well as introducing presentation graphics. Instruction focuses on the
use of Microsoft Office and its different modules. A portion of this course
is an individual laboratory experience, with class time allotted for research
and developing a presentation using PowerPoint for Ancient Cultures (grade
7) or American History (grade 8) class, as well as using Excel and Word
to write labs for Science class.
Physical Education (Grades 7 & 8) Two to three days per week
This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to experience
a variety of team sports. The following aspects of sport are emphasized:
- Developing skills that improve one's strength, endurance, flexibility,
coordination, and speed. Individual goals will be set in these areas.
- Understanding the rules and regulations that govern each sport (through
participation in a variety of modified drills and games).
- Understanding basic forms of team play and strategy.
- Exhibiting sportsmanlike behavior.
Skills (Grades 6, 7, & 8) Five days a week
This course provides remedial help in basic study skills and in academic
areas in an individualized and small?group setting, when the need has
been determined by psycho-educational testing. The course is taught by
the skills specialist, who also works with classroom teachers to coordinate
remedial and regular programs and to provide diagnostic and prognostic
support.
Electives for 7th and 8th graders - 2006-07
We have created a unique learning opportunity for the 2005-06 school year.
We will be offering “electives” to seventh and eighth graders
during the first and second terms. These courses will be cross-graded
(contain both seventh and eighth graders in the same section), and students
will be allowed to prioritize their interests. There will be approximately
five options per term with students being in a different course each term.
We will use their initial prioritization to schedule them for each term.
During the third term, each grade will have a combination of physical
education, writing lab, and computers. These will be taught by grade level.
The elective courses being offered for the first and second term are:
Team Sports and Team Building - Instructor: Mike Coleman
T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) elective will be a combination
of team sports, team building group exercises, and sporting news, as it
relates to sportsmanship and character. The emphasis of the team sports
component will be to improve the skills of each athlete, increase their
knowledge of the game, and encourage healthy team competition. Team building
exercises will be used to promote the importance of players working together
by listening, leading, following directions, and sharing information in
groups. Finally, sporting news will be used as case studies for sportsmanship
and character. Through reading and discussion students will be able to
evaluate and process the importance of making good choices for all athletes.
Introductory Principles of Speech and Debate - Instructor: Claire
Larson
A Speech and Debate class has been implemented in the MVS curriculum
to improve overall public speaking skills for middle school students.
Proper posture, pronunciation, confidence, knowledge, etc. are all important
for future interviews and presentations, therefore learning the proper
skills in middle school can be extremely beneficial. We will focus on
how to write and perform introductory, persuasive, and factual speeches.
In addition, improvisational performances, radio/news readings, mock telephone
calls, mock interviews and other “real world” situations will
be rehearsed to improve confidence and poise while conversing with others.
For the debate portion of the class we will discuss the proper format
of a debate, (including strong opening and closing statements) as well
as how to make a convincing rebuttal. This class requires 100% participation
and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
An Introduction to Archeology - Instructor: Patti DeLotell
Working as detectives, archaeology students will sort through buried discards
to uncover clues and details about how past cultures lived. Students will
be excavating and gathering artifacts, studying and analyzing data, and
then interpreting and writing about his/her discoveries. Vast amounts
of patience and perseverance are required for this course, along with
the ability to “ think outside of the box.”
Dance Movement and Theory (taught by a professional choreographer)
The purpose of Dance Movement and Theory is to enhance and develop a student’s
creative thought process, increase artistic appreciation, raise cultural
awareness, and potentially inspire future interests in a fun, eclectic,
and energizing environment, intended to stimulate, nurture, and promote
self-confidence to all students. This class will consist of the study
of dance and elements of musical theatre. Students will study different
genres of dance (e.g., hip-hop, funk, jazz, street, modern, tap, ballet,
musical theatre) and gain insight to the genius of the choreographers
who inspired them. Students will participate in this class through the
use of physical activity improving students’ coordination skills
and internal rhythm. Movement will compliment the theory curriculum, be
interactive, and participation in movement is required. Students will
learn proper dance technique, with focus on strengthening, conditioning
and flexibility, while promoting body awareness and confidence. Students
will learn choreography set to music and will participate in a showcase
performance on the last day of the class term. The showcase will consist
of dance selections as well as scripted dialogue the students can choose
to recite as part of the showcase.
Science Olympiad (this will be limited to students who have an elective period when Mrs. Lyon is free). There will still be other opportunities for students who are interested.
Science Olympiad (SO) is very much like Power of the Pen or Math Counts. It is an academic competition.
An SO elective will give students, who are interested in competing, an opportunity to work on the 23 events of the competition during the school day.
Building time for those events that require projects
Study time for the other categories
The 23 events are broken down into six categories: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Technology, and the Nature of Science.
Constructions, computers, graphing calculator - Instructor: Rebecca Kessler
While drawing geometric figures is fairly simple, construction applying the techniques used by the early Greek geometers involves more skill. To construct in geometry is to draw figures using only a compass and a straight edge. Students will use these tools to construct triangles, squares, congruent segments, altitudes, perpendiculars, medians, circles, and tangents to circles. They will then move on to the computer using Geometer’s Sketchpad to explore geometry concepts such as Euler’s line and the nine-point circle. Basic instruction on the TI-89 will be provided giving students the opportunity to experience the many possibilities attributed to the use of a graphing calculator.
Theatre
This course will offer an introduction to the craft of acting. Improvisation games and techniques will help teach the essentials of all acting: listening and reading. Students will learn the “guideposts” of preparing a role and developing a character—such as “the moment before” and motivation—and will apply those techniques to monologues and scene work. The class “final” will be the presentation of their work to an audience.
Filmmaking and Editing - Instructor: Carol Myers
This course will offer an introduction to basic filmmaking and editing. Students will have the opportunity to use digital movie cameras and state of the art editing software (Final Cut Pro). Students will be required to create a storyboard, film the project, and most importantly, learn how to edit. Class will be limited to approximately five students. |
