MATERIALS TO SUPPORT LEARNING IN GRADE 8
The goal of Emirates National Schools is to nurture and develop future leaders of the UAE. This requires that students learn differently, use different and varied
materials and apply these materials in differing contexts. The development of independent thinkers who have a global view requires that students learn to see
knowledge as an interrelated whole. Global insight develops with inquiry and creative production. Students must understand the similarities and differences
between different approaches across cultures. Students must apply disciplinary knowledge to different contexts. Solving world problems and challenges
necessitates the use of authentic and current materials.
Teaching practices and materials used must adapt to the 21 st Century. This means that students require wider and deeper access to a variety of materials from
a variety of resources to include print and electronic materials. Electronic resources provide frequently updated, current and historic sources as well as a much
wider range of access to a variety of materials. This means that students have the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of books, research, journals,
simulations, games and activities related to their learning. These resources give children opportunities to access and study information in a variety of ways, at
any time and any place. This is what learning needs to be for our children to truly become local leaders and global citizens.
In Grade 8, students are using many materials that support International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) in the classroom. The skills students
will have to master in grades 6 – 10 are thinking skills, social skills, communication skills, self-management skills, and research skills. In addition to the
development of skills and content knowledge, the curriculum also provides students with opportunities to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers,
communicators, principled, open minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective individuals. These skills and learner profile attributes will allow students
to successfully meet the standards to assure that they have foundational knowledge and understanding of content concepts that will be covered later in their
educational career. This foundation is important for students to access rigorous content in the upper grades as well as deepen their conceptual understanding
of the curriculum through the promotion of creative and critical thinking.
This is a detailed explanation of the primary resource materials used to instruct students.
1. English: Print Classroom Resources for English Language Arts are Elements of Literature; Course 1 and Write Source grade 8. Both of these texts are used in
print in class. Students also have access to e-Books of both texts. These texts and resources support all aspects of English Language Arts to include the
development of reading, writing, vocabulary and English spoken language skills. These resources also provide teachers with rich materials and resources
for standards-aligned coverage of English Language Arts. The materials are connected to very specific academic outcomes as related to the English
Language Arts Common Core Standards to assure reading, speaking and written English fluency. There are also electronic resources to support the aims as
well as to assure academic honesty.
2. Mathematics: Holt Mathematics Course 3 is the text that supports the development of mathematical understanding. Students will have access to an eBook for home use. Grade 8 students may also take Algebra1 and the text is Holt Algebra 1 which is available in the classroom and the student will receive
a CD-ROM e-Book.
3. Science: iScience Course 3 is the in-class reference text for grade 8. This program is supported via rich teaching materials that allow teachers to address
science content within the MYP framework. The science program and materials are connected to very specific academic outcomes as related to the
Science standards to assure understanding in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A minimum of 60% of class time will be
dedicated to hands-on laboratories to assure that students deeply understand scientific concepts.
4. Social Studies: Print Text to be Issued to Students: Heinmann Humanities 2, Essential Humanities 2, World Geography, World History
5. Ministry Courses: [Islamic, UAE Social Studies and Arabic]: Ministry textbooks are issued to students.
June 2013
MATERIALS TO SUPPORT LEARNING IN GRADE 8
The materials that follow are available to students in school and at home to support instruction. The electronic materials can be accessed over the Summer and
during the school year at the PowerSchool e-Learning Portal. The details of logging in are shown below.
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Web Address: http://ensps.sch.ae/public/
Login Information: User Name: Student ID Number (contact the school if you need this number) and Password: ens
On the left is a menu. Click the e-Learning Portal link for access to the electronic materials.
Grades
Subject
Print Materials
Electronic Materials
Additional Materials
8
English
Elements of Literature: Course 1 and DVD Text for Student
and Write Source for grade 8 as in-class use text and e-text
for home use
8
Arabic
Ministry Materials
Texts available with free app download from iTunes
8
Mathematics
Holt Mathematics Course 3 and student DVD text or Holt
Algebra 1and DVD Text
Math Visual Dictionary and Data Inspire on school
computers
Hands on materials
Laboratory Materials [60% of class time,
hands-on, inquiry-based laboratories],
Probeware, LoggerPro Software
Children's Library, TumbleBooks and Tumble Clouds,
Etisalat Library, Visual Thesaurus
8
Science
iScience Course 3 print text for in-class use
In School presentation materials, textbooks,
animations, videos, books, writing exemplars, and
Science Visual Dictionary
8
Social Studies
World History and World Geography
Smithsonian Education for primary source documents
8
UAE Social
Studies/Islamic
Ministry Materials
Texts available with free app download from iTunes
None
Software: Audacity, Microsoft Photostory, MovieMaker,
Camtasia, Serif Suite [video, web design, photography],
Audacity, App Inventor, Scratch, Google Sketch Up
8
8
June 2013
Technology
All Subjects
Britannica, Annenberg Learner, PBS Resources, Neo
K12, Discovery Education, Khan Academy, Smithsonian
Education, BrianPop Jr. and BrainPop ESL, and on school
computers: KidSpiration and KidPix
Novel Sets and In-Class libraries
TurnItIn