Eighth Grade Curriculum
Math: Algebra I
I. Introduction to Algebra
A. Variables and Equations
B. Applications and Problem Solving
C. Number Line Concepts
D. Working with Real Numbers
E. Solving Equations and Problems
1. Transforming Equations
2. Solving Problems
3. Extensions of Problem Solving Skills
II. Polynomials
A. Adding, Subtracting and Multiplying Polynomials
B. Factoring Polynomials
1. Quotients and Factoring
2. Products and Factors
3. Factoring Patterns
C. Fractions
1. Algebraic Fractions
2. Adding and Subtracting Fractions
3. Polynomial Divisions
D. Applying Fractions
1. Ratio and Proportion
2. Fractional Equations
3. Percent Problems
4. Mixture and Work Problems
5. Exponents
III. Algebraic Functions
A. Introduction to Functions
1. Using Two Variables
2. Linear Equations
3. Functions
4. Variation
B. Systems of Linear Equations
1. Solving Systems of Linear Equations
2. Applications
C. Inequalities
1. Inequalities: One and Two Variables
2. Combining Open Sentences
Eighth Grade Curriculum
D. Rational and Irrational Numbers
1. Rational Numbers
2. Irrational Numbers
3. Radical Expressions
E. Quadratic Functions
1. Quadratic Equations and Their Uses
2. Variations
IV. Textbook
A. Algebra I– McDougal Littell
Eighth Grade Curriculum
Science: Earth Science
I. Exploring Planet Earth
A. Early to Modern Scientists (1500-1650)
B. Introduction to Earth Science
C. Mapping Earth’s Surface
D. Minerals
E. Rocks
F. Plate Tectonics
G. Earthquakes
H. Volcanoes
II. Earth’s Changing Surface
A. Weathering and Soil Formation
B. Erosion and Deposition
C. A Trip Through Geologic Time
D. Energy Resources
III. Earth’s Waters
A. Fresh Water
B. Ocean Motions
C. Ocean Zones
IV. Weather and Climate
A. The Atmosphere
B. Weather Factors
C. Weather Patterns
D. Climate and Change
V. Astronomy
A. Earth, Moon and Sun
B. The Solar System
C. Stars, Galaxies and the Universe
VI. Textbook
A. Earth Science– Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Eighth Grade Curriculum
History: Modern Era (1850-Present)
I. World History
A. The Spread of Democratic Nationalism
B. The Advance of European Imperialism
C. The Collapse of Humanistic Optimism: World War I
D. The Rise of Totalitarianism: World War II
E. The Confrontation with Communism
F. Western Decline and Third World Crisis
G. Technological Innovation in the 20th Century
II. U.S. History
A. The American Civil War
B. Reconstruction
C. Westward Expansion
D. The Gilded Age
E. Progressive Movement
F. Immigration
G. World War I
H. The Roaring Twenties
I. The Great Depression
J. World War II
K. The Cold War
L. The Korean Conflict
M. The Great Society
N. The Civil Rights Movement
O. The Vietnam War
P. The Great Malaise
Q. A New Century
III. Textbooks
A. Streams of Civilization: Volume II
B. War, Terrible War (1855-1865)
C. Reconstructing America (1865-1890)
D. An Age of Extremes (1880-1917)
E. War, Peace, and All That Jazz (1918-1945)
F. All The People (1945-2001)
IV. Selected Readings from The Following Books
A. Up From Slavery
B. Company AYTCH
C. Sojurner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman
D. Virginia’s General
E. Lincoln, A Photobiography
F. Stonewall
G. Reconstructions: Binding the Wounds
H. The Yanks are Coming
Eighth Grade Curriculum
I. Stalin, Russia’s Man of Steel
J. Hitler
K. America and Vietnam – The Elephant and the Tiger
Eighth Grade Curriculum
Language Arts:
I. Composition
A. Note-Making/Outlines
B. Summarizing from Notes
C. Planning and Writing an Expository Composition
D. Focus on Essay Writing
II. Vocabulary
A. Latin and Greek Stems
B. Classic Words
C. Ideas
1. Synthesis
2. Divergence
3. Analysis
4. Evaluation
5. Aesthetics
D. Analogies
III. Grammar
A. The Parts of Speech
B. The Parts of a Sentence
C. The Prepositional and Participial Phrases
D. The Adjective and Adverb Clauses
E. Direct and Indirect Objects, Subject Complements
F. Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences
G. Diagramming Sentences
IV. Textbooks
A. The Magic Lens Volume I
B. The Word Within The Word Volume I
C. Poetry and Humanity
D. 4 Practice Workbook: Analysis of Sentences on Four Levels
E. Advanced Academic Writing Volume I
F. The Lost Tools of Writing
V. Literature
A. Drama
1. Julius Caesar
B. Reading List
1. Tales from Shakespeare
2. David Copperfield
3. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
4. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
5. City Boy, The Adventures of Herbie Bookbinder
6. Washington Square
7. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and Other Stories
Eighth Grade Curriculum
8. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Stories
9. The Red Badge of Courage
10. The Short Stories of O. Henry
11. The Play…The Importance of Being Ernest
12. Captains Courageous
Eighth Grade Curriculum
Latin:
I. Vocabulary
A. 250 words memorized, including all genitive/genders for nouns and principal parts for
verb.
II. Grammar & Memorization
A. Subjunctive Mood: all conjugations, tenses and voices
B. Subjunctive Clauses
1. Result
2. Purpose
3. Iussive
4. Cum
5. Proviso
6. Fear
C. Indirect Questions
D. Conditions
E. Deponent verbs
F. Irregular verbs
G. Iussive noun clauses
H. Gerund and gerundive
III. Critical Thinking
A. Diagramming and syntax analysis
B. Translation
C. English-to-Latin composition
IV. Selections from Original Texts
A. The Vulgate Bible
B. Catullus: Poems
C. Cicero: De oratore, Epistulae,
D. Livy: Ab Urbe Condita
E. Martial: Epigrams
F. Petronius: Satyricon
V. Textbook
A. Wheelock’s Latin, Frederic Wheelock & Richard LaFleur
Eighth Grade Curriculum
Logic:
I. Informal Logic
A. Propaganda
1. Appeal to Fear
2. Appeal to Pity
3. Appeal to Tradition
4. Appeal to Technology
B. Propaganda II
1. Bandwagon
2. Exigency
3. Repetition
4. Snob Appeal
C. Fallacies Used in Literature & History
II. Formal Logic
A. Rules of Inference (9)
B. Rules of Replacement (10)
C. Formal Proofs of Validity
D. Conditional Proofs
E. Reductio Proofs
F. Truth Trees for Consistency
G. Truth Trees for Equivalence
H. Truth Trees for Validity
III. Textbooks
A. Intermediate Logic, James Nance
B. Fallacy Detective, Hans & Nathaniel Bluedorn
Eighth Grade Curriculum
Bible:
I. Bitesize Theology
A. The Trinity
B. Sin and Atonement
C. Grace and Regeneration
D. Repentance and Faith
E. Reconciliation and Redemption
F. Justification and Adoption
G. Sanctification and Election
II. The Praying Life
A. Learning to Pray Like a Child
B. Learning to Trust Again
C. Learning to Ask Your Father
D. Living in Your Father’s Story
E. Praying in Real Life
III. The Book of Romans