Eighth Grade

Building Foundational Knowledge in Preparation for the Upper Level Curriculum

The eighth-grade students continue their journey together through the common curriculum, building their foundational skills. Some highlights of this year will be enjoying a medieval banquet, dressed in character; building on their study of the Old Testament to understand what Jesus is revealing about Himself in the Gospel of Luke; and performing music by composers like Bach together in a recorder ensemble. 

Curricular Overview

Algebra (2 Semesters)
Students develop fluency in working with linear and quadratic equations and their graphs. They investigate and explore mathematical ideas and relationships and develop multiple strategies for analyzing complex situations. They review properties of real numbers, learn to simplify or solve algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities, and learn to add, subtract, multiply and factor polynomials. Horizontal enrichment is available for advanced students.

Science (1 Semester)
Students continue to build on observational skills and develop a sense of wonder about the natural world. Topics which are covered include: maps and topography, minerals and rocks, plate tectonics, trees, and simple machines.

Literature and Composition (2 Semesters)
Students read and discuss literature, develop a mastery of English grammar and punctuation, and learn how to write a formally organized paragraph that becomes the basis for later essays. See our reading list for the literature of the course.

Medieval History (2 Semesters)
Students study the history of Western Europe from 410 AD to the beginning of the Renaissance, learning about the emergence and spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the Germanic and Viking invasions, the development of feudalism and manorialism, the struggles between the church and secular authorities, and the conflict between Islam and Christian Europe.

New Testament (1 Semester)
Students review the Old Testament claims about the end of Israel’s exile and then proceed with an in-depth reading of the Gospel of Luke as the story of God acting in the person of Jesus to fulfil his promises. They then read the Acts of the Apostles and excerpts from the Epistles and the Book of Revelation.

Latin II (2 Semesters)
Students continue their study of Latin in an immersive environment. They are introduced to new grammar and vocabulary through the reading of Latin stories and by listening and to responding to Latin sentences aloud. The 8th graders continue to master Latin noun forms in the five declensions, continue to develop their familiarity with adjectives and pronouns, and begin their study of verbs.

Music II (1 Semester)
Students build on the musical foundations laid in seventh grade. They play in recorder ensembles, spending much of their class time rehearsing repertoire by such composers as Praetorius, Bach, Victoria, and Palestrina. They continue to develop their ability to identify intervals aurally, visually, and at the keyboard. The students compose short duets and perform them with their classmates. As in seventh grade, they also sing and spend time listening to classical music.

Art II (1 Semester)
Students learn how to draw looking closely at lines and shading. They create family portraits with graphite and then learn about color-mixing through using colored-pencils and watercolor. The focus is on drawing perspective and depth.