SchoolSpeak
Make a DonationGrade 8
8th Grade Curriculum Overview
Reading/Literature
In 8th grade Language Arts, we expose students to a variety of readings while students perform a variety of writing tasks. We read several passages from our textbook California Treasures. These include short fiction pieces, nonfiction essays, and poetry. Students are encouraged to develop their reading skills to analyze elements of plot, character and theme. This enables them to read future works analytically and thoughtfully. We also supplement textbooks with various novels.
Religion
The instructional focus of 8th grade religion is Church History. We use Benziger’s The Story of Our Church. Students learn the history of the Church to see the Church as the body of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit. We begin with Christ’s resurrection and end the year with Vatican II. They are also assigned to read about several saints and learn their vital contribution to the Church.
In the middle of the year, students take the ACRE religion test. This enables the school to assess what the students are learning and where areas of growth exist. Students prepare for this exam, which allows them to learn about their faith.
In addition to Church History and faith development, students are also exposed to Catholic family and morality teaching through Benziger’s Family Life. This enables them to live out their Catholic values outside the classroom and in their future. At St. Justin, we enable students to live out their faith, and this book shows students how to use their faith to guide their values in the future.
Social Studies
The students will build a solid foundation in U. S. history from the initial colonization through the beginning of the Twentieth century. We will focus on colonization and the reasons for the differences in the individual colonies. Students will then investigate the formation of the Constitution and how it relates to similar documents from other countries. We will, then, move into the establishment of the nation and the development of its various regions. Students will then investigate the causes of the Civil War, the Civil War itself, and its aftermath. We will finish the year with a look at America’s transformation into a world power as she emerges into the Twentieth Century. Each unit will include an investigation into the important geographic features of our country and the role these geographical features played in the formation of the nation. We will investigate the treatment of Native Americans throughout the course of American history. We will finish the year with a study of the environment and consider the differences between conservation and preservation included in an investigation of some of our national parks and monuments.
Spelling
We also use Sitton’s Spelling program. This program is based on the idea that there are words we use on a regular basis. Rather than assign words that people rarely use in speaking or writing, the program assigns we use regularly and it repeatedly assesses students on those words. As a result, students learn to spell correctly in their everyday writing. In other words, this program helps students become better writers.
Written and Oral Language
In writing, students are assigned work in a variety of formats. These include narratives, essays, and research papers. They are given rubrics and taught how to analyze works of writing. This enables them to use critical thinking skills and write analytically in high school. Our grammar book also helps students improve their writing through grammar exercises.