In eighth grade, students are given opportunities to grow as leaders in our school. They are called to be models of Christ through their guidance and interactions with the younger students in our school particularly as family group leaders. Students are called upon to build relationships with God, their Church, family and friends.
During the eighth-grade year, students participate in two retreats, a one-day event at St. Peter Church and an overnight retreat in May at Grove Christian Service Camp. These opportunities for spiritual growth, reflection and community building are led by high-school students who are often alumni of St. Paul Parish School.
Eighth-grade classes are challenging and encourage preparation for high school. We hone skills in note-taking, organization and test preparation and encourage independent learning. Eighth grade students are divided into smaller groups for Algebra or Pre-Algebra and science to allow for more hands-on learning and the accommodation of different learning styles. Special events in science include building and racing non-motorized cars and a field trip to OMSI to explore chemistry.
8th GRADE CURRICULUM (focal points)
Religion
Church history, chastity education, Steps to Respect
Language Arts
Reading Focus: reading and interpreting a wide variety of literature from our culture and other cultures; focused group novel study
Writing Focus: learning to write in various types and for various purposes and audiences, producing a year-end project with writing samples
Speaking/listening focus: present information to a peer audience using a variety of modes
Language focus: developing style and voice in writing using standard English grammar, demonstrating understanding of figurative language and nuances in vocabulary.
Math
Algebra: Algebraic expressions and operations, linear equations and inequalities, quadratic and exponential functions. Pre-algebra: linear functions, analyzing data, analyze two and three-dimensional figures
Science
Electricity (circuits), electromagnetism, waves (sound, light), work, machines, energy, motion and forces (car project), the atom, interactions of matter (chemistry) and the scientific method.
Social Studies
Students examine early American history up to the Civil War era. The study of U.S. history is a year that answers many questions students have as well as clarifies many misunderstandings that exist based on inaccurate or assumed beliefs.
Art, Physical Education, Spanish, Music, Computer Technology, and Library
