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8th Grade

The unique challenges for eighth grade are what make it so fun! Students are a curious mix between child and adult, sometimes undecided on which world they want to live. Riverhill provides a safe place to grow and change through this awkward time in life. Social and competitive opportunities abound. Students may choose to participate in volleyball, tennis, basketball, Science Olympiad, Scholar's Bowl, Student Government Association, Builders Club, to name a few. During eighth grade, classroom studies include world history, language arts, and physical science. In mathematics, the students may elect to study pre-algebra or take algebra I for high school credit. Some of the trips they take include visiting the Science Museum in Huntsville and a week-long a class trip to Disney World or to Dauphin Island.

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Curriculum Summary

English


  • Punctuation
  • Capitalization
  • Quotation marks
  • Semicolon/colon
  • Appositive
  • Hyphen/Apostrophe/Brackets
  • Sentence formation
  • Syntactic complexity
  • Sentence structure/problems
  • Complete sentences
  • Parts of speech
  • Purpose of sentence/variety
  • Grammar
  • Agreement
  • Sentence patterns/Syntax
  • Articles
  • Etymology
  • Comparative/superlative
  • Non-idiomatic expressions
  • Verb forms/tenses

Writing Process


  • PERSONAL: Journal Writing/Memories, Experiences
  • SUBJECT: Character Sketch, Describing a place or event, Letter writing-letter to author, Narrative/expository, Research paper, Persuasive-defend a position
  • CREATIVE: Poetry, Analyzing theme, Stories
  • REFLECTIVE: Problems and Solutions, Compare and Contrast Essay, Book Reviews, Phase autobiography, Biographical narrative, Classification essay

Literature


  • Interpret written material
  • Apply Strategies: Making predictions, Using prior knowledge, Setting purposes, Interpreting author's meaning, Confirm author's message, Informal reading, Recreational reading, Utilize the study process
  • Demonstrate listening: Comprehend message, Understand literal meaning, Recall details, Recall sequence, Paraphrase
  • Express Opinions
  • Demonstrate ability to integrate oral reading with written composition
  • Respond orally with understanding /empathy
  • Select and explore genre
  • Determine author's purpose
  • Respect /recognize works of literature
  • Literary terms review: Plot, Theme, Imagery, Irony, Similes, Point of view, Dialogue, Style, Setting, Figurative, Short story, Personify, Metaphor, Alliteration, Symbolism, Foreshadow, Hyperbole, Tone, Biography, Mood, Monologue, Characterization

Mathematics


  • Fraction terminology
  • Solving problems containing fractions
  • Integers
  • Rational numbers
  • Prime and composite numbers
  • Least common multiples
  • Greatest common factors
  • Prime factorization
  • Absolute value
  • Round whole numbers/decimals
  • Mode of calculation
  • Estimation techniques
  • Problem solving strategies
  • Base-ten notation
  • Scientific notation
  • Order relations
  • Consumer problems
  • Ratios and proportions
  • Converting percents, fractions, and decimals
  • Exponents
  • Expanded notation
  • English and metric measures
  • Converting measurements within same system
  • Tools of measurement
  • Convex figures
  • Angles
  • Symmetry
  • Perimeter, Area, Volume, Circumference
  • Scale drawings
  • Geometric figures
  • Parallel/perpendicular
  • Cartesian plane
  • Circle
  • Algebra terminology
  • Solve equations
  • Linear equations
  • Inverse operations
  • Slope/midpoint
  • Analyze data
  • Graphs
  • Mean, Mode, Median, Range
  • Permutations
  • Probability

World History


  • Beginnings of world civilizations
  • Classical civilizations, 500 B.C. to 500 A. D.
  • World religions
  • Cultural contributions of Greece
  • Hellenic and Hellenistic world
  • Roman Empire
  • Diffusion of Christianity
  • North and Middle American Civilizations
  • China
  • World Expansion of Agrarian and Commercial Civilization, 500 A. D. to 1500 A. D.
  • Byzantine Empire
  • Islamic Civilization
  • Middle Ages
  • Japan's Classical Age
  • Middle Empire of China
  • Russian state
  • High Middle Ages
  • African Civilization
  • Italian Renaissance

Physical Science


  • Scientific Method/Models
  • Matter/States of Matter
  • Physical and Chemical Properties
  • Behavior of Gases
  • Changes of States
  • Elements/Compounds/Mixtures
  • Measuring Motion
  • Force/Friction
  • Universal Law of Gravity
  • Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Momentum
  • Fluids and Pressure
  • Buoyant Force
  • Work/Power/Simple Machines
  • Energy/Energy Resources
  • Conservation of Energy
  • Temperature
  • Matter and Heat
  • History of Atomic Theory
  • The Atom
  • Arranging/Grouping Elements
  • Chemical Bonding
  • Ionic Bonds
  • Covalent and Metallic Bonds
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemical Formulas/Equations
  • Types of Chemical Reactions
  • Rates of Chemical Reactions
  • Acids and Bases
  • Solutions, Mixtures, and Colloids
  • Organic Compounds
  • Radioactivity
  • Atomic Energy
  • Static Electricity
  • Electric Current/Electrical Energy
  • Ohm's Law/Electric Circuits
  • Magnets
  • Magnetism from Electricity
  • Electricity from Magnetism
  • Nature/Properties of Waves
  • Wave Interactions
  • Properties of Sound/Quality
  • Light/Light and Color
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum
  • Interactions of Light Waves
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