8th Grade Information and Updates
8th Grade Academic Updates
Please reach out to your student's teacher with specific questions regarding content or your student's progress.
Science
For the months of September and November, students will be learning about Energy and how they use various forms in their everyday lives. Students will be conducting various labs and designing robots as assessments for the energy standards.
We’re wrapping up our learning about energy and moving into an exciting new unit on Physics! Students will explore Newton’s Three Laws of Motion and discover how these laws help explain the safety features in automobiles and the science behind sports performance. Students can get ready for hands-on investigations and real-world applications of motion and force!
Math
In Algebra 1, students are currently learning to solve equations with variables on both sides, then solve inequalities in one variable. Lessons will involve a combination of collaborative note-taking and practice. Students can use their notes on lesson quizzes.
In Algebra 1, we will evaluate and identify functions in a variety of ways. Students will take a Unit 3 quiz to demonstrate their understanding of the math standards. We will also complete a linear equations and linear functions project in December.
This unit in 8th-grade math is all about rigid transformations and congruence. Students will learn to describe translations, rotations, and reflections using coordinates, with an introduction to dilations. Grades will be based on a unit quiz, as well as in-class practice and participation.
In 8th Grade Math, students will simplify expressions, write and solve multi-step equations with variables on both sides of the equal sign, and solve equations with special cases. Students will be assessed through paper quizzes, Freckle assignments, and an equations poster project.
Language Arts
In Language Arts, students are learning about The Hero’s Journey and tracking the Hero’s Journey storyline through film, short stories and novels. Additionally, students will be practicing citing evidence and writing short responses. For the final assessment, students will choose to write either a narrative or essay.
Each day I provide students with independent enrichment time to focus on improving their literacy skills at their level. Please encourage your students to take advantage of this time. It is evaluated at the end of the semester based on Reading, Writing, and Vocabulary standards. Finally, if your student is interested in the Honor’s Track, check in with them to make sure they understand the requirements and encourage them to ask me if they don’t!
We are starting Unit 2- Dystopian Literature. We will be learning about Utopian and Dystopian literature and reading The Giver together as a class. We are continuing our Enrichment time, and students are encouraged to either build skills in ZINC or Freckle or to read an independent book. I have many dystopian novel suggestions for them to choose from. Our daily slides and monthly calendar are posted on the schoology website and I encourage students to check here first if they are missing anything! Since we are reading the novel out loud in class, if anyone misses they will need to read the chapters independently. Students will be writing an analytical essay about the Giver.
Social Studies
Ms.Chamberlin - This month in U.S. History, we're building on our foundational knowledge. We'll continue to explore U.S. geography, Native American, European, and West African cultures, and the analysis of exploration and cultural exchange. We will also begin our study of the European colonization of the Americas. Student progress is assessed through in-class activities from the Discovery Education tech book, which are aligned with Colorado State standards.
In Social Studies, students are learning about the causes and consequences of the American Revolution. This includes examining the events leading up to the revolution, important vocabulary, analysis of the Declaration of Independence, and key historical figures. Students will be assessed through writing prompts that demonstrate their understanding of the content, proper use of vocabulary, and their ability to explain how events, people, and documents have shaped America.
Mr. Miller - In Social studies we are looking at the causes of European exploration into the Americas and the formation of the 13 colonies under the British crown.
We will be finishing up our investigation into the practices and cultures of the 13 colonies and begin our study of the Revolutionary War and the outcomes that followed.
Ms. Causi - During DLSS, students will explore how the original Thirteen Colonies in North America were founded, who settled them, and how settlement patterns shaped their growth. Students will analyze the geographic features, cultural influences, and economic opportunities that encouraged colonists to establish communities along the Atlantic coast. They will also examine the differences between New England, Middle, and Southern colonies, including why settlers chose certain locations, how natural resources influenced settlement patterns, and how the origins of the colonies continue to affect the development of the United States today. By engaging with maps, primary sources, and class discussions, students will identify and explain the relationship between the colonies’ origins and the distinct settlement patterns that emerged in early America.