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eighth Grade Curriculum Overview

 

Reading/Writing

St. Pius X offers two levels of language arts classes in middle school. Accelerated and grade level students in eighth grade continue to develop writing, literary, and critical thinking skills using a variety of platforms. Voyages in English text and workbook provides instruction and practice in every area of grammar, usage, and mechanics, helping students build comprehensive skills for success on standardized tests and for developing essential lifelong skills beyond the classroom. The study of Latin and Greek roots, the Wordly Wise 3000 vocabulary program, and vocabulary within books and the broader curriculum support our word studies. and language inquiries. Students are challenged to think critically about textural structure, audience, author's purpose, and genre through class discussion and literary analysis as they read texts together as a class as well as through independent reading. Students are required to complete three writing assessments: narrative, expository, and opinion.

Math

Eighth grade math is taught at three ability levels. Level B follows the archdiocesan grade level standards for eighth grade Pre-Algebra. Level A follows the same guidelines in greater depth and at a faster pace. Eighth grade accelerated math is a Catholic high school level Algebra 1 class that thoroughly covers linear, quadratic, exponential, square root, and polynomial fraction functions. 

 

Science

Students in eighth grade develop an understanding of a wide range of topics in Physical Science following the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Students study the structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces and interactions, energy, and waves and electromagnetic radiation. Students explore the links between their Christian faith and scientific inquiry, understand the world they live in, and develop a sense of who they and others are as people respecting creation and their beliefs. Students learn to utilize the scientific method in their study of Physical Science by creating questions, doing research, forming a hypothesis based on experiment observations, analyzing and drawing conclusions, and then communicating their findings.

Social Studies

The eighth grade will be learning about the formation of the United States. From the earliest explorers traveling from Europe to the Americas, forming relationships with the native people and setting up colonies. Students will look at culture, economy and government of the British Colonies. They will focus on the spirit of independence and our road to the Revolutionary War. Studying the Constitution will help students understand the set-up and function of our government. Finally, eighth graders will learn how the US moved toward the Civil War, and after it was over, how the US tried to rebuild. They will be using art, literature and technology to explore a culture that seems long ago, but it still alive today.

Religion

Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Pius X School seeks to foster in students' knowledge, respect and reverence for self, others, God, and God's creations. Students begin each day in prayer and pray throughout the day and Mass is celebrated weekly. The study of the Catholic faith is designed to inspire spirituality, critical thinking, prayer, compassion, and to live as Disciples of Christ.