Grade 8

Science

The grade 7 science course focuses on the study of human biology. Students become familiar with the organization of the human body, from cells and tissues to the major systems of the body. The course emphasizes a number of areas of biology, including human growth and development, nutrition, health and fitness. Body systems and functions including respiration, circulation, digestion, reproduction and excretion are examined in depth. In addition, students are introduced to a wide range of current topics in medicine and health through an online research project. Classroom discussions around ethical issues pertaining to technological advances in biology and medicine, along with a focus on current events in science, enliven debate among students about science, technology, and climate change, and their impact on humanity and life on earth.

Social Studies: History and Place

The grade 7 social studies curriculum is designed to investigate the concept of place, using the critical thinking and observational skills of historians to understand how a locality functions and evolves over time. The course begins by helping students identify how locations shape who they are, what they believe, and how they behave. Then, building on this understanding, students spend the rest of the year studying Ancient Athens and New York City by asking the same essential questions of both places. These questions include: How did these cities originate? How did their political systems evolve over time? What monuments, visual statements, and physical sites were important to the people who lived and visited these cities, and why? How did these cities rely on infrastructure to uphold a certain quality of life? To what extent did these cities wrestle with the ideals of democracy and the realities of inequality? How did the citizens of each city uphold and debate core values in a famous trial? The course then investigates the history of our school on 91st street and situates the building within the context of New York City’s history. The class culminates in an oral history interview project, in which students interview alumnae, faculty, staff, and parents associated with CSH to build and archive a history of our school and its community members. This course is designed to build on the historical thinking skills developed in the 5th and 6th grade, while also preparing students for the civics themes that will be more thoroughly examined in 8th grade.

LANGUAGES

In grade 7, students begin their high school modern language sequence. These courses count toward one-half of the first year of modern language as required in Upper School. Upon completion of grade 8 French or Spanish, students receive one high school language credit and may proceed to the second-year course.

French and Spanish, Standard

In grade 7, students complete the first half of high school level 1 in their chosen language. The cornerstone of learning continues to be the four essential language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are expected to become proficient in the use of grammatical structures and expand their knowledge of vocabulary terms. Daily conversational practice helps students learn how to communicate accurately and effectively. Comprehension and reading skills are strengthened by primary readings. Cultural topics include the family, school, pastimes, and demographic issues in French and Spanish speaking countries.

French and Spanish, Honors

In grade 7, students complete the first half of high school level 1 in their chosen language. The foundation of learning continues to be the four essential language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. The classroom is language immersive, therefore students are expected to use French/Spanish nearly 100% of the time. This Honors level course is designed to serve those students who are self-starters, can work independently, have Excellent organizational skills, and can proceed at an accelerated pace. Students in this course are expected to learn a greater amount of advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary terms with precision. In addition, students develop more sophisticated writing, speaking, and comprehension skills to achieve a higher level of fluency, which is reinforced by daily conversational practice and primary readings.

Introduction to Latin

In grade 7, students are introduced to Latin through a reading-based approach. As a result, they develop solid translation, comprehension, and reading skills. In this approach, students focus on learning vocabulary and only the grammar essential to making sense of the Latin readings. Inflections of verbs, nouns, adjectives, and pronouns are gradually introduced throughout the year. To foster the students’ awareness of and appreciation for the interconnectedness of languages, special attention is paid to

the contribution of Latin to French and Spanish as well as the origins of English terms. Students learn about Roman culture and history and make connections to modern society through STEAM-based projects, debates, and creative writing exercises. This course serves as a foundation for students interested in continuing their study of Latin in grade 8.

Library

Although the librarian continues to present book talks introducing new acquisitions and thematically related titles, students often lead these presentations. They outline, create, and present book talks, and produce dynamic book trailers that advertise the books they have read. Students discuss ethical and integrity issues that center on intellectual property, plagiarism, and copyright laws. Skills reviewed include searching for print resources in the library, using keywords to find articles in online subscription databases, and citing primary and secondary sources, as well as using the Note Cards feature in Noodle Tools for note-taking and paraphrasing. The library complements the grade 7 curriculum by curating both print and electronic resources needed for specific research projects, and it integrates research skills learned in previous grades across all disciplines. Students use their library skills and knowledge of the patron catalog to locate fiction and nonfiction materials on the shelves.

Art

In grade 7, students explore new compositional strategies through a series of two- and three-dimensional works that incorporate a variety of materials. Students are taught observation skills such as perspective, measurement and grid systems, and they create compositions that are visually interesting and balanced. As students learn different techniques, they study contemporary artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Jennifer Angus, and Claes Oldenburg. Assignments encourage students to develop their own voice and expressions in their artwork. Students experiment with a variety of mediums, such as drawing, painting and three-dimensional fabrication.

Performing Arts

Performing arts in grade 7 consists of units in music and drama. Music class focuses on the development of popular music in the 20th and 21st centuries through the study of a variety of genres. The year is dedicated to the practice of more advanced vocal technique, and includes improvisation, arranging and composition. Rudimentary ukulele and mallet percussion technique is introduced to explore the harmonic structure of popular music. Lyrical content is examined and analyzed in discussion, and students work diligently for in-class performances. Violin and flute are offered once a cycle as an elective.

The seventh grade drama units examine archetypes presented in tragedies and melodramas. Students study the tragic hero, the role of the chorus, power dynamics and how women are portrayed in Greek tragedies, Shakespearean tragedies, and contemporary musicals. As they learn about each genre, students perform a variety of partner scenes and monologues, applying acting and movement techniques they have learned to more sophisticated works.

Physical Education

The goals of the Middle School physical education program are overall physical fitness, growth in motor abilities and coordination, increased understanding of game rules and basic game strategies. Units in volleyball, soccer, basketball, badminton, track, softball, lacrosse and swimming will be offered as electives to all Middle School students. Classes in dance, fitness and yoga concepts are also integrated into the program. Students will have the additional opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports teams.

Technology

The technology course in grade 7 provides students with an overview of the three main strands of technology: digital citizenship, operational use, and computational thinking. Students apply tech skills to complete projects while making connections to other disciplines such as science, math, humanities, world language, art, and music. Students engage in coding (both block-based and textbased) as well as engineering through the design thinking process.

Retreat Program

At the opening of the school year, students attend an overnight retreat with the theme, “Responding to God’s Love.” The retreat is grounded in God’s unconditional love for all people and invites students to engage in a variety of self-reflective activities to help them identify their individual gifts, talents, and areas of growth. Team-building activities are designed to foster a strong understanding of the special qualities of each person and bring students closer together as a community. Adult reflections focus on the challenges that they faced while embracing their unique talents, and how they developed confidence and responded to God’s love. Students also celebrate Mass and

are offered the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation.

English

In grade 8, students explore the relationship between gender and power through the study of literary genres, including the short story, novel, poetry, and drama. By empathizing with protagonists from diverse backgrounds, students develop an understanding of gender as a social construct and learn to question power dynamics in their own society. In addition to their study of literature, students apply critical thinking skills to examine visual media. Major writing projects include a series of persuasive essays supported by close reading and textual analysis. Students hone expository writing skills with an emphasis on developing strong thesis statements, creating clear arguments, and supporting their claims with appropriate evidence. Students also learn effective strategies for the stages of pre-writing, drafting, revision, and editing. Regular grammar and vocabulary lessons cultivate concision and precision in both their verbal and written work. Texts may include Short Story Classics to Inspire Readers; The Joy Luck Club; Lord of the Flies; Of Mice and Men; Silent Spring; and The Taming of the Shrew.

Algebra I

This course covers a full year of algebra which prepares students for Geometry and Algebra II. Topics include recognizing and developing patterns using tables, graphs, and equations. In addition, students explore operations on algebraic expressions including polynomial, rational, and radical expressions. Students solve equations of various sorts such as linear, absolute value, quadratic, rational, and radical. They use equations, graphs, and tables to model linear and quadratic relationships through reallife word problem situations

Algebra I (Honors) This course covers a full year of algebra, preparing students for Geometry and Algebra II, and offers a challenge for students who wish to pursue a more rigorous study of the material. Students must demonstrate strong algebraic thinking skills and possess a solid understanding of rational numbers, operations with rational numbers, and linear equations. Topics include recognizing and developing patterns using tables, graphs, and equations. In addition, students explore operations on algebraic expressions including polynomial, rational, and radical expressions. Students will solve equations and inequalities of various sorts, such as linear, absolute-value, quadratic, rational, and radical. They will also use equations, graphs, and tables to model linear and quadratic relationships through real-life word problem situations.

Geometry Honors

This is a full-year course in Euclidean geometry that emphasizes the writing of proofs and offers a challenge for students who wish to pursue a more rigorous study of the material. Topics include angle pairs, angles in perpendicular and parallel lines, triangle congruence theorems, properties of quadrilaterals, similarity within polygons, segment and angle relationships within triangles, and right triangle trigonometry. Trigonometric applications such as the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines, circles, coordinate geometry, and transformations are also covered.

Religion: Morality and The Sacraments of the Catholic Church

The grade 8 religion course engages students in reflecting on the lived dimension of the Christian faith, with particular focus on moral decision-making at the personal and communal level. Students regularly apply principles for moral decision-making to scenarios and cases drawn from daily life. During the spring semester, the course explores the presence of God in our community and considers how sacramental life celebrates His presence. Special attention is paid to the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing, Marriage and Holy Orders. Additionally, students connect their classroom discussions, their reflections on the gifts from the Holy Spirit as discovered during their class retreat, and their participation in service activities at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center to prepare for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Physical Science

This course provides a foundation in the basic principles and skills of physical science by introducing concepts in chemistry and physics. The first semester begins with the application of the scientific method. Students will explore concepts of matter, density, and classification of matter. This is followed by a study of chemistry, as students deepen their understanding of the properties of atoms, the Periodic Table of Elements, and chemical bonding. The second semester commences with an investigation into the laws of physics, including interactions of matter and energy, forces and motion, speed, velocity and acceleration. In addition, students are introduced to waves, light