6 minute read
Grade 8
Grade 8 at Far Hills
English
Grade 8 English introduces students to the challenging texts of high school literature classes. In connection with history, students use the lens of leadership to study various characters and plots in literature. Beginning with a study of Malala’s memoir, I am Malala, students study the genre and write a memoir of their own. Connecting this process to their secondary school applications allows the students to see the real-world application of solid writing skills. Through the study of complex works such as Macbeth, Lord of the Flies, and Fahrenheit 451, students are challenged to read, write, and discuss how leadership is explored in literature. Students continue their study of Greek and Latin roots, which began in Grade 5. Students are expected to be confident readers and writers and engage in these activities daily.
History
The Grade 8 History course focuses on leadership and world history since 1945. Studies focus on the continents of Asia and Africa, the interconnectedness of world cultures, societies, and governments, characteristics and forms of leadership, the impact of colonialism in many countries, and the influence that much of this history has in today’s world events. The Capstone Project takes during the third trimester. Students develop a tenweek independent research study on a self-selected topic. History comes alive for students when we connect history with current events and trends. In connection with English, students interview an expert in their field of study. Independent learning skills are emphasized through various activities and assessments, culminating with the final exposition in the form of a 15-minute TED talk.
Math
Far Hills Country Day School Upper School students are placed on one of two math tracks after Grade 6: • PreAlgebra (Grade 7) to Algebra (Grade 8) • Algebra (Grade 7) to Geometry (Grade 8)
Grade 8 Algebra students obtain the foundation for future coursework in high school mathematics. After reviewing and extending their understanding of equations and inequalities, including absolute value, students study equations in two variables. Following a natural progression from linear equations through systems of equations and inequalities, students discern how to write and solve equations to model various real-life situations. The study of exponents and roots is extended as exponential functions are explored. After an introduction to polynomial operations and factoring, students dive into a study of quadratic functions. Understanding how to simplify and operate with radical expressions is incorporated as students work with the quadratic formula.
The Grade 8 Geometry course establishes key vocabulary and terminology central to the study. Students work with the midpoint and distance formulas and explore angle relationships with parallel and perpendicular lines. They prove triangles congruent or similar, investigate proportionality in similar triangles, analyze relationships in right triangles, and study the properties of circles while being introduced to trigonometry. An emphasis is placed on algebraic topics within each geometry unit of study. Students also learn to reason and provide justifications for their process by writing proofs.
Science
Grade 8 students investigate physical science by studying chemical matter and its interactions and force and
motion. Students are expected to build upon previous concepts and skills to develop their understanding of chemistry and physics. Highlights include: using models to understand atomic structure and particle motion in states of matter, analyzing and interpreting data to identify unknown substances, investigating chemical reactions to determine change in energy, and utilizing the stored chemical energy to solve a problem in everyday life. To observe and study motion, students build a powered vehicle with a motor and compressed air and collect and analyze data.
Spanish
In Grade 8 Spanish, students reach the Novice High proficiency level of language learning, having mastered the elementary skillsets of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish. Students develop their website using the Google platform, research and provide insight into several important historical figures, and conduct a global investigation to solve a fictional mystery—all in the target language. Grade 8 Spanish students complete the “Nuestro Museo virtual” project to culminate their language study. Students create a virtual museum exhibit, showcasing a person, event, or object of their choice in the Spanish language.
Latin
Having completed Units 1 and 2 of the Cambridge Latin Course, Grade 8 students begin a new textbook titled Suburani (City-dwellers), bringing our curriculum to the intermediate level of language proficiency. This new course encapsulates and reviews elementary Latin while introducing new concepts and vocabulary from a different historical perspective. The Latin language program at Far Hills Country Day School concludes with the administration of the National Latin Exam, a standardized metric that gauges student proficiency across the country and offers our students a recommended language placement for secondary school. complete the “Ancient History News Report” project. Students conduct research into a current event in the world of classical civilization, as discoveries are still being made daily. They share their findings in a presentation, highlighting the relevance to the curriculum and the repercussions of the discovery on the modern world.
Music
Grade 8 students collaborate and create musical circuits using conductive materials and a Makey device in Music class. Past projects include a human synthesizer, a banana piano, and a staircase keyboard. Grade 8 musicians also continue to compose and perform music using traditional classroom instruments, Chromebooks, and keyboards in the Keyboard Lab, demonstrate proficiency in music literacy skills including reading and writing melodic notation in the Treble and Bass clefs and reading and writing rhythmic notation including quarter, half, dotted half, eighth, sixteenth notes and their corresponding rests, and sing on pitch with proper posture, demonstrate appropriate vocal production in both the upper and lower registers in the classroom and at our formal concerts.
Visual Art
Grade 8 artists explore the world of stop motion animation during Visual Art class. They develop a simple storyline that is animated using handmade characters and props (i.e., clay or paper) and found objects. Movies are filmed using stop motion animation software and are narrated or set to music. When Grade 8 artists create Japanese Manga, it is connected to history and the English curriculum. Students develop a character rooted in traditional manga techniques but altered and reflective of their physical attributes. A blackout poetry piece (designed using music lyrics from their favorite song) accompanies the portrait to make this a complete visual experience.
Social-Emotional Learning
As Grade 8 students assume the student leadership roles of our community, they are given realworld opportunities to apply both the mission skills and Far Hills pillars. The student government officers exercise their leadership and time management skills as they plan school-wide activities during the school year. Editors of the yearbook tap into their creativity and responsibility to create a keepsake for the community. Team captains, service learning coordinators, and leads in the school play are just some of the many ways Grade 8 students practice the skills they have developed at Far Hills.
Grade Level Objectives
By the end of Grade 8, Far Hills Country Day School students will be able to: • understand and practice the real world applications of strong writing skills; • write a multi-paragraph essay with strong arguments in support of a well crafted thesis; and • evaluate contemporary issues, figures, groups, or events and how they influence a community, nations, society, or the world.
