8th Grade - Oasis Christian Academy

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8th Grade

Overview

As they come to the end of their middle school experience, our eighth graders continue to progress towards more independence and self-sufficiency in their education. We strive to ensure that eighth graders are on the right academic track and allow them to begin to focus on their interests as they reach toward their full academic potential and transition into high school.

Bible

Our eighth graders complete a comprehensive study of each of the sixty-six books of the Bible in our Positive Action curriculum to gain a better understanding of the overall big picture view of God’s Word and an appreciation for the encompassing arc of the Scriptures that culminates in eighth grade.

Math

Eighth graders continue to focus on more complex algebraic skills, including order of operations, expressions, and equations as they complete the transition from arithmetic to algebra in preparation for high school courses. We particularly focus on solving systems of equations, operations with polynomials and radicals, factoring, solving rational equations, and graphing using the Bob Jones curriculum.

Language Arts & Literature

Language arts in eighth grade continues to focus heavily on utilizing grammar concepts and skills to comprehensively research, cite, and support formal, written arguments by demonstrating a clear understanding of the text and supporting their arguments with clear reasons and relevant evidence. As they culminate their middle school experience, eighth graders continue to have class dedicated to literature and the concepts entailed such as understanding character development, themes, structure, moral tone, etc. They also continue to read both classic novels and relevant, appropriate contemporary novels to gain a better understanding of and apply critical thinking skills to complex texts through a Biblical filter.

Science

Our students in eighth grade study the intricacies of matter, force, and energy as it relates to the world around them. They also focus on climate and its changes by examining the past, present, and future consequences and the political, economic, and social concerns. Eighth graders also examine our solar system and the past, present, and future of space exploration.

Civics

Eighth graders at OCA utilize Civics in Practice to study and gain knowledge of the history and principles of US constitutional democracy. Students apply critical thinking exercises and cooperative-learning opportunities that help develop intellectual and participatory skills, increase students understanding of government institutions, and encourage future participation as informed, responsible citizens.

By the end of 8th grade, students will:

Bible

Have a basic understanding of the structure and themes of the Word of God
Understand the truths and applications that God placed in each book of the New Testament

Math- Pre-Algebra

Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers
Work with radicals and integer exponents
Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations
Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations
Define, evaluate, and compare functions
Use functions to model relationships between quantities
Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry software
Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and spheres
Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data

Language Arts

Literature:

Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text
Analyze how a modern work of fiction draws on themes, patterns of events, or character types
Analyze the impact of various poetic forms on meaning and style
Explain how individual text sections and / or features convey a purpose in texts
Compare two or more central ideas and their development throughout a text
Explain how an author establishes and achieves purpose through diction and syntax
Track the development of an argument, analyzing the types of reasoning used and their effectiveness

Spelling & Grammar:

Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence
Establish and maintain a formal writing style
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions on topics, texts, and issues
Present claims and findings with relevant evidence and sound valid reasoning
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings

Science

Understand the biblical worldview-approach to science
Communicate the different occurrences with climate and climate change
Political, economic and social concerns
Identify the different celestial bodies in our solar system
Know the life cycle of a star
Understand the past, present, and future of space exploration
Identify the basic structure of cells, both animal and plant
Understand and communicate the basic functions of cells
Know the order of animal classification for both vertabrates and invertabrates

Civics

Understand the tradition of democracy
Have a basic knowledge of the Federal Government and the inner workings of its three branches
Identify the purpose and work of the State and Local Governments
Understand the role of the citizen in government and society
Have a basic knowledge of the structure of the American economy

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