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