Academics ~ Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade Curriculum

The eighth grade program is consistent with St. Mary’s School mission.  It is meant to prepare students for the rigors of high school through a competitive, yet nurturing academic, caring and Christian environment.  The Upper School program promotes self-discipline in academic, extra-curricular, and athletic programs for the students.  The faculty provides an effective, safe, and controlled learning atmosphere, and provides support and guidance for each student.  School subject areas, activities, and sports foster the students’ intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth.

LANGUAGE ARTS
The Middle School Language Arts program is a cohesive, four part curriculum focused on providing the St. Mary’s student with a strong foundation for college preparatory English programs.  The curriculum is centered on the study of grammar, composition, vocabulary, and literature, and addresses both written and oral abilities.  Encouraged by teacher innovation and flexibility, St. Mary’s students strive for mastery in the basic skills and concepts as well as curriculum that is advanced and academically challenging. Eighth grade students are assigned two summer reading novels, three classic novels to be read in class, and a research paper.  Creative and critical writing assignments, with focus on the expository, narrative, and persuasive formats, accompany each unit of study and culminate with a formal research paper.

MATH

Pre-Algebra
Pre-Algebra is designed to aid students in making the transition from elementary mathematics to algebra. The goal is to present the prerequisite skills, concepts, and problem-solving processes needed to help students become comfortable and successful in algebra. Topics include solving equations, rational expressions, exponents and graphing.

Algebra I
Algebra I presents the basic language of algebra and a study of the properties and operations of real numbers. Topics include: polynomials, factoring, its applications, rational expressions, equations, inequalities and their systems, irrational numbers, linear and quadratic functions and their graphs. Problem solving, application and critical thinking are the major focus in this course. Technology is also emphasized; graphing calculators are introduced and used.

SCIENCE
The 8th grade Science course is a Physical Science lab course.  It deals with introductory physics and chemistry.  Along with the text, Glencoe's - Physical Science, the students use a detailed lab manual and usually have a lab assigned weekly.  All classes are held in the Middle School science lab. The course builds on skills developed in 5th, 6th and 7th grade science courses.  This course is accepted as a 9th grade high school course and is granted high school credit by most of our local high schools, if a grade of 80%+ is earned for the year.  The lab component of the course is 20% of the overall grade. Broad concepts covered include:  the nature of science, electricity and energy resources, energy on the move, the nature of matter and the diversity of matter.

SOCIAL STUDIES
The sixth through eighth grade social studies curriculum consists of a study of world cultures, and United States history.  To maintain continuity, the social studies faculty in the middle school coordinates which subjects are taught during which grade level.  The curriculum is enriched in all grades by the use of a published current events magazine highlighting national and world issues, hands-on work, using laminated maps, focusing on geography skills and history, and weekly atlas activities. 

U.S. History
United States history is studied the 2^nd quarter of the seventh grade year and the entire eighth grade year.  The course is a survey of United States history from early exploration to the present.  Concepts addressed throughout the year include:  the United States’ national identity based on a diverse population, interpretation of the Constitution, the settling of North America, and the emergence of the United States as a political and economic world power.  Enrichment activities introduce students to the principals of economics, sociology, and political science.  A class trip to Washington, D.C. enhances the curriculum.

VISUAL ARTS
The visual arts curriculum in eighth grade builds upon previously learned skills.  A continuation of the study of the elements and principles of art are explored through various two-dimensional and three-dimensional projects.  Aesthetics and the four steps of art criticism are applied to various art works; including the students’ own projects.  Students keep a portfolio inventory and complete a self-assessment of reflective questions about each project completed. 
 

TECHNOLOGY
Students begin the year with a project, Famous Figures, in conjunction with the Social Studies curriculum. They learn to create personal calendars, daily schedules, maps, cartoons and timelines in Microsoft Word. They create a presentation on an important life event, a family tree and a nutrition pyramid using PowerPoint. Students create a children’s story in groups incorporating Microsoft Word and KidPix drawing tools. Students research and create a mock stock portfolio, then follow the progress of the stocks, using Excel to track and graph gains and losses. Students discuss the ethical boundaries of the Internet and proper protocol thereof. The students complete the year with researching and discussing well-designed websites, then creating their own personal web page on Microsoft FrontPage. The pages are posted as a link on the St. Mary’s Web page.

MUSIC
Students in eighth grade will successfully perform a full-length musical.  Auditions are held at the beginning of their quarter.  Rehearsals are primarily held during their classes.  In addition to learning and memorizing lines, students learn detailed choreography for all musical numbers.  Three performances are held for the school and the public.

SPANISH
Eighth grade is a continuation of the seventh grade program. Students will continue to work with and master the four components of foreign language instruction: written, spoken, listening and reading. The course becomes more complicated as the students face the challenge of word order, phonetics and more complex grammatical structures. Those students who complete the seventh and eighth grade program are ready for Spanish II when they enter high school. 

LATIN
The primary objective of this course is to build skill and confidence in reading and understanding Latin equivalent to a high school level I course. The components and secondary objectives from the seventh grade program are essentially unchanged. Reading passages do increase in length and complexity, with an expanded variety of sentence constructions and contexts. By the year’s end, students are prepared to enter Latin II of a high school program.

LIBRARY
Middle School students have full access to and familiarity with all types of research tools. They can find and evaluate information regardless of format, then organize and cite that information to complete research assignments in all subject matters. Classroom teachers’ work with the librarian to coordinate assistance and to schedule times for curriculum related research. The media center offers online research material and school wide access to its catalog.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Through teaching advanced skills and drills, 8^th grade students gain a deeper understanding of strategies, etiquette, rules, and sportsmanship. They are provided the opportunity to be a part of the wide variety of interscholastic sports. Fitness remains a strong component in middle school P.E. as life long habits in health are encouraged.

RELIGION
The curriculum and chapel services are rooted in the Episcopal faith. As part of the curriculum, the students are introduced to Christian Values, as well as the Sacred Stories of the Bible through a variety of activities.  Emphasis on how God wants us to treat each other with kindness, love, and respect, is a recurring theme throughout the year.  The whole school attends chapel services twice a week.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Human Growth and Development is an abstinence-based curriculum that is gender specific at times.  Students gain an understanding of the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty.  There is a strong focus on positive character traits and God’s plan for physical intimacy as a part of a loving marriage.   Eighth grade students learn the negative effects and consequences of sex and alcohol.  Students are taught to respect themselves and others and to have the courage to say “No”.

SPEECH
A speech class for eighth graders is a quarterly offering that meets three times weekly for forty-five minutes.  The course is designed to provide training and practice for public speaking and interviewing.  Formal instruction is provided and the students are responsible for taking notes with the knowledge that they will be tested on the material.   In addition to three major speeches, (three, five, and six minutes) students are required to have a one-minute speech prepared each week.  Every student will also participate in a practice interview session.

PRIMARY HELP
The Primary Help course is designed to give students a sense of leadership and support of the school community.  The program focuses on students assisting lower school teachers with tasks designed to enhance the education of the younger students.

St. Mary's Episcopal Day School
2101 South Hubert Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33629
(813) 258-5508
Fax: (813) 258-5603

 

Main | Welcome | About | Admissions | Academics | Activities | Alumni | Support | Calendars | News