Health and Physical Education 8
Description:
Eighth graders use their knowledge of fitness and nutrition to establish individual goals to promote a healthy lifestyle. Sportsmanship and teamwork are explored, as well as the components for personal wellbeing. Students are introduced to the warning signs and downfalls of eating disorders, steroid use, and other serious health issues.
CD/DVD:
Yoga DVDs (set of 2)
Manual:
Get Fit Handbook
Supplies:
Resistance band (2)
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Teen Health: Course 3
Art 8
Description:
Students in eighth grade Art learn how visual art influences people and places, and alternatively, how people and places influence the world of art. Students make connections between art from across time and location as they create their own art meant to influence ideas, actions, or environments.
Units:
Reviewing the Basics
In Unit 1, you will review the basics of art. You will explore art definitions, perception and imagination, the elements and principles of art, aesthetics, and the methods of art historians. You will have the opportunity to draw, paint, design, and write in this unit.
Influences on Art
In Unit 2 you will learn about some of the influential forces that affected art through time. You will become familiar with the surprising connections between art and other disciplines, including math, technology, music, and social studies. You will then produce your own artworks based on these connections.
Art That Influences People
In contrast to the previous unit, Unit 3 discusses the effect art has had on people and cultures through time. You will become familiar with the influential power art can have on opinions, feelings, beliefs, and actions. You will have the opportunity to create artwork with such intentions.
Art That Influences Spaces
The focus of Unit 4 is the influence of art on an environment. Whether it is a public space, a building, or room, the elements and principles of art can alter, enhance, or exploit an environment. This design-focused unit will allow you to experiment with impacting your surrounding environments.
Art Kit:
Drawing pad
Paint, watercolor (set of 12 colors)
Paintbrushes, watercolor (4)
Pastels, chalk (set of 24 colors)
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Exploring Art
Study Island (Skills for Success)
Description:
Study Island (Skills for Success) is an online state assessment preparation and standards-based learning program. Through Study Island, students master topics based on the content of the standardized tests in their state. Each topic contains a straightforward lesson and assessment questions with detailed explanations. For each subject, students take a pre-test, complete all content groups covering standards, and then complete a post-test.
Gifted and Talented Language Arts 8 A
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Language Arts 8 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Students are provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers. Building on the reading comprehension skills learned in Language Arts 7, this course delves more deeply into literature and writing and prepares students for high school coursework. In addition to improving reading comprehension and communication skills, two novels are read and analyzed, enhancing skills such as predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and identifying plot development.
Units:
Reading: What's in It for You?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What’s in it for you? You will read selections that help you think about the role that reading plays in your life. You will read autobiographies and biographies and examine how this genre affects you by allowing you to learn from the experiences of others. The ultimate goal is to apply this knowledge to your life. You will use skills such as connecting, setting a purpose, activating prior knowledge, and identifying author’s purpose. You will learn how to use context clues to understand unknown words. You will also learn about nouns and pronouns.
Which Is More Important: Journey or Destination?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: Which is more important, the journey or the destination? You will read about the journeys of real and imagined people and consider how they might answer the Big Question. You will learn how to read folktales by using skills such as analyzing, making inferences, predicting, and comparing and contrasting. You will examine literary elements and apply them to folktales. You will learn about modifying phrases and clauses, and misplaced and dangling modifiers.
The Giver
Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen to receive special training from The Giver himself—a man who alone holds the key to the true pain and pleasure of life: memories. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. What will Jonas do once he experiences the power of deep emotions? This gripping and provocative Newbery Award-winning novel keeps readers turning the pages and exploring the special qualities that make each of us human. You will identify literary elements and write a personal response to the novel's ambiguous ending.
What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What do you do when you don’t know what to do? You will read about how other people have dealt with situations that seemed overwhelming, and you will consider strategies for coping with problems that seem too big to handle. You will learn how to read poetry by using skills such as connecting, evaluating, interpreting, and monitoring comprehension. You will examine how writers use metaphor, simile, and alliteration in a variety of poems (narrative, lyric, free verse). You will also learn about the importance of using correct subject-verb agreement.
How Do You Stay True to Yourself?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: How do you stay true to yourself? You will read and consider a variety of perspectives that address the Big Question. You will learn how to read short stories by using skills such as analyzing, questioning, predicting, and making inferences. You will examine how short stories are organized and study theme, setting, characterization, and imagery. You will learn how to analyze words by identifying the base word and any prefixes and suffixes.
Manual:
Gifted Language Arts 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Literature: Course 3
Trade Book:
The Giver
Gifted and Talented Language Arts 8 B
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Language Arts 8 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Students are provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers. Building on the reading comprehension skills learned in Language Arts 7, this course delves more deeply into literature and writing and prepares students for high school coursework. In addition to improving reading comprehension and communication skills, two novels are read and analyzed, enhancing skills such as predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and identifying plot development.
Units:
When Is the Price Too High?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: When is the price too high? You will consider how people weigh the costs and benefits of their decisions and develop criteria for weighing your own decisions, and you will learn how to read informational articles by using skills such as previewing, skimming and scanning, understanding text structures, and identifying main idea and supporting details. You will examine how tone, humor, irony, and foreshadowing influence the reader. You will learn about multiple-meaning words and use simple sentences in your writing.
How To Keep from Giving Up When Bad Things Happen
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: How do you keep from giving up when bad things happen? You will read about people who endure hardships but persevere with optimism and determination. You will learn how to read dramatic pieces by using skills such as drawing conclusions, interpreting, paraphrasing and summarizing, and visualizing. You will examine the structure of a play and study the historical influences on the English language.
What's Worth Fighting For? What's Not?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What’s worth fighting for? What’s not? You will learn what other people find important, how they act on those values, and how they seek to persuade others. You will learn how to read persuasive writing by using skills such as distinguishing fact from opinion, questioning, reviewing, and clarifying.
Johnny Tremain
Johnny Tremain is a Newbery award-winning historical novel about a young boy in colonial Boston. Johnny is a talented but arrogant silversmith's apprentice whose life is turned upside-down when he injures his hand. In time he becomes a messenger boy on horseback for the Sons of Liberty and meets several famous founding fathers. He becomes a spy for the Sons of Liberty, takes part in the Boston Tea Party, and struggles with loss at the battles of Lexington and Concord. You will identify literary elements and create an illustrated map of Boston during Revolutionary times.
What Is the American Dream?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What is the American dream? You will consider what the American dream has meant to different people in different times and places and how the American dream is still being redefined and reinvented today. You will learn how to read historical text by using skills such as analyzing, understanding cause and effect, identifying main idea and supporting details, and identifying author’s purpose. You will study irregular verbs and consider English as a changing language. You will examine text structure and identify how the writing is organized.
Manual:
Gifted Language Arts 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Literature: Course 3
Trade Book:
Johnny Tremain
Gifted and Talented Literature Study 8
Description:
The Junior Great Books® program employs the method of interpretive readings and discussion being known as the Shared Inquiry™ method. This distinctive approach to learning enables leaders—the teachers and Learning Coaches—to foster a vibrant environment in which a student acquires the habits and strategies of a self-reliant thinker, reader, and learner. Through their own curiosity and attentive questioning, leaders serve as partners in inquiry with the student, helping him work with other students to discover meaning in a reading selection and to build interpretations. The process reaches its fullest expression in Shared Inquiry discussion, where leaders and students think and talk about an interpretive question that arises from a particular story. Using LiveLesson® sessions, the student will interact with peers twice during each unit for Shared Inquiry and presentation of personal writing.The Junior Great Books program includes outstanding works of literature by award-winning authors. Praised for their rich language and international range, and chosen carefully for their ability to support multiple interpretations, the stories in Junior Great Books capture students’ attention and imagination and engage the best of their thinking. Progressing in reading level, conceptual complexity, and length throughout the series, the stories are the foundation for a thoughtful process of reading, discussion, and writing.
Units:
Sucker
In this unit, you will read "Sucker." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
In this unit, you will read "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
Rules of the Game
In this unit, you will read "Rules of the Game." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
The Destructors
In this unit, you will read "The Destructors." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
The Watch
In this unit, you will read "The Watch." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit
Approximations
In this unit, you will read "Approximations." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit
The Griffin and the Minor Canon
In this unit you will read "The Griffin and the Minor Canon." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit
Star Food
In this unit, you will read "Star Food." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
Winter
In this unit, you will read "Winter." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
High School Graduation
In this unit, you will read "High School Graduation." You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Ch. 7–13)
In this unit, you will read "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (Chapters 7-13). You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Ch. 14–18)
In this unit, you will read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 14–18). You will practice active reading by marking passages with notes to indicate contrasting ideas in the story. At the end of the first lesson, you will share your notes in a Shared Inquiry™ discussion of the story during a LiveLesson® session. In the second lesson, you will choose a writing assignment to complete that is connected to the story. You will share your writing with your teacher and your class during another LiveLesson session at the end of the unit.
Textbook:
JGB Series 8 Anthology Book One
Language Arts 8 A
Description:
Building on the reading comprehension skills learned in Language Arts 7, this course delves more deeply into literature and writing and prepares students for high school coursework. In addition to improving reading comprehension and communication skills, two novels are read and analyzed, enhancing skills such as predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and identifying plot development.
Units:
Reading: What's in It for You?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What’s in it for you? You will read selections that help you think about the role that reading plays in your life. You will read autobiographies and biographies and examine how this genre affects you by learning from the experiences of others. The ultimate goal is to apply this knowledge to your life. You will use skills such as connecting, setting a purpose, activating prior knowledge, and identifying author’s purpose. You will learn how to use context clues to understand unknown words. You will also learn about nouns and pronouns.
Which Is More Important: Journey or Destination?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: Which is more important, the journey or the destination? You will read about the journeys of real and imagined people and consider how they might answer the Big Question. You will learn how to read folktales by using skills such as analyzing, making inferences, predicting, and comparing and contrasting. You will examine literary elements and apply them to folktales. You will learn about modifying phrases and clauses, and misplaced and dangling modifiers.
The Giver
Eleven-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. There is no war or pain, and there are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12, he is chosen to receive special training from The Giver himself—a man who alone holds the key to the true pain and pleasure of life: memories. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. What will Jonas do once he experiences the power of deep emotions? This gripping and provocative Newbery Award-winning novel keeps readers turning the pages and exploring the special qualities that make each of us human. You will identify literary elements and write a personal response to the novel's ambiguous ending.
What Do You Do When You Don't Know What to Do?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What do you do when you don’t know what to do? You will read about how other people have dealt with situations that seemed overwhelming, and you will consider strategies for coping with problems that seem too big to handle. You will learn how to read poetry by using skills such as connecting, evaluating, interpreting, and monitoring comprehension. You will examine how writers use metaphor, simile, and alliteration in a variety of poems (narrative, lyric, free verse). You will also learn about the importance of using correct subject-verb agreement.
How Do You Stay True to Yourself?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: How do you stay true to yourself? You will read and consider a variety of perspectives that address the Big Question. You will learn how to read short stories by using skills such as analyzing, questioning, predicting, and making inferences. You will examine how short stories are organized and study theme, setting, characterization, and imagery. You will learn how to analyze words by identifying the base word and any prefixes and suffixes.
Manual:
Language Arts 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Literature: Course 3
Trade Book:
The Giver
Language Arts 8 B
Description:
Building on the reading comprehension skills learned in Language Arts 7, this course delves more deeply into literature and writing and prepares students for high school coursework. In addition to improving reading comprehension and communication skills, two novels are read and analyzed, enhancing skills such as predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and identifying plot development.
Units:
When Is the Price Too High?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: When is the price too high? You will consider how people weigh the costs and benefits of their decisions, and you will develop criteria for weighing your own decisions. You will learn how to read informational articles by using skills such as previewing, skimming and scanning, understanding text structures, and identifying main idea and supporting details. You will examine how tone, humor, irony, and foreshadowing influence the reader. You will learn about multiple-meaning words and use simple sentences in your writing.
How to Keep from Giving Up When Bad Things Happen
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: How do you keep from giving up when bad things happen? You will read about people who endure hardships but persevere with optimism and determination. You will learn how to read dramatic pieces by using skills such as drawing conclusions, interpreting, paraphrasing and summarizing, and visualizing. You will examine the structure of a play and study the historical influences on the English language.
What's Worth Fighting For? What's Not?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What’s worth fighting for? What’s not? You will learn what other people find important, how they act on those values, and how they seek to persuade others. You will learn how to read persuasive writing by using skills such as distinguishing fact from opinion, questioning, reviewing, and clarifying.
Johnny Tremain
Johnny Tremain is a Newbery Award-winning historical novel about a young boy in colonial Boston. Johnny is a talented but arrogant silversmith's apprentice whose life is turned upside-down when he injures his hand. In time, he becomes a messenger boy on horseback for the Sons of Liberty and meets several famous founding fathers. He later becomes a spy for the Sons of Liberty, takes part in the Boston Tea Party, and struggles with loss at the battles of Lexington and Concord. You will identify literary elements and create an illustrated map of Boston during Revolutionary times.
What Is the American Dream?
In this unit, you will explore the Big Question: What is the American dream? You will consider what the American dream has meant to different people in different times and places and how the American dream is still being redefined and reinvented today. You will learn how to read historical text by using skills such as analyzing, understanding cause and effect, identifying main idea and supporting details, and identifying author’s purpose. You will study irregular verbs and consider English as a changing language. You will examine text structure and identify how the writing is organized.
Manual:
Language Arts 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Literature: Course 3
Trade Book:
Johnny Tremain
Gifted and Talented Math 8 A - Geometry
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Algebra 1
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Math 8 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Using the basic principles of logic, students learn geometry through constructing formal proofs and studying parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles, and equilaterals. Students learn to find area and volume, and study the concept of similarity as it relates to various figures, including circles and their unique properties. Students are also provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers.
Units:
Tools of Geometry
In this unit, you will review the basic principals of geometry in preparation for extensive study of the geometry course. You will begin by using mental math to evaluate patterns and predict future outcomes using deductive reasoning. You will then use terms you are already familiar with including point, line, and plane in postulates about segments, rays, lines, planes, and angles. While building on your knowledge of geometry you will use tools, such as a straightedge and a compass to measure geometric shapes, angles, and segments to construct your own figures. In the next section, you will expand your knowledge of the coordinate plane, including how to find the distances between points, and how to calculate the midpoints of segments. Finally, you will measure perimeters and circumferences, as well as find areas of various shapes.
Reasoning and Proof
In this unit, you will use your knowledge of deductive reasoning to write special types of statements. The statements are known as conditionals, biconditionals, and definitions. These statements will help you to determine the validity of other geometric events. You will use this information to determine your preliminary conclusions about geometric relationships.
Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
In this unit, you will continue to use deductive reasoning to make conclusions about parallel and perpendicular lines. You will use parallel lines in relation to other geometric figures, using them to measure shapes. The Polygon Angle-Sum Theorem will be used to classify triangles and find measures of angles. To finish out the unit you will learn to construct your own angle bisectors, perpendicular lines, quadrilaterals, and parallel lines.
Congruent Triangles
In this unit, you will discover how to recognize and prove that triangles are congruent. You will be introduced to postulates and theorems to help you determine the congruency of triangles. Throughout the unit you will be noting different types of triangles, including right, congruent, isosceles, and equilateral and seeing how they relate to the different postulates you use them with to complete proofs. Your work in this unit will help you manage the rest of this course.
Relationships Within Triangles
In this unit, you will test your knowledge of triangle relationships. With this knowledge you will discover how to use what you know to determine geometric relationships within other figures. You will learn more intricate details about triangles and lines and how they affect one another geometrically, involving concurrent lines and bisectors. Finally, you will explore the roles of indirect reasoning, inverses, and contrapositives in determining inequalities in triangles.
Quadrilaterals
In this unit, you will apply what you have learned about triangles, postulates, algebraic techniques, and other methods of proof in the study of quadrilaterals. You will learn the different properties of polygons and parallelograms as well as classification techniques for working with quadrilaterals. Finally, you will be introduced to special parallelograms and how to place figures on the coordinate plane.
Gifted and Talented Math 8 A - Geometry Final
In this unit, you will have the opportunity to prepare for and take the final exam. Since this is a comprehensive exam, it may be helpful to organize your notes in the order of the course outline before you begin to review. Using the test-taking strategies that you have previously learned can help you be successful with both objective and essay questions.
Textbook (online access):
Prentice Hall Mathematics: Geometry
Workbook:
PH Geometry Study Guide and Practice Workbook
Gifted and Talented Math 8 B - Geometry
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of Gifted and Talented Math 8 A
Description:
Connections Academy’s Gifted and Talented Math 8 course provides students opportunities to work at an accelerated pace, while engaging in more complex and challenging instructional activities. Using the basic principles of logic, students learn geometry through constructing formal proofs and studying parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles, and equilaterals. Students learn to find area and volume, and study the concept of similarity as it relates to various figures, including circles and their unique properties. Students are also provided opportunities for increased student-teacher interaction and discussion, as well as increased interaction with their peers.
Units:
Area
In this unit, you will find the area formulas of various figures and learn how area relates in different figures. You will use the 30°-60°-90° triangles as well as the 45°-45°-90° triangles to explore new triangle relationships. You will also use the Pythagorean Theorem to find areas of triangles, quadrilaterals, and regular polygons. Finally, you will explore how geometric probability relates to area.
Similarity
In this unit, you will learn about similar polygons and how some polygons, although they look similar, are not the same size. By using the similar polygons definitions you will learn how to prove triangles similar. Finally, you will take a look at perimeters and angles and determine how they relate to one another.
Right Triangle Trigonometry
In this unit, the sine, cosine, and tangent trigonometric ratios will be introduced and used extensively in order to develop a new way of thinking about geometry and right triangles. You will examine ratios in order to find missing variables, such as lengths and angle measurements. Finally, you will explore vectors and begin to see the relationship between geometry and trigonometry.
Surface Area and Volume
In this unit, you will examine nets that describe various solid shapes. Using the nets you will notice the commonalities between two and three-dimensional figures. With the nets you will be able to create space figures and drawing that will help you measure lengths and areas of solid figures. The most important skill you will develop during this unit is the ability to find the surface areas and volumes of various figures.
Circles
In this unit, you will expand the skills you have acquired in this course regarding circles. You will find tangent lines, chords and arcs, inscribed angles, and angle measures and segment lines. To add to the spectrum of knowledge regarding circles, you will begin placing them on the coordinate plane and examine the concept of locus, and draw your own.
Transformations
In this unit, you will conclude your study of geometry. At this point, you will have a solid understanding of the different ways geometry can be applied to real-life situations. You will examine the geometric plane and the different transformations on the plane. You will identify and perform reflections, translations, and rotations. Finally, you will explore and study dilations.
Gifted and Talented Math 8 B - Geometry Final
In this unit, you will have the opportunity to prepare for and take the final exam. Since this is a comprehensive exam, it may be helpful to organize your notes in the order of the course outline before you begin to review. Using the test-taking strategies that you have previously learned can help you be successful with both objective and essay questions.
Textbook (online access):
Prentice Hall Mathematics: Geometry
Workbook:
PH Geometry Study Guide and Practice Workbook
Math 8 Pre-Algebra A
Description:
Students are introduced to basic algebraic principles in this course by solving equations and inequalities with positive and negative integers, decimals, and fractions. Students move on to working with ratios, proportions, and percents, and then to solving two-step and multi-step equations and inequalities. A look into relations and functions demonstrate how to find the slope, y-intercept, and solve systems of linear equations. Algebra skills are applied across math disciplines with the study of right triangles, data analysis, and probability.
Units:
Algebraic Expressions and Integers
In this unit, you will review previously learned mathematical principles and extend prior mathematical knowledge. Concepts emphasized in this unit will reappear throughout the course, so take the time to complete each lesson carefully. You will review the concepts of order of operations, variables, writing variable expressions, and solving variable expressions. You will review integers and how to perform the four mathematical operations with integers as well as absolute values. Next, you will represent, order, and graph integers on a number line and a coordinate plane. You will learn to use inductive reasoning to determine patterns and solve real-world problems.
Solving One-Step Equations and Inequalities
In this unit, you will review the Associative, Commutative, Identity, and Distributive properties. These properties will enable you to simplify variable expressions and solve both equations and inequalities. You will learn to solve one-step equations and inequalities by using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as inverse operations. You will learn a problem-solving technique, “Try, Test, Revise,” the first of many techniques within the course. Finally, you will learn to identify inequalities by their corresponding graphs.
Decimals and Equations
In this unit, you will have the opportunity to develop and extend your understanding of how to solve equations that contain decimals. You will develop estimation and rounding skills and apply this knowledge to calculating products and quotients of decimals. You will begin to explore mean, median, and mode as used in real-world applications. You will also convert metric units of measure and use formulas to solve simple equations. Finally, you will solve problems using the technique, “Simplify the Problem.”
Factors, Fractions, and Exponents
In this unit, you will expand your knowledge of divisibility rules and factors. This will enable you to quickly determine prime factorizations and greatest common factors, which will enable you to simplify fractions more easily. You will extend your knowledge of exponents to include the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of expressions, which include powers with the same base. Finally, you will learn to identify and simplify rational numbers that contain powers.
Operations With Fractions
In this unit, you will review basic fractions concepts. You will compare, order, add, subtract, multiply, and divide mixed numbers and fractions. You will then use these concepts to solve equations by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. In addition to solving equations with fractions, you will apply your knowledge to convert customary units of measure. Finally, you will learn how to convert fractions to decimals by relating the values of fractions to the values of decimals.
Ratios, Proportions, and Percents
In this unit, you will expand your knowledge of percents and proportions by defining and solving problems involving ratios, rates, and unit rates. Then, you will use these concepts to solve similar figure, scale drawing, probability, and odds problems. You will also learn how to rewrite a percent as a ratio, in fraction form, and as a decimal in order to solve equations. Finally, you will learn how to find markup, discount, and percent of change by using percents.
Manual:
Math 8 Pre-Algebra A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Prentice Hall Mathematics: Pre-Algebra
Workbook:
PH Pre-Algebra Study Guide and Practice Workbook
Math 8 Pre-Algebra B
Description:
Students are introduced to basic algebraic principles in this course by solving equations and inequalities with positive and negative integers, decimals, and fractions. Students move on to working with ratios, proportions, and percents, and then to solving two-step and multi-step equations and inequalities. A look into relations and functions demonstrate how to find the slope, y-intercept, and solve systems of linear equations. Algebra skills are applied across math disciplines with the study of right triangles, data analysis, and probability.
Units:
Solving Equations and Inequalities
In this unit, you will expand your understanding of mathematical properties to solve two-step equations, two-step inequalities, and multi-step equations. These equations and inequalities are more complicated because they include fractions, decimals, and variables on both sides of the equal sign. You will also solve equations using the technique, “Write an Equation.”Finally, you will gain the necessary skills to transform formulas, which are necessary for finding simple and compound interest.
Linear Functions and Graphing
In this unit, you will learn how to identify relations and functions. You will develop the necessary skills to solve systems of linear equations and inequalities by graphing, including plotting points and using the slope and y-intercept. In addition to graphing linear equations, you will also write rules for linear functions from word problems and tables. Finally, you will use real-world examples to find trends and make predictions from scatter plots.
Spatial Thinking
In this unit, you will be introduced to the basic figures of geometry, including points, lines, segments, and rays. You will use these figures to identify special pairs of lines and angles as well as apply what you will learn about line relationships and angle measure to classify triangles and quadrilaterals. You will also be able to determine how two triangles are congruent by identifying corresponding parts of polygons. You will use your knowledge of proportions to create and interpret circle graphs. Finally, you will be introduced to the study of translations, reflections, and rotations of geometric figures.
Area and Volume
In this unit, you will learn how to find the areas of parallelograms, triangles, trapezoids, and circles using formulas. You will determine the surface areas of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres. You will calculate the volumes of prisms and cylinders. You will also use these formulas to determine the areas of irregular shapes. Finally, you will learn about space figures and how to identify them using a net.
Right Triangles in Algebra
In this unit, you will expand your knowledge of algebra by finding square roots and classifying real numbers as either rational or irrational. You will use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the missing sides of right triangles, the Distance Formula to find the distance between two points, and the Midpoint Formula to find the midpoint of a segment. Then, you will learn about the special relationships that exist between the sides of 45º-45º-90º and 30º-60º-90º triangles. You will also solve problems that can be modeled with similar figures by using your knowledge of proportions. Finally, you will learn the trigonometric ratios sine, cosine, and tangent, as well as the angles of elevation and depression to find the missing values of right triangles.
Data Analysis and Probability
In this unit, you will learn how to display data in many different forms. You will create frequency tables, line plots, box-and-whisker plots, and stem-and-leaf plots. You will analyze persuasive graphs to determine if and how the data being presented is misleading. You will learn the differences between theoretical and experimental probabilities, and calculate the probabilities for independent and dependent events. You will also evaluate various sampling plans for surveys, as well as estimate data about populations. Finally, you will learn the differences between permutations and combinations and how to solve a problem by simulating the problem.
Nonlinear Functions and Polynomials
In this unit, you will explore the differences between arithmetic and geometric sequences and use them to make predictions. You will graph nonlinear functions such as quadratic and absolute value functions, and model exponential growth and decay using tables, rulers, and graphs. You will learn how to identify, evaluate, add, and subtract polynomials using models and combining like terms. Finally, you will multiply two binomials using the Distributive Property, and write a polynomial as the product of a monomial (GCF) and a polynomial.
Manual:
Math 8 Pre-Algebra A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Prentice Hall Mathematics: Pre-Algebra
Workbook:
PH Pre-Algebra Study Guide and Practice Workbook
Science 8 A
Description:
Focusing on the fundamentals of Earth, life, and physical sciences, Science 8 lessons are designed to engage students through exploration and discovery. Life science units expose students to traits and how they change, relationships between organisms and their environments, and cycles in nature. Earth’s changing geology is studied in the Earth science unit, in which students learn the causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanoes and the bodies that comprise the solar system. In the physical science unit, students learn about atoms and elements and how to calculate different forms of motion and force.
Units:
The Nature of Science
Whether you are examining several bikes to determine which is the fastest or testing a cake to determine whether or not it is done, you are acting like a scientist. Scientists spend much of their time observing and investigating the world around them. In this introductory unit, you will explore the nature of science and learn how to set up and perform a scientific experiment, an activity that you will repeat throughout the course. In addition, you will analyze how science and technology influence your everyday life.
Humans and Heredity
Why are your eyes the color that they are? Why are you probably much larger than your ancestors were when they were your age? How did the breakfast that you ate this morning become the energy that you use to complete your schoolwork?
In this unit, you will examine factors that shape how you look and how your body functions. More specifically, you will study natural selection, explain the relationships between genetics and heredity, analyze the structure of a cell, organ, and organ system, and interpret how negative feedback mechanisms help the body to maintain a stable internal environment.
Ecology
Earth is home to tens of millions of species, some of which coexist on remote desert islands, and others in heavily-populated cities. Although well-studied, much is still unknown about the relationships of species with each other and with their nonliving surroundings, such as air and water. In this unit, you will analyze some basic interactions among organisms and between living and nonliving things as you investigate how the environment influences life on Earth, explore how energy flows through ecosystems, and compare communities that live in different places on Earth. Maybe someday—you will have the opportunity to apply what you learn to solve one of the many ecological mysteries.
Earth Changes Over Time
Forces that are too far below Earth's surface for people to see created many of the rock formations that exist today. Some of these structures took millions of years to form. So how do scientists analyze these rock structures?
In this unit, you will learn how scientists study mass rock movement as you explore continental drift and seafloor spreading, examine the theory of plate tectonics, identify the processes of fossil formation, and explain how to determine the absolute and relative ages of rocks. In addition, you will analyze the causes and results of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Manual:
Science 8 A and B Course Guide
Science Kit:
Goggles, safety
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Science: Level Blue
Science 8 B
Description:
Focusing on the fundamentals of Earth, life, and physical sciences, Science 8 lessons are designed to engage students through exploration and discovery. Life science units expose students to traits and how they change, relationships between organisms and their environments, and cycles in nature. Earth’s changing geology is studied in the Earth science unit, in which students learn the causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanoes and the bodies that comprise the solar system. In the physical science unit, students learn about atoms and elements and how to calculate different forms of motion and force.
Units:
Earth's Place in the Universe
Do you ever wonder what it is like in other parts of the country, far from where you live? How about in other countries in the world? What about on other planets? In other galaxies?
In this unit, you will travel around the universe to continue to explore the sun, the moon, stars, planets, and galaxies. As you do so, you will describe relationships among Earth, the moon, and the sun; identify unique characteristics of the planets; examine how stars evolve; and learn much more about what’s going on in the universe.
Chemistry of Matter
Some substances, like water and oxygen, are crucial to our existence, while others, such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, can be deadly. What makes the latter substances, which contain some of the same elements that the former do, so dangerous? The characteristics of a substance are sometimes due to how the substance formed and how it is held together, not just what it contains.
In this unit, you will analyze the chemical makeup of matter as you describe the structure of an atom, identify the relationship between an element’s position in the periodic table and its traits, compare how different atoms combine, and investigate chemical reactions.
Motion, Forces, and Energy
Every day you probably witness a force moving an object or energy enabling something to function. In this unit, you will learn more about how and why things move, as well as how energy affects change as you distinguish among different types of motion, analyze the law of conservation of momentum, explain Newton’s laws of motion, calculate different forces, describe simple and complex machines, and compare various forms of energy.
Physical Interactions
How does lightning travel from the sky to the ground? How does an engine work? How do bats, which are blind, locate and capture prey? You will learn the answers to these questions as you investigate physical interactions of matter and waves.
In this unit, you will examine electric charge, electric current, and electric circuits, analyze the behavior of magnets and of objects placed in magnetic fields, and explore the unique relationship between electricity and magnetism and how this relationship can be manipulated to produce an electric current or a magnetic field. In addition, you will study the characteristics of various types of waves and make inferences about the behavior of waves.
Manual:
Science 8 A and B Course Guide
Science Kit:
Container, plastic
Goggles, safety
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe Science: Level Blue
Social Studies 8 A
Description:
Social Studies 8 examines the American experience from pre-colonial times through Reconstruction following the Civil War. U.S. political, economic, and social history is explored from a chronological point of view with lessons that develop the students’ abilities to analyze, interpret, and evaluate different forms of information. Throughout the course, students make connections between historical events and their impact on the American people and landscape.
Units:
Different Worlds Meet
In this unit, you will learn about the people and places that existed in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. You will examine how these civilizations were affected by European exploration and conquest of the continent. You will also explore the influences of religion and technology on Europeans' exploration of the globe. Finally, you will study the roles of Spain and Portugal on the New World and learn about early European settlements in North America.
Colonial Settlement
In this unit you will learn how North America was colonized by European nations. You will explore what life was like in Early English settlements and compare and contrast the colonies in different regions of North America. You will also study the impact of government, religion, and culture on colonists in America. Finally, you will examine the impact of the French and Indian War on England and France's struggle for control of the continent.
Creating a Nation
In this unit you will explore the creation of the United States as a new nation. You will examine the reasons colonists demanded independence from England and why they were willing to wage a war to achieve freedom from King George III. You will take an in-depth look at the Revolutionary War and learn about important people of that time. You will also learn about the plans of government the nation's founders experimented with and how they finally agreed on the Constitution. Finally, you will examine the Constitution, the federal government of the United States, and read about the rights and responsibilities of American citizens.
The New Republic Part I
In this unit you will explore the early years of the American Republic up to 1825. You will learn about early challenges and conflicts faced by the new Union. You will examine the development of the first political parties in the United States. You will also read about the War of 1812 and military struggles with Native Americans as settlers moved west. You will study the factors that made westward expansion possible, such as the Lousiana Purchase, economic growth, and technological innovation. Finally, you will look at the development of regional differences in the United States and examine the foreign policies the nation adopted in the early nineteenth century.
Manual:
Social Studies 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe The American Republic
Social Studies 8 B
Description:
Social Studies 8 examines the American experience from pre-colonial times through Reconstruction following the Civil War. U.S. political, economic, and social history is explored from a chronological point of view with lessons that develop the students’ abilities to analyze, interpret, and evaluate different forms of information. Throughout the course, students make connections between historical events and their impact on the American people and landscape.
Units:
The New Republic Part II
In this unit you will explore the early years of the American Republic up to 1825. You will learn about early challenges and conflicts faced by the new Union. You will examine the development of the first political parties in the United States. You will also read about the War of 1812 and military struggles with Native Americans as settlers moved west. You will study the factors that made westward expansion possible, such as the Lousiana Purchase, economic growth, and technological innovation. Finally, you will look at the development of regional differences in the United States and examine the foreign policies the nation adopted in the early nineteenth century.
The Growing Nation
In this unit you will continue to explore the growth of the United States between 1820 and 1860. You will examine challenges and changes to the fragile political system. You will also read about America's continued westward expansion, as well as the effect this had on Native Americans. You will examine the United States' acquisition of new states and territories, including the Oregon Country, Texas, California, and Utah. You will also study the causes and consequences of the United States' war with Mexico. You will compare and contrast the northern and southern regions of the country. Finally, you will examine calls for social reform in the mid-nineteenth century and how ideas about education, women, and slavery changed during this period.
Civil War and Reconstruction
In this unit you will explore the history of the United States from 1846 to 1896. You will examine how different ideas about slavery and politics worsened regional tensions in the nation. You will also explore why many southern states seceeded and how their actions and the government's response led to the Civil War. You will study what life was like during the Civil War and compare the Union's and Confederacy's goals and strategies. You will read about how the Union won the Civil War and explore plans for healing the nation. Finally, you will examine the period of Reconstruction and describe its effects on both the North and the South.
Modern America Emerges
In this unit you will preview and explore the history of the United States from 1877 to the present. You will examine the continued exploration of the west and the effect of the United States' expansion on Native Americans. You will also explore how the United States began to expand its influence in world affairs. You will study how technological advances and immigration influenced life in late nineteenth century America. You will read about calls for political and social reform. You will also explore the causes and effects of World War I, World War II, and the Cold War period. Finally, you will examine modern America and its war on terrorism.
Manual:
Social Studies 8 A and B Course Guide
Textbook (online access):
Glencoe The American Republic
Educational Technology and Online Learning 8
Prerequisites:
To participate in this course the student must have Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint installed on his or her machine. It should be installed before the course begins.
Description:
Students engage in lessons that address both academic and technology objectives in Educational Technology and Online Learning 8. Multimedia is stressed at this level as students learn how to create and maintain a safe Web site, how to combine technology-based elements within a document, and how to set-up and populate a spreadsheet. Through a combination of multimedia, computers, and projection equipment, students create a presentation for an audience on an online safety topic such as plagiarism, online harassment, or cyberstalking.
Units:
Introduction
In this unit, you will be presented with a series of tutorials that are designed to help you understand the content and structure of this course. You will learn that each lesson in this course presents or develops a technology skill using academic content. You will also become familiar with how the lessons are organized and how to navigate through them. Finally, you will explore basic keyboarding concepts and skills.
Internet Safety
In this unit, you will learn how to use the Internet in a safe and responsible way and as a tool for communication, research, and collaboration. The unit begins by explaining the concept of a virtual community and discusses topics such online bullying and negative networking/gangs online. You will recognize Internet safety concerns including the importance of choosing a safe user name and keeping personal information safe from strangers, risks associated with online shopping, and the threat of online predators. Finally, you will learn about intellectual property and copyright concepts. You will also examine the consequences that are associated with piracy and illegal music downloading.
Study Skills
In this unit, you will learn various strategies related to time management, organization, and goal setting. These strategies include color coding by subject, utilizing your student planner, and scheduling. Then you will create Venn Diagrams, and you will use these diagrams to compare and contrast information. Finally, you will explore mnemonic techniques to assist with memorization, helpful test-taking tips, and various methods of studying for tests.
Microsoft Word
In this unit, you will continue to explore the features of Microsoft Word. You will highlight, bold, and italicize text. You will navigate between different Microsoft Office programs and between documents in the same program. You will be introduced to more of the functions in the Insert, Format, Tools, Table, and View drop-down menus including learning how to insert comments, images and word art; formatting your document using bullets and numbers, borders and shading, columns, and text alignment; learning how to use the thesaurus and the autocorrect options; and adding the drawing toolbar. Finally, you will learn how to use Microsoft WordPad, which is a basic word processor for Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Excel
In this unit, you will create formulas, adjust column width, and enter text into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. You will conduct research on the Internet, navigate between different programs, and cut and paste data from an Internet resource into a spreadsheet. You will create borders, resize fonts, and apply conditional formatting. Finally, you will use Microsoft Excel’s Chart Wizard feature to create various charts, line graphs, and bar graphs. You will also learn how to modify labels within a chart and resize and reposition a chart on a spreadsheet.
Microsoft PowerPoint
In this unit, you will explore a variety of features in Microsoft PowerPoint. You will learn how to select a design template, add new slides, apply various slide layouts, and add animations to your presentation. You will navigate between two programs in order to copy and paste text from Microsoft Word or another word processing software program to a Microsoft PowerPoint slide. By the end of this unit, you will learn how to create and apply transitions between slides in a presentation.