Curriculum - Middle School

Grade 8

Language Arts
Reading
  • Identify word meaning (context clues, definitions, restatement, example, contrast)
  • Interprets story elements (theme, character, plot, conflict, point of view)
  • Interprets literary devices (allusion, understatement, hyperbole, foreshadowing, flashback, symbolism)
  • Compare/contrast elements in multiple genres (plot, setting, character, theme)
  • Uses technical information and other available resources (web sites, interviews) to solve problems 
  • Classify/interpret elements of genres
    • Fiction
    • Nonfiction
    • Poetry
    • Drama
  • Comprehension
    • Analyze author's stated/implied purposes
    • Summarizing & Paraphrasing
    • Identify (stated idea, implied main ideas, supporting details)
English
  • Write using technical information
  • Write multiparagraph compositions on student-selected topic
  • Orgnaize individual paragraphs (topic sentence, relevant elaboration, concluding sentences)
  • Develop paragraph compositions (description, narrative, exposition, persuasion, compare/contrast)
  • Writing for purpose (persuasive letters)
  • Use standard English punctuation
  • Know capitalization rules
  • Use parts of speech
    • Infinitives
    • Participles
    • Gerunds
    • Adverbs
  • Apply knowledge of parts of speech in writing (infinitives, participles, gerunds)
  • Superlative/comparative degrees of adjectives/adverbs
  • Use standard English grammar when speaking
  • Develop grade-appropriate compositions on student/teacher-selected topics
    • Clearly stated focus 
    • Events stated in order
    • Appropriate organizational pattern
    • Relevant elaboration
    • Use of transitional words/phrases
    • Overall structure
    • Topic sentence
    • Concluding sentences
    • Word choices appropriate to audience/purpose
    • Clear voice (individual personality)
    • Variety in sentence structure
    • Clarity of purpose
    • Sets a tone/creates images
  • Prewriting
    • Brainstorming
    • Researching
    • Graphic organizers
  • Drafting
  • Peer/teacher conferencing
  • Revising
  • Proofreading/editing
  • Evaluation of ads, cartoons and speeches
  • Consistent use of standard English capitalization/punctuation
  • Varying sentence structures/patterns, including complex sentences
  • Use phrases/clauses correctly as modifiers
  • Use variety of sources for spell checking
Math
  • Use a 4-step plan to solve problems
  • Choose an appropriate method of computation
  • Use the order of operations to evaluate expressions
  • Translate verbal phrases into numerical/algebraic expressions
  • Evaluate expressions containing variables
  • Identify/use properties of addition/multiplication
  • Use properties of addition/multiplication to simplify algebraic expressions
  • Identify/solve open sentences
  • Translate verbal sentences into equations
  • Use ordered pairs to locate points
  • Use tables/graphs to represent relations
  • Construct/interpret scatter plots
  • Compare/order integers
  • Find the absolute value of an expression
  • Add/subtract/multiply/divide integers
  • Simplify algebraic expressions using integer multiplication
  • Graph points on a coordinate plane
  • Determine whether one number is a factor of another
  • Write expressions using/containing exponents/negative exponents
  • Write prime factorization
  • Factor/multiply/divide monomials
  • Find GCF
  • Simplify algebraic fractions
  • Evaluate numerical expressions containing negative exponents
  • Express numbers in standard form/scientific notation
  • Write ratios as fractions in simplest form
  • Determine unit rates
  • Solve proportions
  • Use proportions to solve real-world problems
  • Use/construct scale drawings
  • Express percents as fractions/decimals
  • Express fractions/decimals as percents
  • Use the percent proportion to solve problems
  • Compute mentally with percentages
  • Use percent equations to solve real-world problems
  • Find percent of increase/decrease
  • Find the probability of simple events
  • Use a sample to predict the actions of a larger group
  • Write fractions as decimals
  • Compare fractions and decimals
  • Identify/classify rational numbers
  • Write rational numbers as fractions
  • Add/subtract/multiply/divide like/unlike fractions
  • Find LCM
  • Find least common denominator
  • Use mean, median and mode as measures of central tendency
  • Find the terms of arithmetic/geometric sequences
  • Use the distributive property
    • Write equivalent numerical expressions
    • Write equivalent algebraic expressions
    • Simplify algebraic expressions
    • Factor algebraic expressions
  • Solve equations by adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing
  • Write/solve two-step equations
  • Solve equations with rational numbers
  • Solve problems using formulas
  • Solve equations with variables on each side
  • Solve equations involving grouping symbols
  • Identify equations that have no solution or an infinite number of solutions
  • Write inequalities
  • Graph inequalities on a number line
  • Solve inequalities by adding/subtracting
  • Solve inequalities by multiplying/dividing a positive/negative number
  • Solve multi-step inequalities
  • Determine whether a relation is a function
  • Use functions to describe relationships between two quantities
  • Solve/graph linear equations with two variables
  • Find the x and y intercepts of a graph
  • Graph linear equations using intercepts
  • Find the slope of a line
  • Find rates of change
  • Solve problems involving direct variation
  • Graph linear equations using the slope and y-intercept
  • Write equations given the slope and y-intercept, given a graph, and given two points
  • Draw best-fit lines for sets of data and make predictions
  • Solve systems of linear equations by graphing/substitution
  • Graph linear inequalities
  • Find squares/square roots
  • Estimate square roots
  • Identify/compare numbers in the real number system
  • Solve equations by finding the square roots
  • Measure/draw angles
  • Classify angles (acute, right, obtuse, straight)
  • Find the missing measure of a triangle
  • Classify triangles by angles and by sides
  • Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of a side of a right triangle
  • Determine whether a triangle is a right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem
  • Use the distance formula to determine lengths
  • Use the midpoint formula to find the midpoint of a line segment on a coordinate plane
  • Identify corresponding parts
  • Find missing measures of similar triangles
  • Solve problems involving indirect measurement using similar triangles
  • Find sine, cosine, and tangent ratios
  • Solve problems by using the trigonometric ratios
  • Display/interpret data in stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, and histograms
  • Find measurements of variation
  • Recognize when statistics are misleading
  • Count outcomes using tree diagrams and the fundamental counting principle
  • Use the fundamental counting principle to find the probability of an event
  • Use permutations/combinations
  • Find the odds of a simple event
  • Find the probability of independent/dependent events
  • Find the probability of mutually exclusive events
  • Identify/classify polynomials
  • Find the degree of a polynomial
  • Determine whether a graph is linear/non-linear
Physical Science - A
  • Understand that science is a way of knowing about the world that is characterized by empirical criteria, logical argument, and skeptical review
  • Design/conduct scientific investigations
  • Know that science/technology are human efforts that both influence and are influenced by society
  • Understand how scientific discovery, culture, societal norms and technology have influenced one another in different time periods
  • Know that the atomic number of an element is the number of protons present in an atom of that element and that this number defines the element
  • Know that the atomic mass of an element is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons
  • Know that the nucleus of an atom is much smaller than the atom yet contains most of its mass
  • Know that protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together by nuclear forces that overcome the electromagnetic repulsion between the protons
  • Know that electrons exist in an electron cloud in distinct energy levels
  • Know how to relate the position of an element in the periodic table to its atomic number and atomic mass
  • Know how to use the periodic table
    • To identify metals/semimetals/nonmetals/noble gases/halogens
    • To identify alkali metals/alkaline earth metals/transition metals
    • To identify trends in ionization energy/electronegativity/relative sizes of ions & atoms
    • To determine the number of electrons available for bonding
  • Know how to construct electron configurations of all elements using quantum numbers
  • Know that atoms combine to form molecules by sharing electrons to form covalent/metallic bonds or by exchanging electrons to form ionic bonds
  • Know that ions are charged atoms formed by either losing/gaining electrons
  • Know that polyatomic ions exist as more than one element covalently bonded together yet possessing an overall charge
  • Know how to draw a Lewis Dot Structure
  • Recognize what valence electrons are and their importance with regards to chemical bonding
  • Know how to write/name chemical formulas
  • Know how to describe chemical reactions by writing equations
  • Can determine whether or not a reaction will occur and how to predict the products of the reaction
  • Know the quantity of one mole is set by defining one mole of carbon-12 atoms to have mass of exactly 12 grams
  • Know that one mole is equal to Avogadro's number of particles
  • Know how to determine the molar mass of a molecule from its chemical formula and a table of atomic masses
  • Know how to convert the mass of a molecular substance to moles or number of particles
  • Know how to calculate the masses of reactants and products in a chemical reaction from the mass of one of the reactants or products and the relevant atomic masses
  • Know the observable properties of acids/bases
  • Know that acids are hydrogen-ion donating substances
  • Know that bases are hydrogen-ion accepting substances
  • Know how strong acids/bases fully dissociate and weak acids/bases partially dissociate
  • Know how to use the pH scale to characterize acid/base solutions
  • Understand Newton's Laws of Motion (gravitational forces, circular motion)
  • Solve problems involving constant speed/average speed
  • Know/apply Newton's first, second, and third laws
  • Know the relationship between the universal law of gravitation and the effect of gravity on an object at the surface of Earth
  • Know that applying a force to an object perpendicular to the direction of its motion causes the object to change direction but not speed
  • Know that circular motion requires the application of a constant force directed toward the center of the circle
  • Know how to solve two-dimensional trajectory problems
  • Know how to resolve two-dimensional vectors into their components
  • Know how to calculate the magnitude/direction of a vector from its components
  • Know how to solve two-dimensional problems involving balanced forces (statistics)
  • Know how to solve problems in circular motion by using the formula for centripetal acceleration in the form a=v2/r
  • Can calculate kinetic energy using the formula E=(1/2)mv2
  • Can calculate changes in gravitational potential energy near Earth using the formula (change in potential energy) = mgh, where h is the change in elevation
  • Solve problems involving conservation of energy in simple systems, such as falling objects
  • Can calculate momentum as the product mv
  • Know that momentum is a separately conserved quantity different from energy
  • Know that an unbalanced force on an object produces a change in its momentum
  • Know that waves carry energy from one place to another
  • Know how to identify transverse and longitudinal waves in mechanical media (springs, ropes) and on Earth (seismic waves)
  • Solve problems involving wavelength, frequency, and wave speed
  • Know that sound is a longitudinal wave whose speed depends on the properties of the medium which it propagates
  • Know that radio waves, light, and x-rays are different wavelength bandwidths of the spectrum of electromagnetic waves whose speed in a vacuum is approximately 3x108 m/s (186,000 miles/second)
  • Identify the characteristic properties of waves
    • Interference (beats)
    • Diffraction
    • Refraction
    • Doppler effect
    • Polarization
  • Predict the voltage and current in simple direct current (DC) electric circuits constructed from batteries, wires, resistors, and capacitors
  • Solve problems involving Ohm's law
  • Know that charged particles are sources of electric fields and are subject to the forces of electric fields from other charges
  • Know that magnetic materials and electric currents (moving electric charges) are sources of magnetic fields and are subject to forces arising from the magnetic fields of other sources
  • Know that changing magnetic fields produce electric fields, thereby inducing currents in nearby conductors
  • Know that plasmas (the fourth state of matter) contain ions or free electrons or both, and that they conduct electricity
  • Apply the concepts of electrical/gravitational potential energy to solve problems involving conservation of energy
Physical Science - B
  • Understand that science is a way of knowing about the world that is characterized by empirical criteria, logical argument, and skeptical review
  • Design/conduct scientific investigations
  • Know that science/technology are human efforts that both influence and are influenced by society
  • Understand how scientific discovery, culture, societal norms and technology have influenced one another in different time periods
  • Know that there are more than 100 different elements with unique properties
  • Use evidence to explain that matter is made of small particles called atoms/molecules which are too small to see
  • Know that the mass of a substance remains constant whether it is together, in parts, or in a different state
  • Describe the states of matter in terms of the space between the particles
  • Distinguish between volume, mass, and density
  • Use the characteristic properties of density, melting point, boiling point, and solubility to identify/distinguish mixtures and pure substances
  • Know that atoms are the smallest unit of an element that maintains the characteristics of the element
  • Define chemical/physical changes
  • Observe that substances react chemically with other substances to form new substances with different characteristic properties
  • Give examples/classify substances as mixtures or pure substances
  • Examine the basis for the structure/use of the periodic table
  • Relate the structural characteristics of atoms to the principles of atomic bonding
  • Analyze/explain the factors that affect physical/chemical changes and how matter and energy are conserved in a closed system
  • Describe objects
    • Positions
    • Relative speeds
    • Changes in speed
    • Average speed
    • Direction of motion
    • Average acceleration
  • Describe sound, water waves, and light using wave properties
  • Describe water waves and sound, relating ideas of frequency, wavelength, and speed by relating energy to amplitude
  • Understand that energy is a property of substances and systems and comes in many forms (stored, energy of motion, heat)
  • Understand many forms of energy as they are found in common situations on Earth and in the universe
  • Determine factors that affect rate/amount of energy transferred
  • Associate a decrease in one form of energy with an increase in another form
  • Understand that total energy is conserved
  • Analyze decreases/increases in energy during transfers in terms of total energy conservation
  • Know the factors that determine the strength of various forces and their relative magnitudes
  • Explain everyday situations in terms of forces
  • Understand the effects of balanced/unbalanced forces on the motion of objects along a straight line
  • Explain the effects of unbalanced forces in changing the direction of motion of objects