The Eighth Grade Program at St. Thomas More School

Curriculum Overview

The eighth grade curriculum is aligned with the Diocesan guidelines and Pennsylvania State Academic Standards.

Religion

The curriculum includes the study of the Church with the purpose of developing students’ life-long commitment to faith in Christ.  Students are encouraged to see themselves as part of a community of disciples rooted in scripture and apostolic tradition.  Students focus study on preparation for reception of the sacrament of Confirmation during the second quarter of the school year.  As part of their preparation, they complete research on the lives of their chosen saints, complete service hours, and strengthen their commitment to become active participants in the Church who strive to live faith-filled lives.

Language Arts/Literature

The curriculum includes the study of grammar, literature, and communication as a means to enhance students’ effective use of oral and written language.  Students develop critical reading skills through the review and application of the five elements of literature as they read, analyze, and discuss short stories, plays, poetry, nonfiction literature, and a novel.  Writing ability is developed through the writing of descriptive, narrative, persuasive, and expository essays, poetry, letters, and plays.  Opportunities for oral presentations are also given.  Podcasts, WebQuests, and PowerPoint presentations enhance student understanding.

Math

Students in eighth grade have two different math classes in which they participate. Five days a week they study either pre-algebra or algebra I. Two days a week they study the fundamental concepts of geometry, its language, and its notation to help prepare them for a formal course of geometry in high school.

Science

In eighth grade, students hone their laboratory skills. While systems of the human body is the main focus of the course, chemistry and earth and space topics are integrated into the course of study. There is an emphasis on the forces in the universe. Students are also encouraged to conduct an independent, experimental project as a preparation for Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. Homework is given in weekly increments made available via website. The use of remote sensed imagery, alterations of a computer color pallet to achieve different views of images, the use of a spectroscope to do analysis of and determine movements of objects, the use of MRI, TEM, CAT, and PET scans, and various surgical procedures are discussed.

Social Studies

The eighth grade curriculum focuses on the study of American History from discovery to the Reconstruction Era (1492-1877).

Eighth Grade Highlights

Parish priests present lessons related to students’ faith development.  Students participate in service projects at the school which provide opportunities for putting their faith into action, including the Advent Service Project, Santa's Workshop, and Spring Clean-Up Day.  Eighth grade students also receive the sacrament of Confirmation.  Other special activities include the Marian Devotion and graduation-related events.  Junior high students are given the opportunity to participate in MathCounts and Pennsylvania Mathematics League (PML) Competition. MathCounts is a national program, which builds critical thinking skills and teaches problem solving strategies. All students are encouraged to participate. The top 12 mathletes compete at a regional competition held in February. The PML competition takes place at Central Catholic High School where students take a 30 minute multiple-choice math test. The top 10 students are honored at an awards assembly held in March. Students are invited to participate in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science and are given an opportunity to orally present their independent, experimental project at a regional symposium and at a Pennsylvania state symposium. Finally, students visit the United States Holocaust Museum and war memorials in Washington D.C., as a culmination of the study of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

Technology Highlights, Projects, and Special Events

Eighth grade students have access to a laptop cart outfitted with 26 laptops. The laptops are used to enhance the curriculum and develop a deeper understanding of subject matter. Students create projects using PowerPoint and record podcasts related to content learned in the classroom. They participate in WebQuests that foster the understanding of curriculum-related topics. They also use Compass Learning for activities and assessments, particularly assignments for math-related enrichment and remediation. Teachers use multimedia projectors, laptops, and electronic whiteboards to present information to the students.  Interactive websites are used to enhance student learning. Students also learn about different types of scientific technology such as electron microscopes, chromatography, electrophoresis, and gene sequencing.