In eighth grade, students will read major works of fiction and nonfiction from all over the world and from different time periods. They will continue to learn how to understand what they read and evaluate an author’s assumptions and claims. They will also conduct research that will require the analysis of resources and accurate interpretation of literary and informational text.
Activities in these areas will include:
• Identifying what a reading selection explicitly says and drawing inferences based on evidence from the text
• Analyzing the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts
• Evaluating the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient
• Connecting information and ideas efficiently and effectively in writing
• Analyzing the purpose of information presented in diverse media formats, such as video clips or interactive maps
• Participating in class discussions on various topics, texts, and issues by expressing ideas and building on the ideas of others
• Developing a large vocabulary of multi-use academic words and phrases
• Interpreting figures of speech, such as puns or verbal irony, in context
Excerpt provided by the Council of the Great City Schools at https://www.cgcs.org/Page/244In eighth grade math, students take their understanding of unit rates and proportional relationships to a new level, connecting these concepts to points on a line and ultimately using them to solve linear equations that require them to apply algebraic reasoning as well as knowledge of the properties of operations. Students will also expand their understanding of numbers beyond rational numbers to include numbers that are irrational.
Activities in these areas will include:
• Understanding that every rational number (such as ½, 0.3, 2, or -2) can be written as a decimal, but that the decimal form of an irrational number (such as 2 ) is both non-repeating and infinite
• Applying the properties of exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions
• Determining the value of square roots of small perfect squares (such as 49= 7) and cube roots of small perfect cubes (such as 3 64=4)
• Graphing proportional relationships and interpreting the unit rate as the slope (how steep or flat a line is)
• Solving and graphing one- and two-variable linear equations
• Understanding that a function is a rule that assigns to each value of x exactly one value of y, such as y=2x, a rule that would yield such ordered pairs as (-2,-4), (3,6), and (4,8)
• Comparing the properties of two functions represented in different ways (in a table, graph, equation, or description)
• Determining congruence (when shapes are of equal size and shape) and similarity (same shape but different sizes)
• Learning and applying the Pythagorean Theorem (an equation relating the lengths of the sides of a right triangle: a2 + b2 = c2)
• Solving problems involving the volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres
Excerpt provided by the Council of the Great City Schools at https://www.cgcs.org/Page/244In eighth grade science, students will engage in the study of Life Science. They will explore a variety of topics that include, but are not limited to, the structure and function of living organisms, ecosystems and their interactions, heredity and genetics, and the principles of evolution. Students will investigate how living things grow, adapt, and respond to their environments, as well as how human activity impacts ecosystems and biodiversity.
8th grade social science is a survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the events leading to the Civil War to present day. Topics covered include reconstruction, industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in this class: American culture, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.
Students at CMS experience a FITNESS driven Physical Education program. Our number one goal in 6th-8th grade is to get the body trained to move for life. Our focus is on health and fitness more so than sport and competition. We facilitate two cardio days per week including "Mile Monday" and circuit training. Three of each days each week will spent exploring different sports and games.
Individual sports include: Frisbee, golf, yoga and badminton
Team sports include: kickball, volleyball, basketball and floor hockey
Games include: Yoshi, dodgeball variations, flickerball and spikeball
Communications class at Carbondale Middle School is an exciting opportunity for students to develop a multitude of daily skills that will help them succeed both in school and beyond. In this class, students will strengthen their ability to express themselves clearly, understand others better, and navigate social situations with confidence. They will practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while also learning how to manage their emotions, set and achieve goals, and explore their future endeavors. Additionally, they will become more comfortable using technology tools like Google Drive, while also developing typing and research abilities. Think of Communications class as a toolkit for building stronger relationships, becoming a better student, and preparing for future success in high school, college, and any career.