Core CourseS

ELA 7 is balanced and comprehensive. The language arts processes of reading, writing, listening, and speaking are taught in an integrated and inter-related manner. Course components include the study of rich and varied literature; writing in the genres of narrative, persuasive, expository, and response to literature, instruction in language arts skills and strategies, including vocabulary development, spelling, and grammar; a balance of oral and written language activities; and on-going diagnosis and assessment.

ELA 8 is a California Common Core standards-based course. During the year students participate in writing narratives, expository essays, research papers, persuasive/argument essays, literary analysis essays and other various smaller scale writing tasks. In order to improve reading skills students will read and analyze both fiction and non-fiction texts independently, in small groups and as a whole class throughout the year. Students will work on improving speaking and listening skills through various presentations, group discussions, Socratic Seminars and other highly academic activities. The goal of this 8th grade course is to improve student achievement in all of the areas specified above and to prepare them for the rigor of high school English courses.

This course reinforces mathematical skills taught in sixth grade classes with additional advanced computation including an emphasis on Algebraic concepts. Students study fractions, decimals, percents, positive and negative integers and rational numbers. They become more proficient in using ratios, proportions and solving algebraic equations. Students continue to practice using math skills to solve word problems and to think creatively and analytically. This course is aligned with the California Common Core State Standards.

In this course students will learn about variables, graphs and equations, multiple representations, systems of equations, transformations and similarity, slope and association, exponents and functions, angles and the Pythagorean Theorem, surface area and volume. This course is aligned with the California Common Core State Standards.

This is an accelerated math course that combines all Math 7 content and about half of the Math 8 content into a single year during 7th grade. This rigorous course prepares students to take Math 8 Compacted in 8th grade. Students will learn about fractions, decimals, percents, positive and negative integers and rational numbers. They will become more proficient in using ratios, proportions and solving algebraic equations and will work with graphs, multiple representations, and systems of equations. This course is aligned with the California Common Core State Standards.

Students placed in this class must meet district placement requirements.

This is an accelerated math course for students who have successfully completed Math 7 Compacted. This course combines half of the Math 8 content and all of High School Math Course 1 content into a single year during 8th grade. Students will learn about linear equations, exponential functions , transformational geometry and proofs, simplifying radicals, the Pythagorean Theorem, solving systems of linear equations and inequalities, arithmetic and geometric sequences. This course is aligned with the California Common Core State Standards.

Students placed in this class must meet district placement requirements.

In this course students gain valuable foundation skills in science content, best practices, and communication. Throughout 7th and 8th grade students receive a broad foundation in all fields of science.

Topics in 7th grade include everything from atoms, chemical reactions, and biology. Students also get hands-on with labs and gain valuable engineering experience with multiple research, design, and build projects.

In this course students gain valuable foundation skills in science content, best practices, and communication. Throughout 7th and 8th grade students receive a broad foundation in all fields of science.

Topics in 8th grade include everything from astronomy, physics, and geology. Students also get hands-on with labs and gain valuable engineering experience with multiple research, design, and build projects.

7th grade History/Social Studies curriculum covers the study of geography, culture and religion in late antiquity through the medieval world. Following the Middle Ages, students will study the fall of Rome, the spread of Islam, Medieval Africa, China, Japan, MesoAmerica and Europe. When studying Europe, classes focus on life, religion and politics after the fall of Rome through the Renaissance and Age of Exploration. The curriculum is based on the California State Standards. The class text is Discovering Our Past: Medieval and Early Modern Times published by Glencoe/McGraw Hill.

8th Grade History/Social Studies has a curriculum that explores the birth and development of America with a focus on the geography, economy, government, military, foreign affairs and people who contributed to creating a new nation. The class begins with pre-colonial America and then to the U.S. Constitution and the events that shaped a young United States. Westward expansion is the next theme, and students will review the effect it had on Native Americans, the land, as well as other nations. Classes will examine and analyze the causes and events that resulted in the Civil War and the Reconstruction period. Additionally, students will examine and analyze the social, economic and technological factors that resulted in America’s industrialization. The final focus will be the major concepts of democracy. The curriculum is based on the California State Standards. The class text is United States History: Prehistory to Reconstruction published by Glencoe/McGraw Hill.

In this course students 7th graders learn new and more advanced skills in soccer, basketball, and track and field. They also get to experience new sports such as ultimate frisbee, volleyball, pickleball and cultural dances.

8th graders get to refine their skills in sports such as soccer and volleyball that they have had for multiple years now. New sports to 8th grade include: flag football, badminton, square dancing and team handball to name a few.