8th Grade Academics

 
8th Grade Economics
The Healdsburg School students study economics wherein they learn to understand basic economic principles and explore questions such as... "Can legalizing the ivory trade save the elephants? How is competing for overhead bin space on an airplane like a market economy? How does controlling the high price of gasoline lead to shortages? How can raising people's wages hurt the very people you intend to help?" There are lots of good questions to ask and mysteries to explore. This course provides an interactive and fun way for students to work together on the answers and discover "economic thought." We cover topics that include supply and demand, markets, pricing, scarcity, basic finance, the value of money and global markets.
 
8th Grade Mathematics: Algebra I
Upper school mathematics are designed to fully prepare The Healdsburg School graduates for the rigors of high school mathematics. Algebra I is a one year course that is a study of the axioms and theorems of the real number system. The laws of algebra are developed as logical consequences of the axioms and definitions of the real number system. Properties of equality, inequality and graphing are developed as tools for problem solving and analysis. Qualified algebra students are prepared to move directly into high school geometry.
 
8th Grade Physical Science
In the eighth grade students study Physical Science, a one year honors-level course that examines the physical laws that govern this universe. They construct and launch their own rockets, take field trips to Stanford University and NASA Ames and visit working observatories. This course introduces our students to the fundamentals of physics and chemistry. It surveys and discusses the nature and laws of motion, energy, work, machines, heat, waves, light and sound, electricity, magnetism, nuclear physics and conceptual string theory. The course will consist of a combination lecture, demonstrations and independent study.

8th Grade Humanities – American Studies II
In this integrated History and English course, students will learn about the history of the United States, beginning with the Civil War and culminating with a study of post 9-11 American society.  This course has a global focus and in addition to their history text, students will read novels, short stories, and poetry that address America’s role in the world.  Additionally, students will participate in a challenging geography curriculum, familiarizing themselves with the nations and capitals of the world as well as main world geographical features. The English curriculum, while thematically guided by the History curriculum, will have four main parts: literature, writing, grammar, and vocabulary.  Students will address themes such as immigration and perception.  Selections may include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Of Mice and Men, Lord of the Flies, Farewell to Manzanar, Animal Farm, or Romeo and Juliet.  The writing program builds upon the thorough program introduced in the 7th grade, focusing upon the 5 paragraph essay, word choice, sentence structure, and thesis statements. Grammar will be studied separately but also within the assigned literature, primary source documents, and textbooks.   This humanities class will prepare students to ask essential questions about their learning as well as be equipped to answer them.

8th Grade Spanish:
The Healdsburg School will use the update Spanish curriculum of the Wright Group/McGraw Hill Publishing Co. entitled “¡Viva el español!”, textbook and workbook serires “¡Adelante¡”, with which the students enter a more in-depth study of commands, radical verbs, and the preterit tense. Vocabulary expands with nouns and verbs designed to enable them to greet and inquire about the health of a person, to express wants and needs, to talk about a day’s activities, the weather, seasons, order in a restaurant, give directions, and carry on a simple telephone conversation.. Special projects on Spanish-speaking countries, biographies, art, literature, poetry, music, and culture are presented by the students. Weekly language laboratory continues to refine listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Assessments are oral and written. On completion of this class students will have been exposed to and will have studied what is required to enter a Spanish II class in high school. Special guests and additional materials are introduced by the teacher.