The Eighth Grade

One of the core goals of the eighth grade program is to prepare students for the world beyond the classroom, and in particular for challenging programs at the upper school level. The development of abstract thinking is extended from the seventh grade and many opportunities are provided for students to display their ability to analyze and synthesize information. Critical thinking activities, cooperative learning tasks, and opportunities for risk-taking help to create a program that provides authentic experiences for students in and out of the classroom. The rigor of the eighth grade program requires students to take initiative and ownership of their individual level of academic success.

English 8

English 8 is a class that motivates students to think deeply about literature through both traditional and non-traditional methods. Innovative techniques are used to teach, such as a “golf”game that requires physical participation after students make connections to concepts during review, and creation of artwork that allows students to display their knowledge in a different format after reading The Martian Chronicles. Making real-life connections to the events in selected novels is an important part of the eighth grade English experience. The students are often asked to perform in some way, whether in a dramatic interpretation of a scene from Julius Caesar or in an artistic rendering of a particular scene or aspect from a novel. Themes are developed through use of traditional class discussions and writing assignments, as well as activities requiring students to work together and individually to show creativity. The eighth grade English experience is exciting and thought provoking, while challenging students to become better writers, speakers and readers.

Faculty:
Anthony Cannuli

World Geography

In Geography students learn about our world. This is done through a wide range of activities. Students experience Asian calligraphy, learning to write their names in Japanese, Korean and Chinese. The Research Paper breaks down the research process as well as allowing students to use the many resources of the library. Technology will be incorporated into the course as it is a major factor in shrinking the world. An integrated unit with science regarding Africa and disease helps students to gain an understanding of the continent, as well as the challenges of charitable efforts and relief. By the end of the year students have a deeper understanding of their world and are well prepared for the academic challenges of the future.

Faculty:
Joan Nuse

Science 8

The eighth grade Science curriculum centers around Human Biology. Hands-on experiments assist the students in extrapolating and applying data about pathogens, transmission, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Students read The Hot Zone by Richard Preston and apply their knowledge of infectious diseases to the story. An integrated unit with the Geography classes on Africa and disease further requires eighth graders to apply prior knowledge and analyze facts to create an eradication plan for specific diseases in particular African countries. Several guest speakers including Hun alumni and current parents add to the real life application of the course material. Eighth graders discuss correlations between health and nutrition and non-infectious diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Inheritance of human traits and genetic disorders is linked to probability and we will investigate the role of society and history in relation to prejudice and racism.

Faculty:
Madeline Jones

Algebra I

One of the principal goals of middle school Mathematics at The Hun School is to provide students with a strong foundation in Algebra I by the time they complete the eighth grade. We want our students to reason and think mathematically and be able to translate real situations and problems into a mathematical language they are able to use to find answers. Our strategy is to utilize a curriculum that spreads algebraic thinking over the math taught in the sixth and seventh grades. In these critical years, we aim to balance mastery of basic skills with a strong conceptual framework. Students will work with a variety of linear and non-linear relationships, including exponential change, rational functions, and quadratics. They will learn to recognize and express these relationships in different representations such as word problems, tabular data, graphical analyses, and of course equations. Students will also study statistical techniques and the concepts of probability, samples and populations. One of the classroom methods we employ is to have students work in groups, learning to cooperate and communicate with each other to analyze and solve problems.

Faculty:
Richard Howson

Geometry

For eighth grade students who have demonstrated mastery of Algebra I, an honors level course in Geometry is offered. The study of Geometry allows students to begin to apply some structure and a sense of order to their visual world. Beyond the specific body of knowledge of Euclidean geometry, it is hoped that the course will open students' minds to the presence of geometry in nature, art, architecture, and design. Our principal focus is on Euclidean geometry and we also study the connections to algebra by working with coordinate geometry. Students investigate mathematical patterns, learn to make reasonable conjectures, and then apply logical reasoning to prove these conjectures. Together, students essentially build their knowledge of the course one step at a time, using known definitions, assumptions, and proven theorems to logically derive additional conclusions. Writing sound and effective proofs is an important part of this process and will serve the students well beyond this classroom. They will employ many tools in their journey, including constructing geometric objects with a straightedge and compass as well as utilizing a computer application called Geometer’s Sketchpad to assist their investigations.

Faculty:
Richard Howson

French 8

At this third level of the middle school language program, there is a strong focus on application and usage of what students have previously learned as they work to synthesize new material. There is a continued emphasis on interdisciplinary connections with other middle school classes, and interaction with the francophone community. As a culminating language experience, students take on the role of an exchange student in a francophone country of their choice, and incorporate knowledge of that country into all aspects of their class activities.

Faculty:
Stella Greenbaum

Spanish 8

The culminating course in the middle school Spanish program, Spanish 8 is a very interactive class, where students are able to work cooperatively as well as individually through CD’s and DVD’s, and the emphasis is on understanding and speaking the language. Students speak about current, everyday and past events, and develop story-telling abilities. At the end of the year, each student prepares a PowerPoint presentation about favorite childhood memories, which demonstrates achievement of these skills.

Faculty:
Keri Marino