Faculty and Curriculum

What Children Learn – Eighth Grade

Religion – 8th grade includes instruction from a Pastor for Confirmation. On non confirmation days religious instruction includes a historical survey of the church. The study progresses through Christian religions and World religions and cults and the occult.

Grammar – We review sentence and paragraph and creative writing. We also review syntax, usage and mechanics.

Civics - We study both constitutions (federal and state) and study also includes citizenship, political parties, national, state and local governments.

Health – Fitness for life is a course that starts with exercising safely, preparing for exercise, strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, nutrition and self evaluating.

Physical Education – PE is a combination of self testing units and team sport units.

Art – Students work with the ARTS ATTACK series to learn the elements and principles of art, drawing and painting in a developmental and sequential manner, as well as to study and appreciate the work of artists, cultures and historical periods

Math – 8th Graders complete pre-algebra and work on Algebra I
concepts. Students solve and graph linear equations and inequalities, use the Pythagorean Theorem and trigonometric functions. Students are encouraged to work at their maximum potential.

Literature – Students prepare for high school literature with a study that employs a genre approach with exposure to short stories, poems, plays, articles, mythology and two classic novels, one British and one American. Author units highlight the works of Twain, Dickens, Poe, Hemingway, Bradbury, O. Henry, Shakespeare and others. Students learn to evaluate and appreciate classic works by evaluating elements of theme, structure and technique through reading, class discussion and writing assignments.

Science – After an introductory unit on science safety, measurement, and experimentation we study the universe and galaxies with emphasis on the processes at work in stars. We study Genetics and heredity stating with a study of the cell, then Mendelian genetics and human heredity. Labs activities include human surveys, genetics of taste and spooling DNA. This if followed by a look at Darwinian evolution with a Christian critique. Classic mechanics and motion are studied with emphasis on Newton’s Laws, fluid forces work and machines, conservation of energy and thermal energy and heat. Labs and demos include construction of mouse trap cars.

Music – Each class of students in grades K-8 meets once each week for a general music class. In these classes, students learn to read musical notation, play a variety of classroom percussion instruments, develop their singing voices, improvise, compose, and express themselves through music. They also listen to and analyze music from a variety of genres, styles, cultures, and historical periods.

Students in fifth through eighth grade also have opportunities to participate in instrumental ensembles. The tone chime choir plays for church services, a Christmas concert, and a variety of other venues. Our band program is part of a community Christian school effort.

Contemporary Choir – (Grades 5-8) Choir at this level is a performance-oriented class focusing on contemporary Christian music prepared for worship services and concert. We also practice secular selections in a variety of styles from different eras and patriotic numbers for performance at the nearby nursing home, and perform with the other choirs in the annual Christmas concert.

Computers and Technology – Each grade has an orientation to learning.com our network, rules and our special site sptigers.info. All grades do unit of keyboarding (typing) skill development each year.

Computer ethics and safety are included each year. We use resources from Learning.com or easy tech. Cybersmart, netsmartz, iSafe, and Renaissance Learning.

In eighth grade, graphic and multimedia skills, databases, desktop publishing, communicating online are emphasized.

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St. Paul's Lutheran School - 1780 Career Center Road - Bourbonnais, IL 60914