Grade School
Grade 8
Grade eight has as its guiding principle the sense of culmination, the goal of developing a capacity for creating a picture of the whole, and a mood of completion of all that has gone before. The students themselves are observably in the process of completing their passage through childhood and are entering the territory of youth, an attainment that gives each of them an enhanced vista, sharper powers of observation, and growing critical faculties. From this new vantage, with their new capacities, the students can develop the scope and the perceptive abilities to recollect, to connect, to see relationships – abilities which make it possible to build a comprehensive picture whether the subject is history, physics or math.
The American, French and/or Industrial Revolutions begin the study of history in this grade. What happens when the struggle for artistic and religious freedom that characterized the Renaissance and the Reformation develops into a struggle for human rights? How has the desire for universal human rights shaped our world? The study continues with the American Civil War, and on to a history of the 20th century, looking at some of the people who have brought new ideas to life in the modern era and identifying some of the questions and promises that face us as we enter a new millennium.
In anatomy and physiology, the students make use of modeling and drawing to sharpen observations of the forms of the human bone structure. The 7th grade study of the lime cycle connects to a look at the chemistry of bone growth and development. The 7th grade study of mechanics relates to a look at the mechanics of human movement in the bones, different types of joints, and the muscular system. The nervous system, and particularly the eye and ear, are further topics for this year.
Proceeding from the 7th grade study of salts, acids and bases, and the study of nutrition and the digestive system, the focus this year is the chemistry of sugars, starches, proteins, and fats and oils. The study includes consideration of how the processes observed are used in industry, as well as in living organisms.
The study of sound, light, heat, electricity and magnetism is now extended into the areas of hydraulics, aeromechanics and the practical applications of electromagnetism and motors. The students are encouraged to connect the phenomena studied in physics with their manifestations in nature and with practical applications wherever possible.
World Geography includes a survey of the landforms, ocean currents, atmosphere, climates, and life zones of the entire earth. World industry and transportation may also be included, as may an ethnographical look at a few representative remote cultures, still mostly dependent on terrain and climate for their life ways. Historical references and biographies enliven the understanding of how people relate to their surroundings, and shape the cultural and political direction of a particular place.
While drama has been a part of the curriculum every year, in this, the class’s culminating year in the grade school, production values and the time devoted to rehearsals may become more important. A three-week morning lesson block may be devoted to final rehearsals, set building and costume finishing. The choice of play can range from a Shakespeare comedy to an operetta or musical, and is based on the teacher’s insight into the character of the particular class. The year often concludes with a class trip of greater length than in previous years. Previous eighth grade trips have included whitewater rafting, and hiking in Arches National Park, arranged through Canyonlands Outdoor Center in Utah, or canoeing in Temagami, Canada.
Language Arts
- Writing, Reading, Spelling, Grammar
- Speech Formation/Dramatics
- Research Skills
- Composition / Creative Writing
Mathematics
- Geometry
- Algebra
Natural Sciences
- Human Anatomy
- Organic Chemistry
- Physics
Earth Sciences
- Geography
- Climatology
- Anthropology
Social Sciences
- 19th & 20th century History
Foreign Languages
- German
- Spanish
Fine Arts
- Painting, Drawing, Woodwork
Handwork
- Sewing
Music
- Recorder, Singing
Eurythmy Physical Education
- Games
- Sports