Eighth-grade students will engage in laboratory investigations that include the use of scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem-solving, laboratory apparatus and technologies, experimental procedures, and safety procedures. Students should have multiple opportunities every week to explore science laboratory investigations (labs).

Throughout the year, your child will:

• learn about Nature of science, properties of matter, classifying matter, atoms and the periodic table, waves, light and energy transformation, Law of Conservation of Energy, forces, and motion.
• understand measurement error.
• have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present results.
• develop a growing understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills to calibrate and troubleshoot equipment used to make observations.

For additional information regarding the Grade 8 Science courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

• M/J Physical Science (#2003010)
• M/J Physical Science, Advanced (#2003020)

Eighth-grade students will engage in formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modeling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation, and solving linear equations and systems of linear equations; use functions to describe quantitative relationships; analyze two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.

Throughout the year, your child will:

• use linear equations and systems of linear equations to represent, analyze, and solve a variety of problems. 
• understand that the slope (m) of a line is a constant rate of change, so that if the input or x-coordinate changes by an amount A, the output or y-coordinate changes by the amount m(A).
• strategically choose and efficiently implement procedures to solve linear equations in one variable, understanding that when they use the properties of equality and concept of logical equivalence, they maintain the solutions of the original equation. 
• grasp the concept of a function as a rule that assigns to each input exactly one output.
• understand that functions describe situations where one quantity determines another. 
• use ideas about distance and angles, how they behave under translations, rotations, reflections, and dilation, and ideas about congruence and similarity to describe and analyze two-dimensional figures and to solve problems.
• understand the statement of the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse, and can explain why the Pythagorean Theorem holds, for example, by decomposing a square in two different ways. 

For additional information regarding the Grade 8 Mathematics courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

• M/J Grade 8 Pre-Algebra (#1205070)
• Algebra 1 Honors (#1200320)
• Geometry Honors (#1206320)

Eighth-grade students will engage with the study of American history from the Exploration and Colonization Period to the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. Students will clearly see the relationship between cause and effect in historical events and have the opportunity to explore those fundamental ideas and events which occurred after Reconstruction.

Throughout the year, your child will:

• be exposed to the historical, geographic, political, economic, and sociological events which influenced the development of the United States and the resulting impact on world history.
• interpret and create representations of historical events using mathematical tables, charts, and graphs.
• Analyze primary source documents of the founding years and learn how they affected the creation of the government of the United States.

For additional information regarding the Grade 8 Social Studies courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

• M/J United States History (#2100010)
• M/J United States History Advanced (#2100020)

Eighth-grade students will engage using texts of appropriate complexity. Grade 8 English Language Arts integrates language arts study in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language for college and career preparation and readiness.  

Throughout the year, your child will:

• actively read from varied texts for what is said explicitly, as well as the logical inferences that can be drawn
• analyze literature and informational texts from varied literary periods to examine:
  • text craft and structure
  • elements of literature
  • arguments and claims supported by textual evidence
  • power and impact of language
  • influence of history, culture, and setting on language
  • personal critical and aesthetic response
• write for varied purposes

For additional information regarding the Grade 8 English Language Arts courses, please visit the course description and course directory at CPALMS.org

• M/J Language Arts 3 (#1001070)
• M/J Language Arts 3 Advanced (#1001080)