In Grade 8 Algebra I, students expand on their algebraic understanding and foundations built in sixth and seventh grades. The units that students explore at this level are Linear Functions, Systems of Linear Equations, Properties of Exponents and Exponential Growth and Decay, Operations with Polynomials, Radicals and Radical Equations, and Quadratic Functions. Students learn concepts through a variety of pedagogic approaches and are asked to apply their thinking in various ways, honing their mathematical practices/habits of mind. Students graduate from 8th grade with the necessary knowledge and skills to begin their high school learning in higher-level math courses.

In Grade 8 Science, students delve into the world of physical science. Topics include chemistry, force and motion, Newtonian mechanics, simple machines, work, and energy. Eighth graders review the Scientific Method and expand their measurement skills to include density and temperature. They engage in a variety of labs and project-based tasks with the year culminating in a STEAM project where students use their knowledge of simple machines and energy to create Rube Goldberg machines.

In Grade 8 Drama and Public Speaking, with a focus on scriptwriting, students develop and create their own theatrical material across a variety of genres and styles. Students have frequent opportunities to collaborate and share their work with peers via staged readings and in-class performances. They study, write, and perform different types of monologues as part of a cross-curricular collaboration with the English Department (the Automated Wax Museum project). In the realm of public speaking, students build on presentation skills from previous years and research and present on influential historical worldwide figures in the performing arts, politics, history, and sports from under-represented communities or whose accomplishments are not as well known today. The year culminates with students creating scripts that incorporate the playwriting skills developed throughout the year in the form of an allegory or morality play that communicate a life lesson or message.

Physical Education in Grade 8 emphasizes students applying their increased knowledge of skilled performance to improve their own movement skills. Students also continue to apply principles of effective team participation and to lead and follow by sharing leadership positions. The Middle School PE program focuses on developing movement and motor skills and social skills across a variety of movement activities. Students also learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle through individual and collaborative fitness components throughout the program, and they develop skills for communication, leadership, self-reflection, and conflict resolution in a variety of physical activity settings. Class content and social emotional development are geared towards preparing students for their next challenge and promoting lifelong fitness.

As our eighth graders prepare for the opportunities and adjustments of high school, students, in Grade 8 English, explore the themes of identity formation, coming of age, and social justice. Students read a variety of genres in self-selected and assigned texts, and they hone their literary analysis skills through close reading, theme identification, and essay writing. The course includes routine practice of essential language arts skills, such as: engaging in discussions, note taking, and annotating texts. Students write for specific audiences and purposes while developing narratives, explanatory texts, and arguments. Additionally, students practice  writing and presenting monologues as part of the eighth grade Automated Wax Museum project. Students also continue to cultivate English language conventions and vocabulary to purposefully communicate intention and meaning with their audiences.

Redwood Day offers language learning in Mandarin or Spanish designed for students learning an additional language who do not have native fluency in the language. Students are placed in the appropriate world language pathways based on class and placement assessments. Students new to Redwood Day are assessed for optimal placement.

In Grade 8 Spanish, a continuous focus is on developing students’ oral language fluency and accuracy, while balancing learning that develops knowledge of Spanish grammar. Students develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in almost every class period and have opportunities to communicate in Spanish without an emphasis on perfection. Attention at this level is on using the verb phrase “ir a infinitivo” to discuss and ask about future plans as well as developing and using the present progressive tense and direct and indirect object pronouns. To support comprehension growth, students read two Spanish novels written for novice language learners in addition to other authentic texts. These experiences with texts also facilitate discussion about Latinx/a/o culture while putting the vocabulary we study into meaningful contexts. 

Grade 8 Advanced Spanish builds upon the concepts introduced in the previous year, with a primary focus on enhancing oral communication skills. Instruction is exclusively conducted in the target language, requiring students to communicate solely in Spanish, including during interactions with their peers. Three novels are introduced to students, and each class incorporates new vocabulary themes and grammar concepts, encompassing reading and listening comprehension activities, as well as speaking and writing exercises. The curriculum also features multimedia cultural presentations and interactive activities designed to reinforce vocabulary and grammar learning. Key learning objectives included direct and indirect object pronouns, differentiation between por and para, a review of regular and irregular preterit tense verbs, and the acquisition of vocabulary relevant to traveling in Spanish-speaking communities. As the second semester progresses, the primary learning objectives shift to reflexive verbs and a comprehensive review in preparation for high school placement tests.

In eighth grade, in Mandarin, students continue to develop a solid foundation in all essential areas of Mandarin language learning that includes an increasing knowledge of tones, character strokes, radical parts, and the structure of Chinese characters. Students engage in conversations using various sentence structures to express themselves with greater confidence, and they enhance their comprehension skills by reading various articles and texts. At this level, students begin learning to write in paragraphs. Students also build their understanding of cultural topics while developing their presentational skills through a presentation project. Throughout their years of learning Mandarin at Redwood Day, students acquire the skills to prepare them for an intermediate level high school Mandarin course.

Middle School Visual Arts provides students space to continue practicing, experimenting, and reflecting on their creative expression both technically and conceptually. Students are introduced to and reacquainted with a variety of mediums as well as a diverse group of artists.  In Grade 8 Visual Arts, students focus on sculpture and learn how to translate their two-dimensional skills to three-dimensional formats while expanding their own limits of art making. Projects include designing and painting a classroom stool to visually represent the legacy they want to leave behind as they move on to high school; creating a Papier Mache sculpture exploring proportion and honing craftsmanship; creating a functional, thematic ceramic cup or mug; showcasing technical hand skills; and engaging in a culminating altered book project. Additional focus at this level is on developing student-artists’ personal style and their understanding of what art is and the impacts art has on individuals and societies.

Grade 8 History centers on US History from Pre-Columbian Native societies to the Postbellum Reconstruction. Students study the founding documents of the country, the structure of the government and the struggles that various groups faced as they attempted to make their place in the United States. Through engagement with complex primary and sources, preparation for and engagement in Socratic Seminars and simulations and the drafting and revision of several genres of historical writing, students will learn about the main figures, events and movements of the early republic. 

At this level, central skills students develop are: close reading, text contextualization, sourcing, corroboration, annotation, argumentative/persuasive writing, informational writing, historical fiction writing, researching, questioning, critical thinking, tracking argument development and determining and explaining historical patterns. The big projects for Grade 8 History are the Inquiry Project, a research project through which students demonstrate and share their understanding of a topic not covered in class, and the Guerrilla Cartography map, where students demonstrate their learning about how geography and US culture shape one another.

Grade 8 students in DBi extend their learning through exploration of TinkerCAD, Adobe Illustrator, and physical building skills at the beginning of the year.  An emphasis at this level is utilizing creative problem solving and design thinking. Students apply these skills to independent group projects, including the Kindergarten Carnival.

In Grade 8 Music, students learn how to write melodies over ukulele chords and harmonize existing melodies. Using an online composition tools and notation software, students compose pieces using different melodic techniques including passing tones, neighbor tones, escape tones, anticipations, appoggiaturas, and suspensions. After they complete their compositions, students play duets in which one person plays chords and another plays the melody. Additional focus at this level has students engaging in critical listening through the lens of different instrument families as they learn about how they are made, how they produce sound, and in what styles and traditions they are generally used. In the fall, students choose a song democratically, rehearse it as a class, and then perform it at Generations Day and the Winter Concert.

In Grade 8 Wellness and Life Skills, through discussions on healthy decision-making, students learn about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and awareness of substance use. Topics such as sexual health and relationships are addressed, with a focus on understanding consent, sexual agency, and the differences between friendships, romantic relationships, and sexual relationships. In ‘Media Literacy and Digital Citizenship’, students explore ethical practices in creating and sharing information, including proper citation and Fair Use, while learning reflective note-taking strategies and lateral reading techniques to assess digital content. This class also addresses the potential impacts of generative AI and guides students in using it ethically in academic settings. In the ‘Learning to Learn’ portion of the class, eighth graders learn about the neurological changes of adolescence and their impact on executive functioning, memory, and learning. They develop strategies to optimize their performance by understanding mindset, self-talk, and the concept of flow, while learning effective time management and goal-setting techniques.