8th Grade Overview

In the Created for Greatness leadership program students will:

• Attend leadership camp, formation retreats, and a Commissioning Mass
• Explore that true leadership concerns the virtue of magnanimity (greatness of the soul and humility)
• Study the spiritual gifts (charisms), and discern their own gifts
• Use their spiritual gifts in a variety of leadership opportunities and experiences
• Practice being a young leader with the goal of developing a habit of virtue and confidence
  
  I love that Created for Greatness helps students to more fully know themselves - not as the world evaluates them, but as God sees them." -Mrs. Katie Ranniger, Religion and Communications teacher

In ENGLISH the students will:

• Analyze story structure and how story elements (sentences, chapter, etc.) shape the content and style
• Determine central ideas and themes in a variety of literature
• Practice the conventions of standard English grammar and its correct usage
• Use the Institute for Excellence in Writing process to develop and strengthen writing by planning, drafting, peer-revising, peer-editing, and rewriting for publication
• Write a properly cited researched-based paper
• Write an interior monologue, poetry anthology, and create an original soundtrack to a novel

Novels: Z for Zachariah, The Hobbit, The Giver, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Book Thief

In RELIGION the students will:

• Engage in the Created for Greatness program (details above)
• Study the history of the Church through the lens of magnanimity and service
• Focus on the magnanimous saints throughout church history to pursue a deeper understanding of God’s call for greatness
• Explore Catholic moral teachings and Saint John Paul the Great’s Theology of the Body
• Study Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Mission by John R, Wood
• Attend weekly school Mass and monthly Adoration, and participate in Reconciliation
• Prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation
• Participate in Socratic Seminars

In SCIENCE the students will:

• Design solutions to everyday problems (PLTW)
• Explore a unit on flight and space
• Build model rockets and gliders
• Examine Earth science topics including:
• Plate tectonics, earthquakes, and volcanoes
• Create earthquake-resistant structures
• Minerals, rocks, and the atmosphere
• Weather (factors, patterns, and climate)
• Use simulations/data to investigate natural phenomena

In HISTORY the students will:

• Explore Global Studies topics (the world today) including:
• How different countries interact with the modern world, globalization, and modernization
• Geography and populations in various countries
• World War I, World War II,  and the Civil Rights Movement
• Evaluate leaders in history, their political or military leadership, and discuss what virtues they possessed or lacked (Created for Greatness)

• Expand problem solving and decision-making skills

• Explore and discuss the application and challenges of virtuous leadership in different contexts in history
• Debate a variety of ideas developed throughout history
  
  "I love how deeply the students dive into the information and evaluation of different ideas. I've seen them hold each other to such high standards, and it is so rewarding and beautiful to see that." -Mrs. Emmi Santos McCabe

 
In COMMUNICATIONS the students will:

• Be introduced to William Shakespeare through A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Expand theatre skills and study theatre history
• Engage in small group production teams and prepare sets, costumes, publicity, and props
• Study and analyze characters
• Learn Latin and Greek roots in English vocabulary
• Prepare and present an hour-long play to the school
• Learn improvisation, building on-stage confidence

In PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH the students will:

• Practice sportsmanship, skill development, team sports, physical fitness, and conditioning
• Study nutrition and wellness, body systems, diseases, conflict management, and first aid
• Examine how nurturing our bodies and helping them grow prepares us for a lifetime of serving God and others through physical fitness

In TECHNOLOGY the students will:

• Practice physical computing using BBC Microbit
• Use the design process to understand a problem and design a solution
• Become familiar with Javascript programming
• Learn visual identity process and create a brand logo for a business
• Develop typing skills through lessons and practice

In ART the students will:

• Explore linoleum printmaking
• Paint Stillwater historic homes after viewing Jo Lutz Rollins’ work and taking pictures of local architecture
• Create a self portrait using a famous artist’s technique, media, or style
• Use acrylic paint on canvas
• Learn calligraphy and create an illumination Bible verse

In SPANISH the students will:

• Begin Spanish I for a strong foundation for Spanish I or II their first year in high school
• Develop listening ability, a good speaking accent, and general study skills
• Learn Spanish greetings, the calendar, geography and nationalities, and classroom commands
• Practice parts of speech including subject pronouns, verb conjugations, and the present progressive tense
• Explore Hispanic cultural connections through individual and group projects