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Curriculum Overview
Language Arts
8th Grade students learn the required components of the English Language Arts Curriculum set forth in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Utilizing skills based on previous learning, students will strive to meet objectives in the areas of communication, reading, writing, and language.
Language and Communication
· Students will develop effective communication through oral presentations which consider audience, purpose, and conveyed information. These presentations may include: discussions, speeches, skits, readings, drama, and conferences.
Reading
· Students will explore different genres of literature by reading in class and completing independent reading. These genres may include: short stories, poetry, drama, novels, and nonfiction.
· Students will develop vocabulary through dictionary and thesaurus use and context vocabulary. Students may study Greek and Latin etymology, prefixes, suffixes, and word roots. Students will internalize definitions through the use of mnemonic devices, individual study, and using new vocabulary in their own writing.
· Students will examine literary terms and themes by analyzing a variety of literature through discussion as a class and in small groups. These literary themes may include: narrative poetry, lyric poetry, sonnets, Shakespeare, hero readings, and memoir readings. The literary terms may include: plot, exposition, climax, resolution, foreshadow, figurative language, character, setting, point of view, theme, symbol, and tone/mood.
Writing
· Using the writing process, students will review expository writing through the all-island writing prompt essay and non-fiction writing such as the memoir, personal essays, book and movie reviews, interviews, letters to the editor and poetry. Students will focus on grammar as well as addressing it through vocabulary instruction (this will include parts of speech, mechanics, usage, and sentence structure).
· Students will write for publication. This may include: Teen Ink, poetry anthology, collective anthologies, and a writing portfolio.
· Students will practice good study skills. This may include: note taking, highlighting text, notebook organization, and using reference materials.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
English language learning students (ELLs) learn the same curriculum as all other students. Teachers in the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools are trained or in the process of being trained in Sheltered English Instruction (SEI), which enables them to make the mainstream curriculum comprehensible to English language learners as they learn English. All content in the core subjects of language arts, math, history/social studies, and science is taught in English, using SEI strategies to make the material accessible and the learning environment welcoming, stimulating and inclusive for learners from different cultures and languages. The language arts curriculum is supplemented by English language development (ELD) classes taught by ESL teachers and is aligned with the Massachusetts DOE’s “English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes for English Language Learners” and “English Language Arts Frameworks”.
Mathematics
8th Grade students in the MVPS participate in the required components of the Math Curriculum set forth in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Utilizing skills based on previous learning, students will strive to meet objectives in the areas of Number Sense and Operations; Patterns, Relations, and Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; and Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability.
Number Sense and Operations
Students will understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers and number systems, understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another, and compute fluently and make reasonable estimates.
This will include: working with all rational and irrational numbers; rates, ratios, and proportions; scientific and standard notation; prime and relatively prime numbers; the order of operations; absolute value; the associative, commutative, and distributive properties; inverse relationships; estimations; and prime factorization.
Patterns, Relations, and Algebra
Students will understand patterns, relations, and functions, represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols, use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships, and analyze change in various contexts.
This will include: representing a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and symbolic expressions, equations and inequalities; evaluating algebraic expressions and equations; understanding identity; working with slope, x and y-intercepts, proportions, and change in functional relationships and in linear relationships.
Geometry
Students willanalyze characteristics and properties of two-dimensional geometric shapes and three-dimensional geometric solids, develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships, specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems, apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematical situations, and use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems.
This will include: working with the formulas for geometric shapes and solids, using the formula that relates the number of sides and the sums of the interior and exterior angle measures of polygons, classifying similarity and congruence, working with parallel lines cut by transversals, understanding and using the Pythagorean Theorem and the Distance Formula, using rulers, protractors, and compasses, creating and predicting transformations on unmarked or coordinate planes, working with nets, scale factors, projections, and perspective drawings.
Measurement:
Students will understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement, and apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
This will include: converting in units of measurement and scale, converting measurements from one system to another, using the formulas for area, perimeter, volume, and surface area, using ratios and proportions, solving problems with indirect measurement, use models, graphs, and formulas to solve problems with rates (velocity and density).
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
Students will formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them, select and use appropriate statistical models to analyze data, develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data, and understand and apply basic concepts of probability.
This will include: describing the characteristics and limitations of data sampling, creating and using tabular and graphical representations of data, working with circle graphs, venn diagrams, scatter plots, stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, histograms, tables, and charts, working with continuous and discrete data, identifying and calculating measures of central tendency, using models, tree diagrams, tables, organized lists, and combinations to compute probabilities for simple compound events.
History/Social Science
In alignment with the Massachusetts State Frameworks, students in the grade 8 will begin the year with a short review unit on Native American societies and the advent of European exploration and colonization. The focus will then shift to the 13 English colonies, their genesis and development, with particular emphasis on founding documents in governance such as The Mayflower Compact (1620), and European models such as Magna Carta (1215) and the English Bill of Rights (1689).
The survey of colonial America will terminate with the American Revolution, and the transition will be made (approximately half-way through the year) to a focus on U.S. government, starting with the Constitutional Convention, and civics. As students become familiar with our three-tier system of local, state and federal governance, basic concepts in civics, politics and economics will be introduced.
Science
8th Grade students in the MVPS will participate in the required components of the Science Curriculum as stated in the Massachusetts Curriculum frameworks. Utilizing skills based on previous learning, students will strive to meet the objectives of Earth and Space Science, Life Science and Physical Science. The learning standards within each strand, as written by the state, are organized by a 6-8-grade span and grouped by subject area topics. With this in mind 8th grade students continue to develop learning in many topics. Units may include but are not limited to:
· Space Science: seasonal change, exploration of our solar system, planetary motion, moon phases, tides, eclipses and evolution of the universe.
· Life Science: genetics, cell biology, human anatomy with an emphasis on body systems, comparative anatomy and evolution
· Physical Science: particle motion, general chemistry, heat and energy, density and volume/mass/weight relationships and the motion of objects.
· Earth Science: evolution and structure of the earth, plate tectonics, seismology, volcanism, weathering, erosion, the rock cycle and geologic time
· The integration of our island environment is included as much as possible. Labs, field trips and projects routinely emphasize a connection to one’s own living space.
World Language: Spanish
In 8th Grade, students continue to build a solid foundation upon which their language study in the high school will be built. Students continue to review, practice, and employ the three regular verbs: -ar, -er, ir verbs, and they expand their knowledge of irregular verbs. Students learn to convey want, obligation, and ability. Students will be exposed to indirect object pronouns. Eighth graders begin to master sentence structure and confidence in basic conversation topics and dialogue. Speaking and performing both original and existing works build their oral vocabulary. There is more emphasis on reading comprehension and answering interrogatives. Vocabulary units may include: family/traditions, travel, weather, body parts, writing poems, preparing to perform for/teach younger students, letters, skits, sports, food/restaurants, and hobbies. Students are encouraged to speak in Spanish in class and in small groups. Students may also study the culture of Spanish speaking countries.
Computer Technology/ Media
8th Graders use the school library and technology labs as a place to conduct research that support their academic studies. Students study internet research skills, web site evaluation, touch typing, word processing and spreadsheets, graphic arts and digital image work, database creation, presentation software, iLife Suite, and multimedia programs to support academic content.
Art
Eighth graders continue to build on skills acquired in previous years. Their knowledge of specific techniques allows them to exhibit awareness of design elements and color theory. Critique and self-evaluation are ongoing. Projects may be as follows but are not limited to:
· Figurative sculpture in clay
· Self portraits
· Crafts that explore a personal style
· Group based painting
· Immersion in a cultural based art piece from an outsiders point of view
· Exploration of painting on canvas with an emphasis on technique and color study
· Mixed media presentations
Music
In 8th grade the music program includes two major elements.
General Music:
This program is vocal based and may include but is not limited to the following:
Reading and singing in three and four part harmony
Relating musical style to significant events during the time which the music was composed
Discussion and analysis of significant musical terms such as syncopation, transpose, a cappella, D.C, al Fine, coda and improvisation
Recognizing different forms of singing
Exposure and critique of contemporary music
Study of the evolution of the American Musical Theatre
Participation in various concerts, school musicals and District choral events
All Island Band Program:
Between the third and fourth years of lessons, instrumental students audition for acceptance into the All Island A Band. The All Island A Band rehearses two times per week at a designated rehearsal sight, from 7:30-8:30A.M. Transportation is provided to and from each rehearsal. The A Band performs three concerts per year in December, March and May and at the Great East Music Festival. During the second half of the school year a select group of A Band students are invited to participate in the All-Island Jazz Ensemble. Each year members of the All Island A and B Bands participate in an annual fundraising event in order to pay for their off-island transportation and festival costs.
Industrial Arts
8th Grade students in the MVPS participate in the required components of Industrial Arts set forth in the Engineering portion of the Science/Technology Engineering Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Students may build scale model bridges or furniture for construction technologies, model airplanes for transportation technologies, assembly line construction for manufacturing technologies, and mechanical arms for biotechnology. Students may also work on wood working projects.
Physical Education
8th Grade students in the MVPS participate in the required components of Physical Education set forth in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Students participate in activities that build motor skills. These include both basic manipulative and advanced physical skills. This is in the form of team sports which may include: soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball. Students also work on fitness skills. They learn to apply basic principles that promote physical fitness, decrease sedentary style, and relieve mental and emotional tension. Students work on personal and social competency skills by learning to use movement concepts and beginning game strategies to aide and improve individual and team performance.
Health/Social-Emotional Learning
8th Graders cover a wide variety of topics in their 8th Grade health curriculum. These may include: career education, human growth and development (healthy relationships, puberty changes, STD’s, HIV, Aids, self-image/esteem, stress, depression) alcohol refusal skills, risky behavior, discrimination, harassment, internet safety, nutritional health & fitness, and dating violence/abuse. 8th Graders also complete an Adventure Based Counseling unit that trains them to use teamwork and leadership. This unit is completed with the assistance of the local police departments and ends with a Ropes Course Challenge.
Responsive Design
Several of the Vineyard schools are committed to the Responsive Designs model to teaching and learning for the Middle School. This fosters a learning and teaching environment based on these principles: social learning is as important as academic learning; we learn best through exploration, discovery, practicing, and applying what we learned both socially and academically; the greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interactions within a supportive community; students need to learn and practice a set of personal/social skills to be successful (cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control); addressing the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs of the students is as important as addressing the content we teach; and trust among adults is a fundamental necessity for academic and social success.
Family and Consumer Science
The Family and Consumer Science program is based on both the National Standards and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks. All activities prepare students to be active, contributing and satisfied members of society through relevant and essential experiences. While emphasizing the integration of family, work and community students gain knowledge of careers, skills and practices that will prepare them for a variety of roles and responsibilities. Units on food preparation with an emphasis on foreign foods, desserts, entrees, meal planning and time management go hand in hand with units on food safety and sanitation. Review of the food pyramid is on going while encouraging reflection of body image and healthy maintenance.
Home/School Connection
Help your child develop good study habits by: establishing a regular routine for completion of homework and providing a quiet, uninterrupted space for homework completion.
Keep informed of your child’s progress by: reading newsletters that come home, attending parent conferences, Back to School Nights, and other Middle School events, ask your child about the best and worst parts of their school day.
Develop attitudes that encourage learning by: making education a priority in your home, monitoring/limiting television and computer use, getting involved in your local PTO, and visiting your child’s class.
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