Application

Fine Arts

Movement and Physical Education

Music

Eighth Grade Curriculum

The ongoing commitment of the Berry College Elementary School and Middle School is to provide a model of the best in educational practice for children, the college, and the community. In collaboration with the Berry College Charter School of Education and Human Sciences, the school serves children by providing a quality education which will enable the fullest development of their potential in a child-centered program. An integrated curriculum and discovery-oriented activities reflect the child's decisions and interests. A collaborative environment provides opportunities for the child to construct a personal knowledge of the world.

Language Arts: Berry’s language arts program is taught through a reading/writing workshop approach. Specific skills related to the conventions of writing and spelling are taught through the context of student’s individual work. Students establish and work towards significant, relevant goals in reading comprehension and composition. Students set personal goals and seek professional publication of finished writing.

Appreciation and enjoyment are at the heart of the literature component. Literature is selected through individual preferences, literature groups, and whole class reading assignments. Students are taught how to interpret and respond to historical and cultural selections. Reading comprehension is elevated through vocabulary building. Students are taught to identify main ideas and supporting positions and how conclusions can be drawn from the readings.

Mathematics: The Berry College Middle School Algebra I course is designed for eighth grade students who have demonstrated advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as excellence in computations in their seventh grade program.

The eighth-grade Algebra 1 course provides a thorough development of the fundamentals of algebra. It includes a study of the real number system—order of operations and field properties. It also includes an in depth look at functions and relations; linear equations and inequalities—including compound inequalities and absolute value. The course thoroughly explores factoring, systems of equations, quadratic functions and radical expressions, polynomials, and word problems. The class introduces the student to trigonometry functions, logarithms, algebraic proofs, conic sections, and base conversions. Aspects of statistics such as rates, ratios, percents, exponential growth and decay, scientific notation, scatter plots, stem and leaf plots, box and whiskers plots, probability and odds, linear models of positive and negative correlations, mean, median, mode and range are studied. An end of year unit to develop skills using the graphing calculator is incorporated into the program.

Science: Berry’s science program creates environments in which the teacher, the community, and the students work together as active learners through inquiry-based instruction. Hands-on and practical laboratory experiences are at the core of the science program. Students develop their understanding of the scientific method through problem solving and experimentation.

The eighth-grade course emphasizes the study of physical science focusing on chemical concepts, composition of matter, and physical laws concerning the behavior of matter. Topics studied include properties of matter, atomic theory, properties of metallic and nonmetallic elements, chemical reactions, carbon chemistry, solution chemistry, and acids, bases, and salts. Physics
topics include force, motion, work, and simple mechanics. Students focus on accurate metric measurement, data collection and interpretation (including graphing), and the development of research.

Social Studies: Berry’s social studies curriculum integrates the study of the land, art, and cultures of world regions. Students explore geographical, economical, political, historical, and anthropological relationships in order to increase awareness of world cultures. Instruction is designed to promote knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to support citizenship.Eighth graders will study the following three major units throughout the school year; Africa, Europe and Russia, and the Pacific.

Exploratory Classes
Art, music/theater, Spanish, P.E., information science (use of libraries and research), and multi-media applications are offered as exploratory classes meeting daily for six-week periods. These courses provide middle school students with meaningful learning that directly relates to their known need for a wide variety of experiences. A discipline based approach is used in the teaching of the arts. This includes the study of history, appreciation, production and criticism.

Art: The middle school art curriculum centers on the study of the Principles of Design and the Elements of Art, and is supported by our textbook Portfolios by Barrett Kendal Publishing. The students utilize various equipment and media such as graphite and color pencil, watercolor and tempera paint, clay and concrete. Proper techniques for using these mediums are introduced and practiced. Through reading and discussion of our text, students are exposed to the elements of art and principles of design as they apply to the appreciation and criticism of works of art. We also study various artists and artistic movements in the history of art and the importance of art in the cultures of our world.

Music: The middle school music curriculum emphasizes the understanding of musical skills such as technique, playing, creating, singing, reading and listening. Students also explore the musical concepts of dynamics, tone color, tempo, rhythm, harmony and melody. Learners demonstrate their knowledge of music through performance, listening, and appreciation of a variety of styles of music from different periods and cultures.

Physical Education: The focus of the middle school physical education program is the introduction and exploration of physical education skills and concepts. Physical education emphasizes the total development of the child (i.e. physical, motor, cognitive, social, and emotional development. At the elementary level students are guided through a series of developmentally appropriate experiences and activities that promote a desire to engage in physical activities, create a sense of self worth, encourage cooperation, self control, and lead to choices that promote a healthy life style. Physical education instruction includes vigorous physical activity, diagnosis and learning of neuromuscular skills, information about physical activity and fitness, and time to enjoy the application of skills and knowledge.

Spanish: Our Spanish curriculum fosters an appreciation and enthusiasm for the study of foreign language and culture. Emphasis is on communication which is taught authentically by a native Spanish speaker through songs, games, rhymes, and other activities. Grade specific themes are integrated into Spanish vocabulary study and activities. In addition to the Spanish exploratory course, Spanish I is offer to our Eight grade students for high school credit.