8th Grade Full Year Homeschool Curriculum
In this 90 minute - 4 Part- upbeat, action packed 8th grade level class, students will have a complete immersion experience in Science, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Art. Students will be taught by an experienced educator.
Dina M
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(118)
Popular
What's included
40 live meetings
53 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students will have homework everyday- But the homework isn't due until the next time we have the subject of the homework. So- Language arts will get assigned on Tuesdays, and the homework will be due the following Tuesday.Assessment
Students will be assessed regularly, and will receive graded work. They will receive a grade each 9 Week Quarter.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 8
*Enrollment and cost is for one of four parts. Learners who subscribe to part 1 receive a 10% discount towards part 2. Part 2 subscribers receive a 15% discount towards part 3. Learners who have subscribed for three consecutive parts receive a 20% discount towards part 4. Welcome to 8th grade- an important academic year- preparing for high school and beyond. This is a time where students are craving some independence, and freedom, and they learn that this comes with more responsibilities. This class will be confined to a small group. Students will be working together as a whole class, and in smaller groups to collaborate and create projects, have discussions, and create accountability together. Here's how our classes work- Math- 8th grade math is hands-on and uses collaborative activities to practice the concepts. Scavenger hunts, find it and fix it activities, puzzles, and cut and pastes are some of the ways we will incorporate different grouping structures and make math fun! Each unit will have several activities, handouts, videos to watch and learn, a few quizzes and one Unit test. Language Arts- We will be Working with CommonLit 360 which is a comprehensive English Language Arts curriculum that includes: Engaging units aligned to grade-level skills, Reading, writing, discussion, and vocabulary. A complete Scope and Sequence is available when you enroll. Additionally, we will be reading 8th grade appropriate novels together. Social Studies- Students will become historians as they practice sourcing information, debate historical topics, assess evidence, and synthesize their findings. Students will "do" history, not just memorize history. Our first Unit - "The Meeting of the Worlds" is designed to introduce students to the pre-Columbian Native Americans and their early interactions with Europeans. Students will begin by examining theories of how the the first people arrived in the Americas. Later, Students complete 3 simulations as they travel through the colonies as an English visitor, and. they follow a soldier in two wars. They escape the Library of Congress, and they find a Civil War spy by using their historical thinking skills. They read plays about Marbury v. Madison, and the Women's Rights Movement. They play an interactive Oregon trail game and they design a monument for Daniel Shays. They also write a rap battle about the Whiskey Rebellion. Science- This year we will focus on Earth Science- Using the Kesler 5 E method- “The 5E Model is a research-based pedagogy that puts the responsibility for learning in the hands of students. Throughout the five stages - Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate - student questions drive inquiry-based learning and help them to build a scientific skill set.” Topics include- Continental Drift Theory, Plate Tectonics, Properties of Minerals, Rock Cycle, Topographic maps, Weathering erosion and deposition, Earth's Layers, Density, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Oceans, Fossils, and more. My teaching method is I do- We do- You do. I give students plenty of time to complete an assignment- and if they don't have the answers right, I make sure that they can redo, or fix until they do understand. We learn through trial and error. :) Each Week we will have one topic per day most days- Monday- Goal Setting, Math Tuesday-Language Arts Wednesday- Social Studies/Science Thursday- Math and any follow up of other classes that needs to be completed Friday- Art and Social time with classmates. Week 1: Math: Back to School Math Review Language Arts: Introduction to Unit1 , Vocabulary Activity Set List/Reading Lesson- “Button, Button” (Richard Matheson) Science: Introduction to Earth Science- The Continental Drift- 1 Engagement Social Studies: The First Americans-Theories of Migration- compare contrast The Clovis Peoples, and Coastal Migration Week 2: Math: Fractions and Decimals/Squares and Square Roots/Activity/Estimating Square Roots/Activity/Rational vs. Irrational Numbers Language Arts: Writing Lesson- Writing a Strong Claim/Reading Lesson- Lamb to the Slaughter (Roald Dahl) Science: The Continental Drift- 2- Exploration Social Studies: Native American Cultural Areas/Native Americans- Current Events and Culture- Students will research 1 Cultural Area and One Cultural Event. They will then answer questions to analyze those resources. Week 3: Math: Classifying Real Numbers/Activities/Quiz/Comparing and Ordering Real Numbers Language Arts: Discussion/Skill Lesson/Reading Lesson- Ruthless(William DeMille) Science: The Continental Drift Explanation Social Studies: Exploration or Conquest- M.E.A.L. Paragraph- Students will learn about Portuguese, Spanish, French and European Explorations, and their reasonings and justifications for their (The explorers) behaviors. Students will give sourced and opinion reasonings as to their decision. Week 4: Math: Review/Unit Test Language Arts: Vocabulary Quiz/Writing Lesson- Writing complete paragraphs Science: The Continental Drift Theory- Student Project (Elaboration) Social Studies: The Columbian Exchange- Students will research 40 different products or diseases together as a class to discover their origins, and if they were from the "Old World", or the "New World" Week 5: Math: Square and Cube Roots, Properties of Exponents Language Arts: Reading Lesson “Lather and Nothing Else” (Hernando Téllez)/ The Tell-Tale Heart (Edgar Allan Poe) Science: The Continental Drift Assessment (Evaluation) Social Studies: The Meeting of the Worlds- Review Week 6: Math: Properties of Negative and Zero Exponents, Activities Language Arts: Vocabulary Quiz 2/Narrative Writing Prompt/ Reading- The Cone (Herbert George Wells) Science: Plate Tectonics- Boundaries (Engagement) Social Studies: Meeting of the Worlds Assessment Week 7: Math: Multiplying and Dividing Scientific Notation, Activity Language Arts: Suspense in Film/Grammar and Usage Activities Science: Plate Tectonics Station Lab- Exploration Social Studies: Jamestown- What Caused the Settlers to Die? Week 8: Math: Estimating Quantities, Activity Review, Exponents and Scientific Notation Study Guide Language Arts: Discussion Lesson/ Writing- Exemplar Essay ReviewPlanning/Drafting the Culminating Task: Literary Analysis Science:Plate Boundaries- Presentation- Explanation Social Studies: Jamestown: The Development of Race-Based Slavery-Students will read the history behind its development, and then analyze the laws that were created to reinforce race-based slavery. Students will examine the changing status and role of African Americans under the English colonial system. Students will explain why and where slavery grew over time in the United States. Week 9: Math: Exponents and Scientific Notation Unit Test Language Arts: Peer Reviewing the Culminating Task: Literary Analysis Essay Science: Plate Boundaries- Elaboration- Student Presentation Social Studies: Jamestown: The Development of Race Based Slavery-Students will read the history behind its development, and then analyze the laws that were created to reinforce race-based slavery. Students will examine the changing status and role of African Americans under the English colonial system. Students will explain why and where slavery grew over time in the United States. PART 2: October 31-January 13 Week 1: Math: Simplifying Expressions, w/ Distributive property, One and two Step Equations, Multi Step/Mini Quiz Language Arts: Unit 2 Introduction-Conveying Courage/Vocabulary Activity Set List/ What Motivates People to Act Courageously? Science: Plate Boundaries Assessment- Evaluation Social Studies: King Phillip’s War- The English and the Wampanoag Week 2: Math: Multi Step Equations with Distributive Property/ActivityEquations with Variables on Both Sides Language Arts: Reading Lesson: "Letter from Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman"/ Writing:Including Context About the Author or Speaker Science: Properties of Minerals- Engagement Social Studies: The 13 Colonies- The New England Colonies Week 3: Math:Activity/Expressions and Equations Quiz/Writing Equations w/Variables on both Sides/Equations with Special Cases Language Arts: Introduction to Poetic Structure/Reading: Invictus Science: Properties of Minerals- Minerals Station Lab-Exploration Social Studies: The Middle Colonies Week 4: Math: Linear Equations Unit Review task Cards, Study Guide, Unit Test Language Arts: Vocabulary quiz/ Grammar and Usage Activities/Reading :Sonnet Science:Properties of Minerals- Student Project- Elaboration Social Studies: The Southern Colonies Week 5: Math: Slope and Rate of Change, The Slope Formula, Activities,Slope- Intercept Form Part 1 Language Arts: Writing Lesson- Adding Strong Reasoning/ Discussion Lesson 1/Grammar and Usage Quiz Science: Properties of Minerals- Assessment- Evaluation Social Studies: The Atlantic Slave Trade Week 6: Math: Slope- Intercept Form Part 2, Graphing Linear Equations, Quiz, Multiple Representations Language Arts: Reading Lesson: "General Eisenhower's Order of the Day"/Reading Lesson: "JFK's 'Race to Space' Speech (excerpted)" Science: Rock Cycle- Engagement- Snickers Bar Activities Social Studies: Mercantilism Week 7: Math: Proportional and Non- Proportional Relationships, Activity, Linear Relationships Unit Study Guide, Unit Test Language Arts: Reading Lesson: "A Litany for Survival"/Reading Lesson: "Still I Rise" Science: Rock Cycle- Exploration- Station Labs Social Studies: The 13 Colonies Review Week 8: Math: Identifying Functions, Linear vs. Non-Linear Functions, Writing Equations of Linear Functions,Activity: Linear Equations Puzzle Language Arts: Choice Board- Multimedia/Writing Poem Prompt/Discussion Lesson 2 Science: Rock Cycle- Elaboration- Student Project Social Studies: The 13 Colonies Assessment Week 9: Math: Quiz, Applying Linear Functions, Activity: Comparing Functions Solve and Color, Analyzing Functions and Graphs, Activity- Distance vs. Time Graphs Spinner Activity Language Arts: Planning/Drafting/Reflecting the Culminating Task: Literary Analysis Presentation Science: Rock Cycle- Assessment- Evaluation Social Studies: The French and Indian War
Learning Goals
Students will learn how to study effectively, to ask thoughtful questions, to debate kindly in discussion, To learn about the world around them, to learn 8th grade level class work. They will learn to write literary essays, to experiment in science, to create in Art, and to push themselves to grow.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Usually class is an amazing fun space. I make a point to keep it a safe space as well. In the beginning of each semester we will go over ground rules, and establish discussion guidelines. That way if something uncomfortable comes up in any situation, we have a way to deal with it. Here are my rules-
Listen respectfully, without interrupting.
Listen actively and with an ear to understanding others' views. (Don’t just think about what you are going to say while someone else is talking.)
Criticize ideas, not individuals.
Commit to learning, not debating. Comment in order to share information, not to persuade.
Avoid blame, speculation, and inflammatory language.
Allow everyone the chance to speak.
Avoid assumptions about any member of the class or generalizations about social groups. Do not ask individuals to speak for their (perceived) social group.
It is important that students agree on the ground rules before discussion begins.
How I will handle and respond to unsolicited (and potentially highly emotional) expressions around sensitive topics - It’s important to not let feelings of sensitive topics sit and fester. If it is something that needs to be addressed- I will be using “I” statements, have a discussion without pejorative or inflammatory labels; and without judgement.I am well aware of body language, and will communicate in a warm and friendly manner. I am a big proponent of active listening, as it creates an authentic conversation.
In all our activities when we are engaged in social play (role- play- if there is any) I will not allow anyone to portray marginalized or oppressed individuals and students will have the opportunity to view all perspectives in the lessons, to make their own conclusions.
Supply List
A Learner Supply List will be available after enrollment.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in Business Administration and Management from American Intercontinental University
Meet Dina McGee! She has taught and tutored students for over 20 years! She has taught a variety of ages from 3-15. Dina holds a Bachelors and a Masters Degree, and enjoys tutoring students in a variety of subjects! She has designed curriculum for Preschool, 1st ,2nd, and 3rd grade.
Her passion in University was English Literacy Arts and US History, and continues to learn more every day. She has studied world views to gain knowledge of different cultures, their values and their history. Dina believes that there are many frameworks that she can use to support her students with different interests, abilities and learning styles. She uses differentiated instruction, lectures, technology, group and individual learning, inquiry based, kinesthetic and game based learning.
Regarding Indigenous Peoples History
Living in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska growing up, Dina learned the cultures and values of indigenous/Native Americans from a young age. Being best friends with a member of the Chinookan peoples, their family taught Dina about their values, culture, respect, and struggles (And healing ways) that they face to this day. She believes in promoting multiple perspectives to gain a full understanding of the topic. She understands the value of complete respect to their culture, and will only teach factual, helpful, and age appropriate content.
Interesting fun fact-
On her wedding day, her Chinookan family gifted Dina and her husband with a wedding blanket ceremony- and even played the wooden flute and the “Mother Drum” at her wedding.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$125
weekly or $999 for 40 classes5x per week, 8 weeks
80 min
Completed by 11 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-15
1-15 learners per class
