Eighth Grade

All classrooms are equipped with multiple computers and a printer. Most of our classrooms have a Smartboard, an interactive whiteboard that turns your computer and data projector into a powerful tool for teaching and presenting.

The library has a computer center which allows our students the ability to do research through the software on the internet, create signs and write reports.

Our Computer Lab is equipped with twenty-seven flat screen multi-media computers, a printer and a scanner. Through the generous contribution of the Gruss Life Monument Fund, our students are able to have access to numerable enrichment materials in Math and English.

8th Grade Hebrew Language Arts
The curriculum is based on the NETA program. Children are given a placement exam at the end of fifth grade to determine their level. NETA is an innovative Hebrew language curriculum designed for Middle and High school students, created by Hebrew language curriculum specialists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem NETA provides a comprehensive linguistic and educational framework that enables students to advance to high levels of Hebrew proficiency. Grounded in principles of second-language learning, this framework includes an intellectually rich and sequential curriculum, The NETA curriculum is linguistically sequential; texts and tasks increase in length and complexity as the student’s Hebrew improves.

The curriculum consists of four levels: true beginners (Alpha NETA), advanced beginners, intermediate, and advanced. The true beginners level is designed for one year of study, while the other levels are each designed for two years of study. Lessons are centered on themes of interest to teenagers, ranging from computers and sports to friendship and freedom. Each theme is presented from three perspectives: Jewish tradition, modern Israeli culture and general world knowledge, including art, science, mathematics, literature and philosophy. Each unit of study incorporates art, music, prose, poetry, news articles and Jewish texts, in layers of language ranging from biblical Hebrew to current scientific Hebrew terminology and common colloquialisms.

A unique and important feature of the NETA curriculum is its adherence to a steady pace that allows students to experience tangible progress in their Hebrew proficiency so that by the end of the advanced level students will be able to study subject matter in Hebrew. The curriculum specifies clear goals and measures of achievement, and is accompanied by standardized tests written by the curriculum development team and educational evaluation experts. Prior to entering the program, each student’s level is determined by a multiple-choice placement test.

TORAH
Eighth grade curriculum combines a special unit rereading the creation story and the Joseph narrative with in-depth analysis and insight, including philosophical questions about humanity and creation, as well as family relations and dreams as expressed through the Joseph narrative.

NAVI (Prophets)
The curriculum is in a process of transition, currently undergoing revision. Each grade begins the year with selections from the book of Psalms that correspond to the High Holiday season.Eighth grade will continue with the study of Samuel and Kings.

JEWISH HISTORY
The eighth graders focus on the history of Zionism beginning with the late 1880’s until the present time, in preparation for the eighth grade trip to Israel.

RABBINICS
Eighth graders will focus on moral dilemmas, and Talmudic study skills, as well as a special unit on how to write a Dvar Torah in preparation for the children contributing their own torah thoughts in the weekly Thursday Notes school publication. Each grade studies a special Chanukah unit in preparation for the annual exciting Chanukkah Quiz Bowl.

BAR-BAT MITZVAH
The eighth graders devote the year looking at ultimate questions regarding the role of God in the universe, the meaning of evil, comparing religions, and the meaning and purpose of life.

ISRAEL TRIP
A highlight of the Middle school experience is the eighth grade Israel trip in which the students spend two weeks in Israel with their class and teaches, translating the knowledge they have received over the years at school deepening their identity as Zionist Jews with first hand experiences hiking through the land, visiting historical sites, and encountering Israeli society as they bond and share together one last time with the friends they have made in school over the years.


HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Holidays are celebrated and noted in various ways depending on the nature of the day. Certain days like Rabin Memorial Day, Krystalnacht Memorial, Holocaust Day, and Israel Memorial Day are celebrated with appropriate assemblies. Chanukkah time there is an annual quiz bowl. Purim, Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day generally include a fun school program like a thematic game, or a performer. On Sukkot the children eat lunch in the school Sukkah. Different grades conduct Tu Bishvat Seders with an emphasis on ecology. Before Pesach community rabbis come to teach the children texts from the Haggadah in anticipation of the upcoming Passover Seder.On Lag B’Omer the entire school goes out on a picnic.

Physical education continues to be a favorite of all our students. The PE program is designed to develop lifetime activities in order to keep their bodies strong and healthy. Social skills, positive self concepts, cooperative and team play all provide a strong basic foundation. The program will continue to increase skill level during modified sport games. This will include more advanced rules, player positions and strategies. The 8th grade PE curriculum includes a variety of basic sports that provide maximum student participation where inclusion is encouraged and promoted. Sports include: football, track and field, volleyball, soccer, basketball, and softball. Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the sport skills. Students will design and change in order to reach competency in all skill levels and to reach their personal best. The 8th Grade students will graduate SSSQ with a strong understanding that physical activity and sports provide the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self expression and communication.

• Reconstruction
• Second Industrial Revolution
• Nation heads West
• Twentieth Century
o WWI
o Roaring Twenties
o Great Depression
o WWII
o Golden Age
o Vietnam era
• Modern politics and culture
• Primary source documents
• Research reports

Spanish classes are built upon using new vocabulary inserted in contextual and meaningful sentences. From the very beginning, the students are able to communicate in Spanish. The four basic skills- reading, writing, listening, and speaking - are present in every lesson. They are highly interactive and dynamic, using games and songs to reinforce the process of learning.

Spanish is becoming increasingly crucial in the global economy. It will, no doubt, play a major role in the students' personal development.

The settings of all the readings, lessons, and activities are related to the Spanish speaking community’s traditions. The aim is to help students understand different cultures and to broaden their world view.

After reviewing 7th grade topics, the 8th graders will learn to:
• Express feelings
• Use the simple present and present progressive tenses
• Express what has just happened
• Describe the weather
• Make comparisons
• Ask for and give directions
• Discuss shopping, making purchases, and bargaining
• Discuss means of transportation
• Discuss types of food and request food in a restaurant
• Use the direct and indirect objects
• Use the imperative form of verbs
• Conjugate irregular verbs
• Conjugate past tense verbs