Grade 8 Curriculum
A year of leadership, growth, and preparation.
Grade 8 is a pivotal year at Milton Academy. As leaders of the Middle School community, students deepen their academic skills, strengthen their voices, and prepare for the opportunities and challenges of Upper School through challenging coursework, meaningful discussion, and leadership experiences.
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Grade 8 Curriculum
English
Grade 8 English focuses on analyzing and creating numerous arguments, treating poems, essays, short stories, speeches, novels, and articles as “arguments.” This course uses literature as a way of better understanding how writers impact readers, whether they intend to or not. Students function as readers and writers throughout the course. Class meetings are active times when students can expect to write, read, think, and speak on the topics and texts. Together, students aim to make sense of the arguments constantly battling for our attention.
Course Content
Individualized vocabulary plans
Grammar in context
Myths as a reflection of society
Literature as a reflection of society
Poetry Analysis
Craft analysis
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Math
Students spend approximately three-fourths of the Grade 8 school year studying topics in algebra that extend from those studied in Grade 7. Students then shift their focus to statistics. Students use units from Connected Math 3 (CMP3) as the primary course materials.
Course Content
Algebra
Multi-Step Equations & Inequalities
Introduction to Functions
Systems of Linear Equations & Inequalities
Polynomials
Exponential Functions
Quadratic Functions
Quadratic Equations
Statistics
*Right Triangles & Introduction to Trigonometry (Applications)
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Science
In Grade 8 science class, students cover topics related to physical science (i.e. physics and chemistry) and make connections to climate change and other environmental justice issues. Given the foundational importance of quantitative pursuits in several aspects of the physical sciences, students spend a significant amount of time on measurement, calculations, spreadsheets, and graphing. Above all, the course curriculum highlights the scientific method as a way of thinking and addressing questions or problems. Experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation are among the principle skills that students acquire and develop in this course.
Course Content
The Scientific Method:
Experimental Design & Data Analysis
Physical Science:
Volume & Mass
Characteristic Properties of Substances
Thermal Energy
Climate Change
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Social Studies
Grade 8 social studies coursework focuses on local, national, and global revolutionary and social movements focusing on human and civil rights. Students dive into thinking around non-violence, shared power, resistance, arts, advocacy, and personal accountability for change. Students participate in ethical debates, research-based debates, Socratic seminars, multiple youth-led presentations, projects, writing assignments, critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources, and non-fiction materials.
Course Content
Thinking like a Historian
Social Contract Theory
(Enlightenment Era)
Origins of U.S. Governing Systems
Threats to Democracy
(WWI, WWII, The Holocaust)
Research Project: an evaluation of the efficacy of a chosen topic, culminating in the form of a grade-wide debate
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World Languages
How do I use listening, reading, speaking, and writing to communicate effectively in a new language?
How does learning another language help me understand and connect with people from different cultures?
How does understanding cultural perspectives help me communicate respectfully and appropriately in different contexts?
Spanish
Spanish 8 is the third year in the Middle School Spanish sequence. It is a broad-based course that covers all aspects of the study of the foreign language. Grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are included. Emphasis is placed on conversation, vocabulary, and correct usage of the language. The classroom experience provides an appreciation and development of cultural awareness through various readings, media resources, and authentic materials. This should prove to be an enjoyable and challenging course that rounds out the Middle School Spanish curriculum, preparing the students for Upper School Spanish.
Vocabulary & Grammar
Leisure activities
Healthy habits
Daily routines
Stem-changing verbs
Reflexive verbs
Present progressive tense
Adverbs of frequency
Direct / indirect object pronouns
Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
Preterite tense
Culture
Spain, Peru aspects of daily life, music, sports, cuisine, fashion
Textbook
Reporteros Unidades 5 y 6
French
This course uses the text D’Accord 1B to strengthen and refine students’ abilities to function in French. Students reinforce their understanding and capabilities with the present tense and extend their skills into use of the past tense, allowing them to express themselves on topics that concern their everyday lives. In addition, students begin to develop skills of cultural comparison, as we explore these same topics in other cultures throughout the francophone world.
Vocabulary & Grammar
D’Accord 2 (VHL)
Home life
Daily Routines
Self-Care
Descriptive Past tense
Reflexive verbs
Future & Conditional tense
*Subjunctive Mode (*Class 8-2)
Culture
Francophone music and artists
Manie Musicale
MFA Trip: Impressionism and Fine Art
Textbook
authentic language articles, Arsène Lupin, Petit Nicolas, La Magie de Manie
Latin
Students explore the furthest reaches of the Roman Empire via the Suburani series. Students learn new vocabulary, forms, and grammatical constructions, all of which are built on the base knowledge and key understandings that students have made in Latin 1-A & 1-B. Students read authentic Latin text, study cultural artifacts, and discuss elements of Roman society as students consider the central question: “How do we know what we know about the Ancient World?”
Vocabulary & Culture
Socio-historical context of Roman Empire
Pompeii
Britannia
Caesar’s description of people living at the edge of the empire
Classical elements in architecture
GRAMMAR
Subordinate Clauses (Relative)
Demonstratives
Future, Pluperfect, Future Perfect Tense Verbs
Comparative Degree
Participles
Indirect Statements
Passive Voice Verbs
Textbook
Suburani, Book 1 and 2
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Computer Science
Grade 8 students explore design thinking and digital fabrication and develop their own design processes. Later in the year, they look at machine learning and how it shapes society. Students work in the Python programming language this year, creating their own technology tools as students create their own simple devices, animations, and games.
Course Content
Python Fundamentals
Data Analysis and Visualization
AI Ethics and Machine Learning
PyGame Development
Common Ground
To build cultural competency, explore diverse perspectives, and identify ways we can contribute to communities that celebrate empathy, equity, and inclusion, both here in our Middle School and beyond.
Course Content
The Power of Stories: Grade 8 Talks
Intersectionality: Self and Society
Leadership & Impact
Service in Action
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To provide each student with the knowledge, skills, and strategies associated with executive functioning, social and emotional awareness, and effective communication, in order to successfully maneuver through the Middle School years and beyond.
Social & Emotional Learning:
Reasoned judgment, self-motivation, goal setting, understanding privilege, stress management techniques, self-monitoring, self-motivation, self-discipline, resilience, critical thinking, and healthy relationships
Executive Functioning
Study skills, test taking skills, creating a plan, goal setting, broad overview of brain functioning, making healthy choices
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The Arts
How do artists use different media and techniques to express ideas, emotions, and stories?
How do creative choices (color, sound, movement, image, and editing) shape an audience’s experience?
How can creating and responding to art help us understand ourselves, others, and the world around us?
Visual Arts
Grade 8 Visual Arts is the final installment of visual art for Milton Academy middle schoolers. Students continue to experiment with materials and ways of making art while also having the opportunity to hone in on their learned favorites. Students work in at least three areas of art, including sculpture and painting. They utilize graphite, watercolor, and clay to explore these areas.
Course Content
Neurographic Watercolor: watercolor paint, ink
Papercut Folk Art: collage
Clay Vessel: ceramics
Self-Portrait: graphite, tempera paint
General Music
Students apply skills and knowledge from the last two years of general music, diving deeper into songwriting, harmony, and music theory to write original songs and perform covers of pre-existing songs in various instrumentations. Students will end the year with mini band performances, where students can combine their skills and expertise (whether it be Soundtrap, voice, ukulele, piano, or other instruments) to produce and perform a polished final project.
Course Content
Instrumental Methods: Refine ukulele and Piano technique.
Advanced Music Theory: Music notation, applying previous Ukulele & Piano knowledge
Songwriting: Use Soundtrap to create an entirely original piece with no pre-made loops.
Digital Media & Film
The Grade 8 Film and Digital Media course brings together all of the moviemaking skills students have developed in middle school. Students move through the different stages of film production, from planning and scripting to shooting and editing, and finally presenting their finished product to their peers. This is an opportunity to express an idea or share a story they are passionate about and bring it to the wider community.
Course Content
Multi-Camera Interview
Copyright & Ownership
Multimedia Scavenger Hunt
Film Proposal Presentation
Final Film Screening
Performing Arts
In Grade 8 Performing Arts, students strengthen their skills as performers, playwrights, and creative thinkers. The course begins with improvisation exercises designed to increase spontaneity and support students in building connections as an ensemble. Moving forward, students focus specifically on the process of generating and exploring original performance material. As writers and actors, students aim to deepen their understanding of dramatic tension, narrative structure, and character development. Throughout the quarter, students engage with various creative techniques and sources of inspiration as they craft and present their original works.
Course Content
Focus Area: Developing Original Theatrical Works
Topics:
Improvisation and Acting Exercises
Dramatic Tension
Devised Theatre and Playwriting
Directing
Monologue and Scene Performance
Capstone
Project:
The Grade 8 Talk gives students a voice and empowers them to show leadership by taking the tools that they have learned from 6th and 7th grade to give an authentic presentation to the entire Middle School community. Students write their talk based on one of the following three topics:
Option 1: Present a meaningful action step you have taken or will take related to your GCP topic.
Option 2: Present an aspect of one of your social identifiers that is especially meaningful to you.
Option 3: Present a social justice topic to which you have a personal connection or strong conviction.