8th Grade ELA Course

Question 1: Do the big experiences in our lives, like facing challenges or making tough choices, shape who we are and what we believe in, or are we mostly born with our core values and the way our brains work? 

Question 2: What makes some people more likely to take risks and 'push boundaries,' and if we could invent anything, how would we decide what to create and whether we're responsible for its impact on humanity? 

Resources for Literacy Learning

English Language Arts Standards - 8th Grade (PDF)

Back to Curriculum Family Landing

During this first quarter, we learn about rites of passage! These are those big, important moments and experiences that mark our journey through life. Think about it: learning to tie shoes, riding a bike for the first time, getting a driver's license, or even landing that first job to buy something special. These are all examples of rites of passage that help shape us. 

We explore questions like: What other rites of passage do we experience as we grow up? And do you think everyone goes through these moments in the exact same way? Why or why not? It's a great way to understand how we all learn and grow in our own unique ways! 

Next, we learn all about the powerful message of "Si se puede!" which means "Yes, you can!" or "It can be done!" It's all about facing challenges head-on and trying new things. 

We discover our own voices and research topics that are important to us. This helps us figure out what we truly believe in. We also learn how to build a strong argument and even how to "win" them – which means clearly and effectively sharing their ideas! 

Did you know there are tons of ways to be smart? We discover that in a group of 25 classmates, we find all sorts of different kinds of "smartness" or intelligence! We learn that there are so many ways to show off our brain power. 

We explore what these different types of intelligence are and how they help us understand the world around us. Plus, we dig into what we know (and don't know!) about our brains and how this helps us figure out tough ideas and situations. It's a fascinating journey into how amazing our minds really are! 

We continue our journey of discovering who we are and standing up for what we believe! We push our limits and explore the world beyond what we already know. Part of this involves researching amazing people we call "hidden figures." These individuals quietly, but powerfully, paved the way for us in areas we might be interested in, but maybe don't fully understand yet. We learn about these inspiring individuals and consider what we would like to invent! We look at inventions and wonder whether these creations would help or harm our communities. It's an exciting way to learn about the past and imagine a better future!