8th grade class descriptions 2014-2015 – Riverview Jr. High School

Required
Full Year

English 8

“Through writing, reading, speaking and listening, and language, the English 8 students will learn the Common Core State Standards which are as follows: Key ideas and Detail from text, Craft and Structure of text, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas and the Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity.”

English 8 Honors

Students will read higher level texts at a more independent level. Students will also write more often and learn more complex writing skills.

Math 8 Or Math 8 Honors

This course develops and deepens mathematical understanding. Concepts covered include: the number system (exploring rational and irrational numbers), expressions and equations (working with radicals and integer exponents, understanding the connections between proportional relationships, lines and linear equations), functions (define, evaluate and compare functions), geometry (understand congruence and similarity, Pythagorean Theorem and solving volume problems including cylinders, cones and spheres), as well as statistics and probability (investigating patterns of association in bivariate data). *Honors courses will learn about ancient number systems, computing within different base systems, and other interesting mathematic concepts.

US History

Students will study the history of the United States from Colonization to Civil War and Reconstruction. The course will focus on the development of the United States as a strong and free nation. And to help students understand the scope and sequence of events in U.S. History, and promote appreciation for multi-cultural values and differences. Students will also be able to connect historical events with current events.

Eighth Grade Integrated Science

Physical, earth, and life science content are integrated in a curriculum with two primary goals: students will value and use science as a process of obtaining knowledge based on observable evidence, and students’ curiosity will be sustained as they develop the abilities associated with scientific inquiry.

The themes for Eighth Grade Integrated Science are change and energy. The “Benchmarks” in the eighth grade Core emphasize change as an organizing concept to understand matter and energy. Eighth graders should understand the relationship between energy and changes in matter.

Semester

Participation Skills (PE)

Students will continue to develop sports skills. While the emphasis is on getting activity, strategies and teamwork will be a key component. Our uniform is a gray shirt and red or black shorts. Red, black, or gray sweats. Small logos and stripes down the leg are also ok.

Electives
FULL YEAR

Beginning Band

This class is for students with little or no experience in music. Students taking this class will learn to play a woodwind or brass instrument. Basic playing techniques will be stressed with emphasis on tone production and rhythm. There will be some public performance required. Home practice is expected and required. It is recommended that students provide their own instruments, but some school instruments are available to rent on a limited basis.

Beginning Orchestra

This class is for students with little or no experience in music. Students taking this class will learn to play violin, viola, or cello. Basic playing techniques will be stressed with emphasis on tone production and rhythm. There will be some public performance required. Home practice is expected. It is recommended that students provide their own instruments, but some school instruments are available to rent on a limited basis.

Beginning Percussion

This beginning class will cover learning how to read and interpret basic music notation, learn proper ways to play and care for instruments, work cooperatively with a group to perform in front of audiences and to develop proper skills and habits in practicing instrument at school and home. Students will be working with the percussion keyboard, drum pad and eventually larger band percussion instruments.

Cadet Band

This class is designed for students who wish to expand their woodwind or brass playing techniques. At least one full year of successfully completing Beginning Band is recommended. There will be some public performance required. Home practice is required as well.

Symphonic Band This is an audition-only band for advanced woodwind, brass and percussion students who have demonstrated exceptional ability in musical performance. There will be required public performances throughout the school year. Home practice is required.

Percussion Ensemble

This ensemble is an advanced percussion class by audition-only. Students will continue their study of all instruments in the percussion section. There will be some public performance required. Home practice is required as well.

Beginning Men’s Choir

Beginning Men’s Choir has members of all grades that are joining choir for the first time. All are encouraged to join, even if they have no prior music experience. Anyone with a willingness to sing and learn to read and understand music is welcome. Class time focuses on teaching proper singing techniques for boys with changing voices. Basic music reading skills are also taught in order to learn to read your own music. Singers are arranged into several sections based on singing range and have opportunities to sing in two, three, and sometimes four parts. Songs range in style from renaissance to barbershop, world music to pop, doo-wop to rock, or any other style you can find.

Beginning Women’s Choir

Beginning Women’s Choir has members of all grades that are joining choir for the first time. All are encouraged to join, even if they have no prior music experience. Anyone with a willingness to sing and learn to read and understand music is welcome. Class time focuses on learning to read music from the page and sing independently from a piano. Reading your own notes and rhythms are skills taught and assessed so that members can be strong parts of the large choir. Singers in this choir spend half the year singing soprano (the higher notes) and half the year singing alto (the lower notes) with the sections swapping mid-year. All will have opportunities to learn to sing both melody and harmony in two, three, and even four parts.

Advanced Women’s Choir

Advanced Women’s Choir is made up of 8th and 9th grade singers who have sung in the Beginning Women’s Choir at least one year or have other background in reading music. Sight-singing will be assessed and singers will have opportunities to sing in all vocal ranges to encourage even growth as their voices mature. This choir travels each year to the Murray District Festival where singers are able to receive ratings and feedback from judges in order to experience what high level festivals are like in high school. Music ranges from classical or contemporary choir music to a Capella style to gospel, jazz, or even pop. Estimated costs of concert attire for this class are $30, but some can be purchased from past members for less.

Concert Choir

Concert Choir is made up of both male and female 8th and 9th grade singers who have auditioned the previous year. Auditions are held during 4th term of every school year in order to be part of Concert Choir for the next year. Singers are experienced musicians who are confident in reading their own part and singing with a strong voice. Members of Concert Choir can apply to be considered for the Utah State Junior High Honor Choir that performs each winter in concert halls across the valley, such as Abravanel Hall or the Salt Lake Tabernacle. This choir travels each year to the Murray District Festival where singers are able to receive ratings and feedback from judges in order to experience what high level festivals are like in high school. Concert Choir also travels to perform at elementary schools that feed into Riverview Junior High. Music selections range from classical or contemporary choir music to a Capella style to gospel, jazz, or even pop. Estimated costs of performance attire for this group are $70, but there are options to purchased used dresses and ties from past members for a reduced cost.

German 1

German 1 provides students with the opportunity to explore the German language and culture. Students will acquire basic vocabulary which will enable them to talk about themselves and their immediate surroundings. They will be introduced to basic grammar concepts, and they will learn about the geography and customs of Germany.

Spanish 1

Beginning Spanish will focus on developing the five language skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture. You will begin building vocabulary, working through grammar and simple sentence structures, as well as conducting simple conversations in Spanish. You will be introduced to Hispanic culture and geography.

SEMESTER

Art Foundations I

Art I is an intro to the elements and principles of design with assignments based on the Utah state core. Shading, positive/negative space, painting, and 3D will be covered along with artists and careers that tie into the given assignments. Emphasis is placed on understanding and completion until students become more comfortable with the mediums. There is a minimal fee attached to this class.

Art Foundations II A

Art II builds on the previous assignments, taking the students into more complicated projects with the elements and principles. Different color mediums and painting techniques, cartooning and further clay exploration are introduced at this level. Artists and careers will also be expanded. There is an $8 fee attached to this class.

Creative Writing

An elective course for students who enjoy writing. During the course, students will strengthen their own mastery of the writing process. Students will create a professional writing portfolio throughout the semester that will highlight their work, which may include a multi-genre paper, short stories, poetry, an excerpt of a novel, a screenplay, a children’s book, personal writing, descriptive pieces, etc. Students will work hard to produce and publish their pieces and will write on a daily basis. Students who enroll in Creative Writing should be enthusiastic writers and should come to class every day excited to express themselves in the written word.

Speech Arts

This course was designed to teach students the basics of speech preparation and delivery. In order to communicate ideas, information, and emotions more effectively, students will focus on developing eye contact, facial expression and vocal inflection. Emphasis will also be placed on speech organization as well as social and listening skills. Each student will gain the confidence and self-esteem required to successfully stand and speak before a group of people.

Participation Skills (PE)

EXPLORING FOODS 8

This course is designed for students who are interested in a basic understanding of the principles of nutrition and in maintaining a healthy life style. Attention will be given to the selection and preparation of food, the essential nutrients and personal well-being. It is an extension of what students have learned in their 7th grade CTE-FACS class, but not as detailed as the 9th grade Food and Nutrition 1 course. It is NOT a prerequisite for the 9th grade course.

Keyboarding II

This course builds upon skills acquired in Keyboarding I. Proper Keyboarding technique will be reviewed. Students will create a variety of documents using basic software features including Email, Merging documents, how to perform a mail merge using a letter, certificate, and a memo. Students will create spreadsheet formulas and charts, PowerPoint slides with links, multi-page documents in Word with Quick Parts, Cover pages, creating new style lists, etc.

Construction Intro A

This course is a beginning woodworking class that teaches the basic use of many different woodworking tools. This class will focus on the safe use of power machines, wood technologies, and measuring skills, while building small projects. Projects built in this class may include a CO2 car, cutting board, pen turning, and a storage box with clock.

Construction Intro B

This is an intermediate woodworking class that builds on the fundamentals taught in the Construction Intro A class. This class is for students that have successfully completed Construction Intro A. Here the focus will also be on the safe use of woodworking tools, wood technologies, and measuring skills while building projects with more advanced skills. Projects may include skate boards, woodturnings, and end tables.

Peer Leadership Team

This class is designed to develop leadership skills in teens. Students will be learning about personal, social, and community responsibility. Students will also be involved in various group and team activities designed to build team-working skills. Students will become more aware of the community around them as they participate in current event discussions, papers and journals.