Grade 8 Curriculum
Humanities 8
In grade 8 Humanities, or also known as English and Social studies together at Palmer, students learn about:
1. Analyzing stories or text
- identifying genres of text
- learning about literary elements and devices (similes, metaphors, juxtaposition, hyperbole, etc.)
- breaking down elements in visual learning (pictures, graphics,)
- learning about reliability, accuracy, and relevance of authors (how to identify trustworthy text and sources, as well as proving the text real with cited evidence)
2. Picking up strategies and processes
- strategies for reading text to improve overall skills
- strategies for oral presenting and public speaking skills
- strategies for metacognitive skills (thinking and speaking skills improved by self-reflection, self-questioning, self-evaluating, etc.), basically building awareness
- building awareness
3. The English language
- the elements of oral speaking (tone, volume, gestures / body language, pace, facial expressions, etc)
- develop multi-paragraph essays
- learning about the usage of English (formal, casual, informative, persuasive)
- presentation techniques (presentation should reflect oral skills, demonstrate an appropriate purpose for the audience, such as informing them of a certain topic like global warming)