8th Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Beaver Country Day School

BVR Fitness

BVR Fitness is a class where students will learn the basics of strength training, technique in the weight room, and develop skills that will help them prepare for other sports and lifelong health and wellness. Led by our Sports Performance Coach, this is a great way to get in shape and have some fun while doing it!

8th

Modern Languages

Chinese C

A continuation of Chinese B, in Chinese C students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to Chinese through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency, and students are encouraged to use their language skills holistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail and elaborating on their ideas entirely in Chinese.

7th

8th

Modern Languages

Chinese B

A continuation of Chinese A, in Chinese B students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to Chinese through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency and students are encouraged to use their language skills wholistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail in Chinese.

8th

Modern Languages

Spanish C

A continuation of Spanish B, in Spanish C students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to Spanish through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency and students are encouraged to use their language skills wholistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail and elaborating on their ideas entirely in Spanish.

8th

Modern Languages

French C

A continuation of French B, in French C students continue to develop their fluency in the language. This course exposes students to French through comprehensible input, including oral, written, and visual storytelling. The input-based approach to acquiring language focuses on the instruction of vocabulary in a highly contextualized manner. By keeping the conversation/story engaging and compelling, the learner is distracted from consciously trying to memorize vocabulary. Class time centers around developing fluency and students are encouraged to use their language skills wholistically. Emphasis is placed on fluency over precision, with a focus on students being comfortable communicating in more detail and elaborating on their ideas entirely in French.

6th

7th

8th

Performing Arts

Music

Interests: Hands On

As part of our Instrumental Music curriculum, all students learn how to play an instrument or hone their skills if they are already accomplished musicians. Using orchestra and chorus as a model for collaboration, students learn instrument technique and musicianship skills through practicing and rehearsing a range of repertoire. They begin by test driving each instrument (trumpet, trombone, tuba, cello, violin, viola, voice, flute, clarinet) before being matched with an ensemble, taking into consideration the student’s interest, feedback from the teachers, and the needs of the ensemble. Those with previous experience in percussion can audition to join the percussion section which joins with the brass and woodwind ensembles for their combined rehearsals. The ensembles comprising 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are highly differentiated, allowing beginners and advanced students to thrive together by learning multiple parts of the same piece of music. Although this is a music program that builds technical skills and artistry, the impact goes far beyond music, focusing on collaboration, creative problem solving, empathy, and leadership skills.

8th

Performing Arts

Theater Arts 8

Interests: Hands On

In 8th grade, students practice theatre as a collaborative art form, learning more about the processes of making, developing, and performing theater. Students work to create believable characters through improvisation and scripted work, express themselves physically and vocally, write and develop original dramatic work that is linked to or informed by other disciplines, and explore the roles and responsibilities of the director. Through ensemble games and warm-ups, students continue to develop an awareness of and responsibility for the ensemble and to build their collaboration skills. Students also continue to expand their ability to evaluate and shape their own work, as well as the work of others, through continuous feedback, critique, and reflection. The culmination of the class is a self-designed Final Project, where students create, rehearse, and present a body of work that represents their growth and understanding as a Theater Arts student.

8th

Visual Arts

Visual Arts 8

Interests: Design, Hands On

How can I begin to navigate this world using visual art and process as a starting point? In 8th grade, students continue to build upon their brainstorming skills and learn about artists as they respond to themes such as Time, Text in Art, Creating Space, and Objects in/as Art . The line between art and daily life can be blurry at times as students react to nontraditional materials and processes.

8th

Science

Science 8 – Current Global Issues in Science

Artificial intelligence. Climate Science. Environmental conservation. Space Exploration. Plastic Pollution. Science topics regularly grace today’s headlines. In Science 8, we take a transdisciplinary approach to these and other current issues to develop science literacy skills in real world contexts. As we study the science behind current global issues, we explore how to support scientific claims with evidence, how to communicate scientific understanding, and how we as critical thinkers can engage with current issues through informed action and advocacy.

8th

Global History & Social Sciences

History 8 – Ideologies in World History

Through a global lens, we will explore some of the major ideologies that have shaped the world, including global citizenship & cooperation, religion, colonialism, racism, and ways of governing. We will consider how we experience the world, locally and globally. We will investigate how ideologies have influenced nations, ideas, conflict, peace, & change. We will reflect on our relationship to these ideologies and refine our ideas & opinions as engaged citizens.

8th

Mathematics

Math 8 – Relationships: Making and Modeling Connections with Geometry, Algebra, and Statistics

Interests: Business

This course will focus on relationships across three domains: geometry, algebra, statistics. In geometry, students will examine the relationships of congruence and similarity through transformations and uncover the meaning behind the symbols of the Pythagorean Theorem by investigating the relationship between the three sides of a right triangle. Students will extend their algebraic understanding to include systems of linear equations and inequalities and expand beyond linear functions to investigate exponential and quadratic models. Students will analyze relationships between variables in real data by considering different visualizations including function models while examining regression and linear trends. Emphasis is placed on communication in verbal and written form, creative problem-solving, and thinking and reasoning skills. Willingness to take risks and productive struggle are also major themes of the course. Inquiry-learning through projects, technology, and collaboration support the curriculum.

8th

English

English 8

Interests: Literature

The 8th grade English course focuses on identity, with narratives involving adolescent characters reflecting on their interactions and experiences, responding to injustice, and questioning the status quo. Students respond to readings in a variety of modes: collaborative projects, personal reflections, expository essays, and creative compositions. The creative assignments allow individual freedom, stimulate imagination, and inspire risk-taking. Expository pieces prompt students to reflect on and respond to their readings and typically adhere to the five-paragraph format with the iterative process involving brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising. Students are encouraged to explore original modes of expression such as song, video, and visual arts. In general, emphasis is placed on development of creative problem-solving, collaboration, and study skills. Possible texts: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros; In the Heights by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda; I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson; Every Day by David Levithan; The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton; Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare; short stories, poems, and independent reading choices are also part of the course.