Grade 8 Class Registration

Eighth-grade OMS students follow an 8-period daily schedule comprising required and elective classes. Some classes convene daily, while others alternate days. Additionally, certain classes run for the entire school year, while others span half the year (1.0 period = daily; 0.5 period = every other day).

Note: Elective classes can only be dropped within the first week of school or at the end of each semester, pending approval from a parent/guardian, teacher, and administration. If students enrolled in every-other-day music classes opt to drop one after the school year commences, they will attend the remaining music class daily (without being placed in a study hall).

Janette Neumann

Administrative Assistant

School: (608) 835-4810

8th Grade Schedule Overview

Required Classes (5.5 periods)

English
Health
History
Math
Physical Education
Science
Technical Education

Elective Classes (2.5 periods)

Art (Exploratory & Extended)
German
Music (Band, Choir, Orchestra)
Physical Education
Spanish
STEAM (STEAM 8 & STEAM Naturally)

Note: Frequency of choice classes each week is dependent on number of classes selected.

Action Steps for Families

Review class options below.
Select the English course your student would like to take.
Select the PE course your student will take.
Select elective classes. Students may select a total of 2.5 periods worth of elective classes. Remaining period(s) will be filled with a study hall.
Complete the course selection form.

Class Options Descriptions

Please review the course descriptions and options below before making your selections.

Note: 1.0 period = every day; 0.5 period = every other day

English Language Arts 8

English is a required class that meets every day for the full year. Students may select either English 8 or Enriched English 8. Students who did not take Enriched English 7 and select Enriched English 8 will be invited to participate in an interview to ensure that this class is appropriate for them.

English 8 Course Description

In 8th grade English, students continue to develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Throughout the year, we focus on evaluating information, thinking critically, and using and citing evidence. Students will engage with a variety of texts, including short stories, infographics, nonfiction articles, investigative journalism pieces, poems, and novels. Students will design and conduct research projects based on real world issues and their interests. Preparation and participation is a focus for small group and class discussions. Students will engage in writing for a variety of purposes and will pay attention to audience, information, and grammar. This curriculum is designed to help students increase their confidence in critical thinking by supporting their inferences using evidence.

Enriched English 8 Course Description

Enriched English 8 will cover the same reading, writing, speaking, and listening standards addressed in English 8 (see above). In addition, Enriched English 8 will:

Require additional reading and/or writing in and outside of class
Require an increased level of independence
Move at a faster pace
Focus on critical thinking and inquiry
Provide opportunities to work towards the next grade level standards
Encourage participation in additional opportunities (Spelling Bee, Greater Dane Anthology Project, field trips)

Physical Education (PE) 8

Physical Education "PE" is a required class that meets every other day for the full year. In addition, students may select a PE class as part of their 2.5 period elective choices; if students select this option, they must choose two different PE classes.

Lifetime Fitness

The focus in the class is to help students develop competence and confidence to remain active for a lifetime in a wide range of activities. This class is an introduction to a fitness lifestyle that would give students the opportunity to become physically literate students while participating in physical activities such as functional training, outdoor activities, and individual activities. Students will learn the basics of muscular endurance, muscular strength and aerobic training while setting goals and creating personal program planning.

0.5 period

Speed & Strength

The focus in this course will be for students to increase their level of strength, agility, quickness and overall conditioning through a variety of workouts through Sports AdvantEDGE. Special emphasis will be placed on weight training technique and safety. Each session will include warm-up time, weight training, and speed/agility work. Weight training will be done through guided “Power Stations”. Workouts will include Core work, agility/quickness, speed work, resistance running, jump boxes and more.

0.5 period

Team Activities

The focus in the class will be on students developing the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to successfully participate in team activities with some fitness-based skills (functional training and aerobic training) incorporated throughout the class. The priority will be to develop motor skills, game strategies and tactics, applying fitness components, and developing inclusive behaviors to gameplay that will help them to be successful in various team activities such as football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, team handball, spikeball, floor hockey and more.

0.5 period

Art

There are two elective art classes available for 8th grade students; one meets every day and the other meets every other day; see descriptions below.

Art 8 Exploratory

This class will offer students the opportunity to explore artistic concepts and creative expression through a variety of media, techniques, and experiences. This class will include process art, design, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, painting, printmaking, and collage.

Elective: 0.5 period

Art 8 Extended

This class will offer students more in-depth instruction of artistic concepts and opportunities to grow their creative expression through a variety of media, techniques, and experiences. This class will include acrylic painting, pottery wheel, public art, process art, design, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, painting, printmaking, and collage. Students will also be able to explore personalized areas of interest in collaboration with the instructor.

Elective: 1.0 period

Music: Band, Choir, and Orchestra

These elective academic classes offer students the opportunity to learn and collaborate in large and small ensemble settings through the exploration of National and State Music Standards of Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.

Students will learn and develop technique and expression through the study of voice and/or instruments and build on their understanding of music’s relationships to history and culture.

Students who join band, orchestra or choir are expected to participate in all concerts /performances unless illness or family emergency causes a conflict. Students who wish to join band or orchestra but have not been previously enrolled must have a home adult contact the teacher to discuss the curriculum as well as instrument rental. Participation in the summer school band/orchestra small group learning is strongly encouraged.

Music classes meet five days/week; however, students who choose to take two or more music classes will have one or two of their music classes every other day. (For example, if Chris selects both choir and orchestra, Chris might have orchestra every day and choir every other day (students will be able to choose which of the music classes they have more frequently).

Note: If a student is enrolled in two every-other-day music/elective classes and chooses to drop the elective, the remaining music class will switch to everyday – not a study hall.

Elective: 0.5 or 1.0 class periods (depending on number chosen)

STEAM

STEAM 8

This course will allow students to use concepts and skills from science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM will integrate project and inquiry-based learning, creative expression, problem-solving, technology and engineering processes, and understanding of relevant societal realities and issues. Students will participate in standards-based learning activities in a collaborative setting. Projects may include: toy building, package design, bridge or hydraulic arm engineering. STEAM 8 meets every other day for a full year.

Elective: 0.5 period

STEAM Naturally

This course will allow students to use concepts and skills from science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM Naturally will integrate inquiry-based learning, creative expression, problem-solving, technology and engineering processes, and understanding of relevant societal realities and issues. Students will participate in standards-based learning activities in a collaborative setting. All topics in this course will be taught with an environmental science/natural resource focus and engage students in outdoor learning. Projects may include: forestry topics, tree and plant identification, wildlife topics, aquaponics, pollinators, and food systems. STEAM Naturally meets every other day for a full year.

Elective: 0.5 period

World Language

German

German meets every day for a full year. The focus is to introduce new students to and strengthen previous students in the German language and culture in a fun and engaging style and to start to build a student’s confidence and ability to communicate freely in German. There is an emphasis on listening, reading, and speaking as well as cultural understanding. There is no prerequisite of German 7 for this class.

Students will develop skills by learning topics such as describing self and others, free time interests, one’s style, and cultural products, practices and perspectives. Students will also create with the language. Students will practice skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking through fun and engaging activities. They will also examine the concept of culture and engage in cultural activities in order to better understand their own experience of culture and be able to compare and contrast cultures.

Elective: 1.0 period

Spanish

Spanish meets every day for a full year. Eighth grade Spanish is a continuation of 7th grade Spanish. The focus is to increase our vocabulary base as well as learn about and apply grammar concepts in order to communicate more effectively in Spanish. In addition, there is an emphasis on reading Spanish text and understanding spoken Spanish.

Students will develop skills through a series of unit topics such as describing one’s family, explaining activities and pastimes, navigating a city, and planning/shopping for dinner. Each unit will focus on a specific language standard, such as: stating personal preferences, asking and answering questions, and creating and presenting skits and dialogue. Students will watch two Spanish language films, one from Mexico and one from Puerto Rico, as well as read a 10-chapter story about an exchange student from Argentina. Students will also engage in cultural activities throughout the year in order to compare and contrast cultures.

Elective: 1.0 period

Heritage Spanish

Open to students currently enrolled in Heritage Spanish 7.

Elective: 0.5 period

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In This Section

Grade 8 Class Registration

Janette Neumann

8th Grade Schedule Overview

Required Classes (5.5 periods)

Elective Classes (2.5 periods)

Action Steps for Families

Class Options Descriptions

English Language Arts 8

English 8 Course Description

Enriched English 8 Course Description

Physical Education (PE) 8

Lifetime Fitness

Speed & Strength

Team Activities

Art

Art 8 Exploratory

Art 8 Extended

Music: Band, Choir, and Orchestra

STEAM

STEAM 8

STEAM Naturally

World Language

German

Spanish

Heritage Spanish

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