Eighth Grade

The Waldorf Curriculum reaches children ages 7 to 14 through their hearts. Every year we study cultures and histories that reflect in the outer world what the students are undergoing within. By eighth grade, they are questioning everything, challenging the world to show them ideals as well as flaws, looking for guidance in ideas, in history, the culture and the people they find around them. The narrative of the history and science of eighth grade are just as exciting and tumultuous as our students’ inner lives.

Before graduation, grade eight takes the class trip the students have worked toward all year. These are typically milestones in the children’s lives. Past trips have included Spain and Germany. A future trip is currently being planned for Italy. 

The year can be intense for parents and students alike, and while most milestones are a well marked event—a major play, raising funds, the class trip—the most important milestones are marked by the growth that occurs within. It is a busy year and the work may seem like a lot, but the students are ready and able to accomplish great things. Eighth grade is a year that typically brings great physical changes. Having looked up to their teachers for years, some eighth graders suddenly find themselves looking down when they shake their teacher's hand each morning. Voices drop dramatically in chorus as the bass section expands over the course of the year. Students find themselves taking responsibilities with a new seriousness and, some, looking around themselves, realize their own achievements are mirrored in those of their classmates. At the Rose Ceremony that closes their time at Seacoast Waldorf School, and in their graduation, the students begin to realize that they will carry their experiences as Waldorf students in a special place in their hearts, throughout their lives.

Language Arts

As always, our historical and cultural studies form a jumping-off point for language arts, providing vocabulary words, essay topics, and more. We place great emphasis on grammar. The students may revel in teen slang, but in English class the prerequisite is precision, and proper and ever more expressive and intelligent writing and speaking. Our language has an underlying structure, and its study brings clarity in both expression and thinking. Analysis of the novel moves from plot to underlying themes, and students are led to argue and defend their points of view in persuasive writing.

The students have been performing a class play each year, but the eighth grade performance is usually something special. For example, having studied England’s Elizabethan period, written sonnets, and delved into the history of our English language, it’s not uncommon to stage a Shakespearean comedy.

Mathematics

Studies in mathematics include algebra, areas and volumes of polyhedra, number bases, further exploration of the theorem of Pythagoras, binomials, percents, and growth rates. Our geometry studies focus on the properties and construction of the five platonic solids: cubes, tetrahedrons, octahedrons, dodecahedrons, and icosahedrons.

Sciences

The growth and hardening of the children’s skeletons opens the door to the anatomical study of the skeleton and its musculature. The students' earlier studies of the simple machines in grade seven physics return to aid in understanding the skeleton in motion, and the chemical lime cycle of last year's chemistry appears once again, transformed within us as the skeleton. Anatomy and physiology segue to chemistry, where we explore sugars, starches, cellulose, proteins, and fats and the way these substances work in building the plant world around us and in our own metabolism. In eighth grade main lessons, and within each lesson itself, the focus of learning shifts from the outer world to inner world and back again.

The physics curriculum may include acoustics, optics, thermodynamics, meteorology, electromagnetism, and hydraulics.

If they haven't already done so, geography addresses the formations, culture and history of the continent of Asia and begins to look at the formations of the earth as a whole. As the year comes to a close, the students have gained a comprehensive understanding of their world, physically and culturally.

History

In grade eight we study revolutions—the American War of Independence, the French Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution among them. What happens when our individual desires for freedom clash with the good of others? What is the nature and purpose of human rights? Of law? How can they be in balance? At the idealistic and culturally aware age of our eighth graders, the discussions can grow quite lively. Why is today's world the way it is? Our history studies progress right up to the present day.

Handwork

Coordinated movement of the hands and limbs is essential to the development of the intellect and academic capacities, as well as physical integration of the child’s maturing body.  For this reason, Handwork is taught in all grades, beginning even in Early Childhood. Handwork teaches children to complete challenging tasks and to appreciate each other’s work. Mathematical concepts such as parallelism, mirror-imaging, progression and geometric forms are experienced through this tactile learning experience.  The aesthetic experience of creating something beautiful also nourishes and refines the child’s emotional well-being. The culmination of the Handwork curriculum comes in eighth grade while studying the Industrial Age and the introduction of the sewing machine – with this new tool, the students make clothing or quilts.

World Languages

Students in Eighth grade continue their studies of German and Spanish, which each meet twice per week throughout the school year. These languages are taught mostly in the native tongue to familiarize students with the sound and cadence of the particular language and use games, stories, guided drawings, song, and movement to engage students with the language.  In Grade Eight ……..

Movement

They do it—juggling, tight-wire acts, clowning, or whatever ingenious ideas they develop through many arduous hours of practice—for the joy of achievement, for the great pleasure of pleasing an audience and bringing smiles to all faces, and because it is fun.