Grades 7-8 Curriculum

Bible:

At Plaza Heights Christian Academy, 7th and 8th grade youth are taught from the ACSI Secondary Bible series. We believe that God’s Word is a very important part of teaching and training children. "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. The ACSI Secondary Bible series focuses on the following study for 7th and 8th grade:
    The Life of Christ: This comprehensive study of the life of Christ is both engaging and effective in teaching young people about Jesus. Students investigate Jesus' life through 40 lessons incorporated into a student textbook/resource guide and a student workbook.
Language Arts:

Grammar:
  • Capitalization rules
  • Punctuation rules
  • Kinds of sentences and diagramming
  • Eight parts of speech and their uses
  • Sentence structure
Composition:
  • The writing process
  • Outlining
  • The library
  • Summaries
  • Book reports
  • Research papers
  • Writing style
  • Letter writing
  • Manuscript form
Literature: Reading for enjoyment stories and poems by such authors as Frost, Dickinson, Kipling, Bunyan, Alcott, Luther, Dickens, Defoe, Longfellow, Browning, Sandburg, Hawthorne.

Vocabulary, Spelling and Poetry:
  • Vocabulary lessons
  • Weekly spelling lessons
  • Memorization of poems
History and Geography:

7th Grade
    Studies range from the Biblical beginning of civilization and continues through the creation and history of the people of Israel throughout the rise and fall of great empires on the earth such as Greece and Rome. Other studies will range from the differences between Islam and Christendom to science and industry in the modern age.
8th Grade
    Studies focus on American History beginning with the first English Colonies and ending with current events.
Science:

7th Grade
  • Plants: Provision for Life
  • Your wonderful body
  • Introduction to physical science
  • The amazing atmosphere
  • Knowing the weather
  • Science and Creation
  • Insects and other anthropoids
  • Through the microscope
8th Grade
  • Consider the heavens
  • Man and the universe
  • Solid matter in motion
  • Fluids in motion
  • Heat molecules in motion
  • Birds: Efficiency in motion
  • Science vs. Evolution
  • Magnets and magnetism
  • Electrons and electricity
Mathematics:

7th Grade
    Math 87: Saxon's Math 87 provides students with a solid foundation of skills and concepts needed for success in quantitative courses. Proportional thinking, a prerequisite skill for success in upper-level math, is emphasized through applications involving ratio, rate, percent, similar geometric figures, and indirect measure. The interrelationship of fractions, decimals, and percents is reinforced throughout the text. Pre-algebra topics of integers, exponents, order of operations, variables, algebraic terms, inequalities, equations, functions, and graphing equations are thoroughly practiced. Geometric construction, similar and congruent figures, angle measurement and relationship, classification of geometric figures, transformations, and applications of the Pythagorean theorem strengthen the coverage of geometry concepts. Data collection and display, statistics, probability, measurement, scientific notation, properties of real numbers, prime numbers, and use of mathematical tools complete a thorough preparation for high school mathematics.
8th Grade
    Algebra 1/2: Saxon's Algebra 1/2 covers all topics normally taught in pre-algebra as well as additional topics from geometry and discrete mathematics. It is recommended for use by eighth graders who plan to take first-year algebra in the ninth grade. Students are introduced to rudimentary algebra topics such as the evaluation of algebraic expressions, the simplification of algebraic expressions, and the solution of linear equations in one unknown.
Health:

7th Grade
  • Social and Mental Health
  • Personal Appearance
  • Drug Abuse
  • Spiritual Fitness
  • Sex Education from the Bible
8th Grade
  • Physical Fitness
  • Good Nutrition
  • Disease
  • Safety First
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Sex Education from the Bible
Computers:

7th Grade
    Keyboard (7th Grade): Students learn basic typing skills using a computer keyboard.
8th Grade
    Advanced Computer (8th Grade): Students learn how to use advanced computer programs from the Microsoft Office Suite of products, including Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheets), PowerPoint (presentations), and Publisher (desktop publishing).