What your child learns in 8th grade in California
8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, functions and the Pythagorean theorem. Integrated science covers forces, heredity, evolution and space, and social studies is US history from the founding to 1914: the Constitution, the new nation, the West, the Civil War, Reconstruction and industrial America. Students also take the CAST science test.
8th grade subjects in the California Content Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: linear equations, functions, and the Pythagorean theorem
- Measurement, data and geometry: shapes, measuring and reading data
- Mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
17 units, including Squares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step Equations, Pythagorean Theorem, Surface Area & Volume.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading literature and informational text: analyzing how authors build meaning
- Writing: writing that weighs evidence and counterclaims
- Speaking and listening: sharing ideas and building on what others say
12 units, including Close Reading, Literary Devices, Word Study, Irony, Satire & Allusion.
Science
Focus areas
- Forces, motion and waves
- Heredity and natural selection
- Space systems and Earth's history
8 units, including Light & Radiation, Motion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Kinetic & Potential Energy, Fields & Forces at a Distance.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- United States history: growth and conflict, to 1914
- The Constitution and the early republic
- Westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction and industrial America
9 units, including Rights & Amendments, Reconstruction, Founding Ideals, A New Nation.
Printable 8th grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
- 8th grade MathSquares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step EquationsOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade English Language ArtsClose Reading, Literary DevicesOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade ScienceLight & Radiation, Motion, Forces & Newton’s LawsOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade Social StudiesRights & Amendments, ReconstructionOpen the sheet →
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on managing a heavier workload, showing steps in math and supporting an argument with evidence from a text.
California report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
8th grade students also take the California state tests (CAASPP). Read the state tests guide.
California's social and emotional learning competencies apply in every grade. Read about Social and emotional learning.
Ready for 8th grade?
8th grade builds on what your child practiced in 7th grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Add & Subtract Integers, Decimal Operations, Fractions, Decimals & Percents, Two-Step Equations, Circles
- English Language Arts: Literary Devices, Tone & Mood, Persuasive Power, Clauses & Sentences, Modifiers & Parallelism
- Science: Atoms & Elements, Ecosystems, Food Chains & Energy, Cycles & Succession, Particles & Mixtures
- Social Studies: The Islamic World, Empires of Asia, African Kingdoms & Empires, Japan: Land, Beliefs & Values, Medieval Europe
Common questions
8th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the California Content Standards. 8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, functions and the Pythagorean theorem. Integrated science covers forces, heredity, evolution and space, and social studies is US history from the founding to 1914: the Constitution, the new nation, the West, the Civil War, Reconstruction and industrial America. Students also take the CAST science test.
California report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 8th grade also write the California state tests (CAASPP), which is separate from the report card.
Short, regular practice works better than long sessions: 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Read together, use math in real life, and praise effort.
Practice 8th grade skills with Gradelings
Kind hints, no ads, and reports in the language of the California report card. Subscribe now, or try it free for 30 days with no card.