What your child learns in 8th grade in New York
8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, systems of equations, functions, transformations and the Pythagorean theorem. Students finish the 6–8 science band and take the intermediate-level science test. Social studies continues United States and New York history from Reconstruction through industrial growth and immigration, both world wars, the Great Depression and the civil rights movement.
8th grade subjects in the New York State Learning Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: exponents and scientific notation, linear equations and systems, and functions
- Measurement, data and geometry: transformations, congruence and similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, volume, and scatter plots
- Mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
19 units, including Squares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step Equations, Pythagorean Theorem, Surface Area & Volume.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: theme, textual evidence, irony and kinds of narrators
- Writing: judging sources and evidence, revising and proofreading
- Speaking and listening: the motives behind media messages
16 units, including Close Reading, Literary Devices, Word Study, Irony, Satire & Allusion.
Science
Focus areas
- Forces, motion, energy, waves and digital signals
- Cells, heredity, natural selection and clues from embryos
- Space systems and Earth's history
11 units, including Light & Radiation, Cells & Life Processes, Motion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Kinetic & Potential Energy.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- US and New York history from Reconstruction to today
- Industry, immigration through Ellis Island and the Progressive Era
- Two world wars, the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression
15 units, including Reconstruction, Industrial America, Immigrants & the Growing City, Workers & Progressives.
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, Cells & Life ProcessesOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade Social StudiesReconstruction, Industrial AmericaOpen 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.
New York has no statewide report-card scale in 8th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
8th grade students also take the New York State tests (grades 3–8). Read the state tests guide.
New York's social emotional learning benchmarks apply in every grade. Read about Social emotional learning.
The four practice steps in 8th grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
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, Circuits & Static, Ecosystems, Food Chains & Energy, Cycles & Succession
- Social Studies: Colonial Trade & Work, Road to Revolution, The American Revolution, Building a Government, Founding Ideals
Common questions
8th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the New York State Learning Standards. 8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, systems of equations, functions, transformations and the Pythagorean theorem. Students finish the 6–8 science band and take the intermediate-level science test. Social studies continues United States and New York history from Reconstruction through industrial growth and immigration, both world wars, the Great Depression and the civil rights movement.
New York has no statewide report-card scale in 8th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 8th grade also write the New York State tests (grades 3–8), which is separate from the report card.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
8th grade builds on 7th grade. In math, that means Add & Subtract Integers, Decimal Operations, Fractions, Decimals & Percents. In English language arts, that means Literary Devices, Tone & Mood, Persuasive Power.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Read what they are interested in: graphic novels, sports pages, series. Then talk about it. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 8th grade skills with Gradelings
Kind hints, no ads, and reports in the language of the New York report card. Subscribe now, or try it free for 30 days with no card.