What your child learns in 8th grade in Oregon
8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, functions and the Pythagorean theorem. Science covers forces, heredity and space, and social studies covers US history from 1780 to 1865. Students also take the OSAS science test.
8th grade subjects in the Oregon State Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Numbers and operations: linear equations, functions, and the Pythagorean theorem
- Geometry and measurement: shapes, measurement and the space around us
- Data reasoning: asking questions, collecting data and reading what it shows
17 units, including Big, Small & Real Numbers, Squares, Cubes & Roots, Patterns & Two-Step Equations, Equations with Brackets.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: analysing how authors build meaning
- Writing: writing that weighs evidence and counter-claims
- Speaking and listening: sharing ideas and building on what others say
12 units, including Close Reading, Literary Devices, Irony, Satire & Allusion, Whose Story Is It?.
Science
Focus areas
- Forces, motion and energy
- Heredity and natural selection
- Space systems and Earth's history
8 units, including Motion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Fields & Forces at a Distance, Kinetic & Potential Energy, Light & Radiation.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- United States history from 1780 to 1865
- The Constitution and rights
- Westward expansion and the Civil War
10 units, including Rights & Amendments, The Civil War, Maps, Graphs & Data, Sources & Evidence.
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 MathBig, Small & Real Numbers, Squares, Cubes & RootsOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade English Language ArtsClose Reading, Literary DevicesOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade ScienceMotion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Fields & Forces at a DistanceOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade Social StudiesRights & Amendments, The Civil WarOpen 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.
Oregon report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
8th grade students also take the Oregon state tests (OSAS). Read the state tests guide.
Oregon's Transformative Social and Emotional Learning standards apply in every grade. Read about Transformative SEL.
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, Fractions, Decimal Operations, Fractions, Decimals & Percents, Percents & Proportions
- English Language Arts: Literary Devices, Tone & Mood, Whose Story?, Poetry Lab, Persuasive Power
- Science: Atoms & Elements, Mixtures & Solutions, Particles & Mixtures, Particles and Heat, Chemical Reactions
- Social Studies: Medieval Europe, The Islamic World, Trade Routes & Beliefs, Renaissance & Reformation, Japan: Land, Beliefs & Values
Common questions
8th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Oregon State Standards. 8th grade prepares students for high school. Math covers linear equations, functions and the Pythagorean theorem. Science covers forces, heredity and space, and social studies covers US history from 1780 to 1865. Students also take the OSAS science test.
Oregon report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 8th grade also write the Oregon state tests (OSAS), 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
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