What your child learns in 8th grade in Washington
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 the founding through Reconstruction. Students also take the WCAS science test.
8th grade subjects in the Washington State Learning Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Quantity and Relationships: linear equations, functions, and the Pythagorean theorem
- Spatial Reasoning: shapes, measurement and the space around us
- Data Analysis: 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, Listening and Digital Forums: 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
9 units, including Light & Radiation, Motion, Forces & Newton’s Laws, Work, Energy & Efficiency, Kinetic & Potential Energy.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- United States history and government, mainly the 1800s
- The Constitution and rights
- Westward expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction
9 units, including Sources & Evidence, Maps, Graphs & Data, Founding Ideals, Rights & Amendments.
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 ScienceLight & Radiation, Motion, Forces & Newton’s LawsOpen the sheet →
- 8th grade Social StudiesSources & Evidence, Maps, Graphs & DataOpen 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.
Washington report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
8th grade students also take the Washington state tests (Smarter Balanced and WCAS). Read the state tests guide.
Washington's Social Emotional Learning standards apply in every grade. Read about Social 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, Fractions, Decimal Operations, Fractions, Decimals & Percents, Percents & Proportions
- English Language Arts: Literary Devices, Tone & Mood, Whose Story?, Poetry Lab, Persuasive Power
- Science: Atoms & Elements, Ecosystems, Food Chains & Energy, Cycles & Succession, Particles & Mixtures
- Social Studies: Washington's Land, Tribes of Washington, Territory to Statehood, Treaties & Tribal Sovereignty, Governing Washington
Common questions
8th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Washington State Learning 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 the founding through Reconstruction. Students also take the WCAS science test.
Washington report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 8th grade also write the Washington state tests (Smarter Balanced and WCAS), 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 Washington report card. Subscribe now, or try it free for 30 days with no card.