2024 - 2025 Class 8 Language Arts & 8th Grade Project

Class 8 Language Arts will study Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and poetry by Blake and Wordsworth, complementing their history studies. They will also do reading comprehension, outlining and note taking, research and citation, composition skills, review grammar and vocabulary, and public speaking and presentation skills as they work toward the culminating project for this class — the 8th Grade project.  Lotus & Ivy 8th Graders join with Waldorf 8th grade students world-wide in this crowning achievement to mark the end of their lower school journey.  

The fall semester will be spent reading A Tale of Two Cities and brainstorming ideas for which the student has a passion or interest, researching the topic, and writing a research paper on their topic.  Students will submit work to the teacher at specified milestones along the way for feedback. 

The spring semester will focus on the poetry of Blake and Wordsworth, public speaking, and their presentation.  An artistic piece is required as part of their project.  Students will work with the teacher to write a 5-10 minute speech on their topic and prepare to present virtually to peers, parents, and faculty on our 8th Grade Project Presentation Day in May. Seventh grade students will be invited as well.

Students in Class 8 language arts will practice the following reading and writing skills:

• Using textual evidence in literary essays

• Giving a short talk on a prepared topic using notes as a prompt

• Debating a chosen theme

• Comparing and contrasting characters and themes in novels

• Understanding and analyzing poetic techniques

• Literature analysis