Eighth Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Are you considering homeschooling your child in eighth grade but feel unsure about where to start or which resources to choose? Since every student has unique needs, no one-size-fits-all curriculum exists, making homeschooling a great option for customizing learning materials. While I generally use the same set of resources for all my children, I adjust the curriculum by adding or removing materials as necessary. I rely on a mix of workbooks and other educational tools for our eighth grade program. Below are the resources that worked well for my first child and that I plan to use with my subsequent children. If you are interested in any of the materials, easily find copies on Amazon via my affiliate links.

When I began homeschooling my oldest daughter in the fall of 2014, I was a mama of one with my second on the way. Since then, my family has grown to four children. I introduce homeschooling to each of my kiddos around age 3 with a preschool program. After two years of preschool, we transition to kindergarten around age 5, then move on to first grade at age 6, followed by second grade at 7, and third grade at 8. We generally start fourth grade at age 9, fifth grade at age 10, sixth grade at age 11, and seventh grade at age 12, before beginning eighth grade around age 13. Our goal is to cover about 180 days of instruction each year, working four days a week. If we miss a day, we catch up either the previous or following week to stay on track. Our schedule ensures we complete each grade in roughly 42 weeks, with field trips also contributing to our educational experience.

Of the many materials that I use with my seventh graders, the most important to me is Teach a Student to Spell: Level 6. The Teach a Student to Spell series is the follow-up workbook series to the Teach a Student to Read reading program, which strives to teach students accurate and complete information about the English spelling system. I am also working on a workbook for seventh grade as park of my Form-Function English Grammar series. The Form-Function English Grammar series is the elementary series that builds up to A Form-Function Description of the Grammar of the Modern English Language, a textbook and workbook that provides a descriptive grammar that strives to provide an objective description of English as used without value judgements.

Originally published on August 19, 2020. Updated on August 14, 2024.

Reading

Developing strong reading skills is crucial for understanding complex texts and enhancing critical thinking abilities. With our eighth grade reading curriculum, we build on these skills by exploring diverse literary genres and challenging texts to deepen comprehension and analytical skills. I introduced the Language of Literature series from McDougal Littell during sixth grade. My eighth graders continue using the Language of Literature series for eighth grade reading with Language of Literature (Grade 8) . The 1248-page textbook includes a variety of texts. We also use the comprehension and critical thinking questions along with the vocabulary exercises.

Language Arts

In our eighth grade language arts, the focus remains on refining grammar, enhancing reading comprehension, and strengthening writing skills. My kiddos engage with a variety of texts and writing exercises in preparation for high school-level coursework by developing their ability to analyze literature, understand nonfiction, and express ideas clearly. The materials that I selected build a solid foundation in essential language arts concepts while also encouraging creativity and critical thinking through diverse writing prompts and punctuation practice.

For eighth grade language arts, we use Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts in One Big Fat Notebook. Unit 1 focuses on grammar, but the content contains quite a few errors, so we start with Unit 2. The book covers language, reading fiction, reading nonfiction, and writing. The four units provide a good overview of language arts content in preparation for high school level courses.

While completing the language arts book, we continue using the Spectrum Writing series in our curriculum, using the Spectrum Writing Grade 8 workbook in eighth grade. The 142-page workbook teaches basic writing skills such as the writing process, story writing, informational writing, and opinion writing through a variety of creative writing prompts and writing practice activities.

For writing practice multiple days a week, I also include The Writing Prompts Workbook, Grades 7-8 in our eighth grade writing curriculum. My eighth graders complete the second 100 prompts in eighth grade after having finished the first 100 in seventh grade. The workbook provides a collection of imaginative situations and questions that get children writing. Do note that the prompts are not entirely secular but do include some questions about religion.

For punctuation practice, we use Let’s Eat Grandma?: A Workbook for Learning the Marvels of Punctuation and Improving your Writing Skills. The workbook covers periods, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, colons, and semicolons as includes tips for improving writing.

Vocabulary

As in previous grades, I continue an explicit vocabulary curriculum to build on foundational skills from earlier years and master new words through targeted activities that enhance an understanding and usage of complex vocabulary. We continue to use The Vocabulary Builder Workbook: Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words in eighth grade. The book contains 200 lessons. My eighth grader completes the second 100 lessons after completing the first 100 in seventh grade. For each lesson, my child does the activity that reinforce word meanings included in the book and then writes a sentence for each word to demonstrate understanding of the meaning and use.

Spelling

Rather than using word lists for spelling, I introduced word study using Structured Word Inquiry in first grade. For my main resource, I use the InSight Words decks from Linguist-Educator Exchange.

I also created the Teach a Student to Spell: Level 6 workbook for spelling lessons as a follow up to Teach a Student to Read. Level 6 covers grades 7 and 8. Level 6 consists of 36 lists of one to four bases each. The number of bases in each list depends on the size of the word family. (One base is divided into two lessons because of the number of words in the word family.) The activities focus on the four questions of Structured Word Inquiry: (1) What does a word mean? (2) How is the word built? (3) What are morphological and etymological relatives of the word? and (4) What are the sounds that matter? What are the letters doing? The goal of Level 6 is to study the spelling of English words using the Structured Word Inquiry framework. Level 6 builds on the spelling rules introduced in Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5. Level 6 also reinforces the prefixes, suffixes, and connecting vowels from Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 while introducing additional prefixes and suffixes.

My eighth grader completes lists 19 to 36 of level 6 during eighth grade.

Math

For eighth grade math, our focus shifts to high school level geometry, building on the foundation laid in Algebra 1. Developing skills in Euclidean geometry, logical reasoning, and the ability to construct and understand mathematical proofs is crucial for continuing in math in high school and beyond. The geometry curriculum that I chose for my kiddos covers essential topics such as lines, angles, congruence, inequalities, and geometric transformations, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. The curriculum additionally integrates algebra review, reinforcing key algebraic concepts and maintaining proficiency throughout the year.

After completing Algebra 1 from Derek Owens in seventh grade, we then move on to Geometry from Derek Owens. Typically taken by students in ninth or tenth grade, the online course covers the topics normally covered in a high school geometry course. We complete the entire class during eighth grade. The online course does currently require the purchase of Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding by Harold R. Jacobsv. The course provides a comprehensive study of geometric principles including Euclidean geometry, logical reasoning, and proofs. Designed to follow Algebra 1, the class includes algebra review lessons to maintain algebra skills throughout the year. Offered in both regular and honors levels, the course covers topics such as lines, angles, congruence, inequalities, quadrilaterals, transformations, similarity, right triangles, circles, and geometric solids, with an emphasis on practical applications and logical problem-solving. I chose the self-graded option, which is slightly less expensive, and grade all homework and tests myself using the provided answer keys.

Science

Our eighth grade science curriculum builds on foundational knowledge and sharpens critical thinking skills through a deeper exploration of key scientific concepts. My kiddos engage with topics such as earth science, chemistry, physics, and technology, enhancing their understanding of the natural world and its governing principles. Such a comprehensive approach prepares my eighth graders for more advanced science studies in high school by fostering analytical skills and a solid grasp of scientific methods.

Beginning in seventh grade and continuing through eighth grade, we use the Prentice Hall Science Explorer series, which consists of 16 textbooks. My eighth graders complete the final nine textbooks after finishing the first seven textbooks in seventh grade. The second nine books are (1) Earth’s Water, (2) Weather and Climate, (3) Astronomy, (4) Chemical Building Blocks, (5) Chemical Interactions, (6) Motion, Force, and Energy, (7) Electricity and Magnetism, (8) Sound and Light, and (9) The Nature of Science and Technology.

Social Studies

For eighth grade social studies, the majority of the year includes studying the United States government and constitution with my children. Understanding the structure and principles of the US government is essential for fostering informed citizens who can actively participate in democracy. By examining the Constitution, my kiddos gain insights into the rights and responsibilities that define American citizenship, laying a strong foundation for their civic engagement.

The first resource that we use is The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence from Paul B. Skousen. The book combines the complete texts of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence while exploring the profound impact of the Founding Fathers, the American Revolution, and the principles of liberty, government, and constitutional law.

We then read This Is Our Constitution: What It Is and Why It Matters. Written by the 2022 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Khizr Khan, the book explores why and how the Constitution was written, an easy-to-follow explanation of what the Constitution means, and a closer look at key amendments including the Bill of Rights and pivotal Supreme Court decisions.

Then we use the Constitution Quick Starts Workbook Grade 4-12 from Mark Twain. The 64-page social studies workbook contains the entire text of the Constitution followed by short activities that require creative and critical thinking skills while reviewing the Constitution of the United States, the Preamble, the Articles (including the three branches of government, the Amendments in the Bill of Rights, and Amendments XI through XXVII.

Next we use the Interactive Notebook: U.S. Constitution Resource Book Grade 5-12 from Mark Twain. The interactive workbook covers the principles of United States government rights and responsibilities of citizens, and the Constitution.

We additionally use the Understanding the US Constitution Workbook from Mark Twain. Recommended for middle school and high school, the 96-page workbook offers history lessons and reproducible activities on the Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, branches of government, and the presidents involved.

We also use the Interactive Notebook: United States Government Resource Book Grade 5-8 from Mark Twain. The interactive workbook provides a thorough understanding of US government and American history through focused lessons and practice.

We finally use Elections from Mark Twain. The 80-page workbook covers the basics of democracy, what makes up the electoral college, how to compare election systems, how political parties work, who votes, and how voting systems and elections are run.

We end eighth grade social studies by testing knowledge using Constitution Facts. The website offers four quizzes that test knowledge about the US constitution.

Health

For our eighth grade health curriculum, the focus shifts to more advanced topics that help my kiddos develop a deeper understanding of their physical, mental, and social well-being. Building on the foundation from seventh grade, my eighth graders continue exploring crucial areas such as disease prevention, human development, and community health. The materials that I chose to use equip my children with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their health and well-being in preparation for high school and beyond.

We begin eighth grade health by completing the second half of Prentice Hall Health starting at chapter 14. The 782-page covers mental health, social health, nutrition, physical fitness, substance abuse, human development, preventing disease, and community health and safety. We completed the first 13 chapters in seventh grade and then finish the book in eighth grade.

After finishing the textbook, we use the Life Skills Resource Book Grade 5-8 from Mark Twain Media to finish health curriculum for eighth grade. Recommended for grades 5 to 8, the 128-page book covers topics such as work ethic, nutrition, exercise, sexually transmitted infections, drugs, and preparing financially for the future.

Art

Eighth grade art focuses on exploring a wide range of artistic movements and mediums to develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of visual art. For art lessons, we use The Art Book from the DK Big Ideas series. The 352-page book covers key movements and more than 80 artworks in an easy-to-read format. The book provides a captivating introduction to painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, conceptual art, and performance art from ancient history to the modern day.

Music

Our eighth grade music curriculum focuses on the history of music. We start with Evolution of Modern Popular Music. The 216-page covers the development of modern popular music including its history, roots, and traditions. Genres covered include blues, folk, ragtime, jazz, big band, spirituals, blue grass, Tejano, Cajun, musical comedy, western, gospel, country, skiffle, rock and roll, R&B, soul, funk, Motown, hard rock, disco, heavy metal, reggae, corporate rock, punk, worldbeat, new wave, grunge, new age, easy listening, techno, rap, and hip hop.

We then use American Popular Music from Mark Twain. The 96-page workbook explores the development of popular music in the United States. From European musical traditions in the seventeenth century to African American music today, the book features genres of American music such as ragtime, blues, Dixieland, swing, big band, musical theater, folk, country western, rock and roll, disco, funk, punk, rap, alternative, and contemporary Christian. We use the information pages along with the comprehension exercises.

Printable Schedule

Because I am a homeschooling mom of four children, I have created yearly schedules for each grade to help me keep track of the work that needs to be completed in each subject each week. Our schedules make sure that we complete all work in each subject in each grade in a timely manner. The schedules also help us spread out the work over the entire grade without cramming too much in at any one time. Our schedules are designed for four days of work for forty-two weeks a year. Feel free to use our Grade 8 Schedule in your own homeschool.

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