Humanities – Grade 8

Mr. N. Sorensen
Course Outline
Grade Eight is an integral school year in that it is the final stage
in the middle school years as students prepare for their high
school experience. The Grade 8 Humanities course is an
amalgam or an integration of both the Language Arts 8
curriculum and the Social Studies 8 curriculum. It is the
objective of the Language Arts program to enable students to
use language confidently and competently in a variety of
situations for communicating, personal satisfaction and learning.
Language competency is developed by achieving proficiency in
the six strands of Language Arts: reading, writing, viewing,
speaking, listening and representing. Social Studies seek to
provide opportunities for students to develop the attitudes, skills
and knowledge that will enable them to become engaged, active,
informed and responsible citizens. In amalgamating these
subjects and their respective outcomes , students will gain a
fuller understanding of the outcomes for both and the
relationships that often exist between these two subject areas.
Projects and assignments done in class will, at times, address
outcomes in both subjects while, at other times, the outcomes
addressed will be more subject specific.

Course Content
Humanities - Language Arts
Curriculum Outcomes:

General Outcome 1
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to
explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.
General Outcome 2
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to
comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print
and other media texts.
General Outcome 3
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to
manage ideas and information.
General Outcome 4
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to
enhance the clarity and artistry of communication.
General Outcome 5
Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to
respect, support and collaborate with others.
Curriculum Content: 1.Look Unit - (September –
November)
2. Novel 1 – - ( November – December)
3. Look Closely Unit - (January – February)
4. Novel 2 – And Then There Were None - (February - April)
5. Functional And Persuasive Writing – Essay Structures and
Business Letter
Look Ahead Unit – (March – May)
6. Poetry and Literary Devices – (May – June)
7. Final Exam Preparation – (June)

Humanities - Social Studies

Curriculum Outcomes:
Students will:
Outcome 8.1.1 - appreciate the roles of time and geographic
location in shaping a society’s worldview
Outcome 8.1.2 - appreciate how a society’s worldview can
foster the choice to remain an isolated society
Outcome 8.1.3 - appreciate how models of governance and
decision making reflect a society’s worldview
Outcome 8.1.4 - appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes
individual citizenship and identity.
Outcome 8.1.5 - analyze the effects of cultural isoplation during
the Edo period by exploring and reflecting upon questions and
issues regarding Japan, its isolation and the resulting changes in
its politics, physical geography, etc..
Outcome 8.1.6 - analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on
traditionally isolated Japan during the Meiji period by exploring
and reflecting upon changes and issues specified by the
curriculum.
Outcome 8.2.1 -appreciate how Renaissance Europe formed the
basis for the worldview of the Western world .
Outcome 8.2.2 - demonstrate a willingness to consider differing
beliefs, values and worldviews.
Outcome 8.2.3 - recognize how beliefs and values are shaped
by time, geographic location and societal context.
Outcome 8.2.4 - examine, critically, the factors that shaped the
worldview evolving in western Europe during the Renaissance
by exploring and reflecting upon the questions and issues
specified in the curriculum.
Outcome 8.3.1 -appreciate how a society’s worldview
influences the society’s choices, decisions and interactions with
other societies
Outcome 8.3.2 - - appreciate how Aztec and Spanish identities
and worldviews were affected by intercultural contact

Curriculum Content:
1. General Outcome 8.1 - From Isolation to Adaptation:
Japan
This area focuses on “an appreciateion of the ways in
which beliefs, values and kowledge shape worldviews and
contribute to a society’s isolation or adaptation.”(Grade 8
Social Studies - Alberta Program of Studies)
(September – November)

2. General Outcome 8.2 – Origins of a Western Worldview:

Renaissance Europe
This area focuses on” an appreciation of how the exchange
of ideas and knowledge contributed to shaping the
worldview of the Western world.” (Grade 8 Social Studies
– Alberta Program of Studies)
(December – February)

3. General Outcome 8.3 – Worldviews in Conflict: The

Spanish and the Aztecs
This area focuses on” an understanding and appreciation of
how intercultural contact affects the worldview of
societies.” (Grade 8 Social Studies – Alberta Program of
Studies)
(March – May)
 4. Final Exam Preparation
(June)

Course Information
1. Students will have regular assignments to complete in
Humanities. They will be given class time to complete
work. Any extra time required to complete assignments
will then be considered homework.

2. Assignments are to be completed according to standards

established in class in keeping with our outcomes regarding
processing and organizing information. Notes and
assignments will be assessed regularly in class both
informally as students work and then formally when
finished and submitted for grading. Notes and assignments
are very important so please take care with them.

3. Students will be evaluated using the four point Alpha

grading system as set out in the B.R.S.D. Admin 360
policy. The following four levels will be used:
 BEG – student has begun to demonstrate knowledge of the
required outcome but is only at the earliest stages. Little
work has been completed.
DEV – more work has been completed but it would be
considered just barely passable. The outcome has been
partially demonstrated but there is room for a lot of growth
yet.
ACH – student has demonstrated adequate to slightly
above average mastery of the outcome or outcomes being
evaluated. There is still room for some growth.
EXC – student is demonstrateing solid mastery of the
outcome or outcomes and is able to work and use the
information in a variety of ways.

4. Students are welcome and encouraged to come and ask

about their grades often. They will be given regular
feedback but it is important for them to take responsibility
and find out what their grade is and how to improve it on a
regular basis. If they are having difficulty they are
welcome to set up an appointment with the teacher for
after- school help. Mornings and lunch hours are difficult
due to supervision responsibilities. Teacher help is
available after school every day and on weekends, if it is
the only time available to the student.
5. Student work will be accepted at any time. Deadlines are
in place and work should be turned in on time in order to
have the most accurate reporting regarding student
understanding of outcomes. Students are welcome to
rewrite all assignments as often as they wish. Each time
they repair their work and turn it in for a better grade they
are increasing and demonstrating their learning. They are
welcome to come for help before they fix an assignment in
order to improve their chances of getting a better grade.
There is no penalty for doing this and grades are not
averaged together. Students will receive the better grade.
In this way, students take a great deal of the responsibility
for their learning and their grade. They can earn whatever
grade they wish to achieve. As their effort increases and
their attention to their learning increases so does their
achievement.

6. Please note that if you are absent for an assignment or a

test, you are still responsible to present that assignment.
Absence does not mean that you no longer have to do the
test or assignment. Please let the teacher know when the
assignment can be expected or explain any special
circumstances that may cause the assignment to be late.
Assignments will always be accepted. Student work or
demonstrations of learning will never be turned away.
 7. Please note that if students are unsure of some information
or have forgotten something they need to know they are
welcome to contact me at home. My home phone number is
780-352-9735. I live in Wetaskiwin so it is long distance.
If you do not have a long distance plan, please feel free to
phone collect and I will accept the charges. If I am not at
home, please leave a message and I will get back to you as
soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to call at any time;
holidays or weekends included. I am more than happy to
assist students or parents with any information or concern
they may have.

It is my hope that you will enjoy your Grade 9 year and your
Humanities experience. It is a very important year as you
prepare for Grade 9 and high school. It is of greatest importance
that you learn to take academic responsibility for your learning
and understand that it truly is your responsibility! Grade 8 will
offer you many challenges as the course work increases
significantly in preparation for Grade 9 and high school. I am
here to assist you in any way I can. You need only ask! Please
DO NOT hesitate to come and see me if you are having trouble
or are concerned about your grade. There are always many ways
we can work together to increase your learning. The more
responsibility you take for your learning experience the better
your achievement will be !! You are allowed to rewrite your
assignments and get as much extra assistance as you feel you
need. Take advantage of those opportunities and work hard on
developing your knowledge and your skills so you will be ready
to face high school. All the very, very best!! Have a great year!
Sincerely,

Mr. Sorensen