8th Grade Work, Assignments and School Exercises

Giving Your 8th Grader Useful Assignments

In the 8th grade, the majority of the work that your child completes will provide the necessary groundwork for high school. It's often wise to seek help right away because if your child falls behind now, it could potentially turn into a much bigger problem in high school. One of your child's teachers may be willing to meet with your child before or after school to give him or her some help with assignments. You may also consider hiring a private tutor.

Talk to your 8th grader's teachers to find out what areas your child needs the most help with so that you'll know where to focus your energy. This will enable you to find or create your own assignments at home that will help your child where he or she needs it the most.

Assignments in the 8th Grade

Math

Math class in the 8th grade often focuses on algebra. Topics may also include geometry, probability, functions and the number system. You can create typical math assignments involving a series of equations or word problems that your child must solve while showing his or her work. You can also print 8th grade worksheets from the Internet along with answer keys.

English/Language Arts

Many of the assignments that your child is likely to encounter for English/language arts will most likely help your child begin to analyze and deconstruct literature with a critical mind. At this grade level, your child will likely work with a variety of texts, including novels, short stories, plays and poetry. Your child will probably have reading assignments to complete for class discussions in addition to written work. You can help your child practice by having him or her read an age-appropriate text and then administering comprehension questions about characters, events and themes.

Social Studies

Your 8th grader will probably be covering American history in detail throughout the year. A typical assignment might be to map out the events leading to the Revolutionary War or writing a paragraph about the social implications of slavery. Have your child read and analyze a number of social studies and history texts independently. Following a reading session, ask relevant questions to ensure that your 8th grader is thinking critically and absorbing new information.

Science Assignments

The purpose of 8th grade science is usually to provide a base your child can build on in high school. Basic biology, chemistry and physics are all often covered. Even if there's no science fair going on at school, you can complete science projects at home. For example, you might help your child test how much salt it takes to make objects of various weights float.