8th Grade
Middle school is vital for developing critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
The online middle school program at Pathfinder Career Academy of Ohio is tuition-free. We designed our Ohio state-approved online middle school program with your child’s success in mind. We offer education for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in our online middle school curriculum.
We strive to provide a relevant, engaging, and challenging online public school curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, meets their individual needs, and prepares them for high school.
* Course offerings are subject to change and may vary based on school staffing.
Career Exploration
Career exploration involves actively investigating and researching potential career paths in more depth. It goes beyond basic awareness and includes conducting informational interviews with professionals, job shadowing, internships, volunteering, and taking on projects that provide hands-on experience in a specific field.
Career Tech Club Participation
Participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) clubs holds several important benefits for students. These clubs offer students opportunities to develop skills, network, and apply knowledge to their education experience. During the 8th and 9th grade school years, students will be encouraged to participate in various club meetings, ensuring they are exposed to several CTE pathways. During a student’s 10th grade year, students solely participate in club meetings related to their desired pathway. Lastly, during a student’s 11th grade year, they will have chosen their CTE pathway. They will continue participating in the associated club throughout their journey at Pathfinder.
Future Fridays
Future Friday is a comprehensive idea aimed at preparing students for their future careers by offering a variety of resources and opportunities that focus on career exploration, skill development, and industry exposure. Future Fridays will give students dedicated time to engage in activities beyond traditional classroom learning. Future Fridays aims to help students make informed decisions about their educational and career paths, connect with professionals, and gain practical insights into different industries. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the following:
- Videos: Live and recorded video presentations or documentaries that showcase different careers, industries, and success stories. These videos give students a visual and informative introduction to various career paths.
- Guest Speakers: Bringing in guest speakers from various industries allows students to hear firsthand professional experiences and insights. These speakers may discuss their career journeys, share industry trends, and offer advice to students.
- Sessions: Workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions focus on skill development, resume building, interview preparation, and other practical aspects of career readiness.
- Events: Future Fridays may host job fairs, industry panels, and workshops highlighting specific fields of interest. These events allow students to ask questions, network, and gather information.
…and so much more! We welcome our students’ ideas and suggestions for our Future Fridays at Pathfinder!
8th Grade Student Experience
Your academic courses are integrated with real-world applications to connect classroom learning with your career interests.
Grade Level Focus:
8th grade is a critical year for self-discovery, career exploration, leadership development, and foundational skill-building. Students will engage in academic coursework, career-readiness activities, hands-on projects, and professional skill-building experiences to prepare them for high school and beyond. Listed are some examples of how Pathfinder’s academic and CTE teachers will incorporate real-world applications in your student’s coursework:
Naviance Interest Inventory – Students will complete career self-discovery surveys to identify their strengths, interests, and potential career pathways.
Pathful Connect Activities – Students will participate in virtual career exploration events, guest speaker sessions, and real-world industry connections related to their interests.
Career & CTE Exploration – Introduction to the five Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways offered at Pathfinder Career Academy of Ohio:
- Health Science
- Teaching Professions
- Business Administration
- Information Technology (I.T.)
- Construction
Career Research Project – Students will select a career field of interest, research job responsibilities, required education/training, salary outlook, and create a presentation or creative project.
At the end of 8th grade, students will present a project, portfolio, or product that showcases their leadership, career exploration, and personal growth.
Students will have:
✅ A deeper understanding of career options and interests
✅ Hands-on leadership training and an industry-recognized credential
✅ Practical experience in research, problem-solving, and teamwork
✅ A foundation in soft skills necessary for career and life success
Core Curriculum: Grade 8
ENGLISH 8
Middle school students are able to independently read increasingly complex text, as well as respond in writing to these same texts. Readings include classic short stories and a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections from the Harlem Renaissance, as well as a student- friendly version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Students will also have the opportunity to read and study a novel of their choice. Each unit in 8th grade Language Arts includes explicit instruction and practice in writing, grammar, morphology, and reading.
Grade 8 writing expands in scope and complexity, consisting of a robust series of unit- long writing activities that incorporate language skills and focus on developing craft and structure while incorporating and building upon writing skills learned in the earlier grades. These writing projects are intended to prepare middle school students for the writing they will do in high school, college, and the professional world.
The semester culminates with a project in which students apply the learning from the semester to complete a comprehensive activity. The projects are intended to promote independent learning as students make choices about work products and apply self- management skills to plan activities.
MATH 8
In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.
This semester begins with an in- depth study of transformations. Students first learn about rigid transformations and congruence of shapes and angles in triangles. They then expand this knowledge to work with dilations and similarity of figures. Next, they begin to explore linear relationships as they find slopes and solve and graph linear equations. Finally, students learn more about linear equations in one variable and are introduced to systems of linear equations. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.
SCIENCE 8
In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.
This semester begins with a study of motion and contact forces. Students will investigate how changing the mass or speed of an object can affect forces in a collision, as well as learn ways to protect objects in a collision. Next, students investigate sound and how sounds can make matter move. They study sound waves and frequency and examine the effects of different pitches and volumes of sounds. Finally, students continue their study of forces by investigating magnets and the forces that they can apply on objects. They investigate magnetic fields, energy transfer, and the force pairs in magnetic fields. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.
State Specific versions available for: GA, IN, OH, PA, WV
SOCIAL STUDIES 8
In this course students will understand the significance of government, law, and politics. They will examine the United States foundational documents and how they shaped the United States government. Students will examine the purposes and functions of federal and state government, law, and political systems. Learners will evaluate their role and civic responsibility to their families, communities, and country including voting and being a productive member of society. Learners will follow a step-by-step approach for successfully completing each lesson, which includes textbook reading, interactive activities, supplemental reading, lecture, video clips, and Powerpoint presentations to enhance and reinforce learning. Learners receive frequent feedback from teacher and peers through discussions.
As part of our program, we will incorporate Career Exploration throughout the core curriculum. Students will investigate the world of work and relate careers to their interests, skills, and abilities. They will begin to build their personal development and success habits and focus on creating a sense of identity and purpose. Middle school students should prepare to determine a career pathway or program of study as they matriculate into High School.
List of Possible Elective Courses:
MS Career Exploration I
How do you pick a career path when you’re not sure what’s even out there? This course allows you to begin exploring options in fields such as teaching, business, government, hospitality, health science, IT, and more! you’ll align your interests, wants, and needs to career possibilities, including the required education for each. Let’s find a pathway that works for you.
MS Career Exploration II
Imagine that it’s 20 years from now. What career do you see yourself in? What do you imagine that you’ll be doing? In this course, you’ll explore more careers and what it takes to succeed in different fields. You’ll learn more about what steps are needed to prepare for your career and how to compare the pros and cons of different career choices to find one that’s best for you.
MS Exploring Music
What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘music’? Do you think about your favorite band or artist? In this course, you’ll learn about how we hear music; how music affects our lives; essential elements of music like rhythm, pitch, and harmony; different musical genres; singing and your voice; various instruments; music composition; and the history and culture of music over the years.
MS Game Design
We love to play video games, but have you ever wanted to build your own? If you are interested in a career in technology but also want a creative outlet, Game Design might be the field for you. Learn how to build a game from the ground up in this interactive and hands-on course that will teach you all the ins and outs of making your own game.
MS Health
Our middle school health courses will help the student understand the importance of making decisions that will affect his or her physical, emotional, mental and social health. This course will provide students with the knowledge and resources they will need to make responsible informed decisions about their health. Students will have an opportunity to evaluate their own values, opinions and attitudes about health.
Physical Education
In this course, students are introduced to exercise and physical fitness and the general recommendations for physical activity, while examining the benefits of exercise, lifestyle choices that can help prevent disease, and tips for kick-starting a healthier lifestyle. Students will explore each type of fitness, include the benefits, and the federal guidelines for exercise in detail. Students will also learn about bones and joints and the functions of the skeleton, and the different types of movements that occur at various joints. Students will learn about the different types of muscle in their bodies, and how they are structured, with particular attention to the different types of muscle fibers. Students will explore the functions that muscles perform, how they work, and their interaction with the central nervous system and special considerations for safe and effective exercise.
Students will learn how the cardiac and respiratory systems work and interact with each other and about the different blood vessels that makeup the circulatory (vascular) system. Students will learn about the body’s energy systems and how eating and drinking relates to exercise. Finally, students will learn about the psychology of exercising.
Spanish
Open the door to all the possibilities of your Spanish language passport! Sip your virtual cafecito as you delve into topics like school, daily escapades, food preferences, nationalities, family, sports, music, clothing, transportation, and weather. On this journey you’ll unearth a trove of cultural gems, discovering the richness of different Spanish-speaking countries through breath-taking locations, unique celebrations, and cherished traditions. Your goal is to master the basics—the key to unlocking Spanish conversations. Are you prepared for this exciting new adventure?
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