8th Grade registration instructions

Registration opens March 17, 2025

Please choose 4 electives & 2 alternates

You can choose any electives as long as it adds up to 4.

Year-long Classes

(Counts as 2 Electives)

Semester Classes

(Counts as 1 Elective)

8TH GRADE ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

YEAR LONG Courses

Spanish I*/Year long:

This course introduces the language through reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.  Students who take and pass both semesters of Spanish I in the 8th grade will receive High School credit for the course. Spanish 1 will not go towards Hope Grant. Students who take Spanish I in the 8th grade must meet the following criteria: 7th grade end-of-year grade in Reading and English Language Arts and one other academic subject must be 85 or above. It is desirable, and therefore encouraged, that students take two CONSECUTIVE years of Spanish (ie. 8th and 9th grade, or 9th and 10th grade).  Students who take Spanish 1 at CA Gray will need to continue Spanish 2 at CCHS the following year. Also , students will be encouraged to take Spanish III and then AP Spanish at the CCHS.

8th Grade Choir/ Year Long:

The choral program is one of the strongest school choral programs in Georgia.  Choir classes are open to any student without audition.  Students should pre-enroll with the instructor prior to the school year.  The choir program is aligned with the National Standards for Music Education, and students are taught to read music, rhythm, and pitches, as well as develop good singing skills.  The choirs present three evening programs each year and participate in the Georgia Music Educators’ Association Large Group Performance Evaluation.  The choirs may also perform at various venues around the state by invitation and selected choral festivals.

8th Grade Band/ Year Long:

Instruction is offered on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, tuba, and percussion.

Exploring Agriculture: Fundamentals of Ag /Year Long:

Part A: Plant and Animal Science

This course aims to provide all students instruction in establishing and managing agricultural animal enterprises; includes instruction in selecting, breeding, feeding, caring for and marketing beef and dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and poultry. Classroom and laboratory activities are supplemented through supervised agricultural experiences and leadership programs and activities. 
And 
Students will learn about the cut flower industry, the history of floral design, identification of flowers and foliage, design shapes, mechanics of design, everlasting flowers, and use knowledge and skills to create custom design work for special occasions. While understanding the significant concepts of plant and horticulture science. Classroom and laboratory activities are supplemented through supervised agricultural experiences and leadership programs and activities. 

Part B: Mechanics and Natural Resources

This course provides entry-level skills for employment in the forest industry and further study. The course covers establishing forests by natural and artificial means, maintaining and surveying forests, identifying and protecting trees, practicing silviculture, measuring trees and land, mapping. Classroom and laboratory activities are supplemented through supervised agricultural experiences and leadership programs and activities. 
And, 
This laboratory course is designed to provide students with introductory-level experiences in woodworking, lawnmower operation and maintenance, and electrical wiring. Learning activities include information, skill development, and problem solving. Classroom and laboratory activities are supplemented through FFA supervised agricultural experiences, leadership programs and activities. This course aims to provide students with an introduction to agricultural leadership by developing work ethic, communications, critical thinking, and team building skills.  This also reinforces the FFA mission statement of promotion “premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.”  In this course, students will build a knowledge base for Horticulture/Plant Science, Forestry/Natural Resources, and Agriscience.

Investing & Finance/ Interactive Design/ Year Long:

Using project-based instruction, students build a knowledge base of computer applications, information systems, internet safety, 21st century skills, and business and computer science careers of the 21st century. Exposure to networking and programming will also be important threads in this course.

Semester Long Courses

Physical Education/ Semester:

This course covers Health and Personal Fitness. The Health portion explores the mental, physical, and social aspects of life and how each contributes to total health and well-being.  The personal fitness portion provides instruction in methods to attain a healthy lifetime fitness program based on a personal fitness assessment and stress strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, body composition, and cardiovascular endurance.  Both portions promote self-awareness and responsibility for fitness and a healthy lifestyle. This course is a middle school class and does not receive a high school credit. Students will still need the PE/Health high school course when they attend CCHS in 9th grade.

Family & Consumer Science/ Semester:

The goal of Eighth Grade Family and Consumer Science is to provide all students with an introduction to the Family and Consumer Sciences Career Pathways. The FACS career pathways are Nutrition and Food Science, Consumer Services, Interior and Fashion Design, and Family, Community, and Global Leadership. Culinary Arts career pathway is Culinary Arts. Education career pathways are Early Childhood Education and Teaching as a Profession. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for success in any of the career pathways. Exposure to career possibilities in each area will allow students to successfully integrate their own interests into a career plan. Development of leadership skills through participation in the career and technical student organization, FCCLA, will provide students the opportunity to explore possible career pathways. In this course, middle school students will experience a variety of activities that will promote self-awareness, leadership, development of skills needed to achieve personal goals relating to family, home, career, and community. 

Technological Systems/ Semester:

In this course the students will learn how technology affects our everyday lives and how it will change our future.  Students learn how to work together cooperatively in groups of two.  Each group will explore different engineering and technology fields by using hands-on, real world-based activities.  Subjects covered include: 3-D Home, Electricity/Energy, Transportation, Simple Machines, Desktop Publishing, Video Game Design, Computer Animation, Theme park Management, SimCity, Rockets, Bridges, Flight, and Robotics.

MS Healthcare Science/ Semester:

This course provides students with an introduction to the Healthcare Science Pathway.  Topics such as human anatomy, healthcare career exploration, safety and emergency procedures, and the  interpersonal communications skills required for them.  The course will enable students to receive initial exposure to healthcare science skills, first aid and CPR, attitudes applicable to healthcare including the concepts of health, wellness, preventative care, and responsibilities of today’s healthcare provider.

Visual Art/Semester:

This course is the first course in the visual arts area and is designed to give the student an introduction to the world of visual arts. Students explore line, shape, color, texture, value, space, and form as well as exploring several areas of art such as drawing, painting, simple printmaking, sculpture, etc. Art appreciation is also part of this course.