Year 8 Exams- Term 3

This Monday we started lessons again and so I have been too busy to answer emails or post another installment about cultivating spirituality in our children. I find that our first two weeks of school are always the busiest of the year. I thought I'd post the latest examination questions I gave StrongJoy, my 15 year old since they were already typed up. The booklist she used is from HEO year 8 with just a few alterations.

Just a few notes:

The upper years is a time when we begin to emphasize the practice of reading books more intentionally. In doing so, our children realize that books were written not just for enjoyment but most authors have a message they are attempting to communicate through STORY. Literature becomes even more intriguing as they discover further meaning behind the tale. I'm not speaking of endless analysis, just a gold nugget here and there.

You will notice as you read Miss Mason's writings that older students' examination questions no longer consist mainly upon recalling WHAT was read, but HOW and WHY certain events happened. In other words, 'cause and effect' become the focus. Older children are delighted to find that all those ideas they enjoyed in childhood are actually individual threads coming together to form a beautiful tapestry of Truth. And isn't this the goal of education? Experience has taught us that the faith of the parents is not enough to sustain a child in the years to come, so a careful mother will guide her children on a path that will help them discover that truth. She will not always TELL them the truth, but give them the tools to discover it for themselves SO THAT IT WILL BE THEIR OWN.

Here are some of our Year 8 questions.

Type your answers. Record your music and recitations on the computer.

*Remember, no fluff. Essays should have an intro, supporting info and conclusion. No fluff. Be detailed, but to the point. Don't chat with me. I expect good description. No fluff. Use as many proper nouns and dates as you can remember.

LANGUAGE ARTS
Spelling, composition and grammar will be taken into account.

BIBLE/APOLOGETICS
Genesis
Turn in your notes

Desiring God by Piper
How is God glorified? Expound on this. Why is 'doing our duty' not enough? What was the most meaningful passage for you? Explain your answer.

HISTORY
The New World by Churchill
Explain the causes of the English Civil wars.
Why did Parliament win the Civil wars?
Was Cromwell a protector or a dictator? Back up your claims.

Death's Duel
Give a narration about this.

Turn in your Century Book.

BIOGRAPHY
Galileo's Daughter by Sobel
Write a book review for the New York Times Newspaper.

A Coffin for King Charles by Wedgewood
Write a character sketch of King Charles. Include the influences that helped make the man. What feelings for the man did this book evoke in you? Why?

LITERATURE
The Holy War by Bunyan
Write a poetic narration revealing the meaning behind this tale.

English Literature for Boys and Girls by Marshall
Write a short biography about the life of John Bunyan or John Milton

Shakespeare-Hamlet
Brightest Heaven of Invention
We will watch Hamlet together this evening and discuss our observations.
(Let's make watermelon sherbet)

The Betrothed
Describe Renzo's change in character and explain the events that caused these changes.

Turn in your Commonplace Book.

CITIZENSHIP
Discuss Sir Bacon's essay on Praise or Anger.

Ourselves by Charlotte Mason
Explain the different aspects of Generosity OR Courage

Plutarch
Write a character sketch for Crassus. Note his strengths and weaknesses.

POETRY
Milton
Which poem of Milton's do you like the most. Explain why. (I didn't keep up with her readings of Paradise Lost so I wrote this lame question. sigh...)

MUSIC APPRECIATION
Tell briefly about Richard Wagner and his life.
Name at least two of his works and what you know about them.

SINGING
Sing your folksongs and hymns to mom.

CURRENT EVENTS
Student News Daily
What do you believe were the two most important events in the news this term? Explain.

PICTURE STUDY
Tell about Titian, his life and his works.

Draw a rough sketch from one of Lord Frederick Leighton's works. (You will not be graded on drawing skill but your powers of observation.)

DRAWING
Turn in your drawing portfolio.

MUSIC
Play a song that you learned this term on the guitar and another on the piano

GOVERNMENT
Complete the U.S. Quick Civics Test

FOREIGN LANGUAGES
German (she hasn't been working on this since our move- we lost the CD. Normally, I would expect more by now)
Translate:
Hello. Please excuse my poor German. My name is Bryana. What is your name?
How are you? Are you feeling well?
I am fine, thank you.
You are welcome.
Do you speak English?
I'm sorry.
Good Night

Write Psalm 23 in German, then recite it aloud in German.

Turkish
Turn in the book you are translating
You may use the money you earned from translating documents to buy the goats you have been wanting!

RECITATION
Recite your Psalm and NT passage in English
Recite The Alter and The Pulley by Herbert

SCIENCE
Apologia Biology by Wile
Turn in your notebook and tests

NATURE STUDY
Turn in your nature journal. It should include six drawings of birds you noticed this term.
Tell me the habits of two birds you observed yourself.

MATH
Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 by Sabouri
Turn in your notebook and tests


Why do I give examinations?




one step at a time...