MIDDLE SCHOOL Curriculum Overview Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade Middle school students at SJCS focus on learning to take responsibility for themselves as they relate to others and the world around them as image bearers of God. The middle school program is designed specifically for this age: the transition from childhood to adolescence. The academic classes and extracurricular activities help to provide a smooth transition from the elementary to the secondary school years as well as a gradual shift from dependence to independence. Middle school education exposes students to a variety of ideas and activities as they learn to see God revealed in all of creation and learn to respond to Him. It focuses on teaching students a Love for God, a Desire to Learn, and a Commitment to Serve as students practice discernment and the skills needed to succeed in high school and life in the modern world. Highlights in Middle School • Middle school mixers and special events • 6th-8th Drama Production • 6th-8th Choir, 5th-8th Concert Band, 7th-8th Jazz Band • Monthly chapels incorporating student leadership • 6th grade multi-day field trip: Local Watershed Tour • 7th grade multi-day field trip: Spiritual Retreat • 8th grade field trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon • All-school Field Day • Student Council • Fine Arts Festival: Visual Art, Creative Writing, Public Speaking, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music • Service Projects • Seasonal Team Sports CURRICULUM OVERVIEW BIBLE- While Biblical principles are integrated into all areas of education at SJCS, the continuing systematic study of the Bible is critical to the students’ ability to live life God’s way. Grade 6- Walking with God and His People, Grade 6 (CSI) In sixth grade Bible, students will draw connections between the Old and New Testament through their review study of Jesus’ ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. Insights will be gained into how to share the gospel message through the examples of Peter, Paul, and others. The curriculum includes a study of Colossians and the letters sent by the apostles to the early church. This is followed by a study of the Book of Revelations and God’s promise of everlasting life with Him. Grade 7- Walking with God and His People, Grade 7 (CSI) The seventh grade curriculum uses a thematic approach to Biblical study. After a short overview of Old Testament history, Grade 7 concentrates on Old Testament themes. We cover the feasts of Israel (the origin and meaning of each, plus how each feast relates to Christ), followed by a study of Job, the poetry and metaphors used in Proverbs, units on the prophets and on prayer, and end the year with a study of the intertestamental times, including the Maccabees. Each unit is designed to add to the student’s biblical understanding and strengthen his/her walk with God. Methods and materials used include using a study Bible, making Claymation iMovies, group projects, essays, and making a diorama. Grade 8- Walking with God and His People, Grade 8 (CSI) In eighth grade Bible students examine the New Testament from the birth of Christ through the life of the early church. Students complete a thorough research paper on one New Testament letter. Special attention is given to helping students develop their own ability to search and understand the Bible, and helping them to make personal applications regarding their own lifestyle choices. MATH- Connected Math Program (Pearson) Middle school math takes the many different strands of math and winds them together in ever increasing levels of complexity. Connected Math Program [CMP] is a coherent problem-centered curriculum that promotes an inquiry-based teaching-learning classroom environment. Important math ideas are identified and the essential understanding of these ideas are embedded in a carefully sequenced set of problems. The curriculum helps students grow in their ability to reason effectively. The CMP was funded by the National Science Foundation and developed for grades 6,7, and 8. It is a complete math curriculum that helps students develop understanding of important concepts, skills, procedures, and ways of thinking and reasoning in number, geometry, measurement, algebra, probability, and statistics. Teachers set up a classroom environment that promotes mathematical discourse around problem solving and reasoning. The CMP is guided by the following standard: All students should be able to reason and communicate proficiently in mathematics. They should have knowledge of and skill in the use of the vocabulary, forms of representation, materials, tools, techniques, and intellectual methods of the discipline of mathematics, including the ability to define and solve problems with reason, insight, inventiveness, and technical proficiency. LANGUAGE ARTS- Language is a dynamic and rich gift from God intended to be cultivated, celebrated, and applied in order to glorify God. Students in middle school language arts are taught to interpret and discern literature from a uniquely Christian point of view. Biblical principles are encouraged in reading, writing, listening (class read -aloud and in other student presentations), and speaking (presentation of projects, poetry, and classroom discussion). Grade 6- Writing/Grammar (Easy Grammar – Grade 6); Step Up to Writing Students continue to build a framework of writing skills through studying the parts of speech, multiple purposes of writing, and multiple genres of writing. They continue to build on their prior knowledge of paragraph structure by expanding their paragraphs to include facts from literature and more analysis. Students also become proficient in the writing process: brainstorming, prewriting, writing a first draft, editing, revising, and publishing. Reading – Novel Units, Supplementary Materials Students are exposed to a variety of short stories, poems, plays, novels, and activities in order to develop various skills such as comprehension, vocabulary development, summarization, and critical thinking. Students also practice recognizing and using literary terms. The curriculum includes the Accelerated Reading Program and multiple projects. Grade 7- Reading- Language of Literature. (McDougal Littell), Novel Units, Supplementary Materials Students build on previous experience by adding comparison and contrast skills. They also learn about new genres of literature including works of nonfiction, folk literature, science fiction, fantasy, and novel. The novel unit includes an in-depth study of one or more novels. Writing/Grammar-Easy Grammar; Step Up to Writing Seventh grade writing emphasizes using textual evidence to support an argument. They continue to improve their sentence structure by focusing on developing their individual voice as a writer and writing for a variety of different audiences. Students write in a variety of formats and focus on how the visual arts can add to their written message. Seventh graders also improve their grammatical skills by increasing their knowledge of paragraph and sentence structure, punctuation, and diagramming. Grade 8- Literature-Language of Literature. (McDougal Littell); Novel Units Students will continue to develop their skills in reading by doing units in non-fiction, short stories, drama, poetry, and novel. Units focus on teaching students to create quality analysis, while discussing how to be Christian readers and writers in the midst of a non-Christian world. Students read and write in a variety of genres. Writing/Grammar- Sentence Diagramming; Strunk and White’s Elements of Style Eighth grade grammar teaches student to diagram sentences. This ensures students have a complex understanding of the parts of speech. We then study Strunk and White’s Elements of Style, which focuses on proper mechanics and stylistic writing choices. Students analyze past and present writing samples, and seek to hone their writing skills. Students improve their research skills and, combined with literature, use them to analyze the world around them. HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY/SOCIAL STUDIES- Middle school Social Studies expands a student’s world to include not only the present time, but also major themes and events throughout national and world history. It expands students’ viewpoints to include not only our city and nation, but the cities and nations of the world. Students see how the world is broken by sin but also how it is being restored by God as His Kingdom expands. Students are challenged to see themselves as participants in world history--people whom God is using for His glory. Grade 6- Journey Across Time: The Early Ages. (Glencoe) Sixth graders begin the year learning about the earliest civilizations. We study the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations and the impact of these civilizations on the ancient world. Unit two begins with the ancient Greeks and proceeds to the Hellenic Period after Alexander the Great, where we discuss the huge impact Hellenism had on the rest of the world. We also study Early India and Early China, continuing to look at their roles in shaping the world and culture. The rise of the Roman civilization provides us with the opportunity to do a formal debate, while the fall of the empire becomes the topic of a PBL (Project Based Learning) project. In our final unit, the rise of Islam, and throughout the year, we compare the religions of other people to what we believe as Christians today. The 6th grade history material is taught through various group and individual projects, discussions, writing essays, role-playing and acting out historical mini-plays.