Middle School Curriculum

SIXTH GRADE


Religion

Faith and Life Grade 6 – Following Christ

Resources: Faith and Life Series

Language Arts

Grammar

  • Parts of Speech
  • Sentence Types & Parts
  • Punctuation

Daily Oral Language

Vocabulary

  • Definitions
  • Synonyms
  • Sentence Use

Short Stories

  • Plot
  • Theme
  • Character
  • Setting
  • Genre
  • Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

Literature:

  • The Cay
  • Tuck Everlasting
  • A Wrinkle in Time

Writing

  • Paragraph & Essay Formats
  • Animal Essays (Basic Essay Writing Unit)

Research

  • Paper
  • Outlining
  • Bibliography
  • Parenthetical citations
  • Speeches

Creative writing

Google Slides Book Report

Resources: Literature, Copper Level, Prentice Hall

Math

  • Problem of the Day
  • Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division of Whole Numbers and Decimals
  • Graphing & Statistics
  • Division of Decimals
  • Measurement & Geometry
  • Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division of Fractions
  • Integers
  • Percents
  • Ratio
  • Proportion & Probability
  • Introduction to Geometry, Area & Volume
  • Story Problems

Resources: Progress in Mathematics – Sadlier-Oxford; Review State Standards

Science

  • Scientific Method
  • Classifying Organisms
  • Cell Structure and Function
  • Cell Cycle and Division
  • Mitosis and Meiosis
  • Genetics (inheritance, DNA)
  • Human Body Systems
    • Skeletal, Muscular, Skin, Digestive, Excretory, Respiratory, Circulatory, Lymphatic, Immune, Nervous, Endocrine)
  • Biomes & Ecosystems
  • OMSI Camp
  • Science Fair

Resources: Life Science

Social Studies

Topics

  • Finding Information in the Textbook and Atlas
  • Latitude and Longitude
  • Time Zones
  • Elements of a Map
  • How Geographers View the World
  • Physical Geography – Planet Earth
  • Human Geography – Culture, The World’s Economies
  • The United States East and West of the Mississippi
  • Canada
  • Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands
  • South America
  • Brazil
  • Western, Northern and Southern Europe
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Oceania
  • Antarctica
  • Australia and New Zealand

Activities

  • Google Earth Scavenger Hunts
  • Daily Geography
  • Country Reports including: itinerary and travel treasures (has a written and oral component)
  • Passport Program

Resources: Discovering World Geography – McGraw Hill

Physical Education

Units

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Floor Hockey
  • Netgames

Various games

  • Tag
  • Capture the Flag
  • Soccer
  • Ultimate

Resources: Self / Various Collected Resources

Art

Drawing

  • Abstract, realistic, shading, perspective, proportion & themed projects.

Mediums

  • Pencil, colored pencils, markers, charcoal, pastels.

Health

  • 8 dimensions of Health
  • Physical Health
  • Emotions
  • Social Health
  • Core Values
  • Goals
  • Disease prevention

Resources: Decisions for Health: Level Red, Holt; Project School Wellness

 

SEVENTH GRADE


Religion

Faith and Life Grade 7 – Life of Grace

Resources: Faith and Life Series

Language Arts

Grammar

  • Punctuation
  • Parts of Speech
  • Sentence Types & Parts

Short Stories

Vocabulary

  • Definitions
  • Synonyms
  • Sentences

Daily Oral Language

Literature

  • Number the Stars
  • The Diary of Anne Frank
  • The Giver
  • The Outsiders

Writing

  • Research Paper
  • Paper
  • Outlining
  • Bibliography
  • Parenthetical Citations
  • Speeches

Creative writing

Google Slides Book Report

Resources: Literature, Middle School Level, Heath

 

Math

  • Problem of the Day
  • Variables
  • Expressions
  • Order of Operations
  • Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
  • Evaluating Formulas
  • Data Collection and Analysis
  • Integers (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing)
  • Decimals and Place Value (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing)
  • Powers and Exponents
  • Prime Factorization
  • Functions
  • Fractions and Equivalent Fractions
  • Improper and Mixed Numbers (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing)
  • Rational Numbers
  • Scientific Notation
  • Distributive Property
  • Inequalities (solving, combining)
  • Polynomials
  • One Geometry Unit
  • One Percentages Unit

Resources: Pre-Algebra: A Transition to Algebra

Science

  • Earth’s Structure
  • Minerals
  • Rocks (Rock Cycle, Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic)
  • Weather and Erosion
  • Deposition
  • Plate Tectonics (Continental Drift, Landforms, Mountains, Plate Boundaries)
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Geologic Time
  • Earth’s Atmosphere (Current, Quality, Structure, Composition)
  • Weather, Climate
  • Earth’s Water, Oceans
  • Fossils at OMSI Camp
  • Science Fair

Resources: Earth & Space Science

Social Studies

Topics

  • Researching History
  • Studying Geography, Economics and Citizenship
  • Early Humans and the Agricultural Revolution
  • Mesopotamia
  • Ancient Egypt and Kush
  • Greek Civilization
  • India
  • China
  • Rome – Republic to Empire, Roman Civilization
  • The Rise to Christianity
  • The Americas
  • Medieval Europe
  • Renaissance and Reformation
  • Age of Exploration and Trade
  • Political and Industrial Revolutions
  • Imperialism and World War I
  • World War II and the Cold War

Activities

  • Egyptian Hieroglyphics
  • Ancient Civilization: GRAPES
  • Interactive Field Trips
  • Country Reports (Includes: Itinerary, & Travel Treasures. Has oral and written component.)
  • Passport Program
  • Daily Geography

Resources: Discovering our Past A History of the World – McGraw Hill

Physical Education

Units

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Floor Hockey
  • Netgames

Various games

  • Tag
  • Capture the Flag
  • Soccer
  • Ultimate

 

Art

Painting & Printmaking

  • Abstract, realistic, color mixing, landscape, pointillism, themed projects

Mediums

  • Tempra, acrylic, watercolor, printing inks

 

Health

  • Managing Stress
  • Encouraging Healthy Relationships
  • Conflict and Violence
  • Teens and Tobacco
  • Teens and Alcohol
  • Teens and Drugs
  • Emotional Health
  • 8 Dimensions of Health and how they are all connected

Resources: Decisions for Health, Level Red, Holt

 

EIGHTH GRADE


Religion

Faith and Life Grade 8 – Our Life in The Church

Resources: Faith and Life Series

Language Arts

Grammar

  • Parts of Speech
  • Sentence Types & Parts
  • Punctuation

Poetry

Short Stories

Vocabulary

  • Definitions
  • Synonyms
  • Sentences

Daily Oral Language

Literature

  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  • Witch of Blackbird Pond
  • To Kill a Mockingbird

Writing

  • Compare/Contrast Paper
  • Poems
  • Colonial Paper
  • Creative Writing

Google Slides Book Report

Resources: Elements of Literature, Hold, Rinehart & Winston

Math – Pre-Algebra

Topics

  • Equations and Inequalities
  • Graphs of Equations and Inequalities
  • Ratios
  • Proportions
  • Percents
  • Equations in Geometry
  • Area
  • Volume
  • Probability
  • Statistics
  • Data Representation
  • Square Roots
  • Special Triangles
  • Pythagorean Theorem

Activities

  • Problem of the Day

Resources: Pre-Algebra, Addison, Wesley

Math – Algebra

Topics

  • Expressions
  • Equations
  • Functions
  • Linear Equations, Functions, & Inequalities
  • System of Linear Equations and Inequalities
  • Exponential Functions & Sequences
  • Polynomials
  • Factoring and Quadratic Equations
  • Quadratic and Exponential Functions
  • Radical Functions
  • Statistics and Probability

Activities

  • Problem of the Day

Resources: Algebra I, Big Ideas Math

Science

  • Motion
  • Speed
  • Velocity
  • Acceleration
  • Laws of Motion (Gravity, Friction, Newton’s Three Laws)
  • Work
  • Power
  • Simple Machines
  • Pressure
  • Classifying Matter
  • Physical and Chemical Properties
  • States of Matter, Atom (Discovery, Protons, Neutrons, Electrons)
  • The Periodic Table (History, Arrangement, Metals, Nonmetals, Metalloids)
  • Elements
  • Chemical Bonds
  • Waves
  • Sound
  • Light
  • OMSI Camp

Resources: Physical Science

Social Studies

Topics

  • Elements of a Map
  • The first Americans
  • Exploring the Americas, Colonial America
  • Declaration of Independence
  • The American Revolution
  • The Constitution
  • The Federalist Era
  • The Jefferson Era
  • The Jackson Era
  • Manifest Destiny
  • North and South
  • Civil War
  • The Reconstruction Era

Activities

  • Daily Geography
  • Passport Program
  • Report (Global or Local topics)
  • Simulations for each chapter
  • Country Report (Includes: Itinerary, and travel treasures. Has oral and written component.)

Resources: Discovering our Past A History of the United States, McGraw Hill

Physical Education

Units

  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Floor Hockey
  • Net games

Various games

  • Tag
  • Capture the Flag
  • Soccer
  • Ultimate

Resources: Self / Various Collected Resources

Art

Collage & 3-D

  • Collage, sculpture

Mediums

  • Paper, clay, Styrofoam, wire, cardboard

Health

Topics

  • Making Healthy Decisions
  • Stress Management
  • Managing Mental and Emotional Health
  • Physical Fitness
  • Eating Responsibly
  • Building Responsible Relationships
  • Conflict Management
  • Preventing Abuse and Violence
  • Medicine, Tobacco and Illegal Drugs
  • Infectious Disease
  • Safety
  • Being a Healthcare Consumer
  • Health and the Environment
  • Emotional Health
  • 8 Dimensions of Health and how they are all connected

Activities

  • Group led topics
  • Skits
  • Posters

Resources: Decisions for Health: Level Blue, Holt