2012-13course curriculum guidemiddle school

revised as of 2.15.12

Watercolor by senior Mark Igbinadolor.

Middle SchoolThe middle school offers young adolescents an academically challenging, developmentally appropriate curriculum in a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered environment.

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grade 6 • Bible • ClassicalEnglishGrammarI • Exploratory:ComputerApplicationsI,French,LatinandSpanish • LanguageArts • Math*(Math6orAdvancedMath6) • PhysicalEducation • Science • SocialStudies • StudySkills • FineArtsElective

grade 7 • Bible • Exploratory:ClassicalEnglishGrammarII,CommunicationArts, ComputerApplicationsII,Health • ForeignLanguage(French7,Latin7orSpanish7) • LanguageArts • LifeScience • Math*(Math7,Pre-AlgebraorAlgebra) • PhysicalEducation • SocialStudies • Elective

grade 8 • Bible • Exploratory:ClassicalEnglishGrammarIII,Health,Internet/Media Literacy,Leadership • EarthScience • ForeignLanguage(French8,Latin8orSpanish8) • LanguageArts • Math*(Pre-Algebra,AlgebraIorGeometry) • PhysicalEducation • SocialStudies • Elective

*Mathematicsplacementisbasedonacompositescorethattakesintoaccountmathaptitudeaswellasdemonstratedabilityandmathinterest.Thefollowingcomponentsareconsidered:ERBQuantitativeAbilityScore;ERBMathScore;MathAssessmentTest;Pre-requisitemathematicsexperience;currentacademicperformance.

2012-13middleschoolcourserequirementsbygrade

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BIBLETheclassisaoneyearstudyoftheentireBible.ItstextbookRoute 66fitstogetherthepiecesofthestoryoftheBible.ItprovidessixthgradersanaerialviewofGod’swordandworkinordertopreparethemtounderstandscriptureandscripturalprinciplesasawhole.Eachofthe66booksisintroducedbytheircontext,especiallyinrelationshiptotheotherbooksintheBible.ThisstudywillhelpstudentsexaminetheirlifeandgrowthinunderstandingChrist.

CLASSICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR IGodHimselfcreatedlanguage.TheBibletellsusthatHespokeallthingsintoexistence,givingmanthegiftoflanguage.AsasupporttotheLanguageArtscurriculum,ClassicalEnglishGrammarhelpsstudentsunderstandbasicgrammaticalrulesandstructures,andthesignificanceofapplication in ourdaily communication. Studyinggrammarenables us to chooseourownwordswisely, toenjoyandappreciategreatliterature,tounderstandthethoughtsofothers,togiveclearandcorrectexpressiontoownthoughts,andtotrainourmindstothinkinanorderlyfashion.

EXPLORATORYExploratoryisayear-longcoursebrokenintofourquarterlysessionsfocusingonComputerApplicationsI,French,LatinandSpanish.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS I StudentswillreceiveintensivekeyboardtrainingandthefundamentalsofwordprocessingwillbetaughtusingMicrosoftWord. StudentswillalsolearntousetheInspirationsoftwareprogramtocompletegraphicorganizers.Computerprojectswill integratethecurriculuminsixthgradecoreclassesgivingstudentstheskillstoenhancetheiracademicwork.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE ForeignLanguageintroducesstudentstotheuniquequalitiesofthreeforeignlanguages:French,LatinandSpanish.Inaddition tovocabularyandbasicoralskills,studentswillexperiencetheculturalandtraditionalaspectsofeachlanguage.

LANGUAGE ARTSLanguageArtsemphasizesskillsessentialtocriticalthinking,appreciationofliterature,andeffectivecommunication.Studentsexploreliterarygenreswhileadvancingtheirskillsingrammar,vocabulary,readingcomprehensionandwrittenexpression.StudentscultivateasenseoftheinterdisciplinarynatureofknowledgethroughBiblicalintegration,thereadingofauthenticliteratureandtheanalyzationoflife’sessentialquestions.Studentsingrade6continuetodevelopskillsfordescriptive,narrative,andpersuasivewriting,andbegintolearn strategies to write literary essays and memoirs.

MATHMath6focusesonfourcriticalareas: nconnectingratioandratetowholenumbermultiplicationanddivision,andusingconceptsofratioandratetosolveproblems; nmasteringanunderstandingofdivisionoffractionsandextendingthenotionofnumbertothesystemofrationalnumbers, includingnegativenumbers; nwriting,interpreting,andusingexpressionsandequations; ndevelopinganunderstandingofstatisticalthinking.

Math 6alsobuildsonreasoningaboutrelationshipsamongshapestodeterminearea,surfacearea,andvolume. Areasofrighttriangles,othertriangles,andspecialquadrilateralsarefoundthroughdecomposition,rearrangement,and relatingshapestorectangles.Areasofpolygonsandsurfaceareasofprismsandpyramidsarealsofound.Scaledrawings andgeometricconstructionsinthecoordinateplanecompletethecourse.Creativeproblemsolvingandlogicalreasoningare emphasized.Throughthecourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

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sixth grade

Advanced Math 6 centersinstructiononfourcriticalareas: ndevelopingunderstandingofandapplicationofproportionalrelationships; ndevelopingunderstandingofoperationswithrationalnumbersandworkingwithexpressionsandlinearequations; nsolvingproblemsinvolvingscaledrawingsandinformalgeometricconstructions,workingwithtwo-andthree-dimensional shapestosolveproblemsinvolvinganglemeasure,area,surfaceareaandvolume,andfindingthecircumferenceandareaof acircle; ndrawinginferencesaboutpopulationsbasedonrandomsampling,andinvestigatingchanceprocessesandprobability models.

AdvancedMathstudentsparticipateintheMathematicsOlympiadandMathOlympics,featuringcreativeproblemsolvingand logicalreasoning.Throughoutthecourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

PHYSICAL EDUCATIONPhysicalEducationdevelopsstudents’awarenessof lifetimefitness.Theylearntoappreciatefitnessthroughavarietyofrecreationalactivities,includingteamsports.Focusareaswillteachrulesandskillsaswellasgivingstudentstheopportunitiestoplay.Anemphasiswillbeplacedonimprovingpersonalfitnessthroughcardiovascularexercise,flexibility,andstrengthtraining.Traditionalgamesandsportswillbeusedasameansfordevelopingstudentenjoymentofphysicalactivity.ThePresidentialPhysicalFitnessTestwillbeadministeredduringtheyear.Thiscoursewillteachthevalueofhardwork,fairplayandsportsmanship.

SCIENCEGrade6Scienceisageneralsciencecoursethatintroducesscientificinquiry,metricmeasurementandtechnologydesignskills.Studentswilllearnabouttheearth’secosystemsanditsnaturalresources,aswellastheproductionofenergyandtheresultingenvironmentalimpact.Physicalsciencetopicsincludemolecules,atoms,electricity,force,andmotion.Criticalthinkingandhandsonactivitiesenhancethecontentoflearning.Biblically-centeredinstructionrecognizesGodasthecreatorofallthings.

SOCIAL STUDIESSocialStudiesreviewsmapandatlasskillsasitexaminestheancientcivilizationsofMesopotamia,Babylon,Egypt,Greece,Rome,IndiaandChina.Studentsvisitandexploreancientsitesandmuseumsthroughthetechnologyofwebpages.BiblicalintegrationemphasizeshistoryasGod’sstory.InstructionisenhancedasstudentsparticipateinactivitiessuchasKids’Voting,theNationalGeographyBee,andMiddleAgesDay.

STUDY SKILLSGrade6StudySkillsisaclassdesignedtohelpstudentsingradesixwithorganization,byprovidingtechniquesforstudentsonhowtobeststudyfordifferentsubjectsaswellashowtotakedifferenttypesoftests.Thecourseallowsforstudentstoputintopracticethesetechniques,whichextendintoperiodsoftimewherestudentsareexpectedtoworkonhomework,reading,reportsandprojectsduringclass.

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sixth grade

BIBLEBibleprovidesstudentswithanoverviewoftheOldTestamentwithanemphasisonkeypeopleandevents,thehistoricalandculturalbackground,themesandliterarygenres.StudentsarechallengedtoconsiderhowGod’sstoryintersectswiththeirown.

EXPLORATORYExploratory is a year-long course broken into four quarterly sessions focusing onClassical EnglishGrammar II, CommunicationArts,ComputerApplicationsIIandHealth.

CLASSICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR II ClassicalEnglishGrammarIIisacontinuationofClassicalEnglishGrammarI.AsasupporttotheLanguageArtscurriculum, ClassicalEnglishGrammarhelpsstudentsunderstandbasicgrammaticalrulesandstructures,andthesignificanceof applicationinourdailycommunication.Thissecondlevelcoursehasthegoalforstudentstolearnbasicgrammaticalstructures indifferentcontexts,therebyinternalizingthestructuresandusingthemautomatically.Studyinggrammarenablesustochoose ourownwordswisely,toenjoyandappreciategreatliterature,tounderstandthethoughtsofothers,togiveclearandcorrect expressiontoownthoughts,andtotrainourmindstothinkinanorderlyfashion.

COMMUNICATION ARTS Studentsexploremanyaspectsofthecommunicationartssuchassilentcommunication,storytelling,effectivecommunication skills,marketing,buildingrapportandsellingaproductorservice.Studentswillbecomebettercommunicatorsthroughgaining confidenceandskills.StudentsalsoprepareiMoviepresentations.

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS II ComputerApplicationsIIdevelopsstudents’abilitiesinwordprocessing,spreadsheettechniques,databaseandmultimedia softwareapplications.StudentswilllearnmorecomplexwordprocessingskillsandtheMicrosoftOfficecomponentsExcel/ Databasetocreatespreadsheetsandcalculatedatagraphically.StudentswilluseMicrosoftPowerPointandPublisheras multimedia tools to create, view and print class presentations.

HEALTH Grade7Healthiscomprehensivecourseincludingspiritualhealth,physicalhealth,mental-emotionalhealthandfamily-social health.Mental-emotionalhealthtopicswillincludethedevelopmentofcharacter,mentalstrength,stress,lossandgrief. Family-socialhealthtopicsincludehealthyfamilyrelationships,familychanges,anddevelopinghealthyfriendships.Students willalsospendtimediscussingconflictresolution,relationships,self-imageandeffectivecommunication.Additionalemphasis willbeplaceduponself-responsibility,positivesocialinteraction,andgroupdynamics.Thecoursewillalsoprovidean introductiontonutrition,stressmanagement,andhealthylifechoicesthroughclassroomlectureanddiscussion.Alllessonsand topicswillbeintegratedwithbiblicaltruthasthekeytospiritualandoverallhealth.

FOREIGN LANGUAGEForeignLanguageallowsstudentstochooseoneyear-longintroductoryclassinFrench,LatinorSpanish.

French 7focusesondevelopmentoflisteningtoandspeakingthelanguageandbeginsintegrationofreadingandwriting. Studentsusebasiclanguagetocommunicatewiththeirpeersandteacheraboutfamiliartopics.Grammarstructuresand biblicalprinciplesareinterwovenwithculturalinformation,languagelearningtipsandrealia.Astheyunderstandcontextual directions,commands,keywordsandphrases,studentsareabletomakeinferencesfromthematerialstheyhearorread.

Latin 7focusesonthebasicgrammar,vocabularyandstructureofLatin.EmphasisisplacedonLatinandGreekderivativesas apartofbuildingvocabularyandenhancingastudent’slanguageartsstrength.

Spanish 7 focusesondevelopmentoflisteningtoandspeakingthelanguageandbeginsintegrationofreadingandwriting. Studentsusebasiclanguagetocommunicatewiththeirpeersandteacheraboutfamiliartopics.Astheyunderstandcontextual directions,commands,keywordsandphrases,studentsareabletomakeinferencesfromthematerialstheyhearorread.

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seventh grade

LANGUAGE ARTSLanguageArtsemphasizescriticalthinking,appreciationof literature,andeffectivecommunicationthroughintegratedcurricularunits.Studentsexploreliterarygenreswhileadvancingskillsingrammar,vocabulary,readingcomprehension,andwrittenexpression.Studentscultivateasenseof the interdisciplinarynatureofknowledgethroughBiblical integration, thereadingofauthentic literatureandtheanalyzationoflife’sessentialquestions.Studentsingrade7continuetomasterskillsinwritingpersuasiveessaysandmemoirs,poetry,whilethereisaheightenedemphasisonliteraryandexpositoryessays.

LIFE SCIENCEGrade7LifeScienceistheoverallstudyoflivingorganismsfromthecelltothehumanbody.Thestudyofcellsleadstounitsonthecharacteristicsoflife,classificationoflivingthings,bacteria,protists,fungi,plantsandanimals.Inadditiontoidentifying,observingandcollecting organisms, students perform dissections to study the structure and function of certain animals and organ systems. The course concludeswithastudyofhumanbiologyandgenetics.Criticalthinkingandhandsonactivitiesenhancethecontentoflearning.Biblically-centeredinstructionrecognizesGodastheCreatorofalllivingthings.

MATH Math 7studentsdemonstratetheuseofintegeroperations,rates,ratios,percentapplicationsandexponents.Studentssolve equations,inequalitiesandgraphinthecoordinateplane.Studentsstudycongruentandsimilarfigures,andtransformations. Theyuseformulastofindareaofirregularfiguresandfindsurfaceareaandvolumeofprismsandcylinders.Theylearn specificstrategiesforproblemsolvingandpracticeandapplythesestrategiestoavarietyofproblems.Throughthiscourse, wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

Pre-Algebrastudentsdemonstratetheuseofintegeroperations,proportions,percents,exponents,scientificnotation,radicals andrationalnumbers.Studentssolveequationsandinequalities.Theyusedimensionalanalysistoconvertunitswithcustomary andmetricsystems.Studentsuseformulastofindsurfaceareaandvolumeofprisms,pyramids,conesandspheres.Congruent andsimilarfiguresarestudiedandtransformationsoccurinthecoordinateplane.Theyusetreediagramsandorganizedlists todevelopprobabilityforcompoundevents.StudentsparticipateinMathCountscompetitionsfeaturingcreativeproblem solvingandlogicalreasoning.Throughthiscourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatorderthe universe.

Algebra Istudentsreviewpre-algebraconceptsandareintroducedtopropertiesofalgebratopreparestudentsforskills suchassimplifyingalgebraicexpressions;solvinglinear,quadratic,rational,andradicalequations;graphinglinearequations; solvinginequalities;solvingsystemsoflinearequations;factoringquadraticandpolynomialexpressions;andworkingwith relationsandfunctions.StudentsparticipateinMathCountscompetitionsfeaturingcreativeproblemsolvingandlogical reasoning.Throughthiscourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

PHYSICAL EDUCATIONPhysical Education provides students with the opportunity to learn through a developmentally appropriate comprehensive physicaleducationprogram.Studentswillbeassessedandchallengedtoimproveupontheirpersonalfitnessprofileinareasofaerobicfitness,flexibility, and muscular strength. Additional emphasis will be placed upon self-responsibility, positive social interaction, and groupdynamics.Traditionalsportsandgameswillplayaroleinfitnessimprovementandsocialinteraction,aswellasanenjoyableaerobicexerciseoption.

SOCIAL STUDIESSocialStudiesbeginswithareviewofthefivethemesofgeography,thephysicalgeographyoftheearth,andtheinfluencesoflocale,climateandpopulations.RegionsstudiedincludeNorthandSouthAmerica,Europe,RussiaandtheEurasianRepublics,theMiddleEast,SouthAsia,Africa, EastAsia, SoutheastAsia,Australia,Oceania,andAntarctica. Students learnabout theworld through textbooks,discussionsofcurrentevents,hands-onactivities,individualandgroupreports,guestspeakersandvideos.Thecourseemphasizesmapping,graphing,criticalthinking,studyingandwriting.Studentsarepreparedforparticipationintheschool’sgeographybee.

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seventh grade

BIBLEGradeeightBible isdesigned togive the studentsand in-depthviewof the life, teachings,andministryof JesusChristasuniquelypresentedthroughtheeyesoftheApostleJohn.Duringthiscourse,studentswillbeexposedtoeachphaseofJesus’lifeonearthaswellasHispre-existenceinTrinitywithGodtheFatherandtheHolySpirit.ThemainemphasiswillbeonHispublicministry,trial,death,burial,andresurrection.Bycompletingthiscourse,studentswillhaveathoroughunderstandingofthe“GoodNews”oftheGospelsandalsowillpossesstheabilitytobeabletoexpressthat“GoodNews”toalostanddyingworld.

EARTH SCIENCEGrade 8 Earth Science investigatesGod’s marvelous creation from the heavens to the earth. This class focuses on the compositionoftheearthandthefunctionsof itssystems.Majortopics includethenatureofscienceandinquiry, thesolarsystem,andtheearth’satmosphere,oceansandlandforms.Emphasis isonteachingscientificinquiryinordertofacilitatestudents’transitionfromconcretetoabstractreasoning.

EXPLORATORYExploratoryisayear-longcoursebrokenintofourquarterlysessionsfocusingonClassicalEnglishGrammarIII,Health,Internet/MediaLiteracyandLeadership.

CLASSICAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR III ClassicalEnglishGrammarIIIisacontinuationofClassicalEnglishGrammarII.AsasupporttotheLanguageArtscurriculum, ClassicalEnglishGrammarhelpsstudentsunderstandbasicgrammaticalrulesandstructures,andthesignificanceofapplication inourdailycommunication.Thisthirdlevelcoursefocusesonaccuracy,fluency,andmeaningfuluseofstructuresincontext. Practiceincludesbothoralandwrittenwork,andisdesignedtoreinforceandperfectstudents’grammarusage.Studying grammarenablesustochooseourownwordswisely,toenjoyandappreciategreatliterature,tounderstandthethoughtsof others,togiveclearandcorrectexpressiontoownthoughts,andtotrainourmindstothinkinanorderlyfashion.

HEALTH Grade8Healthisacomprehensivecourseincludingspiritualhealth,physicalhealth,mental-emotionalhealthandfamily-social health.Physicalhealthtopicswillincludehumanbodysystems,nutrition,physicalactivity,andhealthychoices.Bodysystems willincludeareviewofallthemajorhumanbodysystemsandwaystokeepthosesystemshealthy.Wewillalsocoverthe humanreproductivesystemsandpracticingabstinencefromsex.Healthychoiceswillincludetheavoidanceofalcohol,tobacco andotherdrugs.Additionalemphasiswillbeplaceduponself-responsibility,positivesocialinteraction,andgroupdynamics. Alllessonsandtopicswillbeintegratedwithbiblicaltruthasthekeytospiritualandoverallhealth.

INTERNET/MEDIA LITERACY UsingdigitalmediaandtheInternet,studentswilllearntheirapplicationstoenrichtheiracademicstudies.Internettopicswill includeeffectivesearchtechniques,propersourcecitations,andonlinesecurity.Studentswillstudymassmedia,comparing newsstories,advertisingandmarketresearchtechniquesaswellashowtoutilizeallformsofdigitaltechnology.

LEADERSHIP Throughavarietyofreadingmaterials,biblicalexamples,discussions,andgroupexercises,studentswilllearnthemultifaceted viewsofleadership.Studentswilllearnvariousleadershipstylesaswellasthecharacteristicsembodiedbyeffectiveleaders. Bytheendofthiscourse,studentswillbeabletoclearlyarticulatetheirdefinitionofleadership,waystheycanserveas leaders,aswellasgainastrongerunderstandingoftheirspiritualgifts.Studentswillberequiredtogiveoralpresentations, writtenexpositions,aswellasleadandbeledingroupdiscussion.

FOREIGN LANGUAGEForeignLanguageallowsstudentstochooseaclassinFrench,LatinorSpanish.

French 8buildsonthelessonsofFrench7.Fromconsistentreinforcementoforalskillsandperformanceofthemostbasic functionsofthelanguage,studentsprogresstodevelopbasicreadingandwritingskills.Theyincreasetheirknowledgeofthe Frenchculture,products,perspectives,andpractices,andexpandtheirabilitytocommunicatewithteachersandpeers. RecitationofscriptureinFrenchisthematicallyrelated.

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eighth grade

eighth grade

Latin 8buildsonthelessonsofLatin7.ThiscourseintroducesstudentstothelanguageofancientRomewithanemphasison Romanculture,vocabulary,etymologyandbasicLatingrammar.Studentslearnhowtodeclinenounsandconjugateverbs,as wellastranslatesimpleLatinsentences.

Spanish 8buildsonthelessonsofSpanish7.Fromconsistentreinforcementoforalskillsandperformanceofthemostbasic functionsofthelanguage,studentsprogresstodevelopbasicreadingandwritingskills.Theyincreasetheirknowledgeofthe Spanishculture,products,perspectives,andpractices,andexpandtheirabilitytocommunicatewithteachersandpeers. MemorizationofscriptureinSpanishisthematicallyrelated. LANGUAGE ARTSLanguageArtsemphasizesintegrationofgrammaticalprinciples,vocabularyandliteraryanalysisinthewritingprocess.Thestudyofliteratureexpandsskillsofreadingcomprehension,andenhancestheunderstandingofliteraryelementsandcomplexreasoning.Studentscultivateasenseofthe interdisciplinarynatureofknowledgethroughbiblical integration, thereadingofauthentic literatureandtheanalyzationoflife’sessentialquestions.Studentsingrade8continuetodevelopskillsinliterary,expository,andpersuasiveessays.

MATH Pre-Algebra studentsdemonstratetheuseofintegeroperations,proportions,percents,exponents,scientificnotation,radicals andrationalnumbers.Studentssolveequationsandinequalities.Theyusedimensionalanalysistoconvertunitswithcustomary andmetricsystems.Studentsuseformulastofindsurfaceareaandvolumeofprisms,pyramids,conesandspheres.Congruent andsimilarfiguresarestudiedandtransformationsoccurinthecoordinateplane.Theyusetreediagramsandorganizedlists todevelopprobabilityforcompoundevents.StudentsparticipateinMathCountsandMathOlympicscompetitionsfeaturing creativeproblemsolvingandlogicalreasoning.Throughthiscourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciples that order the universe.

Algebra Istudentsreviewpre-algebraconceptsandareintroducedtopropertiesofalgebratopreparestudentsforskills suchassimplifyingalgebraicexpressions;solvinglinear,quadratic,rational,andradicalequations;graphinglinearequations; solvinginequalities;solvingsystemsoflinearequations;factoringquadraticandpolynomialexpressions;andworkingwith relationsandfunctions.StudentsparticipateinMathCountsandMathOlympicscompetitionsfeaturingcreativeproblem solvingandlogicalreasoning.Throughthiscourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatorderthe universe.GeometrystudentsareintroducedtothedeductivereasoningprocessintheclassicalEuclideantradition.Thecourse includesastudyoflines,angles,triangles,circles,polygons,solidfigures,andhowtheyarerelated.Conceptsareanalyzed fromtheperspectiveofcoordinategeometry,proofs,congruence,similarity,area,volumeandtransformations.Students participateintheAmericanMathCompetitionfeaturingcreativeproblemsolvingandlogicalreasoning.Throughthiscourse, wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

GeometrystudentsareintroducedtothedeductivereasoningprocessintheclassicalEuclideantradition.Thecourseincludesa studyoflines,angles,triangles,circles,polygons,solidfigures,andhowtheyarerelated.Conceptsareanalyzedfromthe perspectiveofcoordinategeometry,proofs,congruence,similarity,area,volumeandtransformations.Studentsparticipate intheAmericanMathCompetition,MathCountsandMathOlympicscompetitionsfeaturingcreativeproblemsolvingand logicalreasoning.Throughthiscourse,wedemonstratethecharacterofGodandHisprinciplesthatordertheuniverse.

PHYSICAL EDUCATIONPhysical Education builds on previous physical education courses with a goal of creating lifetime health and fitness habits. Fitnessassessmentswill playa key role indetermining student improvementand success in this course. Regularaerobicexercise, flexibilitytraining,andmuscularstrengthtrainingwillbeintegralpartsofimprovingstudent’spersonalfitnessprofile.Traditionalsportsandgameswillbeapartofprovidingstudentswithenjoyableoptionsforaerobicexercise.

SOCIAL STUDIESSocial Studies teaches American history from the earlyNative American days through present-day current events. The focus is onGod’ssovereigntyineventsandcircumstancesofhistory.UnitsofstudyincludeNativeAmericans,EuropeanExploration,theColonialPeriod,RevolutionaryWar,theConstitution,theIndustrialRevolution,TheCivilWar,WestwardExpansion,Immigration,WWI,theGreatDepression,WWII,theColdWarEraandPromotingGlobalDemocracy.Thiscourseemphasizesreadingcomprehension,note-taking,mapskills,andinterestincurrentevents.

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MEDIA MAGAZINE (languageartsenrichment)Students will create a digital monthlymagazine to share news stories, featurearticles, advice columns and the latest buzz. Students will research schoolhappenings and topics of interest, and write articles in a digital format for the school to publish. Students must becommitted to school publication to gainadmittanceintothiscourse.Inadditiontopublishing a monthly magazine, studentswill create various media productions for admissions, open houses, and other school-wide opportunities. A final assignmentforstudentswillbetocreateandpresentadigitalscrapbookofthemiddleschoolyears at the eighth grade promotion.

Grades7&8•Fallorspringsemestercourse, or full year course

STUDY HALLThis class is for students who are self-motivated and have demonstrated the ability to work independently on theirhomeworkinaquietenvironment.Studentswillbeexpectedtoworkonschoolworkor read independently for the entire class period.

Grades7&8•Fallorspringsemestercourse

APOLOGETICS (Bibleenrichment)Apologetics will providestudents the opportunity to dive deeper into their faith than everbefore.Thegoalistohelpstudents in the middle school understandwhat they believe,whytheybelieve,andhowtheirbeliefscanmakeanimpactonthe culture in the name of Christ. This will be an intense studyrequiringwritingandresearch,buthasthepotentialtobelifechanging for all who sign up!

Grades7&8•Springsemestercourse

CSI(scienceenrichment)CSI is a course that requires students tousehisorherGod-givenabilitiestothinklikea scientist– toaskquestionsand tosearch foranswers. The Forensic Sciencetextbookintroducesstudentstothesciencebehindacriminalinvestigationaswellashands-onlabstopracticetechniquesusedbyprofessionalcrimesceneinvestigators.Students will be taught skills such astrace evidence identification, fingerprintcollection,DNAanalysisandhandwritingrecognition. Members of the class willgain an appreciation and understanding oftheworkrequiredtocollectandsecureevidence for use in a courtroom trial.

Grades7&8•Fallsemestercourse

FANTASY SPORTS(mathenrichment)Studentswillformaleagueandcompetein football. Students will learn aboutthe strategies, mathematical concepts, technology and cultural phenomena that is fantasy sports!

Grades7&8•Fallsemestercourse

FINANCIAL FITNESS (businessenrichment)Financial Fitness utilizes basic economicand math skills to teach fundamentalsof personal finance to the middleschool student. Students will gain anunderstanding of consumer decision-making,careeropportunities,comparison-shoppingandcashmanagement.Studentswill learn about savings and checkingaccounts as well as simple and compound interest. The class will spend time discussing the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards.Wewill discuss thebiblicalperspective of money as exemplifiedthrough scripture and discuss charitablegivingtoobtainawell-roundedChristianperspective regarding money.

Grades7&8•Springsemestercourse

N.C. HISTORY(socialstudiesenrichment)There are many awesome places to visit inourgreatstate.Fromthemountainstothesea,NorthCarolinahasmuchtoofferany traveler. Have you everwonderedwhyNorthCarolinaiscalledtheTarHeelState?Wouldyouliketolearnsomeinfoabout Blackbeard thepirate or explorethemysteriesofTheLostColony?Didyouknow that many battles were fought onN.C. soil during the American Revolutionand TheCivilWar? Take this classandlearn many interesting facts aboutN.C.’s past and present. You will alsobe surprised to learn thatmany famouspeoplewereborn in theTarHeelState.FromthebreathtakingbeacheswiththeirbeautifullighthousestothemajesticGreatSmoky Mountains, North Carolina is agreatstatetoexplore.

Grades7&8•Springsemestercourse

AC

AD

EMIC

S

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middle school

FIN

E/PE

RFO

RM

ING

ART

SLEVEL 1 ARTLevel 1 Art introduces thecreation of art through the use of art media and the basicelements of art. Students gainan appreciation of arts, crafts and artists. This course also emphasizesprinciplesofvisualcomposition and advances understanding of art history, art appreciation, art materials and methods. Several projects areintegrated with other disciplines to illustrate the relationship of art to other studies.

Grade 6 • Fall or spring semestercourse

LEVEL 2 ART Level2Artinvolvesknowledgeandskillsgained in Level1Artwithan increasingvariety of art materials and methods. Emphasis is on developing originalsolutions to visual challenges. Studentsgain understanding of the history, purpose and function of the visual arts related to othersubjectsandtoculture. Grades7&8•Fallorspringsemestercourse

LEVEL 3 ARTLevel 3 Art is an advanced course forstudents who have shown a proficiencyin their knowledge and mastery offundamentalvisualartsconcepts.Studentsmust have department recommendation for placement.

Grade8•Fullyearcourse

CONCERT BANDConcertBandisopentoanysixthgradestudent who plays a woodwind, brassor percussion instrument. To receive chair placement, students audition to demonstrateabasicskill level. Studentsperform at concerts and other events throughout the school year. Please notethat concert attendance is required forstudents enrolled in this course.

Grade6•Fullyearcourse

SYMPHONIC BANDSymphonic Band is open to seventh andeighth grade students. At least twoyears of band instrument experiencearerecommended;oneyearisrequired.Symphonic band performs in schoolconcerts,chapelservices,thedistrictbandfestivalandotherevents.Pleasenotethatconcertandfestivalattendanceisrequiredfor students enrolled in this course.

Grades7&8•Fullyearcourse

GRADE 6 CHOIRGrade6Choirdevelopsvocaltechniqueand musicianship proficiency. Studentsperform music in a variety of styles at concerts and outside events during the school year. Students will also learnto identify good singing, posture and performance habits; learn correctbreathingtechniques,postureandpalatetechniques; train to detect breathinessand vocal straining that are characteristic of the younger student, and obtain thetools necessary to mature the voice and prepare for the changing voice of the adolescent.Pleasenotethatconcertandfestivalattendanceisrequiredforstudentsenrolled in this course.

Grade6•Fullyearcourse

GRADE 7 & 8 CHOIRGrade 7 & 8 Choir develops vocaltechnique and musicianship proficiency.Students perform music in a variety ofstyles at concerts and outside events during the school year. Additionally studentswill learn to identify vocal placement, learn advanced breathing techniques,train vibrato, and obtain the vocal toolsnecessary to increase vocal rangebothhigher and lower to receive appropriate classification (tenor/baritone/alto/soprano). Please note that concert andfestivalattendanceisrequiredforstudentsenrolled in this course.

Grades7&8•Fullyearcourse

PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUESThis course is designed as a laboratoryclasstostrengthenstudents’performanceskillsintheatre.Avarietyofperformanceactivities including pantomime, readers theatre, scene work and improvisationwill be explored as students learnperformanceandauditionskills.Theclasswill also focus on the Stanislavski actingtechnique, the method of acting using asetoftechniquesmeanttocreaterealisticportrayalsofcharacters.ThemajorgoalofStanislavskimethodistohaveperfectunderstanding of the motivations and objectiveofyourcharacterineachmomentwhileplayingdirectactionsinscenework.Students will have the opportunity toperform individually and in groups in a variety of class activities as they develop theiractingskillstothefullest.

Grade6•SpringSemesterCourse

INTRO. TO THEATREIntro to Theatre provides students withtheatre basics both on the stage andbehind the scenes. Open to sixth,seventh and eighth graders, this course provides the opportunity to have hands on experience with fundamentalacting, directing, production skills andgive students a foundation of theatre history. Somememorizationand inclassperformanceisrequired.

Grade6•Fallsemestercourse

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electives

GRADE 6 ORCHESTRAOrchestra is open to students who playviolin, viola, cello, or bass. One yearof experience is recommended, but notrequired.Astudentaccompanist(piano)position is available based on yearlyneed and any student interested in playing piano would need to audition. The orchestra performs grade appropriate music for concerts, chapels, festival/competitions, and special events. Pleasenote that concert and festival attendance is required for students enrolled in thiscourse.

Grades6•Fullyearcourse

GRADE 7 & 8 ORCHESTRAOrchestra is open to students who playviolin, viola, cello, or bass. One yearof experience is recommended, but notrequired.Astudentaccompanist(piano)position is available based on yearlyneed and any student interested in playing piano would need to audition. The orchestra performs grade appropriate music for concerts, chapels, festival/competitions, and special events. Pleasenote that concert and festival attendance is required for students enrolled in thiscourse.

Grades7&8•Fullyearcourse

MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITION ONLY CLASSESThe following classes are offered to middle school students by audition only.The audition dates are published in theFocusweeksprior. Thesecoursesdonotfulfill the elective requirement for eachgrade.

ACT 2ACT 2 provides focused and rigorousacting and stage training for theatre students as they prepare drama pieces for presentation in chapels and at outside events includingcompetitionattheNorthCarolina Theater Conference (NCTC) inthespringandtheWingateShakespeareRecitation Competition. Students servethe school and the community and must commit to the class and team for the entire school year. Please note thatattendance at outside rehearsals, festivals andcompetitions isrequiredforstudentsenrolled in this course.

Grades6,7&8,byauditiononly•Fullyearcourse

JAZZ BANDJazzBandallowsstudentstoexplorethejazzidiom.Theywilllearntoplaymanystyles of jazz, from swing and blues toLatinandrock.Studentswillfocusontheconceptsofrhythm,tonality,andtechniqueas they prepare for concerts and outside performance venues during the year. Improvisation will be encouraged. Thisclasswillmeetasazerohourcoursebeforeschool and performance/rehearsalsoutsideoftheregularschooldaywillberequired. Students must bemembers ingood standing in Concert or SymphonicBandtoparticipateinJazzBand.

Grades6,7&8byauditiononly•Fullyearcourse

middle school electives

PRAISE BANDPraise Band membership is availableby audition to students who sing or tostudentswhoplayacoustic/electricguitar,electricbass,keyboard,anddrums.Thegroup’s purpose is to serve the schoolcommunityby leadingworship inweeklychapelsandforspecialevents.Studentswill develop musical excellence in theirchosendiscipline,expandtheirrepertoireandknowledgeofcontemporaryworshipsongs, and gain an understanding of how to minister with their God-given talent.Students interested in auditioning forguitarandkeyboardneedtobefamiliarwith and have a prior understanding of chords. Instrumentalandvocalauditionswillbeopenbasedon theneed for thefollowing year.

Grades6,7&8byauditiononly•Fullyearcourse

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CharlotteChristianSchoolisaChrist-centered,collegepreparatoryschool,equippinganddevelopingstudentstoeffectivelyintegrateBiblicaltruthand

learning into their daily lives and to impact the culture for Christ.

7301SardisRoad•Charlotte,NC28270•704-366-5657•www.charlottechristian.com