|
|
 |
| Sixth Grade
Required Courses |
|
|
|
LANGUAGE ARTS
Emphasis is placed on mastering
the skills necessary for effective written communication. Using writing
as a process, the student will continually develop creativity purpose,
and fluency through standard English usage. Word Master, a national competition,
will introduce challenging vocabulary in the form of analogies throughout
the year. Students will be exposed to classical poetry and participate
in Poetry Café.
Text: Literature & Language
(McDougal, Littell) The Writers Craft (McDougal, Littell)
READING
Sixth grade reading is interactive
reading in both formal and informal situations using Newberry Award winning
novels, accelerated reader and a basal reading series to teach comprehension
and vocabulary skills, students will become more proficient in reading
skills needed to succeed in other studies. Students will learn necessary
skills for researching, speaking, and presenting information they have
read. A research paper along with involvement in either a Shakespearean
play or Wax Museum will be required of each student. An accelerated reading
class will be provided for advanced students.
Text: I Touched the Sun (Heath
Publishing)
MATH
Students will develop computational
and problem solving skills with respect to whole numbers, decimals, and
fractions. They will also explore areas involving geometry, measurement,
ratio, percentages and story problems. Opportunities for manipulatives
will be provided to allow growth from concrete thinking to abstract thinking.
An accelerated math class will be provided to include algebra and math
competitions.
Text: Math Advantage (Harcourt/Brace)
SCIENCE
This course deals with selected
topics in the areas of plant and animal life, environment, chemical, physical,
and space science. Students will be introduced to laboratory work as well
as study skills and test taking skills. Science projects will integrate
more than one subject.
Text: Science Plus, Level Green
Technology and Society (Holt, Rhineheart and Winston)
SOCIAL STUDIES
This course is designed to acquaint
students with ancient civilizations through modern times. Students will
be involved in activities that will help them understand the values, priorities,
and accomplishments of the many cultures studied. Students will be encouraged
to develop projects that incorporate social skills and creative thinking.
Map skills will be an integral part of this course study.
Text: World Cultures (Silver,
Burdett)
|
Back to the Top
|
Seventh |
|
|
|
SCIENCE PLUS
Science Plus is a program which
utilizes guided and open-ended investigations, small-group discussions,
exploratory writing and related reading tasks, game, picture and word
puzzles, and independent long-range projects to promote understanding
of:
- The interrelationships that exist between science,
technology and society.
- Important science concepts, processes and ideas.
- Higher-order thinking skills.
- Problem solving and application of scientific principles.
- Environmental protection.
- Independent study of scientific topics.
- Social and communication skills.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The purpose of this course is
to encourage development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
Emphasis will be placed on writing as a way of thinking and communicating.
Grammar, spelling and vocabulary are taught as part of the writing process.
Reading is taught based on the Michigan definition of reading, prior
knowledge, knowledge of reading material and application beyond text to
real life situations. Class novels, reading groups and individual pleasure
reading as well as literature circles are utilized in the classroom. Listening
and speaking skills are addressed through writing workshop and reading
circles.
Text: Literature & Language
(McDougal, Littell) The Writers Craft (McDougal, Littell)
SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY
Seventh grade social studies
concentrates study on the Eastern Hemisphere. They will study countries
of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific. Included in the study
will be geographic terms, land forms, climate, people, and food. Various
materials will be used during the school year.
Text: World Geography, A Global
Perspective (Prentice Hall)
TRANSITIONAL MATH
This course will apply math skills
to problem solving while continuing to emphasize the basic skills of math.
Additional areas that will be taught include patterns, calculator usage,
variables, notation, geometric properties, shapes, and integers. These
additional areas will help prepare students for algebra and geometry.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
This Coed physical education
curriculum provides skill building and knowledge development opportunities
in twelve different activity areas. The program activities emphasize physical
fitness, student responsibility, self-discipline, respect of self and
others, and teamwork.
|
Back to the Top
| Exploratories |
|
|
|
All
of the nine week exploratory courses are designed to allow students to
try new areas of interest. Exploratory courses are divided into sixth
grade, seventh grade and eighth grade levels. Some exploratory courses
are required while others allow the student to pick classes that interest
them. A few classes will require a prerequisite. If a prerequisite is
required, it will be stated in the description for that particular course.
With the exception of the few classes that require a prerequisite, these
exploratory classes are designed for students with little or no previous
experience in the content area of the class. The intent of these classes
is not to teach a student all there is to know about a subject, but instead,
to allow a student to test uncharted water and see if this is an area
that he/she might want to pursue further. Your child should not be frightened
away from selecting a course simply because he/she has no knowledge in
that area. Please encourage your child to explore and stretch.
|
SIXTH GRADE NINE
WEEK REQUIRED EXPLORATORY COURSES
|
|
DESK TOP PUBLISHING
6
This exploratory
class examines the realm of desktop publishing skills on a basic level
from creating a finished manuscript using the word processor, to manipulating
a photo using Adobe Photo Deluxe. This course will prove to be both intellectually
and creatively stimulating for the student.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
6
This course includes
techniques, skills and rules for a number of team and individual sports.
Attitude and team building will be an emphasis in this class.
MUSIC APPRECIATION
6
This course will
be time together spent on studying three specific areas of music. We will
study General Appreciation of Music: Rags to Rap: the progression of popular
music; Basic Theory: the breaking down of music into its simplest form
and writing our own music; and Composer Study: the studying of various
composers. We will also produce a product that shows we understand the
period of a chosen composer and his work using small group work.
INTRO TO TECH
6
This is a nine-week
introductory class to Industrial tech class. Students will learn skills
in reading a ruler as well as applying it by doing required drawings.
They will also learn
how to plan and construct small projects.
Back to Selection
|
|
NINE WEEK EXPLORATORY
COURSES
|
|
ART 6
This course serves
as an introduction to the basic fundamentals in art and includes a wide
variety of experiences in different media.
Art 6 is meant not
only to give the student many hands-on experiences, but also to help him/her
develop an appreciation for the effort and skill that goes into making
quality art forms.
The student is expected
to learn the correct use and care of art materials and to respect and
keep the art room clean. He/she should develop self-confidence and be
able to accept constructive criticism.
BUSINESS ECONOMICS
6
This course will
teach the student to be familiar with the operation of the United States
economy. After completion of this course, the student should be able to
understand the basic principles of economics, be able to compare our economic
system with others, know how our economic system determines what is produced,
understand the important role that the government plays in our economy
and appreciate the effect of
world trade.
COMMUNICATIONS
6
This nine-week course
offers the student a brief look into the world of journalism and news/broadcasting.
Students will learn the components of good news writing as well as learn
simple techniques in video production and how the two work together. Communications
is also a wonderful introduction for those who wish to continue by enrolling
in the News/Broadcasting exploratory, entitled, "Friday Afternoon
Live".
LIFE SKILLS 6
Life Skills is an
introduction to a variety of skills needed to run a home and hold a job
outside a home. Some areas we will cover are, all about you, your rights
and responsibilities as a citizen, finding a job and keeping it, family
relationships including how to care for children, and introduction to
cooking.
SOUNDS OF MUSIC
6
Students will be
introduced to all the contemporary sounds of todays music - including
Latin, jazz, reggae, and even rock and roll. They will also be given the
opportunity to create their own music through the use of the computer.
Back to Selection
|
|
SEVENTH GRADE
NINE WEEK REQUIRED EXPLORATORY COURSES
|
|
INTRODUCTION
TO KEY BOARDING 7
Keyboard familiarization,
basic word processing with emphasis placed on page setup for reports,
business letters, resumes, and other related topics. Typing skills will
include composing, saving, retrieval and correction of a document.
ART 7
This class will
offer various experiences in some of the basic art media such as drawing,
painting, sculpture, printmaker, and lettering.
HOME ECONOMICS
7
Students are expected
to learn how to read recipes, measure portions, clean up a kitchen, prepare
a variety of breakfast foods, prepare nutritious snack foods, sew on buttons,
operate a sewing machine, and construct a simple sewing project without
the use of a pattern. In addition, students will learn about the importance
of breakfast and its nutritional value.
MICHIGAN HEALTH
MODEL
The Michigan Health
Model is comprised of six modules consisting of such topics as: thinking
seriously about health, finding out about health risks, reaching out to
others (family, friends,) watching out for health threats, stress and
looking ahead to high school, future dreams and a healthy future.
Back to Selection
|
|
SEVENTH GRADE
NINE WEEK EXPLORATORY COURSES
|
|
COMMUNICATION
7
This course explores
a variety of "media productions" from newspaper publishing to
simple video productions such as broadcasting and commercials. Professional
editing techniques will be introduced.
SPANISH 7
This exploratory
Spanish course emphasizes elementary conversational skills based on familiar
topics such as school, family, and home. Pronunciation, vocabulary building,
and presentation of simplified grammatical concepts are the areas of concentration.
To enrich the students appreciation of Spanish as a functioning language,
the course includes a study of various Spanish speaking countries.
TECH 7
In this class students
will take their skills learned from 6th grade Intro to Tech class and
expand on them. They will test their skills in drawing, planning, constructing,
and testing projects they build.
BEGINNING COOKING
This class provides
the opportunity for each student to plan family and party meals. Other
areas of exploration will include preparing foods in courses and preparation
and study of food from a foreign land.
DRAFTING 7
(Prerequisite Tool Tech preferred)
This is an introduction
to mechanical drawing. No experience is required, just lots of interest.
Learn to use engineering tools: triangles, T-squares, scales, drawing
pencils, and drawing papers. At the conclusion, the students will require
skills in orthographic projection, pictorial drawing, lettering, dimensioning,
and geometric construction.
ALPHABET AND
CALLIGRAPHY
The art of beautiful
handwriting (calligraphy) will be taught and then utilized in a variety
of art forms. Creating new letter forms free hand will also be emphasized
in various projects and exercises.
Back to Selection
|
|
SEVENTH GRADE
FULL YEAR EXPLORATORY
|
|
SEVENTH GRADE
BAND
Open to all seventh
grade students by audition only. This musical organization will be composed
of only the most skilled performers on their particular instrument. A
variety of musical literature is studied and performed at a high level
of proficiency. Practice at home and participation in all performances
are required including district and state music festivals and solo and
ensemble festival.
Back to Selection
|
|
EIGHTH GRADE NINE
WEEK REQUIRED EXPLORATORY COURSES
|
|
MICHIGAN HEALTH
MODEL
The Michigan Health
Model is comprised of five modules consisting of such topics as:
-
Thinking seriously about health.
-
Finding out about health risks.
-
Reaching out to others (family, friends,)
-
Watching out for me (health threats, stress,)
-
Looking ahead (to high school, future dreams, a health
future)
Explore possible
careers in your future. Consider your values, what is your top priority
in selecting a career? Is it money, prestige or enjoyment of what you
are doing? Can you find a career that covers it all? We will look at different
occupation clusters and do some interesting surveys. Speakers and possible
field trip will round out this class.
SPANISH 8
This exploratory
Spanish course emphasizes elementary conversational skills based on familiar
topics such as school, family, and home. Pronunciation, vocabulary building,
and the presentation of simplified grammatical concepts are the areas
of concentration.
To enrich the student's
appreciation of Spanish as a functioning language, the course includes
a study of various Spanish speaking countries.
INDUSTRIAL TECH.
Industrial Tech.
is a nine-week class designed to help students develop skills needed to
carry out necessary functions for solving problems in the outside work
force. In this class the students will see and be asked how the scientific
method is applied to problem solving. They will work on various projects
using all kinds of materials and resources. It is our hope that when finished
with their class the students will have a better
knowledge and understanding of the problems that will face them in the
future.
Back to Selection
|
|
EIGHTH GRADE FULL
YEAR EXPLORATORY
|
|
EIGHTH GRADE
BAND
Open to all students
who have successfully participated in seventh grade band or by permission
of the instructor. This band will perform middle school literature at
a high level of proficiency. Practice at home and participation in all
performances is required. A variety of musical styles are studied and
student's experience varied instrumental groupings. Students will perform
formal concerts, marching events, and MSBOA events such as district and
state band festivals, honors band festival, and solo/ensemble festivals.
Back to Selection
|
|
EIGHTH GRADE NINE
WEEK EXPLORATORY CLASSES
|
|
DRAWING AND DESIGN
8
This course is designed
to strengthen the concepts and skills learned in the basic art courses
(Art 6,7,8). Two-dimensional projects are of a more complex and lengthy
nature, using a greater variety of media. The student is expected to work
more independently and to fulfill assignments and solve problems creatively.
A serious attitude toward art is desired.
CONSTRUCTIONAL
TOOL TECHNOLOGY
"Drafting"
would be most helpful, but not required to take this class. In this class
the students will be exposed to the job fields of architecture and building
construction. Along with this they will also demonstrate knowledge in
proper use and identification of hand tools.
Most of the 9-week
period the students will spend their time actually learning and demonstrating
how to design and construct a small building. During this process the
following areas will be covered:
A. Cost estimation
B. Construction techniques
C. Tool identification and use
D. Simple math
E. Structural technology
ADVANCED COOKING
This class provides
the opportunity for each student to plan family meals. Other areas of
exploration will include preparing foods in courses as well as creating
personalized computer generated invitations and thank you cards, Preparation
and study of food from a foreign land is also included in this course.
DRAMA 8
This class will
immerse each student in the craft of play production. Areas of study will
include acting, stage and costume design and technical support using a
sound system combined with computerized effects. When practical a play
will be shown to the community and school at the end of the quarter.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
LIVE
This course explores
a variety of "media productions" from newspaper publishing to
simple video productions such as broadcasting and commercials. Professional
editing techniques will be introduced.
ART 8
This course allows
8th grade students a chance to further explore the wide range of art.
Back to Selection
|
|
Back to the Top
|
