HUMANITIES
Humanities (Social Studies and Language Arts) is taught in all Middle School grades. It integrates Social Studies and Language Arts by combining the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills of Language Arts with the content and skills of Social Studies. Literature can enrich the study of History, and historical background enriches a story. When writing assignments are chosen from what is being learned in Social Studies, it gives a purpose to the writing. This kind of interdisciplinary approach removes the strict and artificial boundaries between subjects and increases holistic learning.
Aims of Humanities:
- Develop oral skills through presentations, class discussion, debates, drama and story telling
- Use and master various applications and technology
- Develop independent study and research skills; both print and electronic
- Increase and practice use of accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Broaden vocabulary
- Write independently in a variety of styles for a variety of purposes
- Improve reading skills through shared class and independent reading
- Understand concepts and practice skills in social studies
- Critical thinking
- Present arguments and support them with evidence
SOCIAL STUDIES
The Social Studies curriculum in Humanities covers world civilizations from ancient times to the twentieth century. In sixth grade, ancient civilizations are covered ending with the Roman Empire.
The class will integrate the themes of social studies and geography into a study of the ancient civilizations. Students will complete many hands-on projects throughout the year and will develop their study skills throughout the course. Study skills emphasis will be placed on note-taking and reading skills in the content area. Furthermore, students will draw on connections between current events and the content that they are studying.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The Language Arts curriculum in Humanities is a progressive continuum of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In reading, vocabulary, comprehension, and literary analysis become increasingly more sophisticated from sixth to seventh to eighth grades. Similarly, writing strategies and conventions (spelling, punctuation, and grammar) build on previous skills. At all grade levels, emphasis is placed on actual usage, rather than on rote memorization.
Sixth grade Language Arts students will develop their writing skills. Emphasis is also placed on using the writing process as a means of developing strong writing habits. Literature will be connected to concepts discussed in social studies with emphasis placed on developing active reading strategies and a strong understanding of the basic literary elements.
Speaking and listening skills will also be addressed through role plays, creative projects, small and large group work and writing workshop activities.
As the year progresses, students will be introduced to structured methods of developing their research skills. During the second semester students will carry out a culminating research project which will showcase the skills that they developed.
MATH
Ninth-grade math is the study of general mathematical concepts, covering several strands including Numbers and Operations, Geometry, Measurement, Patterns, Functions and Algebra. While learning to acquire these skills the students will be actively engaged, and will use concrete materials and appropriate technologies in class. Additionally, students will also be required to identify and apply real-world applications to the mathematical, scientific and logic principles they are learning
SCIENCE
Each course is built around comprehensive teaching, practice, and assessment of science concepts and skills, with an emphasis on process skills necessary for scientific inquiry emphasizing hands-on activities.
Investigative experiments allow students to learn and follow the steps of scientific inquiry, while using standard scientific equipment and proper techniques. The courses promote development of problem solving skills and encourage students to become critical thinkers. In grade 6 the focus is on the Earth, Ecosystems, and the Environment.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
We offer French/ German as a foreign language. The Middle School foreign language program meets on alternate days throughout the entire school year. Over the three middle school years, the curriculum includes the same basic grammatical concepts, cultural information and language study as the first year high school program. The curriculum is divided into two to four units covering grades from 6 - 8. A student who successfully completes all three parts of the middle school program could move to the second year level in High School.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
In the physical education classes physical fitness is a key component that is showcased in a fun filled atmosphere. Interpersonal skills such as demonstrating respect, offering positive feedback, demonstrating responsible behavior in terms of physical and emotional saengineeringy, as well as maintaining good personal hygiene are essential for success in the course. The importance of valuing physical activity for its contribution to a healthy lifestyle is emphasized.
The four areas of emphasis are: Knowledge and Understanding, Performance and Application, Social Skills, and Personal Engagement. Content includes individual/dual activities, liengineeringime sports, team sports and cooperative games, each integrated with physical fitness, as well as health classes covering peer pressure, healthy body image and bullying.
FINE ARTS PROGRAM
For the 2012-2013 school year, students in grade 6 will take a music course and an art course for their fine arts program.
Music
The Middle School Music program is designed to be practical in nature with the emphasis being on playing a band instrument or to develop vocal quality. In the band program, each student receives an instrument at the beginning of the year and is given instruction during their band class. Instrument choices range from flute, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, baritone, French horn, tuba and percussion.
In the choir program students learn the theory and practical skills involved in being a member of choir.
Students are required to do daily practice at home. Instruction is given in tone, rudiments of theory, articulation, and music appreciation. Students perform as much as possible in class and outside of class both solo and in ensemble situations. Performance both inside and outside the classroom will be integrated into the yearly course work and are a part of the student’s grade. There are two main formal concerts per year, a fall and spring concert. Students may also be required to participate in informal concerts throughout the year giving many opportunities to perform.
Art
The art curriculum broadens student’s definition of art and strengthen their observational skills. The course also aims to introduce research to learn about art history, including contemporary art and how it affects us today. We make students aware of processes and the strong influence that art has. Students will partake in a variety of projects which introduce analogue and digital media. Students also participate in a school Art Fair.
Theater
For the 2012-2013 school year, a theater option will be available to grade 7 and 8 students with this option being available to grade 6 students the following year. This course will include the foundations of dramatic performance through a focus on acting theory, technique, character analysis and improvisation. By playing various games involving muscular, sensory, memory, imagination and emotion exercises students will develop their observation, concentration and imagination skills and improve their stage presence. The class will include lessons on public speaking skills as students learn how to improve their diction and voice projection, how to emphasize certain words or segments and control the pace of their speech in order to make a particular point, and use their facial expressions and body language to enhance their presentation. They will perform poems/ monologues/ speeches and/or non-theatrical material. Students will learn theatrical vocabulary and how to block a scene.