SCIENCE
The 6th-8th graders use McGraw Hill Integrated Science textbooks that are specific to Indiana standards. Each grade covers a variety of topics in life, earth and physical sciences. Students participate in a hands-on curriculum, conducting labs on a daily basis. Students learn to follow step by step directions to conduct an experiment, as well as designing their own experiments to test a given topic. Students have access to the textbook, workbook, review quizzes and games through the textbook website. Students participate in a yearly science fair, as well as demonstrating projects to K-5 students during National Chemistry Week.
Students also participate in a yearly Mystery Festival. This allows 6th graders to practice forensic lab skills, while 7-8th grade students use technology skills to create news videos and newspapers.
HEALTH
The textbook used in Health is the Life Skills curriculum that is part of the Diocese grant. This is the only evidence based curriculum to teach refusal skill, communication skills, social skills, assertiveness, conflict resolution, and information on negative health implications of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. It educates the students on the skills that will give them the confidence in social setting. We also cover in great detail nutritional information, infectious and non-infectious disease, exercise science, sleep implications, and all body systems. 8th graders also explore career options.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education puts an emphasis on fitness activities through working out and aerobic games. We use a lot of small sided games to allow for higher participation and movement. Besides team sports, we do a lot of individual and lifetime activities. Physical activity has been shown to increase the building of neurons and improve learning. Activity also helps students deal with stress and anxiety.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The textbook series for middle school is Prentice Hall Literature, Common Core Edition. Novels we are reading this year are (8th) Inside Out and Back Again, Outsiders and Stone Cold, The Three Musketeers, and a work by Shakespeare. The seventh graders are reading A Long Walk to Water, Lyddie, The Diary of Anne Frank: The Play, and The Boy Who Dared. The Sixth Graders are reading the following novels: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Dragonwings, and Frightful's Mountain. Each novel unit has may nonfiction components. Our writing assignments are integrated into the novel units. There are quarterly class book presentations. Everyone strives to reach an agreed upon Accelerated Reader goal for the quarter. We use Vocabulary Workshop by Sadlier Publishing, and grammar practice from The Shurley Method. At the end of the year, there is a movie to watch to write a review.
MATH
The math books used are Pearson enVisionmath2.0 and Algebra 1. These books are tailored to the state standards. Students are allowed and encouraged to write and highlight in their books, as this has been shown to improve their learning. Students learn a wide range of math skills from basic operations with fractions and decimals up to things like solving multi-step equations with variables on both sides of the equation, writing an equation of a line, explaining what the slope and y-intercept on a graph represents, and solving a system of equations. Students have access to their textbook and workbook online, as well as quizzes that let you know if you are getting correct answers and, if not, what the correct answer is and the ability to work a similar problem. Students take Star Math tests every 4 weeks to monitor their progress. They are encouraged to attend Math Help after school on Thursdays if they have additional questions. Xtramath, Khan Academy, and Academic Super Bowl are other outlets where students can improve their skills and learn new concepts.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The 6-8 grade social studies classes use the Pearson textbook series that is aligned with Indiana state standards for each grade level. Along with using the textbook as a resource, students will also be encouraged to learn and perform in a variety of different ways. 6th grade social studies focuses on the continents of Europe and the Americas. Students also examine the geographical, historical, economic, and political aspects of each topic. 7th grade social studies focuses on the regions and nations of Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific. Students also analyze geographical, economic, historical, and political aspects of each region. 8th grade focuses on United States history. United States history begins with the colonial era, includes the Revolution and Founding Era, principles of the Constitution, as well as other founding documents. Students in 8th grade then examine national development, westward expansion, social movements, and the Civil War.
The 6th-8th graders use McGraw Hill Integrated Science textbooks that are specific to Indiana standards. Each grade covers a variety of topics in life, earth and physical sciences. Students participate in a hands-on curriculum, conducting labs on a daily basis. Students learn to follow step by step directions to conduct an experiment, as well as designing their own experiments to test a given topic. Students have access to the textbook, workbook, review quizzes and games through the textbook website. Students participate in a yearly science fair, as well as demonstrating projects to K-5 students during National Chemistry Week.
Students also participate in a yearly Mystery Festival. This allows 6th graders to practice forensic lab skills, while 7-8th grade students use technology skills to create news videos and newspapers.
HEALTH
The textbook used in Health is the Life Skills curriculum that is part of the Diocese grant. This is the only evidence based curriculum to teach refusal skill, communication skills, social skills, assertiveness, conflict resolution, and information on negative health implications of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products. It educates the students on the skills that will give them the confidence in social setting. We also cover in great detail nutritional information, infectious and non-infectious disease, exercise science, sleep implications, and all body systems. 8th graders also explore career options.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education puts an emphasis on fitness activities through working out and aerobic games. We use a lot of small sided games to allow for higher participation and movement. Besides team sports, we do a lot of individual and lifetime activities. Physical activity has been shown to increase the building of neurons and improve learning. Activity also helps students deal with stress and anxiety.
LANGUAGE ARTS
The textbook series for middle school is Prentice Hall Literature, Common Core Edition. Novels we are reading this year are (8th) Inside Out and Back Again, Outsiders and Stone Cold, The Three Musketeers, and a work by Shakespeare. The seventh graders are reading A Long Walk to Water, Lyddie, The Diary of Anne Frank: The Play, and The Boy Who Dared. The Sixth Graders are reading the following novels: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Dragonwings, and Frightful's Mountain. Each novel unit has may nonfiction components. Our writing assignments are integrated into the novel units. There are quarterly class book presentations. Everyone strives to reach an agreed upon Accelerated Reader goal for the quarter. We use Vocabulary Workshop by Sadlier Publishing, and grammar practice from The Shurley Method. At the end of the year, there is a movie to watch to write a review.
MATH
The math books used are Pearson enVisionmath2.0 and Algebra 1. These books are tailored to the state standards. Students are allowed and encouraged to write and highlight in their books, as this has been shown to improve their learning. Students learn a wide range of math skills from basic operations with fractions and decimals up to things like solving multi-step equations with variables on both sides of the equation, writing an equation of a line, explaining what the slope and y-intercept on a graph represents, and solving a system of equations. Students have access to their textbook and workbook online, as well as quizzes that let you know if you are getting correct answers and, if not, what the correct answer is and the ability to work a similar problem. Students take Star Math tests every 4 weeks to monitor their progress. They are encouraged to attend Math Help after school on Thursdays if they have additional questions. Xtramath, Khan Academy, and Academic Super Bowl are other outlets where students can improve their skills and learn new concepts.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The 6-8 grade social studies classes use the Pearson textbook series that is aligned with Indiana state standards for each grade level. Along with using the textbook as a resource, students will also be encouraged to learn and perform in a variety of different ways. 6th grade social studies focuses on the continents of Europe and the Americas. Students also examine the geographical, historical, economic, and political aspects of each topic. 7th grade social studies focuses on the regions and nations of Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific. Students also analyze geographical, economic, historical, and political aspects of each region. 8th grade focuses on United States history. United States history begins with the colonial era, includes the Revolution and Founding Era, principles of the Constitution, as well as other founding documents. Students in 8th grade then examine national development, westward expansion, social movements, and the Civil War.
