Middle School Course Descriptions

ENGLISH

The Middle School English program is designed to meet the developmental and educational needs of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students through the study of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Literature, in a variety of forms, is studied not only for its own appreciation, but also in conjunction with the social studies program to provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Literature is also used for both enrichment and development of analytical techniques useful in writing assignments. Grammar is stressed on all three levels for a thorough understanding of sentence structure.

Incorporated into the sixth grade program is an additional class stressing reading and writing. It encompasses all areas of study skills, organizational skills, proper study habits, and library and research techniques. Research paper skills, on all levels, are developed in accordance with the MLA Handbook. In both seventh and eighth grades, a formal research paper is required.

FINE ARTS

Fundamentals of Art: This course introduces 7th & 8th grade students to the Elements (Line, Form, Color, Value, Texture) and Principles (Balance, Rhythm, Variety, Harmony, Emphasis) of Design. The course touches on drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics.

Middle School Choir: Middle School Choir teaches students the basics of musicianship, sight-reading, music theory, and history in a performance setting conducive to worship. Public performances are required.

Concert Band: Concert Band is the performing group for the beginning to intermediate instrumentalist. Emphasis is placed on technique, the elements of music, and the performance of a variety of band music. Students must own or rent instruments. At least one year of lessons is required prior to participation in band. Public performances are required.

String Orchestra: Students participating in the String Orchestra actively engage in the creation and performance of orchestral music, thereby exposing students to orchestral music of varied genres and periods. This course is treated as a professional ensemble; therefore, the students' musical vocabulary and appreciation for music will grow. Additionally, each student is required to participate in all school concerts and pursue private lessons on their orchestra instrument. At least one year of lessons is required prior to participation in orchestra.

Dance and Movement: This course provides students the opportunity to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of dance as an art form. Students learn and refine dance skills and techniques in class and in performance, study the historical and cultural significance of dance and its evolution as an art form, and evaluate personal work and the work of others.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Middle School students learn communicative skills by exploring the language and culture of France and Spain. The program begins in the sixth grade as an exploratory course designed to give the student a "taste" of both Spanish and French. During the half-year survey courses, the students learn basic vocabulary and begin to communicate in the target language using simple vocabulary and conversational patterns. The course also covers the culture of Spain, France, and the many Spanish and French speaking countries throughout the world. Students are introduced to customs, food, songs, and history.

By the end of sixth grade, students select either French or Spanish as the language of study in the seventh and eighth grades. Level 1A is the seventh grade course in foreign language study, and 1B is the eighth grade course. Students entering level 1B from a school other than LuHi will be evaluated during the first few weeks of the term to determine proficiency. If a student does not demonstrate proficiency, the placement will be reevaluated. Upon successful completion of Level 1B and demonstrated proficiency, students receive one high school credit for Level 1 and are scheduled into Level II classes for ninth grade.

MATH

Grade 6: The sixth grade math curriculum is designed for students to master whole number concepts, operations, and problem solving. The course also includes operations with decimals, fractions, and percents. Geometry and measurement are covered, as well as an introduction to algebra.

Grade 7: The seventh grade curriculum contains strong mathematical content with real-life connections. A variety of mathematical activities are covered using critical thinking, problem solving, and technology. Cooperative learning, peer tutoring, and other formats of learning are used.

Grade 8: The first semester of this course reviews basic mathematical concepts using real-life connections. Technology and interdisciplinary activities help reinforce these and future concepts. The second semester offers an investigation of integers, solving equations and inequalities, coordinate graphing, algebra, and word problems using algebraic expressions.

Middle School Algebra I Honors: Topics include operations in algebra, equations, proportional reasoning, linear functions, inequalities, solving systems of equations and inequalities, exponents, polynomials, factoring, quadratic functions, radicals and coordinate geometry.

Geometry Honors: Topics include lines, planes, angles, deductive reasoning, parallel lines and planes, congruent triangles, quadrilaterals, inequalities for triangles, similar polygons, right triangles, circles, loci and areas of plane figures.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Health: This course is designed to help students understand the basic mental, emotional, and physical functions that help us deal effectively with our environment. Special emphasis is placed on student-to-student and adult-to-student interactions. Areas of study include nutrition, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, mental health, and sexuality and communicable diseases. All are experienced with the framework of our Christian character-driven school environment.

Girls and Boys Physical Education: This class is designed to give a well-rounded Physical Education program that includes physical conditioning and participation in a variety of sports. Students gain knowledge of each sport and improve the necessary skills for success. Teamwork is of major importance – playing together with healthy competition.

RELIGION

Each course in Middle School Religion consists of experiential learning activities, group sharing sessions, and mini-lectures designed to help students understand and appreciate themselves as beloved children of God. All grade level courses share two main goals:

To help students identify the life of faith as a continuing search shared by all.
To show students that the message of Jesus Christ is vital to their own fulfillment.

SCIENCE

Grade 6: The sixth grade science curriculum serves as a hands-on introduction to Middle School science education. The human body systems are used as a springboard for other topics including motion, energy, light, sound, and measurement. This course introduces the scientific method and fosters active involvement through beginning laboratory experiments and demonstrations.

Grade 7: The seventh grade Life Science course is the first step in the three-year New York State Science curriculum. The livings things around us serve as the subjects of study for this course, including ecology, cell life and structure, life processes, classification, genetics, and organisms.

Grade 8: The eighth grade program looks at the Physical Sciences of chemistry and physics. Here, the major topics are matter and energy, and how they can be changed for the good of man. Subjects covered include the structure of matter, the atom, motion, energy, simple machines, magnetism, waves, light, sound, and energy resources.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Grade 6: This course is a chronologically organized study of ancient civilizations in the eastern hemisphere. Students are introduced to basic geography skills, the land, and its people. Effort is made to create interdisciplinary lessons that coincide with literature concurrently studied in English classes.

Grade 7: The seventh grade social studies course is the beginning of a two-year survey of United States history. It focuses on the period from the development of the first Native American cultures to the rise of sectional division in the 1850's. Basic geography skills, cooperative learning activities, current events, and research projects are used to enhance student learning. Effort is made to create interdisciplinary lessons that coincide with literature concurrently studied in English classes.

Grade 8: The eighth grade social studies course is the second part of a two-year survey of United States history. It focuses on the period from 1860 to the present. The changing economic and social structure of the United States in the twentieth century is explored and evaluated. Special emphasis is placed on the evolving role of America as a global military and economic power and the effect of this development on our domestic political agenda. Effort is made to create interdisciplinary lesson plans that coincide with literature concurrently studied in English classes.