Electives

Middle School Curriculum

English

The English program at the middle school level focuses on grammar, vocabulary and quality writing.  Students are introduced to higher level vocabulary words through the use of the Wordly Wise workbook. The grammar lessons involve proofreading and editing, focusing on parts of speech, mechanics, paragraphing, writing effective sentences and syntax. The writing program uses the 6+1 Traits of Writing Model. Students incorporate material learned in vocabulary, grammar and 6+1 Traits instruction to complete the following pieces of writing:

Literature

The literature program focuses on reading comprehension, literary responses, genres, and purposes for various texts. Students read a variety of classic and contemporary works from varied sources such as plays, anthologies, novels, textbooks, poetry, newspapers, manuals, and electronic texts. Students also learn to recognize style, tone, and mood contribute to the effect of the text. The students are able to select and use different forms of writing for specific purposes such as to inform, persuade, or entertain. Class discussions are a key element to the literature program. Students participate in various performances during the year as a conclusion to different reading assignments.

Math

The sixth grade math program uses The Everyday Mathematics curriculum. This is a culminating unit to the mathematics program which begins in pre-kindergarten at St. James Episcopal School. Students learn to construct and interpret different types of graphs as well as identifying statistical landmarks of data sets. Students also review finding equivalent names for numbers and become familiar with scientific notation and exponential notation. Students perform estimations and operations with decimals and begin to write and evaluate algebraic expressions. This course prepares the students to enter pre-algebra in the seventh grade.

The seventh grade math program uses Passport to Algebra and Geometry (McDougall-Littell). Currently, all seventh grade students are in this pre-algebra course. Students explore arithmetic and geometric sequences and identify patterns from algebraic and geometry models. They discover that organizing data in graph or table form help to them see patterns. Students use physical models to represent algebraic expressions. They begin to solve one-step equations algebraically and explore the solution sets of one-step inequalities. Students formulate rules for performing operations with integers and use integer operations to model real-life problems. Students also solve two-step and multi-step equations.

The eighth grade math program uses Algebra I (McDougall-Littell). Currently, all 8^th grade students are in the algebra 1 course. In this course, students practice representing and analyzing mathematical situations using algebraic models. Students explore ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. Students look at the meanings of operations and how they relate to one another. They practice computation and estimation. Students solve several types of algebraic equations and inequalities. Students study units, systems, and processes of measurement while using tools and formulas to determine measurements. Students analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships. Students explore many methods of data representation and the characteristics of data sets. They study basic concepts of probability and begin to develop and evaluate mathematical arguments and proofs in order to practice using the language of mathematics precisely. Throughout the course, students apply each mathematical concept to real-life situations. They also discover how mathematical ideas interconnect among various fields of study. Students also learn how to use a graphing calculator in this course.

Social Studies

In Grade 6, students study people and places of the contemporary world. Societies selected for study are chosen from the following regions of the world: Europe, Russia and the Eurasian republics, North America, Middle America, South America, Southwest Asia-North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia , Australia , and the Pacific Realm. Students describe the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies and identify the locations and geographic characteristics of selected societies. Students identify different ways of organizing economic and governmental systems. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced, and students describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Students compare institutions common to all societies such as government, education, and religious institutions. Students explain how the level of technology affects the development of the selected societies and identify different points of view about selected events.

In grade 7, students examine the full scope of Texas history, including the cultures of Native Americans living in Texas prior to European explorations and the eras of mission-building, colonization, revolutions, republic, and statehood. The focus in each era is on key individuals, events, and issues and their impact. Students identify regions of Texas and the distribution of populations within and among the regions and explain the factors that caused Texas to change from an agrarian to an urban society. Students describe the structure and functions of municipal, county and state governments, explain the influence of the U.S. Constitution on the Texas Constitution, and examine the rights and responsibilities of Texas citizens. Students use primary and secondary sources to examine the rich and diverse cultural background of Texas as they identify the different racial and ethnic groups that settled in Texas to build a republic and then a state. Students analyze the impact of scientific discoveries and technological innovations such as barbed wire and the oil and gas industries on the development of Texas . Students use primary and secondary sources to acquire information about Texas.

In Grade 8, students study the history of the United States from the early colonial period through Reconstruction. The content builds upon that from Grade 5 but provides more depth and breadth. Historical content focuses on the political, economic, and social events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary eras, the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the early Republic, westward expansion, sectionalism, Civil War and reconstruction. Students describe the physical characteristics of the United States and their impact on population distribution and settlement patterns in the past and present. Students analyze the various economic factors that influenced the development of colonial America and the early years of the Republic and identify the origins of the free enterprise system. Students examine the American beliefs and principles, including limited government, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights, reflected in the U.S. Constitution and other historical documents. Students evaluate the impact of Supreme Court cases and major reform movements of the 19^th century and examine the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the United States as well as the importance of effective leadership in a democratic society. Students evaluate the impact of scientific discoveries and technological innovations on the development of the United States . Students use critical-thinking skills, including the identification of bias in written, oral, and visual material

Science

The middle school students will do field investigations, laboratory investigations as well as research through various media. There is an emphasis on cooperative learning, sequencing, task involvement, and information gathering. They conduct safe, environmentally appropriate and ethical practices in their lab work and class studies. They plan and implement investigative procedures, following scientific processes, formulate hypotheses and test them, analyze data and present it in a concise and clear format. They use critical thinking skills, critique scientific explanations, and relate their finding to the great world around them. They gain experience in the proper use of various lab equipment to enhance their knowledge of the task at hand.

The sixth grade units of study include: a study of forces of energy and their relationships, a study of the planets and the rhythms of the Earth, plant biology, electromagnetism, and an interdisciplinary study of important scientific discoveries in history and the scientists who made them.

The seventh grade units of study include: geology, biology-DNA, chemistry, astronomy and an interdisciplinary study of marine archaeology.

The eighth grade units of study include: the periodic table of elements, forensics (including paper chromatography, fingerprinting, blood typing, pH level testing, and handwriting analysis), heredity/genetics, groundwater analysis, recyclable plastics, and DNA fingerprinting.

Bible Class

In Grade 6, the students are gradually exposed to the Bible as a whole—the historical development, the original languages in which it was written, some of the textual issues which make interpreting the Bible such a wonderful, challenging exercise. The students are given a historical overview of the development of the Bible in English translation, as well as a brief overview of the reasons behind the myriad versions of the Bible which exist today.

In Grade 7, the students are lead through an exploration of the prophets and the Acts of the Apostles. Context and meaning are explored in depth to begin to understand that, while Scripture must have contemporary application, it was written for a very specific people in a very specific historical situation. Using Ezekiel and Acts, the students are able to see how the role of the Watchman shapes the nascent Church and a faithful person’s life in Christ.

In Grade 8, the students study the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.) and the Epistles as well as tackle the problems of life and their own solutions. The students talk extensively about “what is spirituality?” and “what is Christian spirituality?” They conclude the year with an extended study in Christian ethics and Moral Theology.