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Curriculum - Sixth, Seventh
and Eighth Grades
Middle school students at
SJCS focus on learning to take responsibility
for themselves as they relate to others
and the world around them as image bearers
of God. The middle school program is designed
specifically for this age; the transition
from childhood to adolescence. The academic
classes and extracurricular activities help
to provide a smooth transition from the
elementary to the secondary school years
as well as a gradual change from dependence
to independence. The focus of middle school
education is to expose students to a variety
of ideas and activities as they learn to
see God revealed in all of creation and
learn to respond to him in all of life.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Bible
While Biblical principles
are integrated into all areas of education
at SJCS, the continuing systematic study
of the Bible is critical to the students'
ability to live life God's way.
Grade 6- The House of Israel.
(CSI)
In sixth grade, students expand
their knowledge of the Bible by following
the story of God's people from creation
through their first kings. Students spend
time discussing these stories and how they
apply to our lives today. Some projects
in sixth grade Bible include building the
tabernacle, writing poetry, making picture
books, and illustrating the ten plagues
as a class.
Grade 7- The Day of the
Lord. (CSI)
In seventh grade, students
continue to unfold the latter portion of
the Old Testament to see how God set the
stage for the birth of Christ. They focus
on expanding their knowledge of the Bible
as well as its applications in their lives.
Students do many projects in seventh grade,
such as making time lines, writing poetry,
and making picture books. Another highlight
of seventh grade Bible is the time that
students spend with their kindergarten “special
friends.”
Grade 8- A Light To The
Gentles. (CSI)
In eighth grade Bible students
examine the New Testament from the birth
of Christ through the life of the early
church. Students complete a thorough research
paper on one New Testament letter. Special
attention is given to helping students develop
their own ability to search and understand
the Bible, and to helping them make personal
applications regarding their own lifestyle
choices. Students also do one unit of the
Second Step program which teaches students
empathy skills and anger management.
Math- Math 76, Math 87,
Algebra 1/2, Algebra 1. (Saxon)
Middle school math takes the
many different strands of math and winds
them together in ever increasing levels
of complexity. The math program features
daily review of concepts and time to discuss
the assignments. Some of the strands covered
in middle school math include number theory,
place value, ratio and proportion, fractions,
geometry, and algebraic concepts among many
others. Students generally take Math 76
in sixth grade, Math 87 in seventh grade,
and Algebra 1/2 in eighth grade.
Algebra 1 is offered to advanced
students at the discretion of teachers and
parents.
Language
Language is a dynamic and
rich gift from God intended to be cultivated,
celebrated, and applied in order to glorify
God. Students in middle school language
arts are taught to interpret and discern
literature from a uniquely Christian point
of view. Biblical principles are encouraged
in reading, writing, listening (class read
alouds and in other student presentations),
and speaking (presentation of projects,
poetry, and classroom discussion).
Grade 6- Elements of Language.
(Holt, Rinehart, and Winston); D'Nealian
Handwriting. (Scott, Foresman); Beginnings
in Literature. (Scott, Foresman)
Reading
Students are exposed to a
variety of short stories, poems, plays,
novels, and activities in order to develop
various skills such as comprehension, vocabulary
development, summarization, and critical
thinking. Students also practice recognizing
and using literary terms. The curriculum
includes the Accelerated Reading Program
and multiple projects.
Writing
Students establish a framework
of writing skills through studying the parts
of speech, basic diagraming, multiple purposes
of writing, and multiple genres of writing.
Students review sentence structure, expand
upon prior knowledge of paragraph structure,
and are introduced to essay structure. Students
also become proficient in the writing process--brainstorming,
prewriting, writing a first draft, editing,
revising, and publishing.
Spelling
Weekly tests use words generated
from curriculum and content areas.
Grade 7- Discoveries in
Literature. (Scott, Foresman); Elements
of Writing: First Course. (Holt Rinehart
Winston)
Reading
Students build on previous
experience by adding comparison and contrast
skills. They also learn about new genres
of literature including works of nonfiction,
folk literature, and the epic. Special emphasis
is given to Homer's Odyssey.
Writing
Seventh grade writing emphasizes
creative writing, summarizing, interpreting,
and applying. Seventh graders also improve
their grammatical skills by increasing their
knowledge of paragraph and sentence structure,
punctuation, and diagraming.
Grade 8- Explorations in
Literature. (Scott, Foresman); Elements
of Writing: Second Course. (Holt Rinehart
Winston)
Reading
Most notably, students add
research skills to the skills they have
developed in sixth and seventh grade. Special
emphasis is given to researching the Holocaust
and to studying The Diary of Anne Frank.
Writing
New skills introduced to students
include research skills and higher level
writing skills. Lessons also emphasize easily
accessible use of the parts of speech, diagraming
skills, and knowledge of sentence structure.
History/Geography/Social
Studies
Middle school Social Studies
expands a student's world to include not
only the present time, but also major themes
and events throughout national and world
history. It expands a student's world to
include not only our city and nation, but
the cities and nations of the world. Students
see how the world is broken by sin, but
also how it is being restored by God as
his Kingdom expands. Students are challenged
to see themselves as participants in world
history; people who God is using for his
glory.
Grade 6- Story of the Old
World. (CSI)
Sixth Graders learn about
the history of the world starting with the
creation by God and proceeding to the ancient
civilizations (those of Mesopotamia as well
as the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans), the
Middle Ages, and the Renaissance (including
the Reformation, and the age of exploration).
One period is devoted biweekly to current
affairs. Classes vary from lectures to discussions,
hands-on projects, Internet research, time
for reports and homework, map- and globe-
studies, videos, art application (painting
own Mona Lisa), a mock trial (Martin Luther),
and games to enhance learning.
Grade 7- World Geography.
(Glencoe)
Seventh grade students focus
on geographical studies of North America,
South America, Europe, Russia and the Eurasian
Republics, the Middle East, East Asia, and
Africa south of the Sahara. Lessons tie
together cultural, economic, geographical,
and environmental aspects of each area.
Activities include discussing current affairs,
making travel brochures, researching and
writing reports, coloring and labeling maps,
creating new games, and presenting posters
and projects to the class. Special emphasis
is given to helping students recognize the
beauty and complexity of God's world, and
to encouraging them to act as God's image
bearers in a broken world.
Grade 8- The American Journey.
(Glencoe McGraw-Hill)
Eighth grade students study
American History from its early explorers
through the Second World War. Students also
study the Civil Rights Movement in conjunction
with the Civil War. Students spend a great
deal of time studying the social and cultural
history of our nation as well as its political
and economic history. Students practice
discerning history in the light of the Bible
in order to understand what their role in
history should be as image bearers of God.
Classroom activities include discussing,
note taking, reading, analyzing, making
projects, and playing games.
Science
Science is the study of God's
world. God's creation is interesting and
beautiful. It is also a world of orderliness,
and the world follows the rules God made
for it. An important aspect of our Science
curriculum is hands-on activities during
which students will “Do, Record, and
Report.”The goals of Middle School
Science are:
1. To stimulate a lifelong
interest in the natural world
2. To promote scientific process
skills (observing, communicating, comparing,
organizing, relating, inferring, applying)
3. To build critical thinking
skills
4. To teach scientific concepts
5. To present the Biblical
concept of stewardship
6. To praise God as a result
of studying His magnificent creation
Grade 6- SCIENCE. (CSI)
In sixth grade, students discover
the animal kingdom, electricity and magnetism,
forecasting, the universe, and sources of
energy.
Grades 7&8- Focus on
Life, Physical, and Earth Science. (Merrill)
Science is a two year curriculum
during which time, units from Life Science,
Physical Science, and Earth Science are
studied. The units studied in Life Science
include the following: Methods of Science,
Cell Theory, Organ Systems, Plant and Animal
Reproduction, Human Sexuality, and Heredity.
The units in Physical Science are Measurement,
Properties of Matter, Atomic Structure,
and Acids and Bases. In Earth Science students
examine Views of the Earth, Earthquakes,
Plate Tectonics, and Oceanography.
Computers
In middle school, computer
use and instruction is integrated into the
academic subjects. Part of 6th grade Science,
for instance, is the requirement that students
learn how to post experiment results to
a spreadsheet, manipulate the data, do calculations
within the spreadsheet, and finally have
the computer graph the results. In History
and Geography classes students use the Internet
on a regular basis as a tool for research
for projects and reports. Some students
may also have the opportunity to create
their own web site or Power Point presentation
as part of a project.
Music
Grade 6- The Music Connection.
(Silver Burnett Ginn)
Sixth grade Music prepares
students to understand and appreciate music
as one of God's lifelong blessings. Sixth
graders participate in an extensive study
of musical time periods in history. Analysis
and discernment skills are modeled through
this study. New concepts in Grade 6 Music
include intervals, mixed meter, major and
minor chords, and chord progressions.
Grade 6 Band- Standard
of Excellence Book 2. (Kjos)
Sixth grade Band provides
opportunity for students to increase instrument
skills. Band is optional. Students without
any band experience wishing to join band
in Grade 6 are required to take one year
of private instruction to provide the foundational
skills missed in Beginning Band. Instruments
offered at this level include flute, clarinet,
bassoon, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor
sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, French
horn, tuba, snare drum, and orchestra bells.
Instruction includes scales, sight reading,
and music theory. Band scores are prepared
for winter and spring concert performances.
Grade 7&8 Band- Standard
of Excellence Book 3. (Kjos); and 3D Band
Book.
In grades seven and eight,
band provides an avenue for challenge and
expression to students who have already
mastered fundamental skills on concert band
instruments. Instruments played in 7-8 Band
include flute and piccolo, clarinet, bassoon,
bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari
sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, French
horn, tuba, snare drum, and orchestra bells.
Instruction includes scales, sight reading,
aural skills, and music theory. Band scores
are prepared for Winter and Spring concert
performances.
Art
Sixth Grade Art Smart -
(Prentice Hall), Art Culture - (Prentice
Hall), Art & Man (Scholastic)
Sixth grade art emphasizes
work with symbols, spacial relationships,
organizational concepts, and sequence. The
emotional aspect of art is explored. The
sixth grader is encouraged to develop creative
independence. Mediums used include watercolor,
tempera, crayon, India ink, charcoal, printing
ink, chalk, paper mache, wire, wood, clay
and textiles. The focus of art appreciation
is ancient art. Students continue to develop
an awareness that God is the ultimate artist.
Seventh Grade Art Smart
- (Prentice Hall), Art Culture - (Prentice
Hall), Art & Man (Scholastic)
The seventh grade art student
understands that God is sovereign over all
creation, including design, color, shape,
and form. Students work with symbols and
concepts in design, expressing emotion through
his/her work using exaggeration, omission,
inclusion, and treatment of visual symbols.
Use of the elements and principals of design
is more formal and complex than during the
elementary grades. Art History in seventh
grade covers ancient art through the Renaissance.
Mediums used include watercolor, tempera,
India ink, linoleum blocks, charcoal, wire,
and styrofoam, textiles, scratch board,
chalk, and oil pastel.
Eighth Grade Art Smart
- (Prentice Hall), Art Culture - (Prentice
Hall), Art & Man (Scholastic)
The eighth grade art student
works with art materials with ease, has
a good general knowledge of all art media
and is able to produce pleasing design with
the materials and elements of art. The eighth
grade student learns to use the formal elements
of art in a more complex way than in the
seventh grade. The curriculum will be the
same as grade seven with the following additions:
plaster relief work, a unit on design, and
a unit on perspective drawing. Art history
in eighth grade will cover Impressionism
through Post Modern Art. The sovereignty
of God in all aspects of art will be emphasized
throughout the entire curriculum.
Spanish- Teach Them Spanish.
and Middle School Spanish. (Instructional
Faire, Inc.)
Learning about vocabulary,
sentence formation, comprehension, and cultural
differences helps students to see God's
world as diverse and beautiful although
many places are different from their own
communities. Topics include action words,
Bible verses, likes and dislikes, verb conjugation,
opposites, relationships, weather, Latin
American heroes, and more.
Physical Education- Physical
Education 6-8. (CSI)
Physical Education in middle
school focuses on learning about sports
and health fitness both intellectually,
by studying and memorizing, and physically,
by practicing and playing. Students work
on different areas of fitness through the
Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge.
They learn the rules and strategies of some
sports with which they are already familiar.
They also learn about some sports with which
they may not be familiar. Students are taught
that their bodies are temples of God and
that they need to make Godly decisions with
regard to the use of their bodies. Teamwork
and fair play are stressed throughout the
activities.
Grades 7&8 Health
In seventh and eighth grade
health, students view themselves as God's
image bearers, and as God's temples. Since
they are God's temples, they have a special
responsibility in taking care of their bodies.
In seventh grade students examine what health
is and who they are in relation to others
and God. Students also practice study skills
and learn how to improve them. In eighth
grade, the focus shifts to current health
issues, and their effects on the body. These
issues include eating disorders, smoking,
alcohol, and drugs.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Sports
Sports offer students the
ability to use their talents and abilities
in competition against other schools. Seasonal
team sports are only offered to those in
sixth through eighth grade. SJCS is a member
of BACSAL (Bay Area Christian School Athletic
League). At SJCS we offer softball, basketball,
volleyball, soccer, and track for both girls
and boys. Teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship
are highly emphasized in our programs.
6-8 Vocal Ensemble
6-8 Vocal Ensemble provides
an extra-curricular opportunity for students
interested in developing their vocal skills.
The year is divided into two separate sessions.
Session 1 prepares singers to participate
in the Jr. High Musical Production as soloists
or ensemble singers. Session 2 prepares
singers for a Spring Choral Concert as well
as for the solo and ensemble entries in
the Fine Arts Festival. Vocal Ensemble is
offered to any interested middle school
student.
Jazz Band
This select group of musicians
is chosen on the of basis each person's
musical competence on his/her instrument.
Instruments include alto sax, tenor sax,
bari sax, trumpet, trombone, electric guitar,
electric bass, piano (advanced), drum set,
and auxiliary percussion. Try-outs are required
for Jazz Band and are held in the first
two weeks of the school year. Students practice
before school two days per week. Jazz Band
performs at least two concerts during the
school year.
Drama
A drama club is offered for
those who are interested in developing dramatic
skills. This club is divided into two sessions.
A student may join both sessions or just
one. Session 1, running for the first semester,
will prepare students for participation
in the middle school musical. Session 2,
during second semester, will prepare students
for participation in one or more speaking
events of theFine Arts Festival.
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