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Sixth Grade
Religion
The focus of religious study in sixth grade is on the Old Testament. Through this study of the Old Testament, students will recount key events of salvation history, learn to understand the theology related to salvation, be able to discuss how God revealed himself to his chosen people and how he continues to call the faithful to him through ministry, prayer, and the sacraments. Students will combine action with the course of study through five required community service hours a quarter and participation in weekly mass.
Text: Loyola Press, Christ Our Life God Calls a People Workbook, 2016
Catholic Book Publishing Co., The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition, 1992Social Studies
The focus for sixth grade is on the continued development of knowledge and skills acquired in previous social studies programs. Students will study, Europe (including Russia) and South America by examining social, economic, and political institutions as they analyze similarities and differences among societies. While concepts are drawn from history and the social sciences, the primary discipline is geography, especially cultural geography. This focus provides students with a frame work for studying local, regional, national and global issues that concern them, for understanding the interdependence of the world in which they live, and for making informed judgments as active citizens.
Text: Pearson, My World Geography: Western Hemisphere, 2011
Pearson, My Student Journal: Western Hemisphere, 2011
Glencoe, The World and Its People: Western Hemisphere, 2005Language Arts
In language arts the focus is on writing, literature, grammar and vocabulary. The students write essays (expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative) as well as research papers, poetry, letters, and plays. We read fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Grammar is taught through writing as well as with our textbook and workbook. The vocabulary program challenges the students and prepares them for standardized tests. Students practice speaking and listening by giving oral presentations and participating in class discussions.
Texts: Loyola University Press, Voyages in English 2011
Loyola Press Voyages in English Practice Book Grade 6, 2011
Pearson, Prentice Hall Literature, Language and Literacy, Grade 6, 2010
William H. Sadlier, Inc., Vocabulary Workshop Level A, 2005
Science
Sixth Grade Students begin by learning about the cells and cell functions. Then they go through the characteristics of life and each of the six Kingdoms. They continue with a look at ecology including populations and their interactions, ecosystems, biomes, and succession. They also learn about the human body including a look at wellness as well as skeletal, muscular, integumentary, digestive, immune, and nervous systems.
Text: Prentice Hall, Interactive Science Series, 2011
Math
Grade 6 Math is based on Diocesan Curriculum. The curriculum includes but not limited to:
1. Connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems.
2. Understanding division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers.
3. Writing, interpreting, and simplifying expressions using order of operations.
4. Writing, interpreting, and solving one-step equations.
5. Developing an understanding of statistical thinking which includes mean, median, mode, and range of data sets.
6. Locating pairs of integers on a coordinate plane.
7. Computing fluently with integers including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Text: Glencoe Mathematics, Applications and Concepts, Course 1, 2009
Seventh Grade
Religion
The focus of religious study in seventh grade is on the New Testament. Through the study of the New Testament, students will recount key events of salvation history, learn to how God reveals himself to us in our lives and through the New Testament. Students will be asked to read the Bible and reflect upon the life of Jesus and how God through the ministry and teachings of his son Jesus Christ offers us salvation. They will be able to discuss how God calls us to eternal life and describe and discuss obstacles to salvation. Students will combine action with the course of study through five required community service hours a quarter and participation in weekly mass.
Text: Loyola Press, Christ Our Life God Calls a People Workbook, 2016
Catholic Book Publishing Co., The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition, 1992Social Studies
The focus for seventh grade is on the continued development of knowledge and skills acquired in previous social studies programs. Students will study, Africa, Asia, and Australia by examining social, economic, and political institutions as they analyze similarities and differences among societies. While concepts are drawn from history and the social sciences, the primary discipline is geography, especially cultural geography. This focus provides students with a frame work for studying local, regional, national and global issues that concern them, for understanding the interdependence of the world in which they live, and for making informed judgments as active citizens.
Text: Pearson, My World Geography: Eastern Hemisphere, 2011
Glencoe, The World and Its People: Western Hemisphere, 2005
Language Arts
In language arts the focus is on writing, literature, grammar and vocabulary. The students write essays (expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative) as well as research papers, poetry, letters, and plays. The students take a diocesan persuasive writing test in the spring. We read fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Grammar is taught through writing as well as with our textbook and workbook. The vocabulary program challenges the students and prepares them for standardized tests. Students practice speaking and listening by giving oral presentations and participating in class discussions.
Texts: Pearson, Prentice Hall Literature, Language and Literacy, Grade 7, 2010
Loyola University Press, Voyages in English, 2011
Loyola Press Voyages in English Practice Book Grade 7, 2011
William H. Sadlier, Inc., Vocabulary Workshop Level B, 2005
Science
Students begin with a look at the interactions among earth, moon and sun. Then they expand their focus to look at the solar system and all of its bodies, and then they expand again to include galaxies and the universe. Students also focus on earth and look at plate tectonics and the results including earthquakes and volcanoes. They look at erosion, weathering and geological history. Students finish the year studying streams, rivers, and oceans, then the water cycle and weather. In addition, the students are required to do a science fair project in January.
Text: Prentice Hall, Interactive Science Series, 2011Math
The curriculum includes but not limited to:
1. Developing an understanding of proportional relationships which includes applying and solving percent and scale problems.
2. Calculating the probability of simple and compound events based on samples.
3. Writing, interpreting and simplifying numerical and algebraic expressions which include rational numbers.
4. Writing, interpreting and solving two-step equations and inequalities.
5. Solving problems involving scale drawings and informal geometric constructions, and working with two- and three-dimensional shapes to solve problems involving perimeter, area, surface area, and volume.
6. Drawing inferences about populations based on samples.
7. Applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
8. Determining transformations of figures on the coordinate plane which include translations and reflections
Text: Glencoe Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, 2004
Big Ideas Learning, Big Ideas Math , 2013Math-Grade 8
The curriculum includes but not limited to:
1. Formulating and reasoning about expressions and multi-step equations and inequalities.
2. Modeling and solving linear equations and inequalities and systems of equalities and inequalities.
3. Understanding the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships.
4. Analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and
applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
5. Determining transformations of figures on the coordinate plane including translations, reflections, rotations, and dilations.
6. Calculating surface area and volume of cones, pyramids, and spheres
Text: Glencoe Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, 2004
Eighth Grade
Religion
The eighth grade religion course of study concentrates on the history of the Catholic Church. Unit one’s main topics for study and exploration include the following: images and models of the Church, Mary’s preeminence as Mother of the Church, the four marks of the Church which describe her identity and her mission, growth in knowledge and appreciation of Catholic practices and beliefs, and the importance of sharing the Good News.
Unit two centers on salvation history and the developments in the Church over twenty centuries. Included in these topics is information about the great saints of each era. There is also a strong emphasis placed on the ever abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church. A new component in the curriculum this year is a five hour service requirement per quarter.
Text: Loyola Press, Christ Our Life, 2016.
Catholic Book Publishing Co., The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition, 1992
Social Studies
The focus of social studies in eighth grade is on North Carolina, from the Constitution to present day. Stated goals for this curriculum year are to examine the roles of people, events and issues in North Carolina and their contribution to the course of American history. The course of study will evolve from several strands: Our Catholic Ideals, Citizenship and Government, History, Geography, and Economics.
Text: Prentice Hall, America: History of Our Nation, 2009Language Arts
The curriculum for eighth grade language arts has two primary focuses: reading and writing. Students will explore these areas as they gain a deeper understanding of the different types of writing (narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository), writing for different audiences and purposes, literary genres, literary elements (such as irony, theme, and symbolism), vocabulary usage, and grammar mechanics and usage. As they study the major literary genres, students will read fiction and non-fiction, short story selections, dramatic works, and poetry. Students who successfully complete the class will build their reading, writing, and communication skills and will strengthen their critical and creative thinking skills. Building on the knowledge of prior language arts classes, this course lays the foundation for the English classes students will take in high school.
Texts: Prentice Hall, Literature: Language and Literacy, 2010
Sadlier-Oxford, Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop, Level C, 2003
Easy Grammar Systems, Easy Grammar Ultimate Series Grade 8, 2009
Science
Students begin by looking at motion and forces. They learn about work and machines. Then they investigate the different types of energy and their interactions. Students also learn and experiment with electricity and magnetism. Then they study the properties of sound and light and how their body uses them to gain information. Students then turn to the atom and chemical reactions. If there is time they finish with an introduction to genetics, including Mendel’s work, inheritance, and disorders.
Text: Prentice Hall, Interactive Science Series, 2011Math-Grade 8
The curriculum includes but not limited to:
1. Formulating and reasoning about expressions and multi-step equations and inequalities.
2. Modeling and solving linear equations and inequalities and systems of equalities and inequalities.
3. Understanding the concept of a function and using functions to describe quantitative relationships.
4. Analyzing two- and three-dimensional space and figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence, and understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.
5. Determining transformations of figures on the coordinate plane including translations, reflections, rotations, and dilations.
6. Calculating surface area and volume of cones, pyramids, and spheres.
Text: Glencoe Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, 2004Math 1
The Math 1 course offered is an honors course that fulfills the high school credit for graduation. Unit one includes a review and extension of pre-algebra concepts which include variable expressions, order of operations, algebra properties, graphs and functions, basic operations with rational numbers, and the foundation for adding and subtracting real numbers. Unit one concludes with students obtaining the necessary skills for solving proportions and other applicable formulas. Linear functions are the focus of the second unit. Included in this are graphs of relations and functions explored in the coordinate plane, analyzing linear equations (slope and writing the various equations of a line), solving linear inequalities, and solving systems of linear equations and inequalities.
The next unit concentrates on polynomials and nonlinear functions. Adding, subtracting, and multiplying polynomials, factoring polynomials, and graphing and solving quadratic equations are studied first. Exponential functions are then explored through practical examples of growth and decay. While the TI-84 plus graphing calculator is used throughout the course, it is especially useful in this unit as the students analyze and compare both linear and non-linear functions. Rational expressions and equations are the remainder of this unit. The course also includes data analysis, measures of variation, and interpreting data presented in various forms. Also included is geometry embedded through the course.
Text: Glencoe Mathematics, Algebra I, 2004