Overview of Middle School Curriculum
The Middle School program for sixth through eighth graders at Christ Chapel Academy provides a unique transitional experience from elementary grades to departmentalized program of a high school environment. Sixth grade students rotate between two classrooms with one teacher teaching Literature/ Language Arts and History, and the second teaching Math and Science. Seventh and eighth graders are based with a homeroom teacher, but rotate to several teachers for core curriculum subjects of Bible, Math, Language Arts, History and Science. They also have specialty subjects to round out their education.CORE SUBJECTS
BIBLE: Positive Action
Grade Six - Route 66: Route 66 integrates a fast-moving Bible survey with personal application and an emphasis on god's power and activity. Students visit all 66 books, from creation to the cross to the consummation of time.
Grade Seven - Route 66: Route 66 integrates a fast-moving Bible survey with personal application and an emphasis on god's power and activity. Students visit all 66 books, from creation to the cross to the consummation of time.
Grade Eight - The Christ Chapel youth pastors coordinate a creative, interactive Bible curriculum for our eighth grade students. The focus is developing a godly character.
Language Arts: Bob Jones University, Pearson/Prentice Hall
Grade Six - English (Bob Jones University) English 6 continues the study of sentences, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions as well as practice in reference skills. Students use the Writing Process to write personal narratives, newspaper editorials, instructions, research reports, historical fiction, compare-contrast essays, limericks, free verse, and cover letters for submitting work to a publisher.
Grade Seven & Eight - Writing and Grammar (Pearson/Prentice Hall) Prentice Hall Writing and Grammar develops and reinforces skills through an easy-to-follow, three-part chapter organization: Writing-Guided writing instruction walks students through each step of the writing process. Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics-Comprehensive instruction, practice, and application ensure skills mastery. Academic and Workplace Skills-Help students develop test-taking skills, as well as real-world workplace competencies.
Literature: Pearson/Prentice Hall
Grade Six, Seven & Eight - Prentice Hall Literature combines fresh, contemporary selections with classic favorites. This Student Edition delivers explicit instruction within a student-friendly design to create the new standard for today's literature classroom. Prentice Hall Literature is organized around Big Questions and on the Understanding by Design model by Grant Wiggins. Grant worked closely with the Pearson editorial team on developing the unit Big Questions. The Big Question is introduced at the beginning of each unit and is integrated into the unit with activities, videos and assessments. It provides unity and focus to both the content and the instruction throughout the unit.
Vocabulary: Sadlier-Oxford, Prestwick House
Grade Six - Vocabulary Workshop (Sadlier- Oxford) Students learn 300 key words, in 15 units, that systematically increase their vocabulary and vocabulary-building skills. They are challenged to work with analogies, classical word roots, and using vocabulary in context, which prepares them for the vocabulary strands of college entrance and standardized tests.
Grade Seven & Eight - Vocabulary Power Plus (Prestwick House) Vocabulary Power Plus will help students score higher on the SAT's. Each unit alternates focusing on the critical reading and essay portions of the test with questions focusing on sentence completion, reading comprehension, inference, essay, root practice, and more.
Mathematics: ABEKA Publishers / Saxon Publishers /McDougal Littell
Grade Six - ABEKA Publishers - Mathematics for grade 6 is a success oriented program that builds on prior learning and on specific skills presented in the elementary grades. Concepts include whole numbers, fractions, decimals, measurement and algebraic equations, basic geometric problems, and more. Great emphasis is placed on problem solving. Students are called on to apply mathematical tools and techniques to real mathematical situations through word problems.
Grade Seven & Eight - Saxon Publishers/McDougal Littell (Math 8/7, Algebra ½, Algebra I) At the beginning of seventh grade, each student takes a placement test in Math. Students who qualify for higher-level math program are placed in the Algebra ½ program. Eighth grade students who have completed Algebra ½ proceed to the Algebra 1 text.
Math 8/7 provides students with a solid foundation of skills and concepts needed for success in quantitative courses. Proportional thinking is emphasized though applications involving ratio, rate, percent, similar geometric figures, and indirect measure. The interrelationship of fraction, decimals and percents is reviewed. Pre-algebra topics of integers, exponents, order of operations, variables, algebraic terms, inequalities, equations, functions and graphing equations are reinforced throughout the year. Students also receive instruction in the areas of geometric construction, similar and congruent figures, angle measurement and relationship, classification of geometric figures, transformations, and applications of the Pythagorean Theorem. Students also cover such topics as data collections and display, statistics, probability, measurement, scientific notation, properties of number, prime numbers and use of mathematical tools.
Algebra ½ presents all topics normally taught in pre-algebra in addition to topics from geometry and discrete mathematics. Students will develop a solid understanding of fractions, decimals, mixed numbers, signed numbers, numbers in base 2, arithmetic operations involving all these forms of numbers, order of operations, percents, proportions, ratios, divisibility, rounding, place value, unit conversions, scientific notation, and word problems involving these concepts. Students are introduced to the following algebra topics: evaluation of algebraic expressions, the simplification of algebraic expressions, and the solution of linear equations in one unknown. Geometric concepts introduced include perimeter, area, surface area, volume, classification of geometric figures and solids, geometric constructions and symmetry.
Algebra I (McDougal Littell) Specific topics include arithmetic and evaluation of expressions involving signed numbers, exponents and roots, properties or real numbers, absolute value and equations and inequalities involving absolute value, scientific notation, unit conversions, solution of equations in one unknown and solution of simultaneous equations, the algebra of polynomials and rational expressions, word problems requiring algebra for the solution, graphical solution of simultaneous equations, Pythagorean theorem, algebraic proofs, functional notation and functions, solution of quadratic equations by factoring and completing the square, direct and inverse variation, exponential growth, computation of the perimeter and area of two-dimensional regions, computation of the surface area and volume of a wide variety of geometric solids and statistics and probability.
History and Geography: Pearson/Prentice Hall
Grade Six - History of our Nation Beginnings Through 1877 - This edition was developed specifically for courses covering up to the Civil War or Reconstruction.
Grade Seven & Eight - History of our Nation Civil War to the Present - This edition was developed specifically for courses covering the Civil War to the present era.
Science: Bob Jones University
Grade Six - This text shows students God's wonderful creation through a study of the earth, cells and organisms, matter and energy, astronomy, heredity, and the nervous and immune systems.
Grade Seven - Life Science - The living world with all its wonders is presented from a biblical worldview with updated content on organism classification, cellular biology, genetics, and the differences between Creation and evolution. It provides a firm foundation for the chapters on microbiology, botany, zoology, ecology, and human anatomy.
Grade Eight - Space and Earth Science - This text allows eighth graders to examine God's handiwork in the heavens. Students will see the perfection of God's design in the universe, including space, the atmosphere, and the hydrosphere.
Specialty Subjects
Computer Technology: Pearson/Prentice Hall
Grade Six & Seven - Keyboarding and Computer Application - This text is designed to teach sixth & seventh graders keyboarding skills. Timed writing exercises accompany each lesson, and are designed to help students reach an ambitious keyboarding goal of 35 words a minute.
Grade Eight - Technology Application - This text provides students with introductory concepts on computer basics, applications basics, and exchanging data. Delivered online, on CD-ROM, and in print, it will reinforce core curriculum concepts in math, language arts, science, and social studies.
Grade Seven & Eight - Introduction to Programming - Introduction to Programming is a course designed for middle school students who have an interest in game design. We cover career possibilities in game design, architecture of games, history of computer games and test games.
Foreign Language - Rosetta Stone
Grade Eight - Introduction to Foreign Language -Rosetta Stone allows students to work independently, building their basic speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing skills. Rosetta Stone advances students to the next level only when they achieve a level of proficiency defined by the teacher.
Physical Education
Grade Six, Seven & Eight - Middle School students continue building on skills covered in the lower grades. Incorporated into the program is an extensive unit on Health developed by ACSI. Sections of the health unit will be taught only with parent approval to boys and girls separately. All students participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Award program. Middle School students have the opportunity to play on Christ Chapel Academy's sports teams.
Music and Drama
Grade Six, Seven & Eight - In weekly music classes, students learn the fundamentals of rhythm and music theory. They participate in two productions per year, and have opportunities to learn techniques of drama and technical support for the productions. Christ Chapel Academy also offers, at an additional fee, private music lessons after school.
Band
Grade Six, Seven & Eight - Private lessons are available after school at an additional fee. After school group lessons are available at no cost to the parent.
Art
Grade Six, Seven & Eight - Students learn about different techniques and about working with various media as well as receiving an introduction to Art History and famous artists.
Chapel - The entire Middle School joins together for a weekly chapel service for a time of praise and worship and a message from God's World.
