Latin School of Chicago

curriculumchart15-16-middle

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Fifth Grade Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Chicago Connections Only at Latin ENGLISH HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES The primary goal of the middle school English program is to teach and model the skills necessary for students to effectively articulate responses to literature, the world and themselves. Students are taught to read, think and write in a careful, critical and creative manner. A student-directed Writer's Workshop emphasizes pre-writing, organizing, drafting, editing and revising. In Language Arts, students receive additional writing instruction. As they experiment with a variety of literary forms, students work on grammar, style, format and mechanics. Middle school uses the study of geography, ancient history, modern world issues and American history to explore the development of the global and local world from ancient to modern times. As social scientists, students hone their critical thinking skills, research skills, and writing skills through a variety of projects using the Project-Based Learning model. By focusing on the rights and responsibilities of global citizenship, Latin students will become better prepared to address the complex issues the U.S. and other countries face in a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world. The middle school mathematics curriculum expands on the areas of number theory, geometry, and other pre-algebra concepts and skills. As students are introduced to higher levels of abstract thinking, they are taught to apply previously learned skills to solve more complex problems. Students gain experience with technology including tablet applications, graphing calculators, spreadsheets, geometry software, and interactive whiteboards. An experiential, inquiry-based approach is at the heart of middle school science teaching and learning. Middle school students discover and learn about biological, physical, earth and space sciences. They also learn to observe, measure, experiment, think critically and communicate their scientific understandings through a variety of methods. The modern languages at Latin follow an oral proficiency program, which focuses primarily on speaking and listening. Using authentic texts, students develop their reading and writing comprehension skills as they become proficient speakers. The middle school Latin language curriculum prepares students to read authentic texts and introduces them to Roman civilization. In middle school physical education, students participate in a wide variety of activities designed to develop skill, improve fitness, increase cognitive function and social development by encouraging leadership, cooperation and problem solving. The program's goal is to establish lifelong fitness through unique and relevant experiences. The goal of the middle school performing arts program is to give students the time and opportunities to explore their artistic interests and talents. Students participate in band or chorus and dance and drama. They are introduced to the fundamentals and develop skills in each area. Throughout the year they perform in musical concerts, dance presentations, or in middle school theater productions. The middle school computer science program aims to highlight the foundational concepts of computer science in a manner all students will find accessible and relatable. An interdisciplinary approach further illustrates the universal applicability of the discipline. Students will achieve an understanding of how digital information is encoded, how to approach problems algorithmically, and how programming can be used in both creative and problem-solving capacities. Students will be exposed to a wide array of programming concepts and environments and will further explore these topics via "unplugged" activities and cross-curricular projects. The middle school library program is structured around two major components: the teaching of research and library skills and promoting the love of reading. While there are no separate library classes, the librarians work closely with faculty in developing units that integrate library and research skills into the curriculum. The goal of the middle school LR program is to create successful, independent learners who are capable of advocating for themselves and utilizing the resources available to them. Students receive support with class assignments, study skills and strategies and executive functioning skills. The wellbeing and safety of our middle and upper school students is the Counseling program's priority. Counselors offer assistance and expertise to students who may be experiencing psychological stress, social difficulties and acute crisis, or are participating in high-risk behaviors. Latin's counselors offer an open and accepting environment in which each student is treated with care. Counselors also serve as consultants and liaisons to parents, faculty, staff and administrators. In middle school, the visual arts curriculum focuses on skill development and the expression of individual ideas. Students are encouraged to increase their observational skills and become aware of visual art elements and principles. Students also learn to make connections between their world and their art. Reading; vocabulary; spelling; higher order of thinking and questioning skills; writing Texts may include: Among the Hidden; Al Capone Does My Shirts; Tuck Everlasting; National Geographic's Treasury of Greek Mythology Literary elements; vocabulary; story telling; writing (genres include mystery, historical fiction, realistic fiction, non-fiction, short story) Language Arts: Writer's Workshop Texts may include: e Outsiders; Turn Left at the Cow; Keepers of the Earth; Shelf Life Literature; expository and creative writing; grammar; short stories, myths, and poetry; Language Arts: Writer's Workshop Texts may include: American Born Chinese; Diary of Anne Frank; Haroun and the Sea of Stories; House of the Scorpion Literature; expository and creative writing; grammar; vocabulary; short stories and poetry; Language Arts: Writer's Workshop Texts may include: Of Mice and Men; To Kill a Mockingbird; Romeo and Juliet; A Raisin in the Sun; e House on Mango Street Units: Geography; core social studies, concepts (government, economy, population, culture); Ancient Civilizations – India, China, and Greece; leadership study Sample projects: Modern World Leaders project. Students select a contemporary world leader, read a biography on the leader, and analyze the individual's leadership skills. Units: Early Humans & Early Societies; Guns, Germs & Steel; Ancient Sumer; Ancient Rome; the Punic Wars. Sample project: Students Investigate Ancient Sumer and create a Sumerian statue to stand in eternal prayer by utilizing skills taught in math. Units: Migration and Its Global Impact on Society; Immigrants and Cultural Integration; Culture and Globalization: Global Impact of McDonaldization; e World in a Candy Bar: Chocolate's Evolution From New World Currency to Global Addiction; Teaching Islam in a Post 9-11 World. Units: 9/11; Revolutionary War; Constitution; Civil War; World War I; e 1920s; e Depression; World War II; Cold War and Communism; Civil Rights; Gay Rights; Oral History. Sample Project: Family History Project. Students research, interview, and write about their own families over a period of months. ey present the final product to classmates and family. MATHEMATICS SCIENCE Number theory; division, ratios & exponential notation; estimation & calculation; geometry; fractions, decimals & percents; coordinates, area & circles; pre-algebra concepts and skills Math 6: Operations with and uses of fractions, decimals & integers; scientific notation; order of operations; percentages; rates & ratios; problem-solving strategies; dimensional analysis Math 6A: Additional Topics: Probability; multiplication & division with scientific notation; geometry, logic statements; translating words into algebraic expressions & equations. Math 7/ Regular and Challenge B: Statistics and displays; ratio and proportion; introduction to geometry; probability; variables; rational numbers; solving equations and inequalities with one variable; graphing linear equations Math 7 Challenge A / Algebra 1 Honors: Algebraic expressions; properties of real numbers; rational numbers; inequalities; polynomials; factoring; linear equations; graphing; systems; radical expressions; quadratics Math 8 /Algebra 1: Functions and relations; systems of linear equations and inequalities; graphing and data analysis; polynomials and factoring Math 8 Challenge B /Algebra 1 Honors: Linear functions and lines of best fit; inequalities and systems of inequalities; polynomials; factoring polynomials; applying fractions; rational and irrational numbers; probability Math 8A / Algebra 2 Honors: e Field Axioms; functions and relations; systems of linear equations and inequalities; complex numbers; quadratic relations and systems; sequences and series; probability PERFORMING ARTS LIBRARY COUNSELING Fifth through seventh grade students choose Band or Chorus (year-long), and have 1 trimester each of Drama, Dance and Visual Arts. Eighth grade students choose Band, Chorus or Arts Cycle Band: Students are introduced to band instruments, reading music and ensemble performance and refine these skills, working on increasingly complex pieces. Chorus: Students are introduced to the Solfege scale, basic posture, Bel Canto breathing; performance practice, one-part and two-part songs, note and rhythm identification and build on these skills. Drama: Fifth through seventh grade students are introduced to story dramatization, pantomime, theatre vocabulary, character development; dramatic structure, stage direction, playwriting and theater history. 8th – Students refine skills and work on units including: costume design, radio play and a study of ornton Wilder's Our Town. Movement/Dance: Students learn about the elements of movement; locomotors and axial movement; core; posture and alignment; dance technique, beginning choreography; folk dance, ballet and modern dance history. Latin: 5th – Translate the nominative, accusative and ablative cases in the first three declensions, and verbs in the present tense. 6th – Translate the genitive and dative cases, pronouns, and verbs in the imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses. 7th – Translate verbs in the passive and active voices. 8th – Translate verbs in the subjunctive, deponent verbs, participles, indirect statements, Study Roman life and history throughout. French: 5th - Basic greetings and salutations; describe friends, family, activities, a school day, basic meals. 6th – Describe home, basic household chores, clothes, shopping and travel. 7th – Discuss holidays, parties, shopping for food, daily routines. 8th – Discuss childhood experiences; life in the country vs. the city, feelings, health, art and literature Chinese: 5th – Basic greetings and salutations; talk about family, pets and the Chinese zodiac; write and type Chinese characters. 6th – Describe personalities, appearances, country of origin and languages spoken, school, sports, hobbies. 7th – Discuss time, daily routines, weekend plans; extend invitations or ask permission. 8th – Buy and negotiate prices; discuss food preferences. Study Chinese culture through readings, class activities and presentations throughout. Spanish: 5th – Describe friends and family, activities, a school day and basic meals. 6th – Talk about clothes, stores and places; ask for directions; make travel plans. 7th – Discuss daily routine and activities, past experiences and future plans. 8th – Talk about meal preparation; become familiar with Chinese foods and traditions; discuss community, the media and personal experiences. LANGUAGES PHYSICAL EDUCATION COMPUTER SCIENCE LEARNING RESOURCES Striking; throwing and catching; human growth and development; organizational games; swimming; racquet sports; fitness; yoga; diamond games; basketball; soccer; fitness testing Football; field hockey; team building; fitness; swimming; human growth and development; yoga; ultimate games; softball; fitness testing Football; softball; soccer; volleyball; floor hockey; Frisbee; golf; human growth and development; dance; swimming; fitness; Marathon Club; racquet sports; yoga/Pilates; basketball; track; fitness testing Team building; fitness; human growth and development; choice units (selected from student voting); fitness testing Science Skills: scientific method and metric system; Chemistry: properties of matter, atoms, periodic table; Physics: simple machines, electricity, magnetism; Biology and Ecology: water quality, plants Cells: microscope skills, cell structure and function, cellular life cycles; Animal Life: classification, behaviors, characteristics, adaptations; Ecology & Environmental Science: biomes, human impact, environmental solutions Human Body: organ systems, structures, functions, anatomy; Heredity & Genetics: DNA, genes, proteins, cellular reproduction, cloning; Evolution: natural selection, adaptation, extinction; Human Perception: optics and the brain, sound and the ear, learning and the brain; electromagnetic spectrum Meteorology: weather instrumentation and analysis, atmospheric thermodynamics and chemistry, climate change; Geology: plate tectonics, Earth's interior, rocks and minerals; Astronomy: moon, astronomical motions, planetary atmospheres and geology; Renewable Energy: forms and conservation of energy, Drawing the human figure; Greek mythology; still life drawing; value studies in black, white and gray; Silk Road Islamic patterns; illuminated manuscripts; Impressionist painting Self-portraits; optical effects; mannequins; cityscape; chalk drawings; dinosaurs Value painting of animals; Chinese Lattice design; Aboriginal dot painting; Chimera painting; genre drawing; color gradations Abstract design; illusion of depth; collage; contour hand drawing; transformation drawing; color theory painting; Cubism ONLY AT LATIN FRIENDS, NATURALLY Fifth grade students participate in three days and two nights of outdoor education, team building, physical activity and a multidisciplinary understanding of the natural world at the Lorado Taft Field Campus at NIU. 6 DEGREES OF STUDIES Sixth graders research Sumerian culture in social studies, use dimensional analysis to measure their own bodies in math and then use those measurements to create a Sumerian sculpture in visual arts. GOOOOAL! Seventh graders use the World Cup as a microcosm to gain a better understanding of globalization. During the simulation, students research countries, assume management roles within FIFA and have projects assessed by a panel of judges. FIRE STARTERS Eighth grade science students discuss methane as a greenhouse gas and its use as heating fuel in the majority of Illinois homes. ey then learn about risk taking in a controlled environment by using methane bubbles to set their own hands on fire. VISUAL ARTS

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