6th-8th Grade Curriculum
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6th Grade
The sixth grade language arts program focuses on creative writing, English grammar and usage, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and composition. Special attention is placed on sentence and paragraph structure using the writing process. Students develop pre-writing skills such as brainstorming, webbing ideas, in addition to, the ability to self-edit and revise first drafts. Creative writing opportunities encourage the student’s self-expression. A structured vocabulary unit, synonyms, antonyms, and word families are taught to help the students enhance their reading comprehension, increase vocabulary, and develop reasoning skills. The literature program for the sixth grade is designed to introduce the students to different literary forms, and expand their literary tastes. In addition to novels, selections from various poetic and dramatic sources are utilized, as well as historic fiction which correlates with the history curriculum.
The sixth grade completes the study of American history begun in the fifth grade with an exploration of the modern era, from the post-Civil Ward America through the Cold War. The course integrates biographical studies, geography, political studies, economics, and history. Students participate in an indepth study of the Earth sciences, which include the study of meteorology, fresh water systems, geology, crustal activities, paleontology, environmental science, and oceanography. This is a laboratory science course with hands-on activities and experiments designed to further the student’s understanding of the scientific concepts.
New mathematical concepts introduced at this level include basic algebra and geometry, as well as a consumer math unit.
Sixth grade student’s enrichment classes consist of art, Spanish, computer lab, religion, P. E., Chapel, and music/drama. Band is also offered to the sixth grade.
7th Grade
The curriculum of the seventh grade consists of a comprehensive high school preparatory program. Seventh grade language arts program focuses on further developing writing skills with an emphasis on correct grammatical usage and sentence structure in order to form strong paragraphs, essays, and letter creative writings. Students learn various styles of writing including persuasive, expository, descriptive, letter writing, and narrative forms. Spelling and vocabulary development continue. The major writing project for the seventh grade is an autobiography. Through a comprehensive study of the English language and its structure, the students acquire an understanding of the language and its function, and the processes needed for clear, precise communication. At the seventh grade level, the literature program is correlated with the history curriculum. Students focus on readings from different cultures, including but not limited to Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Hebrew, Sumerian, African, and Oriental mythologies. Novels will be interspersed, as well as the works of William Shakespeare using both the original and explanatory notes. Outside reading from a variety of sources is also required.
The seventh grade history program is a comprehensive study of world history. This course integrates history, geography, religion, culture, economics, and biographical studies within each chapter. Projects, biographies, and essays are assigned to increase in-depth comprehension of the material. Beginning with prehistory, the class studies the ancient cultures, Classical Greece and Rome, early India, Asia, America, Africa, and the rise of the major world religions. The seventh grade study continues through the European Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, then completes the year with New World exploration and colonization.
The seventh grade science program consists of a yearlong science curriculum. Throughout this study of biology, students learn the usage and care of the microscope, scientific classification, and how to make a scientific collection. Students proceed through the study of cellular processes and genetics to the major kingdoms. A comparison of the major organ systems and behaviors of life forms unite the material into a cohesive, understandable framework from which to launch into the study of human anatomy, physiology, and reproduction. This is a laboratory science course with hands-on activities, dissections, and experiments to further the student’s understanding of the scientific concepts.
Seventh grade students may be placed in regular mathematics or pre-Algebra. All courses will review fundamental mathematic concepts, the international metric system, basic geometry, and consumer math.
Enrichment classes for seventh grade are Spanish, art, advanced classes in computer technology, religion, P. E., Chapel, band, and music/drama.
8th Grade
The curriculum of the eighth grade consists of a comprehensive high school preparatory program. The language arts program uses various forms of creative writing, essays, journal activities, and narrative writings, to enhance the student’s writing skills. Spelling vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, and the writing process continue to be emphasized. The major writing project for the eighth grade is a research project. With this comprehensive study of the English language and its structure, the students are prepared for placement in high school English courses. The literature program is correlated with the history curriculum. Studying the Pre-American Revolutionary era through World War II, eighth graders will span the growth of our nation, the Industrial Revolution, western expansion, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Literature will include, but is not limited to poetry, short stories, novels, and a variety of required outside reading.
The history curriculum completes the study of World History begun in the seventh grade. This course integrates history, geography, religion, culture, economics, and biographical studies into each unit. Projects, biographies, and essays are assigned to increase in-depth comprehension of the material. The course commences with Europe in the 1500-1600s and progresses through the revolutions in Western Europe and the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Imperialism, the Industrial Revolution and subsequent economic changes, scientific advances, and American westward expansion are discussed. In a separate unit, the United States Constitution is thoroughly covered. The course continues through both world wars, and the post-war conflicts in Asia, the Middle East, and between the superpowers. Emphasis is placed on the world, but specific readings and assignments more closely study the forces at work in American during these times.
The eighth grade science curriculum is a study of the physical sciences. The program consists of a semester of physics including measurement, light, electricity, magnetism, waves, sound, mirrors, and lenses, and a semester of chemistry including composition and properties of matter, atomic structure, elements, bonding, solutions, reactions, acids, bases, salts, formulae, and stoichiometry. Throughout the program, mathematical formulae are used in conjunction with the topics studied. This is a laboratory science course, with hands-on activities and experiments developed to further the student’s understanding of the scientific concepts.
Eighth grade students may be placed in Pre-Algebra or Algebra classes. All courses will review fundamental mathematic concepts, the international metric system, basic geometry, economics, and consumer math. After completion of St. John’s eighth grade pre-algebra and algebra program, students are able to enter high school well prepared for freshman level mathematics courses, and some students have the ability to advance immediately into sophomore level mathematics.
Enrichment classes for seventh grade are Spanish, art, advanced classes in computer technology, religion, P. E., Chapel, band, and music/drama.