Computer Literacy

Textbook: None

Supplies:
3-1/2 inch floppy disk
Ruled paper for class notes

Course Description:
Computer Literacy focuses on developing and improving students’ computer skills in areas such as keyboarding, word processing, spread sheeting, database management, graphics, web design, and research. The goal is to equip students with the skills they will need to successfully complete school assignments and projects.

Faith Based Objectives:
* Fall Semester: Model appropriate behavior of disciples of God with our words, thoughts, and actions.
* Spring Semester Demonstrate a godly desire to honor God with our talents and resources.

Course Objectives:
* Improve computer keyboard skills in speed and accuracy
* Demonstrate understanding of Windows operating system
* Master basic skills in using Microsoft Office applications
* Create projects using various graphics applications
* Develop and edit a web page using both editor and HTML

Literature

Textbook and Supplementary Materials:
Prentice Hall Literature, Prentice Hall
Bloomability, Sharon Creech

Other supplementary materials at teacher’s discretion.

Supplies:
Blue or black pen (erasable preferred), red pen, notebook paper, white spiral or composition note book, white three-ring binder, one packet of 5-tab dividers

Course Description:
Middle school literature encompasses teaching students reading and writing at a level that prepares them for high school. Students are exposed to a variety of genres in literature. They not only learn the characteristics of each genre, but also how to think critically and analytically about the selection. Students learn to diagram a story identifying plot, setting, characters, climax, resolution, and theme.

Faith-Based Objectives:
* Fall Semester: Critical evaluation of issues and biblical truth through novels, myths, short stories, and essays
* Spring Semester: Critical evaluation of issues and biblical truth through drama, poetry, novels, and essays

Course Objectives:
* “The” novel
* Short stories – fiction
* Essays – non-fiction
* Fables, folk tales, myths
* In class novel studies
* Research skills
* Essay writing: Narrative, Descriptive, Persuasive, Expository
* Drama

Grammar

Textbook and Supplementary Materials:
Grammar and Composition, Heath
Vocabulary Workshop, Sadlier-Oxford

Supplementary materials at teacher’s discretion.

Supplies:
Blue or black pen (erasable preferred), red pen, notebook paper, yellow spiral or composition note book, yellow three-ring binder, one packet of 5-tab dividers

Course Description:
Students in English class are given the tools needed to effectively communicate both orally and through written means. Emphasis to structure and form is given to grammar, spelling, mechanics, and the development of sentences, paragraphs, and essays. Students will be required to write in a variety of forms and to present their work orally both within the classroom and in a larger middle-school coffeehouse setting. In preparation for high school and college entrance exams, emphasis is also placed on systematic vocabulary development.

Faith-Based Objectives:
* Fall Semester: Communicating God’s truth effectively in a
Christ-like manner
* Spring Semester: Learning more about God as Creator through creative expression

Course Objectives:
* Parts of Speech review and usage
* Mechanics of composition
* Essay writing: Narrative, Descriptive, Persuasive, Expository, and Research
* Creative Writing

History

Textbook and Supplementary Materials:
World Explorer – Prentice Hall
Classroom Atlas – Rand McNally

Supplies:
paper textbook cover – no stretch covers J
map pencils
highlighter – 2 different colors
blue/black pens
spiral notebook
folder with brads or section in notebook for graded papers

Course Description:
Students will learn about the history and geography of the world from a Christian perspective. Students will study history and geography as a picture of what man has done with the time and places God has given him.

Faith Based Objective:
Fall Semester: Students will learn the geographic, historical and cultural elements of the Western Hemisphere and see the care and creativity that God used to create and place each person, animal, and plant into their optimum environment.

Spring Semester:
Students will learn the geographic, historical and cultural elements of the Eastern Hemisphere and see the care and creativity that God used to create and place each person, animal, and plant into their optimum environment.

Course Objectives:
Through the course of the year, the students will learn
* that because we are all sinners and have free will, we make various choices in life that lead to many different outcomes, war among the nations being one of them.
* To see God’s grace in delivering and guiding nations through growth.
* To recognize God’s hand in the specific creation of climates, landforms, and living things within the World.

Science

Textbook:
Science Explorer, Prentice Hall

Supplies:
1” 3-ring binder, 5 dividers, ink pen, pencil, highlighter, goggles

Course Description:
The student will conduct field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices; the scientific method, critical thinking and problem solving; the appropriate tools, methods, and safety procedures. 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 – processes

The student will learn that there is a relationship between force and motion; that complex interactions occur between matter and energy; that substances have physical and chemical properties; and how energy affects the environment. 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9 - physical

The student will learn the difference between renewable, nonrenewable, and inexhaustible resources and how we use them; the components of our solar system; and the structures and functions of Earth’s systems. 6.9, 6.13, 6.14 - earth

The student will learn the energy flow in living systems including food chains and food webs; the relationship between structure and function in living systems; that species can change through generations and the instructions for traits are contained in the genetic material of an organism; and that the responses of organisms are caused by internal or external stimuli. 6.8, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12 – life

Faith Based Objectives:
Understand that God created the world and all things in it.

Course Objectives:
The student will demonstrate:
* the safe and appropriate use of tools and methods during laboratory investigations.
* critical thinking and problem solving skills during scientific investigations.
* understanding of the relationships between force and motion, the physical and chemical properties of matter, and the complex interactions between matter and energy.
* understanding of the Earth’s resources and how we use them.
* understanding of the structures and functions of the Earth’s systems.
* understanding of the relationship between structure and function in living systems, that species can change through generations and how this happens, that internal or external stimuli can cause responses and how.