Religion
(Taught by Mrs. Francia Hendricks)
Area Study
CREED: A Course on Catholic Belief
- The Universal desire for God;
uniqueness of our Catholic Faith
- Revelation; fullness of revelation;
Scripture, tradition, deposit of faith
- The meaning of faith; qualities of
faith
- Reason and revelation; attributes of
God; Faith and Science
- God’s transcendence and immanence;
the Blessed Trinity
- Evolution and faith; original sin;
sanctifying grace
- Incarnation; Jesus Christ, divine and
human
Required Materials
Religion book, spiral notebook for
religion, any handouts distributed by the
teacher, college ruled folder paper, blue or
black ballpoint pen, and colored pencils
Objectives
- To explore the desire for the holy in
human beings.
- To examine the religious beliefs of
ancient Greece and Rome.
- To explore the religious beliefs of
the ancient Egyptians and roots and
beliefs of Hinduism.
- To examine the sources and beliefs of
Buddhism and Islam and to learn what the
Catholic Church teaches about other
religions.
- To deepen awareness of the holy in our
lives.
- To learn that God shows us who he is
through his creation, in his
relationship with his people, and most
fully in Jesus.
- To become aware that divine revelation
happens over a long period of time, in
history, between God and people, and in
community.
- To appreciate that revelation is
handed on from generation to generation
through the interaction of the living
tradition of the Church and Scripture.
- To learn that the depots of faith
contains all the truths entrusted by
Jesus to the Church
- To understand that believing or having
faith in something or someone means
putting our trust in our past
experiences or in someone else.
- To explore the characteristics of
faith.
- To discover that our gift of faith
must be nourished and practiced.
- To explore three convincing arguments
for the existence of God.
- To discover that the Genesis account
of creation shows that God created, not
how he created
- To discover that God is eternal,
almighty, all-knowing and all-present.
- To discover and acknowledge God’s
transcendence.
- To explore and celebrate God’s
transcendence and God’s immanence.
- To explore the mystery of the Blessed
Trinity.
- To explore the most basic truths that
God revealed about human beings.
- To explore the Church’s teaching
about evolution and other matters of
science and faith.
- To explore the effects of original
sin.
- To discover Jesus of Nazareth and the
state of the world at the time of his
birth.
- To explore the church’s teaching
about the mystery of the incarnation.
Assessment
Tests
Service Hours
Class work
Homework
Projects
Social Studies
(Taught by Mrs. Georgette Dickson)
Language
Arts
(Taught by Mrs. Barbara Seery)
Literature
Novels: The class will be reading the play, The Diary of Anne
Frank, and the novels, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, A Christmas
Carol, The Contenders, Z for Zachariah,
and Deathwatch.
These stories deal with teens and a way of life during a particular
time — good for class discussions and thought provoking questions.
Activities and projects will be assigned with the novels/play, and a
test will be given at the culmination of the book/play discussion.
Short stories will be assigned from four different sets of
textbooks. Literary terms will be worked on and constant work is done
on improving comprehension.
Read magazine is used each week. Both current and older issues
are employed. Focus is on stories and literary devices and
comprehension. Play is also read in class.
Videos are shown which will go along with Diary of Anne Frank.
Occasionally other videos will be shown go along with the theme of
a story or show a parallel to material being studied.
English
Throughout the year the fundamentals of
English grammar are taught and re-taught. The second trimester work
will mainly consists of:
- Continuation in work on the parts of speech – adjectives,
adverbs, conjunctions
- Punctuation
- Paragraph writing
- Creative stories in the Writing-to-Read Lab
- Work in computer lab in the SuccessMaker program and other
activities
Vocabulary: The class is assigned a unit in the vocabulary book
each week; the work is due on Friday. The following Friday, students
are given a test on the unit words. The vocabulary words are posted on
a bulletin board in the classroom and students are encouraged to use
the words in their answers.
Spelling: Each week a unit is completed in Spelling. The unit is
done at home and turned in on Thursday. Tests are on Friday. Some
worksheets on the weekly work are done during the week. The
SuccessMaker computer program has a spelling section that the class
works on most weeks.
Read magazine has many activities for Language Arts instruction
and review. These lessons are incorporated in the English classes .
Mathematics
(Taught by Ms. Marion Watson and Mrs. Francia Hendricks)
Students in Jr. High will discover and view
mathematics as an adventure, not a chore.
Students will think logically and creatively,
draw conclusions and justify solutions with an
emphasis on problem solving.
The Jr. High math is a rigorous program which
includes preparation for algebra and geometry,
NCTM content and process standards plus
practical strategies for taking tests.
Each grade is required to enter a four
(4)-part nationwide math contest. Its primary
purpose is to sharpen the participating student
test-taking math skills that are needed to do
well in college entrance exams.
Course Description- Grade 8.
A Pre- Algebra course with emphasis on basic skills in
preparation for algebra.
Pre requisite for algebra 1: Student will take the Math
Diagnostic Testing Project-Algebra Readiness Test.
Texts:
- Pre Algebra- Heath
- Keys to Algebra- Key Curriculum Press
- Algebra 1- Merrill
Science
(Taught by Ms. Watson)
Lessons to be covered in the second trimester:
Textbook: Focus on Physical Science, Science Explorer -
California Edition, Prentice Hall Inc., 2001
Unit 1 Motion, Forces, and Energy (continued)
Chapter 6 Thermal Energy and Heat
Temperature and thermal energy, the nature of heat, thermal
energy and states of matter, uses of heat.
Experiment: What does it meant to heat up?
Unit 2 Sound and Light
Chapter 7 Characteristics of Waves
What are waves?, properties of waves, interaction of waves,
seismic waves.
Experiment: How do waves travel in a spring toy?
Chapter 8 Sound
The nature of sound, properties of sound, combining sound waves,
how you hear sound, applications of sound.
Experiment: What do musical instruments have in common?
Experiment: How can you produce different notes with bottles of
water?
Chapter 9 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The nature of electromagnetic waves, waves of the electromagnetic
spectrum, producing visible light, wireless communication.
Chapter 10 Light
Reflection and mirrors, refraction and lenses, color, seeing
light, using light.
Experiment: Which light bulb provides the best illumination?
Unit 3 Electricity and Magnetism
Chapter 11 Magnetism and Electromagnetism
The nature of magnetism, magnetic earth, electric current and
magnetic fields, electromagnets.
Chapter 12 Electric Charges and Current
Electric charge and static electricity, circuit measurements,
series and parallel circuits, electrical safety.
Chapter 13 Electricity and Magnetism at Work
Electricity, magnetism, and motion, generating electric current,
using electric power, batteries.
Computer Lab: Students will be using the SuccessMaker Science
Discovery program.
Computers
(Taught by Mr. Tim Vos)
In the 8th grade
students take one computer class a week,
where they learn to use Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. They also work
on honing their typing skills.
Physical Education
(Taught by Mrs.
Bertha Duliere)
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