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Curriculum

 

6th Grade

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

The goal of the Language Arts program at Nashville Christian School is for each student to develop competency in the following areas--reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We believe these skills to be developmental in nature and the keys to both academic success and positive social interaction. NCS offers a variety of opportunities for students to develop their skills in these areas, encouraging creativity while fostering fundamental soundness.  

Grammar    
Identify and use all parts of speech, including verb tense and conjugation, simple and compound sentences, adjective and adverb phrases, and correct capitalization and punctuation. 

Vocabulary    
Identify commonly misspelled or misused words, recognize words from literature and the concepts of language (such as voice, propaganda, idioms, etc); distinguish synonyms and antonyms, interpret analogies, and select grade- and situation-appropriate word choice.

Writing    
Brainstorm, organize, draft, revise, and edit; compose pieces that cover the foundations of composition--narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing; form unified paragraphs, summaries, and journal entries; identify and apply the elements of poetry; interpret and analyze literary works.

Literature 

Build a strong basis for reading by increasing independence as readers, practicing reading comprehension strategies, and analyzing literary devices. While students will learn the literary elements within text selections such as theme, style, characterization, and the parts of story, they will also discover the aesthetic elements of the text, explore the emotions, and analyze and evaluate what they have read.

SOCIAL STUDIES

World History    
In sixth grade, students will understand the characteristics and uses of maps from political to Mercator. The student will focus on the location of places and geographical features, both physical and human. The student will consider the origin of the world and birth of civilization. The student will explore various civilizations from early Africa and Asia to Mediterranean Empires. Some of the activities include a field trip to the Hindu temple, performing a Greek Mythology play, and constructing an Egyptian pyramid or tomb. Some skills that the student will focus on are effective communication, critical thinking, and group dynamics.

SCIENCE  

Earth Science 
Sixth grade students will explore and study the Earth and the many features that God created. The students will explore the elements that make up planet Earth, the changing surface of the Earth, types of water on the Earth, weather, climate, and astronomy. Students will experience this study through reading, discussion, demonstrations, individual projects, and group projects.    

MATH

Mathematics is a standard level course in the middle school mathematics sequence. Students will actively engage in the six levels of mathematics content and process standards that are outlined by the state of Tennessee. Students will refine their understanding and fluency in operating with fractions and decimals. They will explore and develop an understanding of the following mathematics concepts and their application: integers, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning, properties of two- and three-dimensional figures, measurement and probability and statistics. Students who successfully complete sixth grade mathematics will continue in either Pre-Algebra or standard seventh grade math.


7th Grade

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

The seventh grade language arts curriculum focuses on preparing students to communicate effectively with others through the written word, while encouraging them to read in order to explore and better understand the world around them. 

Vocabulary    
Vocabulary study for Language Arts includes the study of Greek and Latin roots, frequently misspelled words, and words encountered through the reading of various literature and nonfiction texts. Students will practice using newly acquired vocabulary in both writing and speech.

Writing/Composition    
Writing composition is taught in two ways. Students prepare to write by understanding the mechanics of good composition. Students become writers by studying the work of great writers, then creating original works. Focus is on writing for a variety of purposes, to a variety of audiences, in a variety of genres, including both creative and expository writing.

Literature    
This course introduces students to a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts from both classic and contemporary authors. Students have the opportunity to select novels for independent study and complete projects based on their reading interests. The elements of literature--plot, theme, tone, characterization--will be reinforced.

Grammar    
Recognize, identify, and use all parts of speech; identify simple, complex, and compound sentences; identify subordinate and independent clauses; edit texts for grammar and punctuation errors.

SOCIAL STUDIES

World Geography    
7th grade students will explore and learn about a variety of elements in geography. It will include a study of the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment, society, and the uses of geography. Students will spend time learning about the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. Students will spend a portion of the year focusing on the state of Tennessee and its history.

SCIENCE

Life Science    
Life Science is centered around the idea that God has created an incredible natural world for students to explore. The first semester focuses on classifying organisms according to their structures, behaviors, and food habits. Students learn to recognize characteristics that put organisms into the five main kingdoms, the many phylums, and several classes and orders. Students take this information and learn all about how organisms change due to genetic traits being passed down to offspring. Students explore human karyotypes and traits. The second semester is spent investigating scientific classes in great detail. Then students use this information to explore how God has designed the human body in such wonderful detail. Students spend the last few weeks analyzing plants and biomes. This entire course is dedicated to allowing students to feel, analyze and relate organisms to how they fit into God's great nature design.

MATH

Pre-Algebra    
Pre-Algebra is an advanced course that reinforces and builds on a student’s prior knowledge of math with an addition of advanced computation and an emphasis on algebraic concepts. Students will become familiar and build a solid foundation with the following: the properties of mathematics, the language of algebra, solving one step and two step equations, operations with rational numbers and integers, solving inequalities, graphing equations and inequalities, proportion, percent, statistics and graphs, probability, applying algebra to geometric concepts, measurement, introduction to trigonometry, and the study of polynomials. The skills learned in this class will prepare them for success in Algebra 1.
 

7th Math    
7th Grade Math is a standard course that continues to help students build a solid math foundation. This class introduces students to many useful algebraic concepts. Students learn to apply their knowledge to solve many different types of problems. It covers a variety of topics that include: decimal patterns and algebra, integers, analyzing data, linear equations and functions, fractions, decimals, and percents, ratios and proportions, probability, and area and volume of two and three dimensional objects. The skills taught in this class will prepare students for Pre-Algebra.


8th Grade

 

LANGUAGE ARTS

The eighth grade language arts curriculum focuses on preparing students to communicate effectively with others through the written word, while encouraging them to read in order to explore and better understand the world around them.
 

Vocabulary    
Vocabulary study for Language Arts includes the study of Greek and Latin roots, frequently misspelled words, and words encountered through the reading of various literature and nonfiction texts. Students will practice using newly acquired vocabulary in both writing and speech.

Writing/Composition    
Writing composition is taught in two ways. Students prepare to write by understanding the mechanics of good composition. Students become writers by studying the work of great writers, then creating original works. Focus is on writing for a variety of purposes, to a variety of audiences, in a variety of genres, including both creative and expository.
 

Literature    
This course introduces students to a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts from both classic and contemporary authors. Students have the opportunity to select novels for independent study and complete projects based on their reading interests. The elements of literature--plot, theme, tone, characterization--will be reinforced.

Grammar    
Recognize, identify, and use all parts of speech; identify simple, complex, and compound sentences; identify subordinate and independent clauses; edit texts for grammar and punctuation errors.

Spanish I    
Advanced students will be offered an opportunity to take Spanish I for high school credit as an 8th grader. In Spanish I, students will be introduced to the basic fundamentals of building competence in Spanish. Students will be challenged to communicate in Spanish in a variety of ways. Both active writing and speaking are expected in the classroom as well as listening and reading comprehension. This course will introduce basic grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, conjugation of verbs, culture and geography of Latin America. Some of the topics to be discussed are:  alphabet, greetings, numbers1-100,000, countries, interrogative pronouns, articles, adjective agreement, weather terms, telling time, days of the week, months, subject pronouns, conjugating regular and irregular verbs in the present tense, cultural days (Quinceañera, Día de los muertos, Navidad), ser vs. estar, object pronouns, progressive tense, personal “a”, possessive adjectives, demonstrative adjectives/pronouns. 

SOCIAL STUDIES

American History    
8th grade students will focus on American history in early civilization through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Students will summarize and understand how civilization began and continued in America. They will describe and analyze the major causes, key events, and important personalities of the American Revolution. They will examine in depth the factors, events, documents, significant individuals, and political ideas that lead to the formation of the United States. Students will participate in a chronological study of the early republic, westward expansion, and the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Students will also be introduced to the constitutional government of the United States.

SCIENCE

Physical Science    
Physical Science is a mixture between introductory physics and introductory chemistry. The first semester students investigate how the periodic table helps us categorize chemicals based on their behavior in chemical equations. They explore mixing various chemicals that have precipitants and properties of molecular behavior in general. Balancing equations and learning about Lewis structures is essential to understanding chemical equation steps. The first semester ends with an introduction to acids and bases. The second semester is centered on motion physics and nuclear reaction physics.  Students perform multiple labs in motion experiences that involve speed, velocity, acceleration and direction. Students continue their learning with simple machines and Newton's three laws of motion. This entire course is dedicated to allowing students to manipulate materials to increase learning about chemistry and physics to better understand the order in God's world.
 

MATH

Algebra 1    
Algebra I is an advanced course where students have the opportunity to take a high school course. They will be asked to take a state mandated end of course assessment to demonstrate mastery of the curriculum. Algebra I involves a study of the language, concepts, and techniques of Algebra that will help prepare students for solving problems by following a succession of steps. The main goal of this course is to develop confidence in working with linear equations. Students will extend their experiences with tables, graphs, and equations to where they can solve linear equations, linear inequalities, and systems of linear equations and inequalities. Students will extend their understanding of the number system to include irrational numbers. The students will learn to simplify polynomials and begin to study quadratic relationships. Students will use technology and models to investigate and explore mathematical ideas and relationships and develop multiple strategies for analyzing complex situations. The skills taught in this class will help to lay the foundation for upper level math and science courses.
 

Pre-Algebra    
Pre-Algebra is a standard course that reinforces and builds on a student’s prior knowledge of math with an addition of advanced computation and an emphasis on algebraic concepts. Students will become familiar and build a solid foundation with the following: the properties of mathematics, the language of algebra, solving one step and two step equations, operations with rational numbers and integers, solving inequalities, graphing equations and inequalities, proportion, percent, statistics and graphs, probability, applying algebra to geometry, measurement, introduction to trigonometry, and the study of polynomials. The skills learned in this class will prepare the students for success in Algebra 1.