Middle School

 

Using Glencoe’s Literature: Reading with a Purpose as well as Glencoe’s Writer’s Choice: Grammar and Composition and Glencoe Language Arts: Grammar and Language Workbook programs, students study a variety of literature and improve the quality of their writing abilities. Grammar and spelling are a significant focus of this program. Novel study includes Number the Stars and Bridge to Terabithia. Cross-curricular projects are implemented to enhance student learning.

 

Seventh Grade both builds on and extends the English curriculum of the previous school year. Continued use of Glencoe’s Literature: Reading with a Purpose as well as Glencoe’s Writer’s Choice: Grammar and Composition and Glencoe Language Arts: Grammar and Language Workbook programs are utilized with students studying a variety of literature and improving the quality of their writing. Grammar and spelling are once again a focus of the program. Research skills are also emphasized. Novel study includes Johnny Tremain, and True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Cross-curricular projects are used to enhance student learning.

 

Glencoe’s Literature: Reading with a Purpose as well as Glencoe’s Writer’s Choice: Grammar and Composition and Glencoe Language Arts: Grammar and Language Workbook programs remain the foundation texts for the study of a variety of literature and units which continue to develop and improve the quality of student writing. Novel study in the Eighth Grade includes such classics as Island of the Blue Dolphins, and The Outsiders. Student application of research skills are also enhanced when they complete a cross-curricular research project.

 

Students in Sixth Grade study world geography. They delve into the core concepts of physical geography as well as historical and cultural diversity in the Western hemisphere. Virtual field trips and a closer look at regional daily lives are some of the highlights for each unit of study. Students explore and investigate important global topics online as well as the use of eyewitness accounts and documents (primary/secondary sources).  Writing, research, and projects complement their studies.

 

Students’ continued study of world geography in Seventh Grade covers historical and cultural diversity in the Eastern hemisphere. As in the previous year, virtual field trips remain a highlight for each unit of study. Students explore and investigate important global topics online as well as the use of eyewitness accounts and documents (primary/secondary sources). Writing, research and projects continue to complement their studies.

 

Eighth Grade students finish the Middle School Social Studies curriculum with United States History. This arc of study encompasses both historical and geographical themes. Units include colonies, the American Revolution, government, expansion, and wars, as well as modern America. Writing, research, and projects complement their studies.

 

The focus in Sixth Grade is on basic operations, including decimal numbers, and the order of operations. Students are introduced to new concepts such as the ordering of rational numbers, including use of a number line, exponents and square roots, data analysis, and probability.  Students in Sixth Grade will work with prime factoring and uses, and parts of a whole, including diagramming as a solving tool. Basic geometry terms will be introduced, and students will work with polygons, measurement using ruler and protractor, perimeter and area of basic shapes. 

 

Students in Sixth Grade use the Saxon textbook.

 

Seventh Grade students will review basic operations, then extend into integers and application to multi-step problems. Time will be spent on interpreting different types of wording that apply to basic operations and solving one and two step equations. Students will also work extending learning from the Sixth Grade, including:

Use of a number line to compare and order rational numbers;

Use of comparison symbols;

Work with prime factoring and uses;

Work with exponents;

Basic geometry terms and properties;

Identification and work with polygons; and,

Customary measurements and conversions

Students will also explore some data collection and analysis; probability, including dependent and independent events; and, work with patterns.

 

Students in Seventh Grade use the Saxon textbook.

 

Students in Pre-Algebra will continue their development of mathematical vocabulary. They will work on modelling and solving up to four step equations and inequalities, including number line graphing. They will learn to find and use slope and y-intercept from multiple representations, and graph lines. Pre-Algebra students begin to use algebraic methods to solve ratio and proportion, as well as percent-based problems. They will be introduced to exponent rules and nonlinear functions. Time permitting, this class will work on other topics that may include: Pythagorean Theorem, distance formula, special right triangles; and also, areas, surface areas, and volumes of three dimensional shapes.

 

Students in Pre-Algebra use the Glencoe textbook.

 

Algebra students will find the work very similar to pre-algebra (particularly for the first part of the year) but faster and more in-depth.  To that end, students in Algebra will work to cover the following areas:

Model and solve multi-step equations and inequalities, including ratio, proportion, and percent;

Find and use slope and y-intercept from multiple representations, graphing lines and linear inequalities;

Use of function notation;

Solving systems of equations and inequalities;

Factoring and solving factorable equations; and,

In-depth work with exponents. 

 

Additional topics that, time permitting, may be covered in this class include radical expressions and equations, as well as algebraic fraction reduction.

 

Students in Algebra use the Prentice Hall textbook.

 

 

States of matter

Energy

Introduction to living things

Cells and the human body

Ecosystems

Natural resources

 

Matter

Introduction to chemistry

Thermal energy

Plants and animals

Genetics and DNA

Solar system

 

Chemical reactions

Acids and bases

Forces

Biomes and ecosystems

Geologic time

Plate tectonics

Erosion and deposition

Earth’s resources

 

The Middle School meets with Father Mike once a week. During this time together, students have the opportunity to explore and discuss a variety of topics. These include Biblical themes, the history of the Christian faith, and major world religions, among others. Students learn about the central beliefs and concepts of the major living religious traditions of the world as well as those of ancient Egypt and Rome.  As part of this, students study the structure and ritual life of religious communities, including significant holidays.  On occasion, students work on individual and group projects for presentation to fellow students.

 

Religions covered in study:

 

Christianity

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Rome

Hinduism

Zoroastrianism

Judaism

Confucianism

Buddhism

Islam

Indigenous People

 

 

 

Middle school students meet two times per week during the second quarter to work on Christmas music for our Christmas program.  Students again meet two times per week in the fourth quarter to work on music for the Dinner theatre production.   

 

Through a cooperative arrangement with Ardmore City Schools, students in Middle School are also offered the opportunity to participate in Middle School Beginner Band and Drama, for more information, click here.

 

Several music courses are also offered electives. For additional information about these, please see the section on Middle School Electives.

 

Students work on building coordination skills, an understanding of multiple sport concepts and fundamental skills, as well as general strength and more vigorous conditioning. The program strives to create an environment that promotes self-confidence, leadership qualities, teamwork and sportsmanship in each student.

 

Middle School PE is complemented by the opportunity to participate in a cooperative Athletics Program.

 

This course is designed to help students develop and use study skills that will help them become successful learners. Students will learn various techniques that will be helpful to them throughout their academic years.

 

Time management and organization of materials

Reading strategies

Learning styles

Note taking

Test preparation and test taking strategies

 

Writing assignments cover a range of subject areas that clearly identify purpose, audience, and real-world context. Students are given clearly defined writing tasks that provide opportunities for peer conferencing and graphic organizers to aid in prewriting. Through this structured writing process, students develop critical thinking, listening, and speaking skills.

Art

Students electing Art in Middle School will have opportunities to apply problem solving methods to overcome creative blocks. They will be able to explore the creative process using traditional or new media. They will work to continue developing their artistic skills and have opportunities to try new techniques. Drawing more realistically, proportional faces, and bodies in action are some of the specific skills students will work towards mastering at this level. Shading techniques will also be covered in Middle School. As in previous years, students will learn about famous artists to use their work as the catalyst for creating pieces of art. 

 

Complementing physical development, which is a core subject throughout Middle School, students are eligible to participate in competitive sport through an OSSAA sanctioned Sport Co-operative Activities Program with Dickson Public Schools.

B – Boys / G – Girls

Baseball (B)

Basketball (B & G)

Cross Country (B & G)

Football (B)

Power Lifting (B)

Softball – Fast Pitch (G)

Softball – Slow Pitch (G)

Track & Field (B & G)

 

Oak Hall Episcopal School is grateful to the School Board of Dickson Public Schools, and their coaches and teachers for allowing our students to participate in this Co-operative Activity Program.

 

Complementing music and art which are offered at various times throughout the year as both core and elective subjects for Middle School, students are eligible to participate in additional Fine Arts activities through an OSSAA sanctioned Fine Arts Co-operative Activities Program with Ardmore City Schools.

B – Boys / G – Girls

Beginner Band (B & G)

Beginner Drama (B & G)

 

Oak Hall Episcopal School is grateful to the School Boards of Ardmore City Schools, and their directors and teachers for allowing our students to participate in this Co-operative Activity Program.

 

This course serves as an introduction to making music on the guitar, and is split into units that cover the understanding of the instrument and the music it can create. During each lesson students will have a routine of group instruction and practice.

Although the course is offered during different Quarters, it is designed for students to continue the study sequentially through the year, and therefore “new” students are not admitted after the first quarter.

This Course will teach students to:

Identify the parts of the guitar;

Perform basic maintenance, change strings, and clean the instrument;

Apply techniques for standard and relative tuning of the instrument;

Perform exercises for strumming & picking as well as patterns for scales & arpeggios;

Play popular songs using chord charts, lyrics, and tab while interpreting dynamics;

Play common chord progressions independently and with peers to compose music;

Employ numbering systems to perform basic key changes;

Play through songs and duets with a stable pulse and with an accurate realization of the notation;

Read sheet music involving notation, time signature, key signature, and rhythmic sub-division; and,

Communicate the interpretation of the music in a way that conveys a sense of stylistic understanding.

 

Please note: This class incurs an addition cost. The cost is based upon the number of students in the class.

 

 

Independent Studies is offered twice a year, each time for nine weeks.

Students choose a topic they are interested in independently researching. The first several weeks the student will research and write a paper about their chosen topic. They will then use the last several week to work on a 3D project that directly correlates to their chosen topic. Students will present their research paper and 3D project to their peers at the end of the nine weeks.

All work is done in class.

Some topics students have presented in the past include:

3D Printer

Sword

Yellow Stone National Park

Hand woven dog collars

Rockets

 

The following Music Electives are offered at various times: 

Music History: For each style period (The Middle Ages, 450-1450; The Renaissance Period, 1450-1600; The Baroque Period, 1600-1750; The Classical Period, 1750-1825; The Romantic Period, 1825-1900; and, the 20th and 21st Centuries) students must name the most important composers and their famous composition. They listen to, analyze, and describe the music. Students taking this elective will complete a Composer notebook and the final grade is based, in part, on their research of a composer of their choice and their ability to have an oral question and answer discussion in character. 

Acting and Musical Theatre: Students learn about and discuss the cultural evolution of musical theatre, including but not limited to; the Greek theatre, Kabuki theatre, Chinese Opera, Shakespeare, and explore why Musical Theatre is still important in the 21st century.

Theatre Construction: (Set design) Students explore the basic techniques, principles and practices of scene design for stage. After learning about and discussing how many popular Broadway sets and scenes are designed today, students create a diorama of a set of their choice.

Through a cooperative arrangement with Ardmore City Schools, students in Middle School are also offered the opportunity to participate in Middle School Beginner Band and Drama, for more information, click here.

 

Yearbook is an elective that provides students the opportunity to work together as a team to capture the essence of our school community, students, staff, events, and memories of the entire school year. Students will learn to create aesthetic page and layout designs, basic photography techniques, and how to create eye-catching captions.