Middle School Curriculum Guide

sacred heart greenwich

MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM at a glance

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

FIFTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY ENGLISH

HISTORY

TOPICS • Readers & Writers Workshop • Fiction, Nonfiction, & Poetry Reading • Foundations of Literary Analysis • Vocabulary Development • Narrative Writing • Argument-Based Research Writing • Constructing the 5-Paragraph Essay

TOPICS • Five Themes of Geography • Prehistory/Rise of Civilizations • Ancient Mesopotamia • Ancient Egypt • Ancient China • Ancient Greece • Ancient Rome

SKILLS • Read actively • Identify literary elements • Develope literary interpretation • Locate textual support • Craft an argument • Writ process • Pre-writing skills & building an outline • Paragraph construction • Edit for proper grammar

SKILLS • Reading nonfiction text • Expository paragraph writing • Research & notetaking • Citing research sources • Interpreting data—maps & timelines • Oral presentation delivery • Working collaboratively

THEOLOGY TOPICS • Sacred Heart Goals & Criteria • Sacred Heart traditions • Introduction to the Bible • Judeo Christian Creation Story • Role of the Church • Liturgical Year • The Rosary • Sacraments of Initiation, Healing, Service SKILLS • Navigate the Bible • Interpretation of scripture • Reflection & journaling • Prayer preparation & presentation • Independent thinking • Development of spirituality

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 02

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

FIFTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY MATH TOPICS • Whole Number Operations • Fractions & Decimals • Percents • Area & Perimeter • Angles SKILLS • Solve problems using bar model strategies • Interpret percents as a part of a hundred • Calculate percent of quantity • Differentiate between perimeter & area formulas • Estimate, measure, & calculate missing angles

PHYSICS TOPICS • Engineering Design • The Solar System • Ecosystems • Botany SKILLS • Develop & use models • Construct explanations & design solutions • Analyze data • Engage in argument from evidence • Obtain, evaluate & communicate information • Collaboration • Research skills • Environmental stewardship

WORLD LANGUAGE Chinese, French, Spanish TOPICS • Greetings and Introductions • Friends and Hobbies • Family and Food • Numbers • Exploration of Target Countries and Cultural Practices, Products and Perspectives SKILLS Speaking & Writing:

• Converse and present using the present tense in simple sentences • Write briefly about familiar topics in the present tense • Ask and answer simple memorized questions • Recognize and write characters (Chinese) Listening & Reading

• Identify the main idea in short presentations and texts on familiar topics

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 03

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

FIFTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TOPICS • Field Hockey • Soccer • Volleyball • Basketball • Swimming • Squash • Lacrosse • Softball • Tennis SKILLS • Manipulative skills development • Self-confidence • Individual initiative • Responsibility to self & group • Teamwork

ART TOPICS • Portraiture • Visual Storytelling • Science in Art • Principles of Design • Art Appreciation SKILLS • Practice good studio habits • Manage materials • Experience painting, collaging & ceramics • Draw from memory, observation & imagination • Observe art & make connections

MUSIC TOPICS • Solfege Characters & Hand Signals • Rhythm Reading • Note Identification on Treble Clef • Piano Basics • Choral Singing SKILLS • Recognize & vocalize solfege syllables • Understand note values • Demonstrate basic rhythms • Identify notes on treble clef • Collaboration to produce a cohesive sound

COMPUTER SCIENCE TOPICS • Getting to Know Your Computer • Inputs/Output • Introduction to Binary Numbers • Introduction to Programming—Block Based Coding Using MIT’s Scratch.

• Physical Computing- Project Based Learning Using Pair Programming Using Micro:bit • 3D Design—3D printing • Digital Citizenship • Introduction to Keyboarding • Google Apps—During Learning Skills • Robotics Lego Mindstorms EV3 SKILLS • Computational thinking • Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.

• Create programs that use variables to store and modify data.

• Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it works as intended.

• Collaborative work • How to use Google tools for education Screen-time awareness • Be safe online

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 04

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SIXTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY ENGLISH TOPICS • Readers & Writers Workshop • Analyze Mentor Texts to Model Literary Analysis • Genre Study • Incorporate Various Reading Strategies • Nonfiction Reading & Writing • Argument Writing • Personal Narrative • Creative Writing • Poetry SKILLS • Close Reading • Identify conflict & characterization, themes • Literary analysis • Critical thinking • Develop complex sentence structure & voice • Reinforce writing process • Research & bibliography

HISTORY TOPICS • The Fall of Rome • Early Middle Ages in Europe • High Middle Ages in Europe • The Middle Ages in the Middle East • The Middle Ages in East Asia • The Middle Ages in the Americas SKILLS • Understanding nonfiction texts • Note-taking from readings • Organizing multi-paragraph writing • Using evidence to support ideas • Dialogue & debate skills • Oral presentation delivery • Citing research sources

THEOLOGY TOPICS • Sacred Heart Traditions • Salvation History • Covenant • The Pentateuch • The Patriarchs • Egypt & Exodus • The Royal Kingdom • The Divided Kingdom • The Exile & The Return • The Maccabean Revolt • The Messianic Fulfillment • The Early Church SKILLS • Navigate the Bible • Prepare & lead in-class prayer experiences • Cite scripture • Recognize biblical typology • Identify literary forms in the bible • Discover parallels with biblical characters & one’s life journey • Reflection through journaling • Recognize Jesus as fulfillment of God’s plan

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 05

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SIXTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY MATH TOPICS • Algebra • Fractions & Decimals • Percentage • Ratio/Proportion/Rate • Geometry • Data Handling • Probability • Integers SKILLS • Bar model to solve problems • Evaluate algebraic expressions • Solve one-step equations • Mean, median, mode, & range of a data set • Determine the probability of theoretical & experimental events

SCIENCE TOPICS • Botany • Cells & DNA • Heredity, Mutations & Natural Selection • Human Body Systems (Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Nervous & Musculoskeletal) SKILLS • Environmental stewardship • Develop & use models • Examine inheritance of traits • Identify relationships • Functions & analysis of organisms • Examine sub-systems within a system • Collaboration • Research skills • Integrate technology to communicate biological concepts

WORLD LANGUAGE Chinese, French, Spanish TOPICS • Clothing • Sports and Activities • The Home • Vacation and Transportation • Exploration of Target Countries and Cultural Practices, Products and Perspectives SKILLS Speaking & Writing:

• Converse and write about familiar topics using series of sentences in the present tense • Begin to speak and write about familiar topics in the past tense (French and Spanish) • Formulate and answer questions about everyday situations • Use the language to meet basic needs • Recognize, write and know characters and radicals (Chinese) Listening & Reading

• Comprehend short spoken or written messages or passages • Identify main idea of short and simple texts

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 06

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SIXTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TOPICS • Field Hockey • Soccer • Volleyball • Basketball • Swimming • Squash • Lacrosse • Softball • Tennis SKILLS • Advance manipulative skills • Conflict resolution • Work independently & assume responsibility for action • Apply basic principles of training to improve physical fitness

ART TOPICS • Expressive Landscape Painting • Documenting Nature • Graphic Design for Social Action • Handbuilding & Sculpting in Clay • Intro to Printmaking • Principles of Design • Art Appreciation SKILLS • Practice good studio habits • Manage materials & work • Develop painting, drawing, ceramics & printmaking skills • Draw from memory, observation & imagination • Develop visual thinking strategies • Visual art vocabulary

MUSIC TOPICS • Note Identification Both Treble & Bass Clef • Musical Math • Tone Chimes • Choral Singing SKILLS • Identify notes on treble & bass clef • Create & solve mathematical equations using music notes • Read & play music using tone chimes • Collaboration to produce a cohesive sound

COMPUTER SCIENCE TOPICS • What’s Inside Your Computer?

• Inputs/Output • Introduction to Binary Numbers • Introduction to Programming—Block Based Coding Using MIT’s Scratch.

• Physical Computing- Project Based Learning Using Pair Programming • 3D Design—3D Printing • Introduction to Python • Introduction to HTML and CSS • Concepts of Cryptography and Encryption • Digital Citizenship • Robotics Lego Mindstorms EV3 SKILLS • Computational thinking • Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.

• Create programs that use variables to store and modify data.

• Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.

• Collaborative work • Learning from each other • Use technology as a productivity tool with an educational purpose • Understanding Internet concepts

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 07

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SEVENTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY ENGLISH TOPICS • Readers & Writers Workshop • Study of the Short Story • Diverse Book Selection • Writing Fiction • Literary Analysis • Study of Voice & Speech • Methods of Rhetoric • Persuasive/Informational Speech • Public Speaking SKILLS • Investigative Reading • Identification of plot elements • Craft Claims • Find evidence • Analyze literature • Think critically • Writing process • Creative writing • Research • MLA 8 citations • Evaluate sources • Oral presentation

HISTORY TOPICS • Colonial America • American Revolution • Constitution/Early Nation • Westward Expansion • Industrial Revolution • Reform Movements & Slavery • Sectionalism • Civil War SKILLS • Paragraph structure • Multi-paragraph writing • Thesis formation • Research & note-taking • Paraphrasing & summarizing • Citations & Bibliography • Analyzing primary sources • Oral presentation

THEOLOGY TOPICS • Review of Sacred Heart Goals & Criteria • Sacred Heart traditions • Palestine at the Time of Jesus • Development & Structure of the New Testament • Early Church • Modern Witnesses/Martyrs • Gospels of Matthew • Passion, Death & Resurrection of Jesus SKILLS • Journaling • Reflection & interpretation of Scripture • Summarize scripture passages • Compare & contrast the Gospels • Imagination & meditation • Craft a homily for presentation • Critical thinking & analyzing • Development of a Christian worldview

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 08

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SEVENTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY PRE-ALGEBRA TOPICS • Powers & Order of Operations • Integers • Linear Equations & Inequalities • Fractions, Decimals & Percent • Proportions • Probability • Pythagorean Theorem • Measurements in Geometry • Functions & Relations SKILLS • Foster an appreciation & curiosity for math • Develop number sense/fluency with numbers (fractions, decimals, & percents) • Enhance critical thinking & problem solving skills • Engage students to be flexible in their thinking by presenting non-routine problems to solve • Develop solid study skills

SCIENCE

WORLD LANGUAGE

TOPICS • Ecology • Geology • Meteorology & Climate Change • Forces & Motion • Energy • Electricity, Magnetism, Light & Sound • Robotics • UN Interdisciplinary Project

Chinese, French, Spanish

SKILLS • Observation skills • Creating & asking targeted questions • Logical thinking • Research skills • Identify relationships • Problem solving for engineering design challenges • Identifying & applying abstract scientific concepts to (everyday) concrete examples

SKILLS

TOPICS • Shopping and Clothing • Sports and Health • Weather and Seasons • Travel • Exploration of Target Countries and Cultural Practices, Products and Perspectives

Speaking & Writing:

• Use sentences, strings of sentences and sentence connectors • Speak and write across present and past tense • Ask and answer more complex questions • Begin to initiate and sustain conversations • Recognize, write and know characters and radicals (Chinese) Listening & Reading

• Identify main idea in messages, presentations and texts

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 09

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

SEVENTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TOPICS • Field Hockey • Soccer • Volleyball • Basketball • Swimming • Water Polo • Squash • Lacrosse • Softball • Tennis SKILLS • Advanced skills in regulation sport activities • Sportsmanship • Understand strategies & rules of various sports • Develop goals & strategies for fitness

ART TOPICS • Inside-out & Outside In • Creating spaces in 2 & 3 dimensions • Observational drawing & abstraction • Emotion in Art • Masks—disguise or display • Principles of design • Art appreciation SKILLS • Practice good studio habits • Manage work process independently • Explore materials purposefully • Draw from memory, observation & imagination • Use visual thinking strategies • Develop arts vocabulary • Write about art

MUSIC TOPICS • Rhythm reading • Sight-singing • Constitution Rap • Major Scales SKILLS • Identify & demonstrate rhythms • Vocalizing melodies using solfege syllables • Learn facts about the Constitution • Write major scales in any key

COMPUTER SCIENCE TOPICS • What’s Inside Your Computer?

• Inputs/Output • Introduction to Binary Numbers • Transition from Block Based Programming to Text Based Programming • Introduction to Python 1 & 2 • Personalized Learning SKILLS • Computational thinking • Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.

• Create programs that use variables to store and modify data.

• Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended.

• Collaborative work • Understanding Internet concepts

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 10

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

EIGHTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY ENGLISH TOPICS • Readers & Writers Workshop • Study of Memoir • Diverse Book Selection (genres, authors) • Writing Memoir • Literary Analysis • Reading & Writing Poetry • Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) • Empathy • Public Speaking/Performance SKILLS • Active Reading • Identification of plot elements • Identification of figurative language • Effective use of figurative language • Craft Claims • Find evidence • Analyze literature • Think critically • Writing process • Creative writing • MLA 8 citations • Oral presentation

HISTORY TOPICS • Reconstruction • Late 19th Century Growth • World Wars & the Interwar Period • Onset of the Cold War • Civil Rights Movements • Vietnam Era • End of the Cold War SKILLS • Paragraph structure • Thesis formation • Research & note-taking • Parenthetical Citations & Bibliography • Analyzing primary sources • Map & Data Interpretation • Oral Presentation

THEOLOGY TOPICS • Sacred Heart Goals & Criteria • Sacred Heart Traditions • The Birth of the Church • Christianity in the Roman Empire • Women in the Early Church • Christianity, Judaism & Islam • The Monastic Movement • The Church in the Middle Ages & Renaissance • The Protestant Reformation • The Age of Reason & the Enlightenment • The Church in the New Millennium SKILLS • Journaling • Reflection & interpretation of scripture • Lead in-class prayer experiences • Look up & cite scripture • Recognize biblical typology • Identify literary forms in the Bible • Cite primary text documents • Connect service to one’s spirituality • Apply the Goals & Criteria to life situations

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 11

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

EIGHTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY MATH TOPICS • Equations & Inequalities • Proportions • Graphs & Functions • Linear Equations • Systems of Equations & Inequalities • Rules of Exponents • Polynomials & Factoring • Quadratic Equations & Functions • Radical Expressions & Equations • Rational Expressions & Equations • Probability SKILLS • Compare linear, exponential & quadratic models • Develop fluency of key algebraic concepts • Use multiple representations to model functions • Enhance problem solving & critical thinking skills • Apply mathematical models to solve realworld problems • Incorporate the graphing calculator & computer technologies to enhance the understanding of mathematical applications in the real world

SCIENCE

WORLD LANGUAGE

TOPICS • Measurement • Data & Statistics • Graphing • Density • Atoms & Elements • Chemical Reactions • Carbon cycle & Climate change • States of Matter • Heat Transfer

Chinese, French, Spanish

SKILLS • Making accurate measurements • Logical thought & experimental design • Spreadsheet graphing • Hand graphing • Interpreting graphs • Analysis of experimental data • Presentation delivery • Research skills

SKILLS

TOPICS • Meals and Cooking • Protecting our Environment • Daily Routine • Body and Health • Entertainment • Exploration of Target Countries and Cultural Practices, Products and Perspectives

Speaking & Writing:

• Converse on familiar topics in various time frames • Initiate and sustain conversations • Write simple paragraphs and short compositions in various tenses • Research and make presentations • Recognize, write and know characters and radicals (Chinese) Listening & Reading

• Identify and understand main idea and small details in messages and presentations on a variety of topics related to everyday life

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 12

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

EIGHTH GRADE COURSE OF STUDY PHYSICAL EDUCATION TOPICS • Field Hockey • Soccer • Volleyball • Basketball • Swimming • Water Polo • Pickleball • Squash • Lacrosse • Softball • Tennis • Fitness SKILLS • Advanced skills in sport activities • Technical understanding of sports-related skills • Leadership • Group decision-making • Develop goals & strategies for fitness

ART TOPICS • Self-Portraiture • Faith & Visual Culture • Expressive landscape painting • Capstone creative project • Mixed Media & Conceptual Art • Principles of Design • Art Appreciation SKILLS • Practice good studio habits • Manage work process independently • Connect materials to message • Draw from memory, observation & imagination • Analyze & write about art

THEATRE

COMPUTER SCIENCE

TOPICS • Monologue Workshop • Theatre in Production • Theatrical Mask Workshop • Acting for Film

TOPICS • Python 3 • App Design • AI and VR • Digital Citizenship

SKILLS • Scrutinize dramatic monologues • Create a showcase production • Create and act with ancient dramatic masks • Understand on-camera techniques world language

SKILLS • Computational thinking • Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals • Create programs that use variables to store and modify data • Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it runs as intended • Collaborative work • Understanding Internet concepts • Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 13

sacred heart greenwich—2021–2022

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING STUDENT SERVICES

WELLNESS

GRADES 5–8 SERVICES OFFERED • Individual & Group Counseling • Parent Consultation • Links to Community Resources • Educational Workshops for Students & Parents SKILLS • Self-awareness/self-reflection • Mindfulness skills • Self-advocacy • Positive & effective communication • Building healthy relationships • Social skills • Problem-solving • Decision-making • Stress management • Mood regulation • Resilience-building • Self-compassion • Empathy

GRADE 5

GRADE 7

TOPICS

TOPICS

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • •

Self-Awareness Kindness Friendships Mindfulness Social Media and Technology Healthy Mind Platter Adolescence Puberty—Physical, Social, Mental and Emotional Changes During Puberty • Female Reproductive System SKILLS • Empathy • Listening • Paying attention • Perspective taking • Finding and using voice • Problem solving • Decision making • Goal setting

Self-Awareness Relationships Social Media and Technology Healthy Mind Platter Adolescence Physical, Social, Mental and Emotional Changes During Puberty • Female Reproductive System • Drugs and Alcohol SKILLS • Self-awareness • Empathy • Listening • Paying attention • Perspective taking • Finding and using voice • Problem solving • Decision making • Goal setting

GRADE 6

GRADE 8

TOPICS

TOPICS

• • • • • • •

• • • • • •

Self-Awareness Friendships Mindfulness Social Media and Technology Healthy Mind Platter Adolescence Puberty—Physical, Social, Mental and Emotional Changes During Puberty • Female Reproductive System SKILLS • Self-awareness • Empathy • Listening • Paying attention • Perspective taking • Finding and using voice • Problem solving • Decision making • Goal setting

Self-Awareness Relationships Social Media and Technology Healthy Mind Platter Adolescence Physical, Social, Mental and Emotional Changes During Puberty • Female Reproductive System • Drugs and alcohol • Self-dense SKILLS • Self-awareness • Empathy • Listening • Paying attention • Perspective taking • Finding and using voice • Problem solving • Decision making • Practice physical and verbal strategies to keep safe • Goal setting

SHGREENWICH.ORG | 14

1177 King Street, Greenwich, CT 06831 tel 203.531.6500 | fax 203.531.5206 www.shgreenwich.org

for more information Please contact the Admission Office at admission@cshct.org or call 203.532.3534.