Middle School Courses
GRADE SEVEN
Grade 7 is a fully semestered program. All students take:
MATHEMATICS 7
This course is designed to assist students in developing problem-solving skills, measurement skills, and communication skills involving the language and notation of mathematics. Specific problems include area and volume of irregular objects, circumference of circles and discounts amongst others. Topics studied include decimals, fractions, metric measurement, area, volume, percents, geometry and an introduction to statistics.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 7
Science and Technology 7 is organized into five strands, which are the major areas of knowledge and skills in the science and technology curriculum. In grade seven the five strands with combined topics are:
- Life Systems: Interactions Within Ecosystems
- Matter and Materials: Pure Substances and Mixtures
- Energy and Control: Heat
- Structures and Mechanisms: Structural Strength and Stability
- Earth and Space Systems: The Earth’s Crust
Students will be required to do a science project and present the results in an organized format.
ENGLISH LITERATURE 7
This course will involve; creative writing, introduction to essay writing, short story and poetry reading, and reading response activities (from Identities 7: Actions and Reactions), public speaking, handwriting, and journal writing. This course is designed to help students build basic language skills so as to enable them to express their feelings and opinions coherently both in formal and creative writing and in oral presentation.
SPELLING AND GRAMMAR 7
The aim of this course is to provide the means that will enable the student to understand the process of writing. The student will learn to apply conventions of language in order to express ideas, feelings, and information clearly and precisely. Listening and speaking skills will also develop as the student learns to communicate more freely using bias-free language. The student will know how to direct questions and talk through ideas to clarify thinking, promote reflection, and generate ideas for written work. Spelling, grammar and composition are consistently interwoven over a five-day cycle to help the student reach his/her potential in English language skills.
FRENCH 7
Students will build their knowledge of spoken French through many listening activities and classroom interaction. Regular tests, oral presentations, mini compositions and examinations will constitute the evaluation process. Participation as well as daily homework check will also be rewarded.
GEOGRAPHY 7
This course introduces students to the concepts and methods of geographic inquiry. The course also focuses on physical patterns and how they affect human activity. Students recognize patterns as an essential concept in geography. As well students examine various ways resources are used and the environmental implications of their use. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact technology has on natural resources.
HISTORY 7
In this course the study of history focuses on the development of Canada from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. Students investigate the contributions of significant groups and individuals and develop an understanding of Canada's European roots. They study the early settlements of North America and their impact on the First Nation peoples and on English-French relations. They examine the economic, social, and political challenges facing New France and British North America, as well as the course of conflict and change in the two colonies that culminated in the rebellions of 1837-1838. Emphasis is placed on the development of critical thinking skills including the ability to examine issues from more than one point of view.
FINE ARTS 7
The objective of this course is to develop practical facility in the techniques of drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and information design. Students will produce two- and three-dimensional works of art that communicate a variety of ideas. They will identify the principles of design and use them when producing and responding to works of art. Art history will focus on artists and artistic periods that interest the students.
PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION 7
This course will provide each student with the basic skills to actively participate in various sports as well as provide health lessons designed to increase the student’s knowledge, awareness and understanding of many contemporary issues and topics.
The Health Units include:
1. Relationships and the Socialization Process.
2. Emotions: this unit includes understanding our own personal emotions as well as the feelings of others
3. Pressure: this portion of the course of study examines the realities of peer pressure including alcohol, tobacco and drugs, as well as other social stresses including test and exam anxiety. Students will examine various ways of coping with these kinds of pressures.
4. Sex Education: the process of puberty will be examined, including both physical and emotional changes. Family planning methods and sexually transmitted diseases will also be discussed.
The Physical Education Units include:
1. Basketball
2. Floor Hockey
3. Soccer
4. Baseball
5. Volleyball
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND KEYBOARDING 7/8
This course is intended to give students hands on computer experience that focuses on the use of a computer as a tool for learning. Students will become aware of the “every day” use of computers through an in-depth analysis and exploration of computers in society. The course will be structured to expose students to the basics of computers without getting into in-depth technical studies. Students will learn how to use a computer through exposure to various computer software applications, including effective research tools on the internet. The major emphasis of this course is on the development of keyboarding skills. The course is designed to build student confidence in using a computer, while developing keyboarding skills at an early age and skills which are reflective of common uses of computers in today’s society.
GRADE EIGHT
Grade 8 is a fully semestered program. All students take:
MATHEMATICS 8
The basic areas of concentration in this course are numerical methods and algebra, data management and probability, measurement and geometry and how they pertain to everyday situations. More specifically students perform all operations with whole numbers, decimals, integers, fractions, and rational numbers. The students learn to calculate and apply all types of measurements such as perimeter, area, volume and surface area. Finding and drawing all types of angles and triangles and solving problems involving lines and angles are part of the geometry section, and lastly students solve simple algebraic equations.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 8
Science and Technology 8 is organized into five strands, which are the major areas of knowledge and skills in the science and technology curriculum. In grade eight the five strands with combined topics are:
- Life Systems: Cells Tissues, Organs, and Systems
- Matter and Materials: Fluids
- Energy and Control: Optics
- Structures and Mechanisms: Mechanical Efficiency
- Earth and Space Systems: Water Systems
There is also a science project unit, which students will want to refer to as they work on their individually assigned topics. Students will be encouraged to extend their thinking beyond the classroom.
ENGLISH LITERATURE 8
This course will involve; creative writing, essay writing, short story and poetry reading and reading response activities (from Identities 8: Defining Moments) and journal writing. This course is aimed at enhancing the student’s knowledge and appreciation of the literary and cultural aspects of the English language. It is designed to build upon the student’s basic language skills so as to enable them to express their feelings and opinions coherently both in formal and creative writing and in oral presentation. Students will be encouraged to read, write and think critical. Regular tests and examinations will contribute to the evaluation process.
SPELLING AND GRAMMAR 8
The aim of this course is to provide the means that will enable the student to understand the process of writing. The student will learn to apply conventions of language in order to express ideas, feelings, and information clearly and precisely. Listening and speaking skills will also develop as the student learns to communicate more freely using bias-free language. The student will know how to direct questions and talk through ideas to clarify thinking, promote reflection, and generate ideas for written work. Spelling, grammar and composition are consistently interwoven over a five-day cycle to help the student reach his/her potential in English language skills.
FRENCH 8
In the French 8 course students will have an opportunity to build upon their knowledge of spoken and written French through many classroom activities. Reading and listening will also be emphasized. The purpose is to familiarize students with the basic vocabulary as well as the linguistic and grammatical rules necessary for effective communication. Moreover, the teacher will raise awareness of the diversity of French dialects in Canada and in the French world in general.
(Prerequisite: French 7)
GEOGRAPHY 8
This course focuses on patterns in human geography, economic systems and migration. Students will explain population distribution and characteristics, and investigate how human activities are affected by these patterns. They will examine economic systems and the economic relationships between Canada and the global community, as well as the major types of migration and factors affecting human mobility.
HISTORY 8
In this course students develop an understanding of events in Canada from the 1850's to 1914 and the events leading up to the beginning of the First World War. They investigate the formation of the Canadian nation and its subsequent expansion. They also examine some of the individuals, groups, and movements promoting political and social change in the early twentieth century.
FINE ARTS 8
This is a course intended for the study of the Fine Arts. The first half of the course will include studio and art history components. The studio portion will focus on drawing, sketching and painting techniques through 2-D and 3-D activities. The historical art study will concentrate on the exploration of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The second half of the course will further explore the Seven Wonders through a variety of media and dramatic forms.
PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION 8
This course will provide each student with the basic knowledge and skills required to actively participate in the following sports: softball, soccer, basketball and floor hockey. Before a student can learn to play a sport, he or she must understand the rules. In Physical Education 8, the fundamental rules of the sport will be covered and the basic physical skills required for the sport will be practiced and used in game situations.
Physical and Health Education 8 will provide each student with an increased knowledge, awareness and understanding of the following Health-related topics:
1. Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
2. Physical Fitness
3. Nutrition
4. Healthy Sexuality: AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
