Middle School Grades 6-8
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM
RELIGION
6th Grade
Alive in Christ, publisher Our Sunday Visitor & Theology of the Body, publisher Ruah Woods Institute
Students are encouraged and nurtured to grow in faith through prayer, scripture and reflection.
Religion in 6th grade focuses on the Archdiocese of Detroit Religion Curriculum Standards. These standards are organized into strands; Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, Sacred Scripture, Church History, Doctrine, Liturgy, Sacraments, Dignity of the Human Person, Family Life, Community, Morality, Service/Social Justice/Servant Leadership, and Prayer. Students gain knowledge of the faith and understand these standards through various texts including the Alive In Christ textbook, The Theology of the Body text and curriculum, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catholic Youth Study Bible. Students will also attend Mass on a weekly basis with their classmates and teachers. They will be offered Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and other celebrations throughout the school year.
7th Grade and 8th Grade
Alive in Christ, publisher Our Sunday Visitor & Theology of the Body, publisher Ruah Woods Institute
8th Grade
Confirmed in the Spirit, publisher Loyola Press
Seventh and eighth grade students grow in their Catholic faith through weekly attendance at Mass, scripture study and reflection, and prayer. Students begin the year reviewing stories from the Old Testament that focus on covenant, with a focus on how the Old Testament is always pointing towards Jesus in the New Testament. Students learn to define Kerygma (the Proclamation of the Gospel) in four words - Created, Captured, Rescued, and Response. They are encouraged to grow in their faith by responding to what Jesus has done for them. Special units cover Mass Reading, the Saints, and the Liturgical Seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter. Throughout the year, students examine how our own creation in God’s image reveals much about God’s plan for us. In 8th grade, the students complete a unit on Confirmation, discovering who they are as a Catholic and a disciple of Jesus. Students will be offered Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and other celebrations throughout the year.
SCIENCE
6th Grade - Earth Science
Earth Science is a two part course integrating traditional classroom teaching and laboratory exercises, along with applications of science using technology. Topics covered include the components and structure of the Earth, natural disasters, the water and rock cycles, weather, climate, and the atmosphere. Students have five class periods in the classroom and science lab, and a further two periods in the computer lab each week. Google Suite apps will be used extensively to input, analyze, and present data collected through experiments in a number of formats common in the world of science today. Furthermore, additional PC and iPad apps in the ever-dynamic world of technology will be used to enhance and expand on every lesson.
7th Grade - Life Science
Students explore a variety of life science topics starting with what makes biotic components of the Earth different from abiotic components. Students discover the importance of cells in living things and how their parts influence heredity and evolution. Students also investigate classification of organisms by their similarities and differences, and how they interact in a number of dynamic ecosystems. A substantial amount of lab work consists of dissections of a number of specimens from varying taxa using proper techniques. Finally students begin learning about the organization of the systems of the body, reproduction, and how the body grows.
8th Grade - Physical Science
Students explore a variety of topics in physical science. The first half of the course investigates basics in chemistry, including the structure of atoms, chemical and physical properties of compounds, organization of the periodic table, and interactions and reactions between atoms and chemical compounds. The second half the year explores the nature of motion, forces, power, work, waves, electricity, and magnetism. There is a significant amount of lab work throughout each lesson, and one lab report will be written during each marking period. A final lab report will be from a science fair project of the student’s choosing.
Texts are from Pearson’s Interactive Science series. Content covered in these courses is aligned with the standards of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
MATHEMATICS
6th Grade
The Sixth Grade curriculum is based on making solid mathematical foundations in which success can be built in Seventh and Eighth Grade. There is also sufficient review and practice of basic skills from elementary mathematics. The Sixth Graders begin the year working with algebraic equations. They then develop decimal, ratio and fraction skills, followed by graphs and data displays, ending the school year with geometry.
7th Grade
The Seventh Grade curriculum builds upon the skills learned in Sixth Grade. The students continue with the same mathematical concepts, but explore them in a more in depth fashion. Equations are covered in multiple chapters. An extended time is spent with integers, as well as fractions and decimals. To end the year, students will work on geometry and upper level algebra. The ultimate goal is to be prepared to work at an accelerated pace through the Eighth Grade curriculum. An additional goal is to increase the knowledge base so that each student will be prepared for the High School Placement Test.
8th Grade
The Eighth Grade curriculum will fully immerse students in algebra. The students will work with complex algebraic equations. The Eighth Graders will work with linear functions and graphing functions on a coordinate plane. The year will conclude with polynomials and quadratic functions. Throughout the school year the students will use graphing calculators together as a class to explore the many features available. This will give all the students a technological advantage for high school mathematics. The complexity of material covered in Eighth Grade will allow many students to proceed to honors or advanced tracks in high school math. The Eighth Grade is prepared in taking the High School Placement Test and also for the Math Placement Exam.
English Language Arts (ELA)
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School has a strong commitment and tradition of challenging students and fostering the importance of English Language Arts. Mastery of English is crucial to success in all other subjects. Having a strong background in reading comprehension, analytical thinking, language, word usage, parts of speech, and enriched vocabulary allows students to excel in other disciplines. At OLQM, middle school English Language Arts is divided into four subjects: literature, grammar, writing, and vocabulary. Students write in pencil, unless directed to type, and are held accountable for spelling, grammar, and MLA format on all assignments. Students often read or share their work aloud so they can be comfortable in academic situations that require good grammar, voice projection, eye contact, and practice with the art of oration.
6th Grade
Grammar
Voyages in English Grammar & Writing Textbook & Workbook (Loyola Press, 2018.)
Students will study and demonstrate proper usage of the following: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, types of sentences, conjunctions, interjections, punctuation, and capitalization. They will also learn to diagram sentences.
Literature and Writing
Our Literature and Writing program is based on the Louisiana Believes ELA Curriculum.
Students will write on a daily basis. Several times quarterly, students will write analytical essays in response to the literature they are reading. In addition, students will complete expository writing, narrative writing, and research projects.
Each literature unit will revolve around a central text and essential question. Within each unit, students will read the central text, examine it from a Catholic, faith-based perspective, and also explore complementary texts and resources which will act as lenses through which further analysis and comprehension may be achieved. Students will be supported in their comprehension of the texts and pushed to think critically about ideas such as theme, historical context, influences, and implications. The sixth grade literature units are listed below.
Sixth Grade
Unit One
Central Text: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Essential Question: As human beings, what should we value the most in life.
Unit Two
Central Text: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Essential Question: How does a person’s values and beliefs impact their actions?
Unit Three
Central Text: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Essential Question: Is sameness and perfection worth sacrificing choice?
Vocabulary
Students will study the context, meaning, and part of speech of words they encounter within their literature units. Not only will this expand their vocabulary, but it will also bolster their comprehension of the literature they read in real time. Additionally, students will study Greek and Latin roots in order to sharpen vocabulary and deciphering skills.
7th and 8th Grade
Grammar
Voyages in English Grammar & Writing Textbook & Workbook (Loyola Press, 2018.)
Students will study and demonstrate proper usage of the following: nouns, pronouns: adjectives, verbs, verbals, adverbs, prepositions, types of sentences, conjunctions, interjections, punctuation, and capitalization. They will also learn to diagram sentences.
Literature and Writing
Our Literature and Writing program is based on the Louisiana Believes ELA Curriculum.
Students will write on a daily basis. Several times quarterly, students will write analytical essays in response to the literature they are reading. In addition, students will complete expository writing, narrative writing, and research projects.
Each literature unit will revolve around a central text and essential question. Within each unit, students will read the central text, examine it from a Catholic, faith-based perspective, and also explore complementary texts and resources which will act as lenses through which further analysis and comprehension may be achieved. Students will be supported in their comprehension of the texts and pushed to think critically about ideas such as theme, historical context, influences, and implications. The seventh and eighth grade literature units are listed below.
Seventh Grade
Unit One
Central Text: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Essential Question: How has our understanding of intelligence changed over time and what are the moral implications of tampering with it?
Unit Two
Central Text: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Essential Question: How do the role of the narrator and point of view impact the line between fact and fiction?
Unit Three
Central Text: Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Essential Question: What was the impact of sugar production and trade on the economic and social course of world history?
Unit Four
Central Text: Call of the Wild by Jack London
Essential Question: How do authors portray animals in literature in order to serve a purpose and comment on their interactions with humans?
Unit Five
Central Text: Conservation as a National Duty by Theodore Roosevelt
Essential Question: How do authors use language, devices, and connections between ideas to motivate others to take up the cause of conservation?
Eighth Grade
Unit One
Central Text: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Essential Question: How does society influence and shape individuals?
Unit Two
Central Text: The Odyssey by Homer
Essential Question: How do journeys and challenges allow us to grow?
Unit Three
Central Text: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Essential Question: What makes us human?
Unit Four
Central Text: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Essential Question: How does a greater understanding of a person’s life experience change our perception of him/her?
Unit Five
Central Text: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Essential Question: How can adaptations or reproductions enhance or detract from the theme of a text?
Unit Six
Central Text: The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction from the National Institute of Mental Health
Essential Question: What factors ultimately shape teens’ decisions and behavior?
Vocabulary
Students will study the context, meaning, and part of speech of words they encounter within their literature units. Not only will this expand their vocabulary, but it will also bolster their comprehension of the literature they read in real time. Additionally, students will study Greek and Latin roots in order to sharpen vocabulary and deciphering skills.
SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
6th Grade: TCI - Geography Alive! – Regions and People
Students will use regional examples to develop global perspectives on government and economics, population, human-environment interaction, and culture. World Geography also stresses five skills: map skills, analyzing data, reading, writing, and researching. Students will utilize these five skills to develop a meaningful understanding of the content and to effectively communicate what they have learned.
7th Grade: TCI - History Alive! – The World Through 1750
TCI's History Alive! The World Through 1750 engages students with meaningful, immersive lessons that build critical thinking skills and foster a deep understanding of the world. This curriculum introduces students to the great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Greece, China, India, and Rome. Students will gain a deeper understanding of these ancient cultures and how they continue to influence the modern world.
8th Grade: TCI - History Alive! – The United States Through Industrialism
The 8th grade curriculum immerses students in a powerful journey through the history of the United States from its earliest foundations to the age of industrialism. Topics of discussion are Colonial Heritage, American Revolution, Constitution, Citizenship, Manifest Destiny, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Students explore how to link people and events from the past to the world we live in today.
RELIGION
6th Grade
Alive in Christ, publisher Our Sunday Visitor & Theology of the Body, publisher Ruah Woods Institute
Students are encouraged and nurtured to grow in faith through prayer, scripture and reflection.
Religion in 6th grade focuses on the Archdiocese of Detroit Religion Curriculum Standards. These standards are organized into strands; Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship, Sacred Scripture, Church History, Doctrine, Liturgy, Sacraments, Dignity of the Human Person, Family Life, Community, Morality, Service/Social Justice/Servant Leadership, and Prayer. Students gain knowledge of the faith and understand these standards through various texts including the Alive In Christ textbook, The Theology of the Body text and curriculum, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catholic Youth Study Bible. Students will also attend Mass on a weekly basis with their classmates and teachers. They will be offered Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and other celebrations throughout the school year.
7th Grade and 8th Grade
Alive in Christ, publisher Our Sunday Visitor & Theology of the Body, publisher Ruah Woods Institute
8th Grade
Confirmed in the Spirit, publisher Loyola Press
Seventh and eighth grade students grow in their Catholic faith through weekly attendance at Mass, scripture study and reflection, and prayer. Students begin the year reviewing stories from the Old Testament that focus on covenant, with a focus on how the Old Testament is always pointing towards Jesus in the New Testament. Students learn to define Kerygma (the Proclamation of the Gospel) in four words - Created, Captured, Rescued, and Response. They are encouraged to grow in their faith by responding to what Jesus has done for them. Special units cover Mass Reading, the Saints, and the Liturgical Seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter. Throughout the year, students examine how our own creation in God’s image reveals much about God’s plan for us. In 8th grade, the students complete a unit on Confirmation, discovering who they are as a Catholic and a disciple of Jesus. Students will be offered Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and other celebrations throughout the year.
SCIENCE
6th Grade - Earth Science
Earth Science is a two part course integrating traditional classroom teaching and laboratory exercises, along with applications of science using technology. Topics covered include the components and structure of the Earth, natural disasters, the water and rock cycles, weather, climate, and the atmosphere. Students have five class periods in the classroom and science lab, and a further two periods in the computer lab each week. Google Suite apps will be used extensively to input, analyze, and present data collected through experiments in a number of formats common in the world of science today. Furthermore, additional PC and iPad apps in the ever-dynamic world of technology will be used to enhance and expand on every lesson.
7th Grade - Life Science
Students explore a variety of life science topics starting with what makes biotic components of the Earth different from abiotic components. Students discover the importance of cells in living things and how their parts influence heredity and evolution. Students also investigate classification of organisms by their similarities and differences, and how they interact in a number of dynamic ecosystems. A substantial amount of lab work consists of dissections of a number of specimens from varying taxa using proper techniques. Finally students begin learning about the organization of the systems of the body, reproduction, and how the body grows.
8th Grade - Physical Science
Students explore a variety of topics in physical science. The first half of the course investigates basics in chemistry, including the structure of atoms, chemical and physical properties of compounds, organization of the periodic table, and interactions and reactions between atoms and chemical compounds. The second half the year explores the nature of motion, forces, power, work, waves, electricity, and magnetism. There is a significant amount of lab work throughout each lesson, and one lab report will be written during each marking period. A final lab report will be from a science fair project of the student’s choosing.
Texts are from Pearson’s Interactive Science series. Content covered in these courses is aligned with the standards of the Archdiocese of Detroit.
MATHEMATICS
6th Grade
The Sixth Grade curriculum is based on making solid mathematical foundations in which success can be built in Seventh and Eighth Grade. There is also sufficient review and practice of basic skills from elementary mathematics. The Sixth Graders begin the year working with algebraic equations. They then develop decimal, ratio and fraction skills, followed by graphs and data displays, ending the school year with geometry.
7th Grade
The Seventh Grade curriculum builds upon the skills learned in Sixth Grade. The students continue with the same mathematical concepts, but explore them in a more in depth fashion. Equations are covered in multiple chapters. An extended time is spent with integers, as well as fractions and decimals. To end the year, students will work on geometry and upper level algebra. The ultimate goal is to be prepared to work at an accelerated pace through the Eighth Grade curriculum. An additional goal is to increase the knowledge base so that each student will be prepared for the High School Placement Test.
8th Grade
The Eighth Grade curriculum will fully immerse students in algebra. The students will work with complex algebraic equations. The Eighth Graders will work with linear functions and graphing functions on a coordinate plane. The year will conclude with polynomials and quadratic functions. Throughout the school year the students will use graphing calculators together as a class to explore the many features available. This will give all the students a technological advantage for high school mathematics. The complexity of material covered in Eighth Grade will allow many students to proceed to honors or advanced tracks in high school math. The Eighth Grade is prepared in taking the High School Placement Test and also for the Math Placement Exam.
English Language Arts (ELA)
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School has a strong commitment and tradition of challenging students and fostering the importance of English Language Arts. Mastery of English is crucial to success in all other subjects. Having a strong background in reading comprehension, analytical thinking, language, word usage, parts of speech, and enriched vocabulary allows students to excel in other disciplines. At OLQM, middle school English Language Arts is divided into four subjects: literature, grammar, writing, and vocabulary. Students write in pencil, unless directed to type, and are held accountable for spelling, grammar, and MLA format on all assignments. Students often read or share their work aloud so they can be comfortable in academic situations that require good grammar, voice projection, eye contact, and practice with the art of oration.
6th Grade
Grammar
Voyages in English Grammar & Writing Textbook & Workbook (Loyola Press, 2018.)
Students will study and demonstrate proper usage of the following: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, types of sentences, conjunctions, interjections, punctuation, and capitalization. They will also learn to diagram sentences.
Literature and Writing
Our Literature and Writing program is based on the Louisiana Believes ELA Curriculum.
Students will write on a daily basis. Several times quarterly, students will write analytical essays in response to the literature they are reading. In addition, students will complete expository writing, narrative writing, and research projects.
Each literature unit will revolve around a central text and essential question. Within each unit, students will read the central text, examine it from a Catholic, faith-based perspective, and also explore complementary texts and resources which will act as lenses through which further analysis and comprehension may be achieved. Students will be supported in their comprehension of the texts and pushed to think critically about ideas such as theme, historical context, influences, and implications. The sixth grade literature units are listed below.
Sixth Grade
Unit One
Central Text: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Essential Question: As human beings, what should we value the most in life.
Unit Two
Central Text: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Essential Question: How does a person’s values and beliefs impact their actions?
Unit Three
Central Text: The Giver by Lois Lowry
Essential Question: Is sameness and perfection worth sacrificing choice?
Vocabulary
Students will study the context, meaning, and part of speech of words they encounter within their literature units. Not only will this expand their vocabulary, but it will also bolster their comprehension of the literature they read in real time. Additionally, students will study Greek and Latin roots in order to sharpen vocabulary and deciphering skills.
7th and 8th Grade
Grammar
Voyages in English Grammar & Writing Textbook & Workbook (Loyola Press, 2018.)
Students will study and demonstrate proper usage of the following: nouns, pronouns: adjectives, verbs, verbals, adverbs, prepositions, types of sentences, conjunctions, interjections, punctuation, and capitalization. They will also learn to diagram sentences.
Literature and Writing
Our Literature and Writing program is based on the Louisiana Believes ELA Curriculum.
Students will write on a daily basis. Several times quarterly, students will write analytical essays in response to the literature they are reading. In addition, students will complete expository writing, narrative writing, and research projects.
Each literature unit will revolve around a central text and essential question. Within each unit, students will read the central text, examine it from a Catholic, faith-based perspective, and also explore complementary texts and resources which will act as lenses through which further analysis and comprehension may be achieved. Students will be supported in their comprehension of the texts and pushed to think critically about ideas such as theme, historical context, influences, and implications. The seventh and eighth grade literature units are listed below.
Seventh Grade
Unit One
Central Text: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Essential Question: How has our understanding of intelligence changed over time and what are the moral implications of tampering with it?
Unit Two
Central Text: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Essential Question: How do the role of the narrator and point of view impact the line between fact and fiction?
Unit Three
Central Text: Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Essential Question: What was the impact of sugar production and trade on the economic and social course of world history?
Unit Four
Central Text: Call of the Wild by Jack London
Essential Question: How do authors portray animals in literature in order to serve a purpose and comment on their interactions with humans?
Unit Five
Central Text: Conservation as a National Duty by Theodore Roosevelt
Essential Question: How do authors use language, devices, and connections between ideas to motivate others to take up the cause of conservation?
Eighth Grade
Unit One
Central Text: Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Essential Question: How does society influence and shape individuals?
Unit Two
Central Text: The Odyssey by Homer
Essential Question: How do journeys and challenges allow us to grow?
Unit Three
Central Text: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Essential Question: What makes us human?
Unit Four
Central Text: The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Essential Question: How does a greater understanding of a person’s life experience change our perception of him/her?
Unit Five
Central Text: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Essential Question: How can adaptations or reproductions enhance or detract from the theme of a text?
Unit Six
Central Text: The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction from the National Institute of Mental Health
Essential Question: What factors ultimately shape teens’ decisions and behavior?
Vocabulary
Students will study the context, meaning, and part of speech of words they encounter within their literature units. Not only will this expand their vocabulary, but it will also bolster their comprehension of the literature they read in real time. Additionally, students will study Greek and Latin roots in order to sharpen vocabulary and deciphering skills.
SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
6th Grade: TCI - Geography Alive! – Regions and People
Students will use regional examples to develop global perspectives on government and economics, population, human-environment interaction, and culture. World Geography also stresses five skills: map skills, analyzing data, reading, writing, and researching. Students will utilize these five skills to develop a meaningful understanding of the content and to effectively communicate what they have learned.
7th Grade: TCI - History Alive! – The World Through 1750
TCI's History Alive! The World Through 1750 engages students with meaningful, immersive lessons that build critical thinking skills and foster a deep understanding of the world. This curriculum introduces students to the great civilizations of Mesopotamia, Greece, China, India, and Rome. Students will gain a deeper understanding of these ancient cultures and how they continue to influence the modern world.
8th Grade: TCI - History Alive! – The United States Through Industrialism
The 8th grade curriculum immerses students in a powerful journey through the history of the United States from its earliest foundations to the age of industrialism. Topics of discussion are Colonial Heritage, American Revolution, Constitution, Citizenship, Manifest Destiny, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Students explore how to link people and events from the past to the world we live in today.