Middle School

Students in sixth through eighth grade at St. Francis de Sales are enrolled in classes that are taught by teachers who specialize in specific content areas. Students are provided Chromebooks on a 1:1 basis that enrich the learning experience in student-centered classrooms that place a priority on 21st Century skills including, but not limited to, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.

Middle School Curriculum	6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
RELIGION	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on:* - Prayer -Liturgy -Feasts and seasons -Service
	PRIMARY TEXT: Blessed Are We, Benzinger The Bible How Catholics read it History Books of the Bible Bible passage lookup Old Testament Patriarchs: Our Ancestors in Faith Creation and Covenant Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Moses	PRIMARY TEXT: Blessed Are We, Benzinger Jesus Christ, the Way The Impact of Jesus Friendship with Jesus Scripture The Early Life of Jesus The Mission of Jesus The Apostles and Mary Jesus Christ, the Truth Parables Miracles The Message of Jesus Beatitudes Jesus Christ, the Life Living Faith in Jesus Jesus’ Final Hours and Victory over Death The Sacraments	PRIMARY TEXT: Blessed Are We, Benzinger The Mystery of the Church The Marks of the Church One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church History The Way of the Church Holiness Faith Worship Family Social Justice
MATHEMATICS Grade Level Sequence	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on the Eight Mathematical Practices:* 1)Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them 2)Reason abstractly and quantitatively 3) Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others 4) Model with mathematics 5) Use appropriate tools strategically 6) Attend to precision 7) Look for and make use of structure 8) Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning
	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision, Savvas Learning Company Composing and Decomposing Numbers Ratios and Percents Introduction to Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Extending the Number Lines and the Coordinate Plane Statistics	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision, Savvas Learning Company Proportionality Integer Operations Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Populations and Probabilities Angles Volume of Pyramids	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision, Savvas Learning Company Transformations Linear Relationships and Functions Systems Pythagorean Theorem Exponents Volume of Curved Figures
MATHEMATICS Accelerated Sequence	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision, Savvas Learning Company Proportionality Integer Operations Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities Populations and Probabilities Angles, and Volume of Pyramids	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision, Savvas Learning Company Transformations Linear Relationships and Functions Systems Pythagorean Theorem Exponents Volume of Curved Figures	PRIMARY TEXT: Envision Algebra, Savvas Learning Company Patterns Sequences Linear Regressions Linear Functions, Equations, and Inequalities Systems Exponential Functions Distributions Quadratic Functions
READING	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on:* - Balance of fiction and nonfiction - Independent reading goals and projects - Fluency with increasingly complex and/or lengthy texts - Emphasis on comprehension and analysis skills - Collaborative discussion: expressing thoughts clearly, actively listening, and thoughtfully responding
	PRIMARY TEXT: Great Expectations, Scott Foresman Textual evidence Theme: topics and details that support theme Writing a text summary Plot devices: conflict, complications, climax Vocabulary: word meanings, connotation, figurative language, word choice Narrative point of view Text forms and genres, paired texts	PRIMARY TEXT: Elements of Literature, Holt Textual evidence: multiple examples Theme: development and theme statements Writing an objective text summary Plot structure: exposition, conflict, complications, climax, falling action, resolution Vocabulary: word meanings, connotation, figurative language, word choice, sound devices Author’s viewpoint/tone Argument and claims analysis	PRIMARY TEXT: Elements of Literature, Holt Textual evidence: strongest examples Theme: as it relates to characters and theme statements Writing an objective summary including elements of plot, character, and setting Plot development: types of conflicts, character development, and impact of setting Vocabulary: word meanings, connotation, figurative language, word choice, tone, analogies, allusions Author’s perspective and narrative tools Argument counterpoints and evaluation
LANGUAGE ARTS	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on:* - The writing process: prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, publishing - Writing fluency - Writing and grammar integration - Speech
	PRIMARY TEXT: Voyages in English, Loyola Press Narrative, Expository, Persuasive -- Emphasis on Narrative Research skills/MLA Grammar: Warriner’s and VIE, with a focus on pronoun use	PRIMARY TEXT: Voyages in English, Loyola Press Narrative, Expository, Persuasive--Emphasis on Expository Research report/MLA Grammar: Warriner’s and VIE, with a focus on phrases and clauses	PRIMARY TEXT: Voyages in English, Loyola Press Narrative, Expository, Persuasive--Emphasis on Persuasive Research project/MLA Grammar: Warriner’s and VIE, with a focus on verbs and verbals
SCIENCE	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on Science and Engineering Practices:* - Asking Questions & Defining Problems - Developing & Using Models - Planning & Carrying Out Investigations - Analyzing & Interpreting Data - Using Mathematical & Computational Thinking - Constructing Explanations & Designing Solutions - Engaging in Argument from Evidence - Obtaining, Evaluating & Communicating Information
	PRIMARY TEXT: Interactive Science, Pearson Matter, Elements, Light, Thermal Energy Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Geology History of Earth, Energy Resources, Water The Atmosphere, Weather, Climate Earth, Moon, Sun, The Solar System	PRIMARY TEXT: Interactive Science, Pearson Living Things, Cells, Cell Processes, Metabolic Reactions, and Energy Genetics, DNA, Change Over Time Human Body, Nervous System Population and Communities, Ecosystems and Biomes IJAS Science Fair	PRIMARY TEXT: Interactive Science, Pearson Solids, Liquids and Gases Chemical Reactions Motion, Forces, Energy Sound Waves, Electromagnetic Waves, Electricity Climate Change IJAS Science Fair
SOCIAL STUDIES	*ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES focus on: - Geography and map skills* - Interpretation of graphs, charts & tables - Vocabulary - Note-taking skills - Analysis and interpretation of primary sources
	PRIMARY TEXT: Discovering Our Past, A History of the World, McGraw-Hill Paleolithic & Neolithic Ages Early World Civilizations: Sumeria; Greece; Rome; African; Asian; Aztec & Incan Middle Ages; Renaissance Read, research & complete projects for given civilizations/time periods Compare & contrast World Civilizations to our U.S. society & government Enjoy Virtual Reality (VR) field trips	PRIMARY TEXT: American History, Pearson Early North American & South American civilizations Native American Indian tribes’ past & current issues People/events from 1492-1865 Research, discuss, debate, & complete projects on early American events Understand historical events from different perspectives Experience our state capital, Springfield , on our annual field trip	PRIMARY TEXT: American History, Pearson Review Civil War Reconstruction, Western Expansion, Industrial Revolution, WWI, Roaring 20s - Civil Rights Era Summarize and lead discussions regarding current events Support thesis claim through synthesizing information from various historical sources Experience our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., on our annual field trip