Read and explore novels, short stories, poems, and plays whose protagonists represent a variety of backgrounds and challenges
Identify literary elements: metaphor, symbolism, foreshadowing, theme, and historical and cultural references
Independent and in-class reading and literature criticism
Analyze and identify literary themes: friendship, identity, tolerance, diversity, and beliefs
Connect literature to history, author, personal experience, and the modern world through discussion, journal entries, and group work
Writing & Language Arts
Practice critical paragraph and essay writing
Write a five paragraph essay
Practice Courageous Conversations
Focus on writing process: prewriting, writing, editing, and rewriting
Develop research skills: internet and library
Maintain a notebook and practice note-taking and organizational skills
Strengthen vocabulary and grammar skills
Make oral and visual presentations
Analyze and write poetry, short stories, and fiction
Social Studies
Medieval Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, West Africa, Japan, and the Americas
Contributions, legacies, societies, and belief systems of peoples studied
Geographical, political, and historical maps
Note-taking skills: history journal
Cause, effect, and impact of historical events
Comparison of present-day case studies and literature to historical studies
Social curriculum: Inclusiveness, Kindness, Empathy (IKE)
Science
Work as a scientist: observe, research, and develop controlled experiments
Classification—information gained/information lost
Evolution
Life processes: strategies and solutions from cells to plants to human beings
Genetics and heredity
Sex and drug education: accurate information leads to informed decisions
Develop research skills, apply scientific method, write scientific arguments
Buddy science projects with Lower School students
Spanish
Project-based learning that focuses on authentic, meaningful situations. Verbal communication is highly emphasized
Use Realidades textbook, workbook, and interactive website
Active learning through Total Physical Response games, art, music, and dance
Celebration of Latino culture through study of music, stories, dance, traditional holidays, and geography
In-depth individual PowerPoint presentations on Mexico
Interrogatives, the imperative, the preterit tense, formulas tener que + infinitivo and ir + a + infinitivo
Music
Advanced drum ensemble workshop
Year one drum ensemble
5-part 6/8 pattern
Dividing beat into three and four parts
Mayi, Ibo, Samba
Featured performance at African American Cultural Celebration
Exploration of the cultural role music plays in a community
Performance band for instrumentalists
Physical Education
Analyzing an opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and using this analysis in a game situation
Demonstrating appropriate sportsmanship in game situations
Working cooperatively with all peers regardless of skill level
Service Learning
Service to Alzheimer’s patients, toddlers at day care, and others off-site
InPlay iyo la-hawlgalayaasheeda kafaala qaaday midkoodna ma eegin mid ka mid ah barnaamijyada waxqabadka ama mana ay taageeraan wax barnaamijyada ah. Waalidku waa inay si qoto dheer u baaraan barnaamijyada kahor intaysan qorin carruurtooda.