The sixth-grade Language Arts program provides students with a rich background of various genres of literature. While exploring short stories, poetry, fiction and drama students will successfully apply comprehension strategies and gain independent reading skills to further their potential as lifelong learners. Students engage in the writing process to further their understanding of concrete and abstract writing while citing textual evidence when necessary. Instruction continues in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure within the context of students’ writing.

History 6 is a one-year course in which students explore the ancient past using essential questions to provide a framework for understanding the big picture of each ancient civilization.  Students will develop a broad and deep understanding of the content through stories, digital activities, games, class discussions, note-taking, and projects. Through this process, students will develop critical thinking skills to build upon as they follow the story of mankind across different regions of the world. The goal of the course is for students to acquire the ability to connect lessons about ancient life to knowledge and problems of the world in which we live.

 

The Math 6 curriculum provides the students the opportunity to master the 6th grade math standards and start preparing the foundation for algebra. Rather than separating decimals from fractions or geometry from pre-algebra, the course integrates and connects these concepts daily. The approach incorporates computational thinking, connecting math standards and the meaning of operations to the application of word problems, as well as critical thinking and real-world applications. Following are the concepts that are covered in Math 6: numeration with emphasis on properties of numbers and operations, decimals, fractions, percent, square roots, ratios, proportional reasoning, basic geometry, solving measurement problems, data collection and graphs, probability, order of operations, two step equations, and problem solving with real world applications.

Math 6 Advanced is a course designed to combine the course requirements for Math 6 and Math 7 to allow the student to begin Course 3 as a 7^th grader and Algebra 1 High School Equivalent as an 8^th grader. Algebraic thinking is embedded throughout this course and not addressed as a separate topic. The algebraic topics covered are the following: patterns, relations, functions, order of operations applied to whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and exponents. Students build on their understanding of variables, expressions and extend them to equations and inequalities. They also analyze functions leading to graphing on the coordinate plane.

In Science 6, students will explore concepts of Earth and Space Science.  Students will go through different units in which students are asked to inhabit the role of a scientist or engineer in order to investigate a real-world problem. These problems provide relevant, 21st-century contexts through which students investigate different scientific phenomena.  Once the problem context is clear, students collect evidence from multiple sources and through a variety of modalities. They move back and forth from first-hand investigation to second-hand analysis and synthesis, formulating an increasingly complex explanatory capacity for the problem at hand.  At the culmination of each unit, students have an opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge to a similar but different problem in novel and exciting circumstances. It is in this step that students demonstrate a deep understanding of the unit’s key scientific phenomena.  The units studied are: Geology on Mars, Plate Motion, Rock Transformations, Earth Moon and Sun, Oceans Atmosphere and Climate, Weather Patterns, and Earth’s Changing Climate.

Students can take Mandarin or Spanish. 

Mandarin 1.1 

Mandarin 1.1 is an introductory course in which students learn to listen, speak, read, and write simple daily conversational Chinese. Students will learn basic vocabulary and useful expressions, develop an understanding of basic grammatical structures, and acquire communication skills to comprehend and convey information on a variety of familiar topics such as: greetings, nationalities, school, family, directions, date/time, food, and numbers 1-100. Students will also learn to play simple games in Chinese and explore various cultural topics.

Spanish 1.1

In Spanish 1.1, students will begin their formal study of the Spanish language in preparation for high school. Students will build their proficiency in speaking and pronunciation, reading, writing, and listening skills. Students will learn where Spanish is spoken and focus on the Hispanic cultures of the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. By the end of this course, students will be able to greet others, introduce themselves, talk about likes, describe themselves, talk about food, and talk about school. Grammar centers on regular verb conjugations in the present tense, the irregular verbs gustar, ser, tener, estar, and ir, noun-adjective agreement, and basic sentence syntax of statements and questions. Students entering St. John’s with no previous Spanish experience will be placed in this course.

The seventh-grade Language Arts program provides students with various genres of literature such as, but not limited to, short stories, nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and drama. While exploring all aspects of literature, students will be able to engage in open-ended discussions, create meaningful dialogue, and become lifelong learners. With an emphasis on the improvement of writing skills, students participate in meaningful discussion focused on issues that arise in the appropriate novels. Instruction continues in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure within the context of students’ writing.
 

History 7 is a one-year course about world history, concentrating on medieval history and society. It not only builds upon the ancient history foundation from History 6, but also teaches students that much of what they see in today's politics, cultures, traditions, and conflicts is rooted in this time period. Students analyze the rise and fall of empires, examine the influence of geography on people and places, and connect causes with effects. Knowledge and critical thinking skills with creative talents culminate in a group STEAM project of designing and producing a medieval newspaper.

This Pre-Algebra course continues with the same integrated instructional approach of concepts and focus on mathematical thinking that is part of the Math 6 curriculum. The priority of the Pre-Algebra course is to prepare students for Algebra I success. Algebraic thinking is embedded throughout the curriculum and not addressed as a separate topic. The algebraic topics covered are the following: patterns, relations, functions, order of operations applied to whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and exponents. Students build on their understanding of variables, expressions and extend them to equations and inequalities. They also analyze functions leading to graphing on the coordinate plane.

This Pre-Algebra Advanced course is taught using Saxon math, a teaching method which involves learning a new concept every day and constantly reviewing older concepts. Concepts covered in this course include: number theory, integers, algebraic expressions, inequalities, equations, linear functions, geometry, exponents, radicals, and polynomials. Students who complete this course successfully will be prepared to take Algebra 1 High School Equivalent in 8^th grade.

In Science 7, students will explore concepts of Life Science.  Students will go through nine different units in which students are asked to inhabit the role of a scientist or engineer in order to investigate a real-world problem. These problems provide relevant, 21^st-century contexts through which students investigate different scientific phenomena. Once the problem context is clear, students collect evidence from multiple sources and through a variety of modalities. They move back and forth from first-hand investigation to second-hand analysis and synthesis, formulating an increasingly complex explanatory capacity for the problem at hand.  At the culmination of each unit, students have an opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge to a similar but different problem in novel and exciting circumstances. It is in this step that students demonstrate a deep understanding of the unit’s key scientific phenomena.  The units studied are: Microbiome, Metabolism, Traits and Reproduction, Populations and Resources, Matter and Energy in Ecosystems, Natural Selection, and Nervous System.

Students can take Mandarin or Spanish. 

Mandarin 1.2

In Mandarin Chinese 1.2, students will continue to learn Chinese skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will write in Chinese characters and Pinyin. The topics that will be covered in this Level 1.2 course include: colors, clothing, health/body, sports and movement, animals, transportation, directions, shopping, nationalities, weather/seasons, comparisons, and numbers 1-1,000,000. Students will also learn Chinese tongue-twisters, frequently used classroom phrases, and Chinese Chess.

Spanish 1.2

After a review of the concepts learned in Spanish 1.2, students will continue to build their proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Culture centers on the countries of Puerto Rico, Spain, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. By the end of Spanish 1.2, students will be able to talk about clothing and shopping, restaurants and food, their home and other places around the city, sports, and events. Grammar focuses on stem changing verbs, verbs with an irregular yo form, using the comparative, direct object pronouns, and command forms.  Students will demonstrate their proficiency by way of skits, short compositions or letters, dictations, and projects. Pre-requisites for entering this course: Spanish 1.1, its equivalent, or placement exam.