Course Description
Grades 8-9
Algebra I
Philosophy Statement: God is a God of order, and through the study of mathematics, students will appreciate the orderliness, exactness, and completeness that God has infused throughout his creation. Through the study of mathematics, students can develop a better appreciation of the infinite wisdom of God when compared to the finiteness of man.
Course Objective: The course sets a strong, solid foundation in working with negative numbers and proceeds to introduce algebraic concepts of variables, functions, relations, polynomials, systems of equations and inequalities, rational exponents, and
quadratic equations.
Textbooks: Algebra 1
McDougal Littell
Copyright 2001
Algebra, Structure and Method, Book 1
McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin
Copyright 1997
Materials:
· Student textbook
· Practice and enrichment worksheets
· Manipulative materials
· Overhead transparencies
· Graph paper
· Calculators
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week (One or two year course)
Course Content:
· Introduction to algebra concepts involved with simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions. Order of operations will be emphasized
· Investigation of real numbers and the properties involved in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
· Solving linear equations and exploring strategies needed to solve multi-step equations
· Graphing linear equations and functions
· Writing linear equations
· Solving and graphing linear inequalities
· Systems of linear equations and inequalities
· Exponents and exponential functions
· Quadratic equations and functions
· Working with polynomials involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
· Factoring polynomials using all patterns
· Rational equations and functions
· Radicals and the geometric connection with special emphasis on the Pythagorean Theorem and trigonometric ratios
Areas to be evaluated:
· Class participation
· Guided practice
· Homework assignments
· Tests
· Quizzes
· Example notebook
Additional activities:
· Guest speakers (Math related careers)
· Math Club
Course Description
Grade 8
Art
Philosophy Statement: God, The Master Artist, is the author of all creation. The universe He created is full of colors, textures, patterns, shapes, and form to explore. God has gifted individuals with creative expressions and abilities. Through the use of meaningful artistic expressions and experiences, students are given opportunities to utilize their abilities to glorify God. The visual arts can have a powerful impact upon its viewing audience. Realization of such power is an exciting responsibility for students to demonstrate their Christian testimony to the community and society through the use of
creative expression.
Course Objective: The students will be introduced to and participate with various art medias. They will utilize the techniques and knowledge learned to complete art projects.
Textbooks: None
Materials:
· Markers
· Muslin
· Batik dyes & tools
· Acrylic paints
· Clay/glazes
· Wood
· Yarn
· Watercolor paints
· Tempera paint
· Copper & tooling tools
· Graphite pencils
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week, one quarter
Course Content:
· Fibers
· Drawing
· Color
· Sculpture
· Weaving
· Painting
· Clay
· Copper tooling
Areas to be evaluated:
· Individual progress in specific medias
Additional activities:
· Art shows
Course Description
Grade 8
Career Education
Philosophy Statement: Students are faced with many career choices. By learning how to identify their unique talents, interests, abilities, priorities and spiritual gifts which God has given them, students will be able to better identify possible career options God may be leading them to pursue.
Course Objective: Students will grow in understanding biblical principles while they learn to recognize and identify personality traits in themselves and others. They will learn to identify their personal interests and learn to pinpoint the abilities God has given them. They will gain an awareness and evaluate their vocational priorities in life as well as apply information learned in these areas to current life activities in pursuit of a future career direction. They will grow in the process of planning and learning decision making processes for education, career and life choices. They will grow in understanding the available resources around them regarding activities and interests, internships and career opportunities.
Textbooks: YES! Youth Exploration Survey
Life Pathways, Christian Financial Concepts, Inc.
Copyright 1998
Materials:
· Career video tapes from Heartland AEA
· Career Choices textbook
· Career guest speakers
· Des Moines City Libraries
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week, one quarter
Course Content:
· Personality Style
· Interests
· Priorities
· Decision-making style
· Budget and lifestyle
· Career research
· Resumes
· Interviews
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities:
· Career guest speakers
· Field trip to city library
Course Description
Grades 7-8
Junior High Choir
Philosophy Statement: God created the world with innumerous sounds. Since the beginning God has given music to mankind to enrich lives and to enhance man's expression of love to his Creator. The Bible gives several instances when men and women glorify and praise God through singing and the use of instruments. Through the study and performance of music, students can focus their gifts and talents into expressions that reflect His beauty. Music is a gift from God.
Course Objective: Students will recognize and review various music terms. They will demonstrate proper singing technique. The ultimate objective is to sing to the glory of God and to reach out to others by sharing the love of Jesus Christ through song.
Textbooks: None
Materials:
Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day, 5 days per week
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities:
· Various on and off campus performances and ministry opportunities throughout the year
Course Description
Grade 8
Civics
Philosophy Statement: From creation to the present day, God has been involved in the governing of man. By studying the past, we see how God works His will in the lives of those who follow Him and how He has spoken and intervened in history. The study of history should yield an appreciation and realization of the things God has accomplished through people and nations since the creation of the world and His love and concern as He controls the events of world history.
Course Objective: Students will be able to distinguish between different types of political systems as well as economic systems found in the world today. They will understand the workings of the United States governmental system and their role as a citizen within it. Students will also understand the Christian heritage behind our government.
Textbooks: The Bible
Government For Everybody
Amsco School Publications, Inc.
Copyright 1996
Materials:
Time Allotment:
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities:
Course Description
Grades 7-8
Junior High Concert Band
Philosophy Statement: God created the world with innumerous sounds. Since the beginning God has given music to mankind to enrich our lives and to enhance man’s expression of love to his Creator. The Bible gives several instances when men and women glorify and praise God through singing and the use of instruments. Through the study and performance of music, students can focus their gifts and talents into expression that reflect His beauty. Music is a gift from God.
Course Objective: Students will prepare and learn glide step techniques and apply it through block marching in fall parades. The band will perform various musical selections for concerts. Students will perform at Junior High Solo Ensemble contest. The band will also perform at SCIBA Junior High Concert Band Festival and the Parade of Bands concert using various pieces of music.
Textbooks: Master Theory
Charles S. Peters and Paul Yoder
Materials:
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated
Additional Activities:
Course Description
Grade 8
Earth Science
Philosophy Statement: Science instruction equips students to know and experience God’s basic eternal truths revealed through His creation. Science deepens the students’ faith, understanding, and awareness of the eternal power and divine nature of God. (Romans 1:20)
Course Objective: Earth Science is the study of our planet’s structure and atmosphere. The Biblical account of creation is emphasized. This course provides students with a foundation for more specialized instruction in high school.
Textbooks: Earth Science
Holt
Copyright 2005
Materials:
· Earth Science for Christian Schools: Visual Packet: 2nd ed. Bob Jones University Press, 1992
· Workbook- Student Activities in Earth Science for Christian Schools 2nd ed. Bob Jones University Press, 1992
· Lab equipment
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week
Course Content:
· Meteorology
· Oceanography
· Hydrologic Cycle
· Geology
· Astronomy
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities:
· Guest speaker: meteorologist from KCCI Channel 8
· Dry Ice Demonstration
· Field Trip to The Science Center to experience the Challenger Mission
Course Description
Grade 8
Music Exploratory
Philosophy Statement: God created the world with innumerous sounds. Since the beginning God has given music to mankind to enrich lives and to enhance man’s expression of love to his Creator. The Bible gives several instances when men and women glorify and praise God through singing and the use of instruments. Through the study of and performance of music, students can focus their gifts and talents into expressions that reflect His beauty. Music is a gift from God.
Course Objective: Music 8 is an exploratory 9 week course where students are exposed to a wide variety of musical experiences ranging from playing guitars and hand chimes to watching a performance of a musical to listening to and discussing music of various composers.
Textbooks: None
Materials:
Time Allotment: 45 minutes per day, five days per week, 1 quarter
Course Content:
· Guitar chords simple worship songs
· Hand Chimes Hymns
· Opera
· Musicals
· Composers and Works
· Music Theory
Areas to be evaluated:
· Mastery of basic guitar chords
· Note reading and chime playing
· Identification of composers and their works
· Identification of plots, songs and characters of West Side Story and Oklahoma
· Musical/drama presentation/performance
Additional activities:
· Composer reports and impromptu performances
Junior High Jazz Band
Philosophy Statement: God created the world with innumerous sounds. Since the beginning God has given music to mankind to enrich lives and to enhance man’s expression of love to his Creator. The Bible gives several instances when men and women glorify and praise God through singing and the use of instruments. Through the study and performance of music, students can focus their gifts and talents into expression that reflect His beauty. Music is a gift from God.
Course Objective: To learn to play jazz through a variety of different styles of jazz music. These styles are blues, shuffle, ballad, samba, and rock. Students will play and understand improvisation through rhythm changes and blues form. Lastly he MS Jazz Band’s will prepare performances for the Secondary Christmas concert, Hooverfest, SCIBA MS Jazz Band Festival, and Jazz Night.
Textbooks: Standard of Excellence Jazz Ensemble Method
Neil A. Kjos Music Company
Copyright 1998
Sammy Nestico’s Young Jazz Ensemble Collection
Sammy Nestico, Jenson Publications, Fenwood Music Inc.
Copyright 1987
Materials:
Time Allotment: 55 minutes per day, two days per week
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional Activities:
Course Description
Grade 8
Language Arts
Philosophy Statement: God is the Supreme Communicator and has spoken to His people in many ways. In His goodness, He has given us gifts and abilities to read, write, listen, and speak. These language arts skills are the foundation and gateway to all learning. Understanding and developing these gifts is essential to language arts instruction. Through the study of language arts, students will develop written and oral skills that are necessary to become life-long learners of God and His word, which will equip them to be salt and light to the world.
Course Objective: Students study the grammar, usage, and mechanics of the English language. Essay writing, literature selections, and spelling units are also explored.
Textbooks: Vocabulary Spelling Poetry II
ABeka Book
Copyright 1999
Elements of Language Second Course
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston
Copyright 2001
Adventures For Readers Book Two
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Copyright 1985
Materials:
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2001
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1985
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
· Class participation
· Class assignments
· Homework assignments
· Individual projects
· Group projects
· Quizzes
· Tests
· Utilization in daily /weekly writing
Additional activities:
Course Description
Grade 8
Music Exploration
Philosophy Statement: God created the world with innumerous sounds. Since the beginning God has given music to mankind to enrich lives and to enhance man's expression of love to his Creator. The Bible gives several instances when men and women glorify and praise God through singing and the use of instruments. Through the study and performance of music, students can focus their gifts and talents into expressions that reflect His beauty. Music is a gift from God.
Course Objective: Students will recognize and review various styles of music and music terms as well as explore various composers and their music. They wil lreview techniques necessary to play music on hand chimes and guitar. Students will explore opera and musicals and create an opera vignette.
Textbooks: None
Materials:
· Hand-outs
· Bible
· Sheet music
· Guitars
· Hand chimes
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week, one quarter
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities:
· Impromptu performances on hand chimes for various classes through out the school
Course Description
Grade 8
New Testament
Philosophy Statement: The purpose of Christian education is to equip the Christian young person with the necessary skills to succeed in life. As such, it is necessary to provide the student with a realistic, bibliocentric view of the world around him. Our desire is to develop in the student the mind of Christ and to equip students to think, discern, and act through Biblically-directed, Christ-centered education. To this end, biblical truth and the teaching of a biblical worldview will be integrated in all academic disciplines, from preschool to high school.
Course Objective: Students will understand an overview of the New Testament. They will understand and be able to name each book, its author and give its basic outline and primary theme. They will know the basic geography involved in the N.T. and the missionary journeys of Paul. They will understand the historical context of each book and its impact on our world today. They will read as well as memorize selected passages.
Textbooks: The Bible
Materials:
Time Allotment: 44 minutes per day, 5 days per week, one semester
Course Content:
Areas to be evaluated:
Additional activities: None
Course Description