Curriculum

Middle School students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Students also explore the structure of language and study grammatical rules in order to speak and write effectively. While emphasis grade is placed on personal expression, students also:

Interpret and synthesize information.
Develop an understanding of the foundations of argument.
Critically analyze print and non-print communication.
Use effective sentence construction and edit for improvements in sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.
Interpret and evaluate a wide range of literature

Strands: Oral Language, Written Language, and Other Media/Technology

The learner will use language to express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
The learner will explore and analyze information from a variety of sources.
The learner will examine the foundation of argument.
The learner will use critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.

MATHEMATICS

Number and Operations

Students in the middle grades represent real numbers using manipulatives, pictures, number lines, and symbols in a variety of contexts. Relationships among rational numbers are explored and equivalence among fractions, decimals, and percents is recognized and explained. Students extend their understanding of place value to decimal and scientific notation and use the properties of real numbers, including zero, one, and inverses. Numerical comparisons are expressed as ratios and rates and problems are solved using ratio, proportion, and percent.

Students develop fluency in computation with rational numbers as well as with relationships among numbers, including primes, composites, factors, and multiples. They explain exponents and square and cube roots of numbers, develop facility with estimation and mental computation, and use calculators appropriately.

Measurement

In the middle grades, the study of perimeter and area is expanded to include surface area and volume of prisms and cylinders and formulas are developed for computing these quantities. Relationships among length, perimeter, area, and volume are studied. Students draw objects to scale and use scale drawings to solve problems.

Geometry

Students use the properties and relationships among geometric figures to solve problems. Congruence, similarity using ratio and proportion, and the Pythagorean theorem are studied. Students continue to study symmetries and transformations and become proficient at visualizing and recognizing transformed figures in the coordinate plane. Three-dimensional figures are drawn and built using different views.

Data Analysis and Probability

Students investigate increasingly complex data sets and, with the appropriate statistical measures, solve problems involving multiple data sets. More sophisticated representations, such as histograms, box plots, and scatter plots, highlight an increased understanding of the spread and grouping of data and the relationships between variables. Students identify basic patterns and trends in tables and charts and use them to make predictions. They describe the distribution of data using measures of central tendency. Students explore extremes in data and the misuse of representations to communicate information.

With bivariate data, students learn to recognize relationships, estimate, and make predictions. In particular, linear relationships are identified and used to investigate bivariate data.

Students conduct experiments and simulations to investigate basic probability, including dependent and independent events. Experimental results are compared with theoretical probabilities and students learn that the level of agreement between the two often depends on the number of times an experiment is repeated. Students learn to make inferences and predictions based on the outcomes of their experiments and simulations.

Algebra

Students in the middle grades begin to use the language of function, identifying patterns and relationships in context and expressing them algebraically. Variables are used to describe the interdependence of quantities and build an understanding of slope as the rate of change between quantities. In order to solve problems, ordered pairs of data are generated and used to identify a linear relationship between quantities graphically and algebraically. From tables and graphs students recognize nonlinear relationships and functions. Linear equations and inequalities are solved using multiple strategies, including manipulatives, tables, guess-and-test, working backwards, and algebraic methods. Students simplify algebraic expressions involving real numbers and variables and apply algebraic methods to solve a variety of problems.

SCIENCE

The middle school science program focuses on the Unifying Concepts of Science as identified by the National Science Education Standards.

The Unifying Concepts of Science consist of:

· Systems, Order, and Organization

· Evidence, Models, and Explanation.

· Constancy, Change, and Measurement.

· Evolution and Equilibrium.

· Form and Function.

The Strands include the following goals:

Nature of Science

As a result of activities in grades 6-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

· Science as a human endeavor.

· Nature of scientific knowledge.

· Historical perspectives.

Science as Inquiry

As a result of activities in grades 6-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

· Ability to do scientific inquiry.

· Understanding about scientific inquiry.

· Ability to perform safe and appropriate manipulation of materials, scientific equipment, and technology.

· Mastery of integrated process skills.

o acquiring, processing, and interpreting data

o identifying variables and their relationships

o designing investigations

o experimenting

o analyzing investigations

o constructing hypotheses

o formulating models

Science and Technology

As a result of activities in grades 6-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

· The different types of technologies.

· Ability to perform technological design.

· Understanding science and technology.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

As a result of activities in grades 6-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

· Personal and community health.

· Population dynamics.

· Environmental quality.

· Natural and human-induced hazards.

· Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges.

· Careers in science and technology.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Students in the middle-level social studies program continue the geographic study of world regions as they examine South America in the Western Hemisphere and Europe, Africa , Asia and Australia in the Eastern Hemisphere . They also engage in an historical study of the creation and development of the state of North Carolina. In the process, students continue the development of basic concepts taken from history, geography, and the other social science disciplines.

The middle-level studies of South America, Europe , Africa , and Asia complete the study of the state, nation, and world begun in grade four. These studies are designed to allow students to examine societies dissimilar to their own in such a way as to broaden their understanding of people and places in an increasingly interdependent world. Students examine areas of the world having the longest record of human habitation and the richest diversity of human experience. These are regions within which the vast majority of the world's people live and regions that possess some of the world's most valuable resources. Students build on the concepts and generalizations developed in earlier grades as they learn about the peoples of South America, Europe, Africa, Asia , and Australia and the physical environments in which they live. They examine the social, economic, and political institutions in societies on these continents, as well as their interactions over time.

The study of history in grades six and seven provides a context for understanding how societies have changed over time and the contributions each has made. In grade eight, the formal study of history builds on geographic understandings as North Carolina's development is placed in an historical perspective, concentrating on the Revolutionary Period through modern times. Students examine the role of people, events, and issues in North Carolina history that have contributed to the unique character of the state today.

Recognizing that an "effective social studies program must be appropriate to the social-emotional needs as well as intellectual characteristics of adolescents," the middle level social studies program enables students to investigate and respond thoughtfully to questions about their world today. It reflects their emerging curiosity about the world, its peoples and life in general and encourages the transition from concrete to abstract thinking.

COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR TECHNOLOGY - LITERATE STUDENTS GRADES 6-8

Prior to completion of Grade 8, students will:

1. Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine hardware and software problems that occur during everyday use.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of current changes in information technologies and the effect those changes have on the workplace and society.

3. Exhibit legal and ethical behaviors when using information and technology, and discuss consequences of misuse.

4. Use content-specific tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.

5. Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.

6. Design, develop, publish, and present products (e.g., Web pages, videotapes) using technology resources that demonstrate and communicate curriculum concepts to audiences inside and outside the classroom.

7. Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

8. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.

9. Demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying hardware, software, connectivity, and of practical applications to learning and problem solving.

10. Research and evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic information sources concerning real-world problems.

GUIDANCE

Middle grades are the years that a student continues awareness activities, but learning is focused on exploration activities

· Improving academic self-concept

· Acquiring skills for improving learning

· Achieving school success

· Improving learning

· Planning to achieve goals

HEALTHFUL LIVING/PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Major Emphasis

Crosscreek Charter School’s comprehensive healthful living education program is designed to help each student develop pro-active health promotion behaviors. Students develop positive attitudes toward regular physical activity and its effect on health.

Goals and Objectives for grades 6 – 8:

Students will be aware of the important health risks for their age group and be able to appraise their own health and fitness status, healthful behavior, and potential for health risk.

Students will employ a variety of critical thinking processes to solve a variety of health-related problems and make health-related decisions.

Students will be able to enact non-violent conflict resolution strategies; exhibit behaviors productive to group functioning, define rights of individuals in relationships, and communicate feelings and expectations clearly.

Students will be able to protect themselves from health risks arising from fire, substance abuse, insufficient activity, and water recreational activities.

Students will recognize the value of abstaining from sexual activity until marriage.

Students will be able to manage stress, comprehend the role of personal responsibility in minimizing health risks, and develop plans to manage health-related behaviors and habits.

Students will know the principles of exercise and diet that contribute to the development of personal fitness.

The student will be very comfortable in all aspects of heart rate monitoring (knows his or her resting heart rate, target heart rate, recovery heart rate); demonstrate FIT Guidelines; and develop sound exercise practices (know safe exercises and contraindicated exercises/practices).

Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to set personal goals, develop an awareness of and respect for cultural diversity through participation in physical activities; understand and apply basic principles of training (e.g., intensity, specificity, overload) and develop abilities to function in group activities.

July 28

CAPT Meeting

6:30 pm in Unit #2

Aug 4th

Open House (All Grade) @ 7pm

Aug 5th

First Day of School

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