| Vision: Calumet Christian School seeks to develop in students a foundational understanding of, and appreciation for, the English language. Students will be exposed to a diversity of literary works and genre ? some quite challenging ? exploring various themes, moral lessons, and spiritual applications. Students will practice a variety of writing styles, concentrating on developing, organizing, and expressing their ideas in a creative and effective manner. By the conclusion of eighth grade they should possess an age appropriate grasp of the structure, diversity, and beauty of the English language. |
| Sixth graders study literature to practice drawing meaning from text through the study of common literary devices and the structure of various literary genres such as short stories, novels, poetry, and drama. They may read The Children's Homer, Call It Courage, Julius Caesar, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or The Secret Garden. Reading is supported with the study of vocabulary from these texts and common English sayings, idioms, and phrases. Students continue to receive instruction in the writing process and practice it by drafting their own original expository and creative pieces. Grammar is taught to enhance the clarity, control, and style of students' writing. Emphasis is placed on the parts of speech to develop basic syntax awareness and the fluent use of the various kinds and types of sentences. Spelling instruction supports clear written communication by focusing on common spelling concepts and analysis of word parts. Specific listening skills are taught, emphasized, and practiced as a primary means of gaining information. Various speaking opportunities allow students to practice the language arts as well as gain self-confidence before an audience. |
The seventh grade language arts course focuses on five major areas: reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and spelling. Reading selections draw from many literary genres, including novels, plays, essays, short stories and poetry. Writing incorporates the entire writing process resulting in a major writing piece each quarter. Vocabulary stresses the study of numerous Latin and Greek roots that comprise much of English, as well as the challenging words encountered in the various reading assignments. Grammar concentrates on mastery of parts of speech versus sentence components, diagramming simple sentences, correct verb usage, adjective and adverb clauses and complex punctuation. Students read a variety of books which may include, but are not limited to, A Day No Pigs Would Die, The Outsiders, The Giver, The Call of the Wild, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Hessian. |
The goal of eighth grade language arts is to strengthen the student's knowledge and use of the English language in six basic areas: reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and verbal skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of literature, with particular emphasis on understanding such novels as Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Writing focuses on the five-paragraph essay and analysis of literary works. Students study the grammatical structure of language and the mechanics of sound writing. Vocabulary revolves around a classical roots workbook and words drawn from the student's reading. Spelling skills continue to be developed through weekly word lists based on specific themes. Student participation in class discussion is strongly encouraged and occasional oral presentations are required. |
|
|
Because one of the primary goals of Xenos Christian Schools is to equip our students for a life of service, we want them to attain a high level of achievement in mathematics. Our math curriculum is rigorous enough to fully prepare out students to have success and the confidence to take on challenging courses in high school math and science. The mathematics course of study, based on the Saxon Math curriculum, utilizes the incremental development of concepts and skills and the continual review of those concepts and skills over an extended period of time. Incremental development is the introduction of topics |
| This course is comparable to seventh grade math in many schools and is designed to reinforce and add depth to skills and concepts learned in previous years. New concepts are added incrementally and practiced throughout the year. The goal of the course is to help students master the following concepts: Solving problems with fractions, decimals, and percents Ratio and proportions Factors and multiples Place value of whole and decimal numbers Roots and square roots Identifying and measuring angles Geometric formulas for perimeter and area of a square, rectangle, and triangleThere is an opportunity for advanced students to follow the curriculum of the seventh grade math course. |
Algebra ½ Advanced 7th Grade students can take Algebra ½ to prepare them for 8th Grade Algebra 1. The topics covered are symbols of inclusion; statistics; scientific notation; probability; solid geometry; algebraic expressions; exponents and roots; ratio, proportion and percent; and graphing.Math 8/7Our 7th Grade students are prepared for future success in mathematics by studying and gaining proficiency in the following topics: ratio and proportion; statistics; factors and multiples; simple algebraic equations; order of operations; exponents and roots; signed numbers; plane and solid geometry. |
Algebra 1 Advanced 8th Grade students take Algebra 1 and have the opportunity to receive high school credit, thus enabling them to move into more advanced classes when they enter high school. Our Algebra 1 course covers topics such as functions; linear and quadratic equations; number and set concepts; distance formula word problems; polynomials; exponents; and radical and rational expressions.Algebra ½ This course is designed to introduce students to algebraic and geometric concepts and complete their foundation in general math, in order to fully prepare them for high school algebra and geometry classes. 8th grade students will gain proficiency in: symbols of inclusion; statistics; scientific notation; probability; solid geometry; algebraic expressions; exponents and roots; ratio, proportion and percent; and graphing. |
| Back to Top |
| Vision: The social studies curriculum centers on the idea that everyone is part of the world and history. The goal is for students to understand how history plays a part in their lives. Students will study events of history and their impact on the world. Students will come to an understanding that they can learn from history in order that many of the mistakes of the past can be avoided in the present and the future. The study of world events and geography will lend a deeper understanding to how cultures developed. |
| Sixth Grade:This course covers the development of Western Civilization from Mesopotamia through the Enlightenment Period. Cultural aspects will be studied including art, literature, religion, customs, and scientific advancements of these time periods. Map work will also be included. |
Seventh Grade: The curriculum will cover world geography and the U.S. place in the world. The diffusion of mineral resources, religion, agricultural regions, climate, topography and water will be studied to understand how people develop different ways of life based on available resources. |
Eighth Grade: This course covers early American history through the 20th century. Students will look at the different components of American government and the historical events that led to the development of America. An understanding of America's struggles to grow from a you nation to become a world power will be an important component of the curriculum. |
| Back to Top |
| 6th & 7th Grade ScienceThe first two years of science are broken down into two one-year blocks of study. One block focuses on the earth sciences, and the other block focuses on life science. |
| Earth Science Earth science includes the study of rocks and minerals, structure of the earth, plate tectonics and the theory of continental drift, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather, and environmental and ecology issues. Projects include ?mining copper? from raw minerals, mapping worldwide earthquake and volcano activity, and local field and stream studies. Stewardship as it relates to taking care of our natural resources is emphasized. |
Life ScienceThe study of life science begins with studying cells and cell division. Classification and the six kingdoms of living things are studied to gain an understanding of the unity and diversity of all living things. Specific topics include mammals, plants, bacteria and viruses, and genetics. Projects include using compound light microscopes to observe human cheek cells, dissecting plants, and creating ?genetic babies?. |
Eighth grade science focuses on the physical sciences of chemistry and physics. Chemistry includes studying the development of the atomic theory and the periodic table of elements. The structure of atoms and compounds, and chemical reactions are coupled with lab experiments that help reinforce what is learned in the classroom. Carbon chemistry focuses on polymers and plastics and includes identification of recyclable plastic resins. The chemistry of food and respiration helps students understand food sources chemically. Physics includes studying Newton's laws of motions, simple machines, and the nature of heat and temperature. Waves, both sound and electromagnetic, are studied, along with electricity and alternative energy sources. Students get hands on experience during an extensive unit on electronics, building various circuits and working with other common electronic apparatus. Evolution and Intelligent Design are discussed and debated as theories to explain the beginning and continuation of life. |
| Back to Top |
| The goal of the middle school health curriculum is for students to learn, in light of God's perspective, various current health topics relevant to adolescents. Helping students to think critically about these issues will enable them to begin to make wise choices related to these and other topics now and in the future. |
| Sixth grade students begin health learning about ?life skills? which include stress and stress management, time management, and peer influence and decision making. Studying the human respiratory and circulatory systems follows the history of medicine. Students receive certification from the American Red Cross by taking the Red Cross Babysitting Course as part of the 6th grade health curriculum. |
Young peacemakers is a bible based conflict management program that is the focus of the first section of 7th grade health. Students are challenged to identify their current conflict management style and compare it to the model presented in the Bible. The second half of the health program involves studying teenage depression and suicide, and the human immune and lymph systems. |
The first section of 8th grade health focuses on the human skeletal, muscular, and digestive systems. This is followed up by studying human nutrition and eating disorders. Sexuality, dating, and abortion are covered by looking at current trends and beliefs and comparing them to God's perspective. |
| Back to Top |
| Visual art is a form of communication, a means of personal expression, a visual record of history, and a means to create beauty. These four outcomes of visual art are included in the art education curriculum, there by teaching a whole and balanced perspective in art. We approach visual art as a discipline, in the same way that we approach history or language arts. Our goal is that students will understand and use the four elements of art: line, color shape and texture. They will apply the principals of design to that which they create. We want to challenge students to translate their visual observations into two or three-dimensional forms. We want to expose students to Art history, as well as careers in art. And, finally, to give them a basis by which to critique a work of art. |
| Back to Top |
| Middle School music provides a basic overview of music terms and theory and covers the history of music from the Middle Ages through the rock and roll era to include well-known composers from each period. Students will learn about brass, woodwind, string and percussion instruments and will learn the basic elements of playing the recorder, keyboard, guitar and percussion instruments during their middle school years. Students will also develop an understanding of the performing arts and will compose music as well as write and perform skits and one act plays. |
| The 6th grade students begin the year with an overview of basic music terms, definitions and musical annotation. The major composers and their works from the Baroque Period through the Classical Period are covered in depth. Orff and orchestra instruments are introduced. Rhythm and pitch is reviewed. A unit on keyboarding finishes up the year. |
The 7th grade students begin the year with an overview of basic music terms, definitions and musical annotation. Music history begins with the Middle Ages and goes through the Renaissance. Units on the Recorder and Guitar are taught. A unit on drama finishes up the year. |
The 8th grade students begin the year with an overview of basic music terms, definitions and musical annotation. Music history continues starting in with the Baroque Period and continuing thorough the Rock and Roll Era. 8th grade will cover non-pitched instruments and compose pieces on these instruments for their own band. A unit on the performing arts will finish the year. |
| Back to Top |
Our mission is:
- to provide students with a vision of the importance of physical activity in their lives,
- to provide students with the skills needed to lead a healthy lifestyle,
- to provide students with a biweekly opportunity to cultivate this vision and to develop skills in a fun, supportive atmosphere.
A multi-activity approach will be used to give students a chance to participate, learn skills, strategies, and knowledge in a variety of physical activities (both team and individual activities). Health Related Fitness will be introduced at the beginning of the year and will be integrated into all lessons throughout the school year. |
| FALLHealth related fitnessFitness gram TestingFlag FootballRacket SportsVolleyball |
WINTERFloor HockeyDanceTeam HandballBasketball |
SPRINGSoccerOutdoor AdventuresRugbyTrack and FieldFitness Testing |
| Back to Top |
| The vision for Middle School Bible is to paint a picture of the joy of serving God by helping the students to learn how to read the Bible in context and enjoy it as they see the patterns of God's faithfulness to His promises. As the material is taught, a classroom prayer ethos of gratitude and others-centeredness is practiced together. The ultimate goal of all this is to help the students come to a point where they have their own convictions that are strong enough to sustain them in God's service through their High School years. |
| For the 6th grade year in Bible, the overall goal is to put before the students a hero of faith whose essential attitude of faith can be imitated: Paul the apostle. To understand his heroism we will look at the story of his life and the scary steps of faith he took, along with the main elements of his theological perspective that fueled his actions. Along the way, we will repeatedly refer to how to have a sense of identity as a child of God as well as the privilege and joy of serving God in the role He gives us according the resources He gives us. |
For the 7th grade year in Bible, the overall goal is to give students a passion to follow Christ & read the gospels by seeing the larger picture with the building tension as events move toward the cross. A key aim will be for the student to see him or herself in the narrative as a disciple of Christ who learns through delegated ministry experiences, opposition, and failure. To facilitate the goal of enjoying the gospels, the students will be exposed to large sections of scripture at a time so they can see the bigger patterns. Along the way, we will repeatedly refer to how the students can take steps to be more faithful as Christ's disciples. |
For the 8th grade year in Bible, the overall goal is put before the students the faithfulness of God to His people as He works out His plan through them. As they study the Old Testament narratives the hope is that this will give rise to passion for studying the Old Testament. We will stay focused on the unfolding of God's redemptive plan to reach all the peoples of the word. In this way, the students feel at home in the text and can avoid seeing the people as simply individual stories about them and God. Along the way, we will look at leadership lessons from people who trusted in the faithfulness of God. |
| Back to Top |
