Middle School
Curriculum Guide
Linden Community Schools
Linden Middle School
15425 Lobdell Road
(810) 591-0710
Table of Contents
6th Grade Language Arts………..Page 3
6th Grade Mathematics……….………...……...…..Page 4
6th Grade Science.………..Page 5
6th Grade Social Studies……….………...…....Page 6
7th Grade Language Arts……….………..…….………..Page 7
7th Grade Mathematics...………...………..………....Page 8
7th Grade Science……….…………..…………...Page 9
7th Grade Social Studies………...………...Page 10
8th Grade Language Arts………Page 11
8th Grade Mathematics………..…………..………..Page 12
8th Grade Science…….……….…………...………Page 13
8th Grade Social Studies..………..………...…..Page 14
Exploratory Classes………...………..Page 15
Enrichment Programs ……….………...Page 16
Linden Middle School
Language Arts
6th Grade
Language Arts is the comprehensive study of grammar, composition, reading, spelling, and public speaking.
The Sixth Grade curriculum includes the study of fantasy, adventure, and informational genres. A focus student is also placed on pronouns and comma usage.
Fundamental Themes of English Key Ideas: Read closely to
deter-mine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences.
Theme: Determine central ideas or
themes of a text.
Craft and Structure: Analyze the
structure of texts and how each portion of a text relates to each other.
Text Types: Write arguments to
support claims, informative to convey ideas, and narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
Grammar: Demonstrate command
of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing.
6th Grade Units of Study
•
Fantasy Reading/Writing
•Adventure Reading/Writing
•Process Description Presentation
•Argumentative Essay
•
Spelling Mastery
•
Grammar study in Pronouns and Comma-Usage
•Building Academic Vocabulary
•
Cross-Curricular Study in Science and SS
Curriculum Resources Used
•
Reading Textbook (The Language of Literature:
Grade
6
published by McDougal Littel in 1999)
•
Grammar Textbook (Language
Net-work: Grade 6
published by McDougal Littel in
1999)
•
United Streaming Videos
•Multiple technology resources
•Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
•The Phantom Tollbooth by
Norton Jester
Linden Middle School follows the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Curriculum outlined in the Common Core Curriculum. For further information, refer to the following website:
http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy
Six Reading Strategies
•
Predicting•
Clarifying•
Connecting•
Visualizing•
Questioning•
Evaluating6th Grade
Mathematics
Focus Areas:
•
Connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication
and division and using concepts of ratio to solve problems
•
Completing understanding of division of fractions and
ex-tending the concept of the system of numbers to include
rational numbers and negative numbers
•
Writing, interpreting, and using expression and equations
•
Developing understanding of statistical thinking
8 Mathematical
Practices
Math curriculum also includes
8 Mathematical Practices
that
are imbedded within the teaching of the Common Core
Stan-dards.
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
6-8 Grade Math classes use
the online Digits program
as their test for teaching the
The Next Generation Science Standards have been adopted in Michigan and are aligned
with the Common Core Standards for Literacy and Mathematics. The NGSS combines
engineering and science practices, science content, and concepts that integrate other subject
areas.
Science and
Engineering
Practices
•
Asking questions and defining
problems
•
Developing and using models
•Planning and carrying out
in-vestigations
•
Analyzing and Interpreting
data
•
Using mathematics and
compu-tational thinking
•
Constructing explanations and
designing solutions
•
Engaging in argument from
evidence
•
Obtaining, evaluating and
com-municating information
6th Grade Focus Areas
•
Matter and Its Interactions—Structure and
proper-ties of matter, chemical reactions, and energy
•
Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions—
Forces and motion, types of interactions, stability
and instability in physical systems
•
Energy—Definition of energy, conservation of
ergy and energy transfer, relationship between
en-ergy and forces, enen-ergy in chemical processes and
everyday life
•
Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for
Information Transfer—Wave properties,
electro-magnetic radiation, information technologies and
instrumentation
Crosscutting Concepts
•
Patterns in Science
•
Cause and Effect
•
Energy and Matter
•
Structure and Function of Matter
•
Scale. Proportion, and Quantity
•
Systems and System Models
•
Stability and Change
Linden Middle School
Social Studies
6th Grade
Social studies is the integrated study of the social
sci-ences to prepare the young people to become responsible
citizens.
The Sixth Grade curriculum includes the study of North
America
, Central America, the Caribbean, South America and Europe.
A focus of study is placed on our neighbors Canada and Mexico. South America, and Early Europe.Areas of Focus
Fundamental Themes of Geography Human – Environment Interaction:
Geographers study how people and their surroundings affect each other.
Location: An exact spot on the Earth
or the position of a place in relation to another place.
Movement: Geographers want to
know how and why people, goods, be-haviors, and ideas move from one place to another.
Place: An area described by its
physical and human features.
Six Essential Elements
The World in Spatial Terms Places and Regions
Physical Systems Human Systems
Environment and Society The Uses of Geography
Units of Study
•
Mapping Skills
•
Fundamental Themes of Geography
•Culture
•
Economics
•Globalization
•
Canada’s Geography, History, and
Pre-sent Day
•
Mexico’s Geography, History, and
Pre-sent Day
•
Caribbean’s Geography, History, and
Present Day
•
South America-Geography, History, and
Present Day with a focus on Brazil
•
Europe’s Geography and History
Linden Middle School follows the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Curriculum outlined in the Grade Level Content Expecta-tions. Click on the following website for future information:
Linden Middle School
Language Arts
7th Grade
Language arts is the comprehensive study of grammar, composition, reading, spelling, and
public speaking.
The Seventh Grade curriculum includes the study of mythology, mysteries, and
informational genres. A focus of study is also placed on sentence structure, including
phrases and clauses.
Fundamental Themes of English Key Ideas: Read closely to
deter-mine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences.
Theme: Determine central ideas or
themes of a text.
Craft and Structure: Analyze the
structure of texts and how each portion of a text relates to each other.
Text Types: Write arguments to
support claims, informative to convey ideas, and narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
Grammar: Demonstrate command
of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing.
Six Reading Strategies
• Predicting • Clarifying • Connecting • Visualizing • Questioning • Evaluating
6th Grade Units of Study
•
Mythology Reading/Writing
•Mystery Reading/Writing
•Memoir Reading/Writing
•City Research Project
•Argumentative Essay
•
Grammar study in Phrases and Clauses
•Building Academic Vocabulary
•
Cross-Curricular Study in Science and SS
Curriculum Resources Used
•
Reading Textbook (The Language of Literature:
Grade
7
published by McDougal Littel in 1999)
•
Grammar Textbook (Language Network: Grade 7
published by McDougal Littel in 1999)
•
United Streaming Videos
•Multiple technology resources
•Memoir Anthology
•
...And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
Linden Middle School follows the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Curriculum outlined in the Common Core Curriculum. For further information, refer to the following website:
7th Grade
Mathematics
Focus Areas:
•
Developing understanding of and applying proportional
relationships
•
Developing understanding of operations with rational
numbers and working with expressions and linear
equa-tions
•
Solving problems involving scale drawings and informal
geometric constructions
•
Working with two– and three– dimensional shapes to solve
problems involving area, surface area and volume
•
Drawing inferences about population based on samples
8 Mathematical
Practices
Math curriculum also includes
8 Mathematical Practices
that
are imbedded within the teaching of the Common Core
Stan-dards.
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
6-8 Grade Math classes
uses the online Digits
program as their test for
teaching the
Common
Core Standards
.9
The Next Generation Science Standards have been adopted in Michigan and are aligned
with the Common Core Standards for Literacy and Mathematics. The NGSS combines
engineering and science practices, science content, and concepts that integrate other subject
areas.
Science and
Engineering
Practices
•
Asking questions and defining
problems
•
Developing and using models
•Planning and carrying out
in-vestigations
•
Analyzing and Interpreting
data
•
Using mathematics and
compu-tational thinking
•
Constructing explanations and
designing solutions
•
Engaging in argument from
evidence
•
Obtaining, evaluating and
com-municating information
7th Grade Focus Areas
•
From Molecules to Organisms—Structure and
function, growth and development of organisms,
organization of matter and energy flow in
organ-isms, information processes in organisms
•
Ecosystems—Interdependent relationships in
systems, cycle of matter energy and transfer in
eco-systems, ecosystem dynamics, functioning and
re-silience, social interactions and group behavior
•
Heredity—Inheritance of traits, variation of traits
•
Biological Evolution—Evidence of common
ances-try and diversity, natural selection, adaptation,
bio-diversity and humans
Crosscutting Concepts
•
Patterns in Science
•
Cause and Effect
•
Energy and Matter
•
Structure and Function of Matter
•
Scale. Proportion, and Quantity
•
Systems and System Models
•
Stability and Change
•
Influence of Science on Engineering,
Linden Middle School
Social Studies
7th Grade
6th Grade Eastern Hemisphere Studies
Social studies is the integrated study of the social
sci-ences to prepare the young people to become
responsi-ble citizens.
The Seventh Grade curriculum includes the study of Asia, Africa,
Areas of Focus
Fundamental Themes of Geography Human – Environment Interaction:
Geographers study how people and their surroundings affect each other.
Location: An exact spot on the Earth
or the position of a place in relation to another place.
Movement: Geographers want to
know how and why people, goods, be-haviors, and ideas move from one place to another.
Six Essential Elements
The World in Spatial Terms Places and Regions
Physical Systems Human Systems
Environment and Society The Uses of Geography
Units of Study
•
Mapping Skills
•
Fundamental Themes of Geography
•Culture
•
Economics
•Globalization
•
Canada’s Geography, History, and Present
Day
•
Mexico’s Geography, History, and Present
Day
•
Caribbean’s Geography, History, and Present
Day
•
South America-Geography, History, and
Present Day with a focus on Brazil
•
Europe’s Geography and History
Linden Middle School follows the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Curriculum outlined in the Grade Level Content Expecta-tions. Click on the following website for future information:
Linden Middle School
Language Arts
8th Grade
Language arts is the comprehensive study of grammar, composition, reading, spelling, and
public speaking.
The Eighth Grade curriculum includes the study of the realistic fiction, science fiction,
and informational genres. A focus of study is also placed on the active and passive tense
of verbs, and verbals.
Fundamental Themes of English Key Ideas: Read closely to
deter-mine what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences.
Theme: Determine central ideas or
themes of a text.
Craft and Structure: Analyze the
structure of texts and how each portion of a text relates to each other.
Text Types: Write arguments to
support claims, informative to convey ideas, and narratives to develop real or imagined experiences.
Grammar: Demonstrate command
of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing.
Six Reading Strategies
• Predicting • Clarifying • Connecting • Visualizing • Questioning • Evaluating
6th Grade Units of Study
•
Realistic Fiction Reading/Writing
•Science Fiction Reading/Writing
•Historical Expository Research Essay
•Argumentative Essay
•
Grammar study in Verbs and Verbals
•Building Academic Vocabulary
•
Cross-Curricular Study in Science and SS
Curriculum Resources Used
•
Reading Textbook (The Language of Literature:
Grade
8
published by McDougal Littel in 1999)
•
Grammar Textbook (Language Network: Grade 8
published by McDougal Littel in 1999)
•
United Streaming Videos
•Multiple technology resources
•The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
•Fahrenheit 451 by Ray
Bradbury
•
The Sci-Fi Factor Anthology
Linden Middle School follows the Michigan Department of Edu-cation Curriculum outlined in the Common Core Curriculum. For further information, refer to the following website:
8th Grade
Mathematics
Focus Areas:
•
Formulating and reasoning about expressions and
equa-tions, including modeling an association
•
Solving linear equations with two variables, and solving
systems of equations
•
Grasping the concept of a function and using functions to
describe quantitative relationships
•
Analyzing two– and three-dimensional space and figures
using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence
•
Understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem
8 Mathematical
Practices
Math curriculum also includes
8 Mathematical Practices
that
are imbedded within the teaching of the Common Core
Stan-dards.
1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
6-8 Grade Math classes use the online Digits program as their text for
teaching the Common Core Standards.
13
The Next Generation Science Standards have been adopted in Michigan and are aligned
with the Common Core Standards for Literacy and Mathematics. The NGSS combines
engineering and science practices, science content, and concepts that integrate other subject
areas.
Science and
Engineering
Practices
•
Asking questions and defining
problems
•
Developing and using models
•Planning and carrying out
in-vestigations
•
Analyzing and Interpreting
data
•
Using mathematics and
compu-tational thinking
•
Constructing explanations and
designing solutions
•
Engaging in argument from
evidence
•
Obtaining, evaluating and
com-municating information
8th Grade Focus Areas
•
Earth’s Place in the Universe—the universe
and its stars, earth and the solar system, the
history of planet earth
•
Earth’s Systems—the history of planet earth,
earth’s materials and systems, plate tectonics
and large-scale system interactions, the roles
of water in earth’s surface processes, weather
and climate, biogeology
•
Earth and Human Activity—Natural
re-sources, natural hazards, human impacts on
earth systems, global climate change, wave
properties
Crosscutting Concepts
•
Patterns in Science
•
Cause and Effect
•
Energy and Matter
•
Structure and Function of Matter
•
Scale. Proportion, and Quantity
•
Systems and System Models
•
Stability and Change
•
Influence of Science on Engineering,
Linden Middle School
Social Studies
8th Grade
Integrated United States History
Social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences
to prepare the young people to become responsible American citizens n a globalized world.
Eighth grade students continue their study of United States History from the writing of
the Constitution through Reconstruction. Geographic, civics/government, and economics
content is integrated within the historical context.
Fundamental Themes in
The American Republic to 1877
Culture and Traditions:
Multiple generations have arrived on American shores and proudly call themselves Americans.
Continuity and Change:
Historical roots that help us understand political, social, religious and economic changes in America.
Geography and History:
Understanding US geography helps us understand how Americans have interacted with their environment.
Individual Action:
Responsible individuals have often stepped forward to help lead the nation.
Groups and Institutions:
Identifying how political and social groups and institu-tions work helps us work together.
Government and Democracy:
Understanding the workings of government helps us become good citizens.
Science and Technology:
Understanding the roles of science and technology helps us see their impact on our society and the roles they will play in our future.
Economic Factors:
Understanding the concepts of free enterprise is basic to studying American history.
Global Connections:
As citizens of the United States and members of the global community, we have a responsibility to keep in-formed about developments in other nations and the world.
Civic Rights and Responsibilities:
The foundation of democracy is the right of every
per-Units of Study
•
Unit 1: Creating a Nation
1731-1791
•
Civics In Action
The
Constitution
•
Unit 2: The New Republic
1789-1825
•
Unit 3: The Growing Nation
1820-1860
•
Unit 4: Civil War and
Reconstruction
1846-1896
Curriculum Resources Used
• Textbook (
The American
Republic to 1877
) published by Glencoe in 2005)•
