Cascade Canyon

7th and 8th Grade

MATHEMATICS: The math program in 7th and 8th grades is designed to help students gain greater number sense, recognize the significance of math in their daily lives, and develop problem solving strategies and skills.  Students work at their own pace through pre-algebra and algebra curricula, and are encouraged to go as far as they can in the two years. Strong math students who successfully complete our full algebra program by the end of 8th grade are qualified to enter into geometry in high school; students who successfully complete at least half of our algebra program are qualified to enter into the second year of algebra in high school; students struggling with algebra concepts or just beginning our algebra curriculum are encouraged to take beginning algebra in high school.  Texts: Mathematics: Exploring Your World, Silver Burdett Ginn; Key to Algebra, Key Curriculum Press; Introductory Algebra, M. Bittinger; Algebra I, Paul Foerster Strands covered throughout the year: Number Sense: Students know the property of, and compute with, rational numbers expressed in a variety of forms; exponents, powers, and roots; using exponents in working with fractions Algebra and Functions: Students express quantitative relationships by using algebraic terms, expressions, equations, inequalities, and graphs; students interpret and evaluate expressions involving integer powers and simple roots; students graph and interpret linear and some nonlinear functions; students solve linear equations and inequalities over rational numbers; students analyze slope; students investigate systems of linear equations Measurement and Geometry: Students choose appropriate units of measurement and use ratios to convert within and between measurement systems to solve problems; students compute the perimeter, area and volume of common geometric objects and use the results to find measurements of less common objects; students experiment with change of scale and the effect on perimeter, area, and volume; students work with the Pythagorean theorem, plane and geometric shapes, construction of figures that meet given conditions; students identify attributes of figures Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability: Students collect, organize and represent data sets that have one or more variables and identify relationships among variables within a data set LANGUAGE ARTS: This year's novel studies revolve around our theme of Cultivating Sustainability.  The passing of values, customs, traditions, information through stories, and rules for living harmoniously are just some of the ideas that we'll be exploring.    Novel Studies:                Mutant Message Down Under             Lord of the Flies             Warriors Don't Cry             Canterbury Tales (abridged) All novel studies include: reading comprehension vocabulary in context discussions and analysis of literary elements: plot, character, theme, structure, symbolism, style, literary devices making inferences and drawing conclusions reading independently and in groups oral reading Writing:  A central component of this year's 7th-8th grade writing curriculum is an ongoing Writers' Workshop. This is an excellent way for students to truly identify themselves as writers and to hone in on the craft of writing.  Writing workshop includes instruction and practice in: using the writing process word study: parts of speech, grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary,  sentence structure writing in a range of genres: personal narrative, short fiction, responses to literature, poetry, exposition - including         critical reviews, interviews and research papers experimenting with style: writing descriptively, using figurative language, developing voice, point of view  paragraph development: expanding ideas, description, use of specific examples drafting a statement of purpose; creating and supporting a thesis statement developing research skills: gathering information, taking notes, creating outlines,  citing sources through bibliographies and footnotes Speaking/Listening:    group discussions group and individual presentations reading aloud current events morning meetings conflict resolution memorizing and reciting speeches Study Skills: organizational strategies using assignment planners time management note-taking outlining highlighting proofreading test taking strategies HISTORY: It is my hope that by experiencing the 7th-8th grade history curriculum, students will have a better sense of their international communities.  It is my strong desire for students to understand their place and responsibilities in today's world.  To do this, they must know of its past. WORLD HISTORY: This year's focus is on Medieval and Early Modern Civilizations Across The Continents.  Our Cultivating Sustainability theme will be woven throughout the curriculum.  Primary Text: World History, McDougal Littell Units of study: Links to the Ancient World: The accomplishments of the Roman Empire; review of the causes and effects of the expansion and eventual disintegration of the Roman Empire; the rise of the Byzantine Empire; Judaism, Christianity and Islam The Growth of Islam: A century of expansion; the Golden Age; Islamic Spain Sub-Saharan Africa: The roots and development of the empires of the West: Ghana, Mali and Songhai; Central and South Africa: the Bantu migration, the rise of coastal trading states, the Zimbabwe state and the Kongo Kingdom Asian Civilizations: The Mongols, the Ottoman and Mughal empires; China; Japan Civilizations of the Americas: Early civilizations: the Olmecs, Mayans, Tiwanakans, and Moche; later empires: the Aztecs, Incas, and arrival of the Spanish Europe: Feudal Europe; rule, religion and conflict; the Renaissance, Reformation and Scientific Revolution; the age of Exploration, European expansion; the Enlightenment WORLD GEOGRAPHY: Integrated into our 7th-8th grade program is the study of World Cultures and Civilizations through the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, region.  Countries and their capitals, major waterways, mountain ranges and other geographical features are identified.  Mapping terminology and skills are worked on weekly. Bi-monthly issues of Weekly Reader are used for enrichment in World History, U.S. History, World Geography, U.S. Geography, and Current Events. Classroom time is taken to discuss the history and meanings of these national holidays: Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, SCIENCE: The 7th-8th grade science program is taught by our Science Specialist, who is an expert in her field. To learn about her 7th-8th grade science curriculum, click here .