MIDDLE SCHOOL CORE OFFERINGS OVERVIEW
Bible
Bible 6
Redemption, God’s Grand Design – God planned it all! Students will learn that our redemption was God’s plan before He even created the world! A newly married man and woman have no knowledge about their future children: if God will give them children, how many, or who they will be. Yet God knows. And He always knew that Mary would have one special child, Jesus the Lord, the Savior of the world. Students will study God’s plan of redemption from Christ’s ancestors, through New Testament Christians as well as His desire to work in and through all who are redeemed today. Students will understand that they are part of that plan.
Bible 7
Life of Christ - Students will develop knowledge of God through the study of the life of Christ. Jesus is the central focus and figure of the Bible. Students will encounter Jesus in a close, intimate way so that the power of the Holy Spirit will dramatically impact their lives through the revelation of Him.
Bible 8
Students will study Lightbearers – A Biblical Christian worldview curriculum for middle school. The curriculum is designed to help students see the “big picture”. They will try to discover how every person on the planet tries to make sense out of life. Students will be learn that the Bible has the answers for all of life’s most important questions such as Where did everything come from? Who am I? Why am I here? What’s right and wrong and who decides? What happens when we die? Students will also be taught that ideas have consequences. Students will be taught that those who understand how to think well about life will have the opportunity to influence the ideas that rule the world. It is our hope that through this course the students will gain a better understanding of the times in which they live, so that they will know what God would have them do.
English
English 6 
Students will continue the study of sentences, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions as well as practice in reference skills. Students use the Writing Process to write personal narratives, newspaper editorials, instructions, research reports, historical fiction, compare-contrast essays, limericks, free verse and cover letters for submitting work to a publisher. Through literature students engage a variety of character building stories as well as classical literature selections from which biblical principals are drawn. An emphasis on literary elements, higher level thinking skills,vocabulary enrichment, and reading strategies to enhance independent reading are all incorporated.
English 7
Students will study writing, literature, vocabulary and grammar. The students will demonstrate an understanding of the English language, be able to correctly construct the five basic sentence patterns, know usage concepts such as subject-verb agreement and clear pronoun reference, and mechanics. Students will engage in these writing projects; biographical sketch, an in-class essay, a letter to the editor, a book report and poetry. Vocabulary is taught through systematic units that help students improve and expand their vocabulary skills through learning synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech and correct word usage in context. The literature used will introduce your students to a biblical perspective on six unit themes – courage, nature / man, generosity, our land, humility, and family. Students will be taught to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and appreciate authors, works, themes, and terms in light of Scripture.
English 8
Students will study writing, literature, vocabulary and grammar. The students will use the ten reading skills to analyze the presence of God and Biblical truths in various literary genres. The students will distinguish the correct way to express themselves in all forms of writing, demonstrating proficiency in grammar and mechanics. Vocabulary is taught through systematic units that help students improve and expand their vocabulary skills through learning synonyms, antonyms, parts of speech and correct word usage in context.
History
New World History 6
Through the investigation of United States History from Colonial times to the Twentieth Century, students will study the first Americans, regions of the United States, Colonial Heritage, Canada, and the growth of a nation. Map skills and learning the Presidents is incorporated along with several projects to enhance the learning of U. S. History.
Tennessee History/World Geography 7
Students will be able to understand the diversity of the early Tennessee settlers and how their contributions in government, settlement, economics, and social influences formed our state. The will also know the diversity of the World’s Geography and how it has influenced cultural development.
United States History 8
Students will be able to understand and discuss the discovery, exploration and settlement of the United States. This ranges from the colonizing of the New World to Colonial Expansion which led to the settling in the Western United States. They will gain an appreciation of our country through the discussions of the Civil War, Industrial Revolution, the Gilded Age, Rise of Big Government, the World Wars, and the years beyond.
Math
Math 6
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate the ability to perform basic mathematical functions and problem solving individually while using appropriate technology. They will investigate decimals, patterns and variables, number theory, fractions, ratios, proportions, percents, data and graphs, tools of geometry and algebra introduction.
Math 7
This course gives a strong review of all arithmetic concepts and skills with a year-long emphasis upon mastering and applying percents. Other branches of mathematics include algebra, plane and solid geometry, statistics, and trigonometry. Two units on basic algebra give our students the foundation they need to enjoy and succeed in pre-algebra and algebra. Practical topics such as adjusting recipes, banking, and reading the electric meter help students with life skills.
Pre-Algebra 8
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate the ability to solve problems involving basic numbers and operations, algebraic expressions, and simple geometry. They will learn to solve story problems and apply different types of mathematical formulas to everyday life.
Algebra I
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate the ability to solve problems involving positive and negative integers, fractions, decimals, and percents. They will also learn to solve equations and inequalities.
Science
Science 6
Students will develop knowledge of God through identifying the orderliness and precision of God’s creation. Christian growth will be encouraged as they learn cooperative skills and orderly approaches to problem solving. Scientific literacy will be promoted as students establish science facts and skills about earthquakes and volcanoes, weathering and erosion, natural resources, cells and classification, animal and plant life, electricity, solar system, and systems of the body.
Life Science 7
The student will receive instruction in Life Science. The emphasis of the study will include: foundations of life science, heredity of the origin of life, concepts in microbiology, concepts in the animal kingdom, nature of the environment, and the structure and function of the human body.
Physical Science 8
Middle School Physics is an introductory course to the study of physics which is the science of matter and energy and their reactions. This course will engage the students on a level that they understand and enjoy through the use of hands on activities and labs. Some topics this year will include motion, work and machines, sound, flight, magnetism and electricity.
Foreign Language
Spanish 6
The students will receive instruction in, and demonstrate the ability to, meet basic survival needs and courtesy requirements, such as greeting and taking leave, asking and answering simple questions, giving one’s name and age, asking for and giving one’s nationality. The student will also be able to distinguish between Ser and Estar, two verbs meaning “To Be”, and identify and use pronouns.
Art
Art 6-8
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate the ability to create original art, analyze art, discuss art, become familiar with art history and recognize beauty in the natural world and constructed environment. The basic concepts of art include the four functions of art, different styles of art, seven elements of design, and seven principles of design. These are introduced in sixth grade and reinforced in seventh and eighth grades.
Physical Education
Grades 6-8
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate various physical activities both individually and using team concepts. They will learn proper stretching techniques, warm-up routines, proficiency in sports activities, strength training and conditioning, and advanced sports training. Students focus on refining locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills while also learning principles of physical fitness.
Music
Music 6-8
The students will receive instruction in and demonstrate an understanding of the elements of music – rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, form, note values, and time signatures. Students will also learn about the concepts behind these elements and how they relate to other school subjects. This knowledge will aid students in discovering all the beauty that music has to offer. We will introduce students to the importance of music as a ministry, an outreach to the lost.
Band
Band 6-8
Middle school band seeks to develop comprehensive musicianship. There is an emphasis on music reading, instrument technique and ensemble skills required for successful band participation in high school. The band performs an annual Christmas concert and a spring concert.
Computer Technology
Grades 6-7
This course is designed to develop an understanding of technology and its impacts on our society. Technology: using tools, materials, and systems to extend the human ability to control and modify the natural and human-made environments. Emphasis is given to, but not limited to two major software applications: word processing and presentation design. Students will use tools of the electronic desktop in completing projects that will lead the student to an understanding of how technology is developed and used by our industry, which is the economic institutions that designs, engineers, and produces goods and services that help people live better, communicate information and ideas more efficiently, and transport people and cargo more effectively. Skills developed will facilitate efficient production, accurate analysis, management of information; oral and demonstrative presentation skills. Students will identify the impact of computing trends in their future and the directive in Genesis 1: 28, 29 that man is responsible to subdue the earth, working to provide out of it for his physical needs.
Drama/Speech
Grade 7: Drama I covers pantomime, storytelling, radio drama, and oral interpretation. The students participate in classroom activities in each of these areas. The students tell stories to the elementary children, perform a radio drama in class, and learn how to perform a solo speech.
Grade 8: Drama II covers pantomime, improvisation, characterization, acting, and a memorization of a short script. The students learn how to do scene work, develop a character, and basic acting skills. The class will give a short performance at the end of the semester. This class also takes a field trip to watch a play.
