Somerset Academy Canyons Middle School

1. Somerset Academy Canyons Middle School

2. Clubs • Chess • Colorguard • Computer • Debate • Drama • National Honor Society • National Junior Honor Society • Robotics/Legos • Science • Student Government Association • Travel • Yearbook

3. Sports (Current School Year) • Varsity/Junior Varsity Cheerleading • Boys Basketball/Girls Basketball • Boys Soccer/Girls Soccer • Boys Baseball • Girls Softball • Boys/Girls Tennis

4. Tentative Sports(Upcoming School Year) • Cross Country • Flag Football • Golf • Lacrosse • Swimming • Track and Field • Volleyball

5. Electives(Current School Year) • Aerobics/Zumba • Art 2D/3D • Band • Chorus • Drama • French • Health • Journalism • Physical Education • Reading • Spanish • Communications-Debate • Theatre • TV Production

6. Tentative Electives(Upcoming SchoolYear) • Ceramics • Italian • Leadership • Mandarin • Psychology • Robotics • Sports/team training • Yearbook

7. 6thGrade Language Arts Students are working on reading skills through: • weekly reading logs • TeenBiz3000 (a computer based program that meets the student at his or her reading level and propels them forward) • classroom discussion • independent projects Example of an independent project. This student created a soundtrack for the book she read 

8. 6thGrade Language Arts Students are working on writing skills through: • study of grammar, vocabulary and spelling • focusing on responding to articles, passages and stories • taught to use evidence from the text to support the arguments made in their writing

9. 6th Grade Mathematics Content: • Fractions • Decimals • Ratio • Percent • Introduction to expressions • Algebraic expressions • Inequalities and Equations • Collecting and Displaying Data • Analyzing and Interpreting Data • Integers • Introduction to geometry

10. Example of student work:

11. 6th Grade Comprehensive Science Some topics that will be discussed: • Earth systems and patterns • Mass wasting • Landslides • Deposition • Erosion • Weathering • ­Energy

12. Describing Earth’s atmosphere • Energy transfer in the atmosphere • Air currents • Air quality

13. 6thGrade World History Some of the topics we will focus on this year include: • Geography Introduction • Maya, Inca, Aztec • Early River Valley Civilizations • Ancient Egypt • Ancient Greece • Ancient Rome • Ancient Africa • Ancient China

14. This year we will be working on some fun projects, including: -Pharaoh biography -Creating your own code of laws *We will also focus on learning study/ note-taking skills, which are built into the curriculum content.

15. 7th Grade Civics Content: • Building of extensive civics-related vocabulary • Learning national geography • Learning obligations of the citizen • Understanding the difference between different forms of government • Understanding historic foundations of American government • Articles of Confederation to Constitution • Amendments • Levels and functions of courts • Landmark cases • 3 branches of government • Foreign policy

16. 7th Grade Language Arts Focus on: READING THINKING WRITING SPEAKING

17. 7th grade is a year of highly visible progress in reading, writing and language arts. By the end of seventh grade language arts, students should:-Develop complex writing skills-Constructively critique their own and other’s writing-Apply punctuation, grammar and syntax skills-Recognize and apply grade appropriate vocabulary-Read with fluency, with focus on comprehension

18. 7th Grade Mathematics Content: • Ratios and Rates • Direct Variation and Constant of Proportionality • Rates and Percent • Rational Numbers • Numerical and algebraic expressions and equations • Solving equations and inequalities • Using geometry • Scale drawing and scale factors • Data collection • Probability

19. 7th Grade Comprehensive Science The purpose of this course is to explore how physical science describes phenomena in the real world. You will use your knowledge of physical science principles, to predict the behavior of real-world systems. Along the way, you will have opportunities to sharpen your laboratory skills, work in groups, and set and conduct your own experiments. 3rd Quarter Plate Tectonics Human effect on the Earth Natural Selection and Evolution 4th Quarter Heredity and Reproduction Genetics 1stQuarter Scientific Method Metric System Density Energy 2ndQuarter Sound and Light Waves Earth’s Structure Minerals, Rocks, Layers

20. 8thGrade American History Study American History from the beginning of time through 1870. • In depth study about the long-term effects of European exploration and settlement • The Real Christopher Columbus • American Revolution • U.S. Constitution • War of 1812 • Mexican-American War • Civil War • Historical novel study

21. American History Projects/Activities • Emphasis on reading and writing skills • In depth research about the truth of American History • Creation of a personal declaration of independence • Living History – students dress up as a historical character and report about their life and accomplishments

22. 8thGrade Language Arts Objectives: • TO WRITE GRAMATICALLY CORRECT SENTENCES • TO WRITE A WELL SUPPORTED AND STRUCTURED FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY • TO BE ABLE TO READ AND IDENTIFY MAIN IDEA AND SUPPORTING DETAILS • TO ENJOY READING AND WRITING • TO SCORE A 4.0 OR ABOVE ON FCAT WRITES

23. 8th Grade Mathematics Content: • Linear Equations • Linear Functions • Analyzing Linear Equations • Multiple Representations of Linear Functions • The Real Number System • Pythagorean Theorem • Translations, Reflections, and Rotations • Congruence of Triangles • Similarity • Line and Angle Relationships • Systems of Equations • Volume • Data Display and Analysis

24. Example of class work:

25. Algebra I Content: • Solving Equations and Inequalities • Linear Functions • System of Equations and Inequalities • Exponents and exponential functions • Polynomials and Factoring • Quadratic Functions and Equations • Radical Expressions and Equations • Rational Expressions and Functions

26. Geometry Content: • Reasoning and Proof • Parallel and Perpendicular Lines • Congruent Triangles • Relationship Within Triangles • Polygon and Quadrilaterals • Similarity • Right Triangles and Trigonometry • Transformations • Area • Surface Area and Volume • Circles

27. Additional math support: • Peer mentoring and tutoring • Saturday FCAT and EOC tutorial • After school help • Individualized help using Mathia Carnegie software

28. 8th Grade Comprehensive Science The purpose of this course is to explore how physical science describes phenomena in the real world. You will use your knowledge of physical science principles, to predict the behavior of real-world systems. Along the way, you will have opportunities to sharpen your laboratory skills, work in groups, and set and conduct your own experiments.

29. Topics: 1st Quarter • Scientific Method • Measurement & Scientific Tools • Scientific Inquiry • Rock Cycle, Earth’s Age, Plate Tectonics • Weather/Climate • 9 week cumulative exam 2nd Quarter • Light, Energy, Motion • Organisms • Matter • Atoms • 9 week cumulative exam 3rd Quarter • Periodic Table • Elements & Chemical Bonds • Mixtures, Solubility, Acid/Base Solutions • Chemical Reactions & Equations • Sun-Earth-Moon • 9 week cumulative exam 4th Quarter • FCAT Testing • Exploring Space • Stars & Galaxies • Human Growth & Development • 9 week cumulative exam • Final cumulative annual exam

30. Art Courses: 2D-ART 1 The purpose of this course is to enable students to communicate ideas and concepts through two-dimensional media using knowledge of drawing, painting, and printmaking techniques. 2D-ART 2 The purpose of this course is to enable students to communicate ideas and concepts through two-dimensional media using advanced-level knowledge of drawing, painting, and printmaking techniques. 3D-ART 1 the purpose of this course is to enabled students to communicate ideas and concepts through three-dimensional media using intermediate-level knowledge of assemblage, modeling, sculpting and construction techniques.

31. In the art room:

32. Drama Objectives: • TO APPRECIATE LITERATURE FROM A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE • TO BE ABLE TO THINK ON YOUR FEET • TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AND PAY ATTENTION • TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ARTICULATELY • TO DEVELOP TECHNICAL SKILLS

33. French • BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS • Greeting people • Talk about your family and friends • Daily Life: telling time, school, sports, weather, shopping • Talk about food – Learn to order food in a restaurant • GRAMMAR AND VERBS • FRENCH CULTURE

34. Reading Goals: • Increase reading fluency • Increase reading endurance • Increase reading comprehension How will we achieve these goals? • Through integrated experiences in the language arts

35. Sample Instructional Materials Fictional and Informational Text • Great Books Roundtable (Middle School) • Junior Great Books (High School) • Read for Real Technology • Achieve 3000 • Cerego (High School Only)

36. Beginning SpanishIntermediate Spanish Content: • Current book ¿Cómoteva? (Green edition) • Introduction to vocabulary and grammar • Basic conversational skills • Listening and writing skills incorporated in daily lessons • Learn culture & traditions different then our own

37. Spanish I Content: • Current text book ¡Buenviaje! (Level 1 Red edition) • Each chapter focuses on specific vocabulary and grammar • Many oral activities are open ended to provide free verbal communications • Culture lessons are incorporated into each lesson

38. TV Production & Journalism Where interesting and memorable events are encouraged and captured everyday in our creative writings and TV projects!

39. In Journalism: We are beingproactive when it comes to school policy • Somerset Canyons journalism students have been proactive, developing a new policy on how student athlete’s should be treated. • We recently learned about cinema critiquing. It’s certainly easy to watch movies, but not so easy picking them apart. Being a critic means properly understanding what it takes to produce movies in order to either recommend or blast them! We studied both versions of The Time Machine (1960 and 2002). We learned that, though the effects were meager compared to today, the 53 year old movie was much better than its 2002 reboot. • Soon we will be putting together a school newspaper (remember those?) It will include student profiles, sports, news of the day and more!!!

40. TV Production/Broadcast Communications • In our first year, we’ve already produced some amazing, eye-opening projects. You should check out, “Scotty’s Story,” on Mr. Barker’s Somerset site. It’s the story of how one of our 8th graders has already faced a lifetime of challenges in an inspiring way. • One of our periods produced an actual silent movie. It was a blast to film. We became young versions of Charlie Chaplain as we learned what it takes visually to tell an interesting story when there is no microphone. • We also took on the latest viral song out there: “What the Fox Says.” We are calling it: “What the Teacher’s Say,” because we showed it to many of our teachers, coaches and administrators (many of whom were seeing it for the 1st time) and got their candid reactions. The TV project is hilarious! • Our next mandate is a school-wide TV campaign to fight bullying!

41. Objectives: • Experience and gain knowledge about the different types of workouts • Learn the principles of healthy exercise and lifestyle choices • Learn aerobics exercises alone and/or with a group/partner • Learn how to correctly execute required skills and techniques as well as to use the equipment safely • Learn modifications routines and injury prevention

42. Course Contents: Students will gain knowledge and improve their social skills, gross motor skills, and physical fitness by participating in (but not limited to) the following activities: Pilates Kickboxing Step up Routines Lifetime Activities Circuit Training Activities Cardiovascular Endurance activities Fitness Testing Activities Team Activities Exercise Bands Aerobics Zumba