St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School
CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
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St. Paul the Apostle
Catholic School’s curriculum is
fully aligned to the Diocesan Learning
Standards and the National Standards and
Benchmarks for Effective Catholic
Elementary and Secondary Schools.
Furthermore, our curriculum is vertically
aligned from grades preK through 8.
Our curricula is strengthened even more
by using a continuous improvement
framework based on Response to
Intervention/Multiple Tiered System of
Supports, scientifically based
instructional strategies, formative and
summative assessment, and positive
behavior management.
RELIGION
All 5th-8th grade students focus on different topics in
religion throughout the year, but also participate in some
joint service projects and activities such as:
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Adoration
Reconciliation
Living rosary
Plan and participate in weekly liturgies
Monthly faith family gatherings and activities
5th grade researches and reenacts the life of a saint for
All Saints Day
8th grade celebrates a special mass for Mary- May
Crowning
8th grade participates in two yearly spiritual retreats
5th-8th grades participate in a Seder Meal
5th-8th grades visit Villa Fran to participate in activities
with the elderly
8th grade receives the Sacrament of Confirmation
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
5 TH GRADE
The religion program for 5th grade students focuses on the
importance of the Sacraments and Scripture. Students
begin by learning how Jesus shares God’s life with us,
beginning with the seven sacraments. Students learn through
prayer, scripture, activities, and discussions. 5th graders also
participate in an interdisciplinary Family Life Unit. In this
unit, students learn about family relationships, with an
emphasis on Catholic values and virtues, and the
consequences of our choices.
Students will:
• Develop an understanding of grace
• Develop a deeper understanding of the seven
sacraments
• Become acquainted with the Spiritual and Corporal
Works of Mercy
• Review and study the Commandments and Beatitude
• Deepen their knowledge of sacred scripture
• Participate in celebrations of the sacraments
• Celebrate seasons and feasts of the Church
• Participate in activities celebrating the liturgical year
• Continue to explore and develop practical ways to live
out the social teachings of the church
• Continue to develop experiences of spontaneous
prayer, formal prayer, and meditation
• Continue to explore the concept of stewardship
• Plan and participate in liturgies
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Participate in an All Saints Day project
6 TH GRADE
The religion program for 6th grade students focuses on
the Old Testament and its teachings. Students learn about
creation and God’s first people. They learn about God’s
covenant with his people and the beginning of Jesus’ life.
Students focus on:
• Stewardship
• Books of the Bible
• The Patriarchs
• The Israelites
• Israel’s Kings
• The prophets
» 2« • The beginning of the church
7 TH GRADE
The religion program for 7th grade focuses on the New
Testament, the life of Christ, and the early Church. Specifically,
students will analyze the teaching of Jesus and describe how to
live out the Gospels. Students will explore each of the sacraments
and make connections to their daily lives. Throughout the year,
students will examine the different liturgical seasons, while linking
liturgies to Catholic teachings. Students will also dissect and
experience scripture, the Mass, and prayer through reading,
writing, and discussions.
Students focus on:
• Analyze and live out the Gospel teachings of Jesus
• Explore the sacraments instituted by Christ
• Examine the liturgical seasons linked with the New Testament
• Experience scripture, the Mass, and prayer
• Begin preparation for Confirmation
8 TH GRADE
The religion program for 8th grade students focuses on the
Church from her beginning at Pentecost, through her history, and
encompassing her teachings and Tradition. Students will also focus
on their role in living out their faith.
Major units of study include:
• Catholic morality
• Evangelization
• The Second Vatican Council
• Teachings and Traditions of the Church
• The Liturgical Year
• Our relationship with Jesus
• Prayers and Practice
• Acceptance and use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• Preparation for Confirmation
• School, parish, and community opportunities for service
• Teachings and traditions of the Church
• Our relationship with Jesus
• The Liturgical Year
• Prayers and Practice
• Moral issues faced by an eighth grader
• Acceptance and use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
• School and parish opportunities for service
• A particular Saint chosen for Confirmation
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
ENGLISH AND
LANGUAGE ARTS
Two affective goals of our junior high ELA program are
to 1.) encourage students to discover the intrinsic joy of
reading and 2.) foster independence in an environment
that nurtures community and empowers students to
grow in wisdom.
As a part of our ELA program, students will use literary texts
and materials to:
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Seek God’s Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
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Identify ways to practice Christian virtues
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Live out the social teachings of the Church
All 5,6,7 & 8 graders will:
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Write three major pieces of writing each year: one
narrative, one persuasive/argument, and one
informative/explanatory
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Write routinely
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Demonstrate a command of the conventions of
standard English, punctuation, capitalization
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Determine meanings of words and phrases used in
literary and Biblical texts, including Greek and Latin
roots
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Study literary devices like figurative language,
allegory, and personification
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With an appropriate Catholic response, read,
comprehend, and defend literature, stories, dramas,
poems, and other fiction
FIFTH GRADERS will read texts in a variety of
genres from the basal reader and novels that focus on
six different themes. For example, Catholic Social Teaching
and Biblical texts will be connected to literature. Interdisciplinary
connections will be made to the American Revolution and immigration during ELA. All Diocese of Joliet Standards for reading,
language, speaking and listening, and writing will be achieved in addition to other diocesan standards as needed (e.g., Faith Formation
Standards). Students will read, discuss, write, listen, produce visuals,
use technology, ask questions, and present to classmates.
SIXTH GRADERS will read seven central texts in a variety
of genres that will be part of text sets that will be connected to
other content areas. For example, Catholic Social Teaching, church
scripture, and Catholic Worldview will be connected to literature.
Interdisciplinary connections will be made to ancient civilizations,
Black History Month, medieval history, and the Industrial
Revolution. All Diocese of Joliet Standards for reading, language,
speaking and listening, and writing will be achieved in addition to
other diocesan standards as needed (e.g., Faith Formation
Standards). Students will read, discuss, write, listen, produce
visuals, use technology, ask questions, and present to classmates.
SEVENTH GRADERS will read six central texts in a variety of
genres that will be part of text sets that will be connected to
other content areas. For example, Catholic Social Teaching and
Biblical texts will be connected to literature. Interdisciplinary
connections will be to 20th Century American History. All
Diocese of Joliet Standards for reading, language, speaking and
listening, and writing will be achieved in addition to other diocesan
standards as needed (e.g., Faith Formation Standards). Students
will read, discuss, write, listen, produce visuals, use technology, ask
questions, and present to classmates.
EIGHTH GRADERS will read seven central texts in a variety
of genres that will be part of text sets that will be connected to
other content areas. For example, Catholic Social Teaching, church
scripture, and Catholic virtues will be connected to literature.
Interdisciplinary connections will be made to the American
Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War. All Diocese of Joliet
Standards for reading, language, speaking and listening, and
writing will be achieved in addition to other diocesan standards
as needed (e.g., Faith Formation Standards). Students will read,
discuss, write, listen, produce visuals, use technology, ask questions,
and present to classmates.
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
MATHEMATICS
Junior high students will develop their mathematical ability
while learning to value mathematics and its uses in daily life.
Solving problems using a variety of approaches and
communicating ideas clearly and logically are emphasized.
Technology is integrated through ALEKS, a web-based
assessment and learning system. Select students participate
in an advanced mathematics course, including possible
attendance at a local high school.
Mathematical Practical Standards:
• Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
• Reason abstractly and quantitatively
• Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning
of others
• Model with mathematics
• Use appropriate tools strategically
• Attend to precision
• Look for and make use of structure
• Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning
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6TH GRADE students will be able to:
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Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning
to problem solve
Apply and extend previous understandings of
multiplication and division to divide fractions by
fractions
Compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find
common factors and multiples
Apply and extend previous understandings of
arithmetic to algebraic expressions
Reason about and solve one-variable equations and
inequalities
Represent and analyze quantitative relationships
between dependent and independent variables
Solve real-world and mathematical problems
involving area, surface area, and volume
Summarize and describe distributions
Use mathematical vocabulary
5TH GRADE students will be able to:
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MATHEMATICS
Write and interpret numerical expressions
Analyze patterns and relationships
Understand the place value system
Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers
and with decimals to hundredths
Use equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and
subtract fractions
Apply and extend previous understandings of
multiplication and division to multiply and divide
fractions
Convert like measurement units within a given
measurement system
Represent and interpret data
Geometric measurement: understand concepts of
volume and relate volume to multiplication and
addition
Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve
real-world and mathematical problems
Classify two-dimensional and three-dimensional figures
into categories based on their properties
7TH GRADE students will be able to:
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Analyze proportional relationships and use them to
solve real-world and mathematical problems
Apply and extend previous understandings of
operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply,
and divide rational numbers
Use properties of operations to generate equivalent
expressions
Solve real-life and mathematical problems using
numerical and algebraic expressions and equations
Draw, construct, and describe geometrical figures and
describe the relationships between them
Solve real-life and mathematical problems involving
angle measure, area, surface area, and volume
Use random sampling to draw inferences about a
population
Draw informal comparative inferences about two
populations
Investigate chance processes and develop, use, and
evaluate probability models
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
8TH GRADE students will be able to:
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Identify irrational numbers, as well as approximate
them by rational numbers
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Work with radicals and integer exponents
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Understand the connections between proportional
relationships, lines, and linear equations
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Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of
simultaneous linear equations
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Define evaluate and compare functions
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Use functions to model relationships between
quantities
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Understand congruence and similarity using physical
models, transparencies, or geometry software
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Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem
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Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data
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Solve real-world and mathematical problems
involving volume of cylinders, cones, and spheres
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Science is the study of society and the
relationship of individual members within a society,
which we use to uncover the truth of our connection
with one another through time and across geographic
barriers. This study also helps to discover the deeper
truth of each one’s relationship with God.
5TH GRADE students learn about the history of
our world through studying the five themes of
Geography: location, place, regions, cultures, and
movement in respect to American history.
Units studied:
• Early Colonization of America
• American Revolution
• Industrial Revolution
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Immigration
SOCIAL STUDIES
6TH GRADE students learn about Ancient Civilizations,
geography, and the world’s cultures.
Units studied:
• Ancient civilizations of Europe, Asia and the Americas
7TH AND 8TH GRADE students prepare for their role as
informed citizens by studying United States history beginning
with European colonization through modern day U.S. history.
Students in 7th and 8th grade also participate in Social Studies
Fair alternating years.
Units studied:
• Colonization
• American Revolution
• Constitution
• Civil War
• Reconstruction
• Westward Expansion
• Immigration
• Industrialization
• World War I
• World War II
• Holocaust
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And more…
7th grade students take both
the Federal and Illinois
Constitution Test.They will also
visit our state capital,
Springfield, after studying the
Illinois Constitution
SCIENCE
Science is a gift of human intellect, which is given to us by God
to help us understand His Creation. Science is the study of
interdependent relations in our earths systems and
structures that reflect God’s truth, beauty and goodness.
Students participate in interactive discussions and hands-on
experiences through lab work and demonstrations to
understand physical science, life science, and earth science.
Students identify problems, formulate and test hypotheses, and
evaluate experimental results to better understand the
scientific method and experimental design. Students
demonstrate proficiency by identifying relationships, asking
questions, developing and using models, and constructing
explanations of the core ideas.
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
In 5TH GRADE students are introduced to Earth
and Space Science, Physical Science and Life Science.
Studies focus on:
• Earth’s Place in the Universe
• Earth’s Systems
• Earth and Human Activity
• Matter and Its Interactions
• Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
• Energy
• Structures and Process of Organisms
• Ecosystems: Interactions, energy and dynamics
In 6TH GRADE students learn through the study
of Earth and Space Science. Students gain content
knowledge as well as understand the following
concepts, skills and processes including:
• Space Systems
• History of the Earth
• Earth’s Systems
• Weather and Climate
• Human Impacts
ART
Junior High students have the opportunity to
express themselves through various art forms.
Elements and principles of art are practiced and
artistic expression is encouraged. Students are
encouraged to use art vocabulary throughout their
curriculum. Different artists, cultures, and their
effect on society are explored and studied. Technology is used to promote understanding and express
ideas.
8th grade students visit the Art Institute to
enhance their study of Impressionism.
In 7TH GRADE students learn the study of
Physical Science. Students gain content knowledge as
well as understand the following concepts, skills and
processes including:
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Structures and Properties of Matter
Patterns in the Periodic Table
Chemical Reactions
Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
Energy
Waves and Their Applications
In 8TH GRADE students learn the study of Life
Science. Students gain content knowledge as well as
understand the following concepts, skills and processes
including:
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Cells: Structure, Function and Information Process
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Human Body, Systems and Health
Students in 7th and 8th grade participate in
Science Fair alternating years.
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CURRICULUM: MIDDLE SCHOOL
TECHNOLOGY
In addition to integrating technology and the use of
technology tools in the general classroom, students in
grades 5-8 attend technology class to build proficiency
in technology and technology related skills. Students
become proficient in the use of a variety of Microsoft,
internet, and other digital tools and work on digital
projects in collaboration with the classroom teacher.
All 5th-8th graders will:
• Become proficient in keyboarding
• Use various tools available in Microsoft Word to
construct documents
• Use various tools available in Microsoft Excel to
develop spreadsheets
• Use various tools available in Microsoft PowerPoint
to create presentations
• Proficiently use the internet safely for research
purposes
• Become digitally proficient citizens
• Use a variety of digital tools
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
In junior high, our students learn and explore factors
that affect a healthy lifestyle. Students will maintain
personal fitness; develop muscle strength, endurance, and
flexibility; use rules, safety, and strategies of sports and
games; and demonstrate sportsmanship and participation
in sports and games.
SPANISH
The study of a foreign language allows students to
develop a global perspective while broadening their
knowledge of the world around them. Learning a foreign
language allows students to be introduced to cultures
different from their own. Students in grades 7 & 8
will take Introduction to Spanish two times per week.
Students will complete Spanish I at the end of their 8th
grade year.
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130 Woodlawn Ave. | Joliet, IL 60435 | 815.725.3390
stpauljoliet.com