Class Descriptions for 5th-8th

This class will guide students in the development of their artistic talents. This is done by first teaching students how to acquire the visual perception of an artist. The individual style of each student grows as they explore a variety of medias, artistic styles, and techniques. Students will gain the confidence needed to express individual creativity.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: additional $30 in January

Supplies Needed: none

Books Needed: none

Instructor: Jonee

Class Time: 50 minutes

In Book Club, the students will read grade level appropriate books, discuss, and do projects on based on these books.  Some of the projects could be written, some could be posters, some could be dioramas, some could be cooking activities, etc.  The teacher will assign and/or do different things for each book read and discussed.  With ALL new books!  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: 5-subject Spiral

Books Needed: Books MUST be purchased by parents and brought to EVERY class!  Books may be purchased throughout the school year as needed.

Instructor:

Class Time: 50 minutes

  Students will learn basic cooking skills and techniques.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: additional $30 in January

Supplies Needed: 3-ring Binder (1in.)

Books Needed: none

Instructor: 

Class Time: 50 minutes

From cooking to functional crafts, join us in our “make it and take it” class workshops. Class projects could take weeks to finish.  With ALL new projects!  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: additional $30 in January

Supplies Needed: none

Books Needed: none

Instructor:

Class Time: 50 minutes

  In this class, students will develop basic horticulture skills to bring garden plots to life with fresh, seasonal vegetables.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: OPTIONAL Gardening Gloves

Books Needed: none

Instructor: Debi

Class Time: 50 minutes

“Life Science” is the study of the living wonders that surround us every day.  This class will include cell biology, genetics, history of life, microbiology, botany, zoology, ecology, human anatomy, and physiology.  The students will conduct science experiments within each unit.  ALL 7th & 8th graders will take Life Science each day.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder

Books Needed: REQUIRED- BJU Life Science 7  Textbook (4th Edition) AND BJU Life Science 7 Activity Lab Manual (4th Edition) (Siblings can share TEXTBOOK, but NOT activity manual. Purchase only one textbook per family. Purchase each child an activity manual.)

Instructor: Sandy

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

  This class will study about the lives of missionaries and learn how to reach out to our own community through occasional voluntary community projects.  Optional service projects will be planned outside of COMPASS hours.  ***NEW MISSIONARIES*** Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Binder (1in.), Spiral

Books Needed: REQUIRED Bible, Books MUST be purchased by parents and brought to EVERY class!  Books may be purchased throughout the school year as needed.  Siblings can share books.  Books will include the following:

Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems by Janet & Geoff Benge (Needed FALL Semester)

Cameron Townsend: Good in Every Language by Janet & Geoff Benge (Needed FALL Semester)

Corrie Ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den by Janet & Geoff Benge (Needed SPRING Semester)

David Livingston: Africa’s Trailblazer by Janet & Geoff Benge (Needed SPRING Semester)

Instructor: Britt

Class Time: 50 minutes

In this class, students will learn to sing and play various instruments, exploring musical concepts in a group setting. During the second semester, students (based on interest) will have the opportunity to become familiar with the GarageBand app to explore song-writing, composition, and sound design, creating original music, and learning different music recording and production techniques in the process.  Music students will have the opportunity to perform during the school year.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder

Books Needed: none

Instructor: William

Class Time: 50 minutes

Students will learn about cells and organisms, matter and energy, astronomy, heredity, the nervous system, and the immune system.  This class will include fun and exciting experiments and science projects.  ALL 5th & 6th graders will take Science each day.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder

Books Needed: REQUIRED- BJU Science 6  Textbook (4th Edition) AND BJU Science 6 Activity Manual (4th Edition) (Siblings can share TEXTBOOK, but NOT activity manual. Purchase only one textbook per family. Purchase each child an activity manual.)

Instructor: Sandy

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

  This class is a hands-on science discovery class covering various science topics throughout the school year.  The first topic will be Paleontology.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Spiral or Composition Book

Books Needed: none

Instructor: Beau

Class Time: 50 minutes

An introduction to basic Spanish.  ***NEW TOPIC***  This year’s topic will be “Conversaciones (Conversations)”.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Binder (1/2in.), Index Cards

Books Needed: REQUIRED Spanish for You $20 (To be paid on Meet the Teacher Night- separate check from September tuition.  We will order the curriculum.)

Instructor: Britt

Class Time: 50 minutes

  This class will study Early Modern Times: From Elizabeth the First to the Forty-Niners.  ALL 5th & 6th graders will take Story of the World History each day.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder WITH brads

Books Needed: Textbook REQUIRED- Story of the World Volume 3 (Siblings can share.  Purchase only one per family.)

Instructor: April

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

Students will take on the roles of senators.  Each student will be required to draft a bill.  They will present their bill to the rest of the class where they will discuss, debate, and vote on the bills.  Students will also have the opportunity to run for officers and see the campaign process in action.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder

Books Needed: none

Instructor: Beau

Class Time: 50 minutes

A comprehensive study skills class. Topics include process of learning, memory, learning strategies, and note-taking skills. Class recommended for 6th, 7th, & 8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed:

Books Needed: Textbook REQUIRED- The Middle School Student’s Guide to Study Skills by Susan Mulcaire at Tween Publishing, Can be found at www.middleschoolguide.com

Instructor: 

Class Time: 50 minutes

 This class will offer an in depth study of Texas History as we explore our rich state history with hands-on activities.  ALL 7th & 8th graders take Texas History.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Spiral or Composition Book

Books Needed: The Boy in the Alamo by Margaret Cousins (OPTIONAL, but recommended for classroom reading)

Instructor: 

Class Time: 50 minutes

Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of Theatre Arts.  Students will use various drama techniques to build confidence, encourage creativity, and grow in their knowledge of Theatre Arts.  Through theatre games, performances, and activities students will get to use their gifts and strengths in an exciting way that glorifies and honors God.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: none

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: none

Books Needed: none

Instructor: April

Class Time: 50 minutes

  Students will dive into topics for several weeks and learn all they can about the topic.  Units will include: Geology, Entomology (Insects), Camping Skills, Logic & Games, and much more.  ALL Thursday 5th-8th graders will participate.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: To Be Announced throughout the school year as needed

Books Needed: To Be Announced throughout the school year as needed

Instructor:  Teachers will rotate teaching topics they enjoy

Class Time:  50 minutes

  We will make our way across the great United States by studying 2 states each week.  Students complete assignments by using atlases, outline maps, and other research materials.  Students will learn capitals, place location, climate, physical geography, and much more.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies: Binder (1in.), Dividers

Books Needed: Desk Atlas of the United States by Geography Matters (Siblings can share. Purchase only one per family.)

Instructor:

Class Time: 50 minutes

This class will have a basic overview of US History from the beginning to present times. ALL 7th & 8th graders take US History each day.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Bible, Spiral OR Composition Book

Books Needed: Textbooks REQUIRED- America, the Beautiful Part 1 by Notgrass TEXTBOOK ONLY (Needed FALL Semester) AND America, the Beautiful Part 2 by Notgrass TEXTBOOK ONLY (Needed SRPING Semester) (Siblings can share. Purchase only one per family.)

Instructor: Beau

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

  The students will be taken on a “journey” to each continent.  As they blaze the trail, there are many interesting topics to explore.  The students will soon be able to recognize important characteristics of each continent, read and create maps, identify key geographical terms and more, while they work through a variety of quick daily lessons or dig into in-depth geography studies.  Class offered to 5th-8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies: Binder (1in.), Dividers

Books Needed: Rand McNally Classroom Atlas (13^th Edition preferred but older editions may work) ISBN #: 978-0528015144 (Siblings can share.  Purchase only one per family.)

Instructor: Debi

Class Time: 50 minutes

  This class will build skills from the ground up.  Students will grow in their brainstorming and planning skills, gain confidence in writing creatively, and learn new ways to edit and revise their stories and reports.  It also introduces 5-paragraph writing.  There will also be a grammar component.  Recommended for beginning 5th & 6th grade writers and reluctant 7th grade writers.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Pocket Folder WITH Brads

Books Needed: REQUIRED WriteShop Junior Activity Pack E  (Purchase and bring to class on Day 1.)

REQUIRED Grammar Component (To be paid on Meet the Teacher Night- separate check from September tuition.  We will order the curriculum.)

Instructor: Beth

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

  In this class, students will practice various kinds of writing including creative, expository, and narrative.  Within each lesson, students will build on their current writing skills by brainstorming, outlining, proofreading, and using a thesaurus.  Recommended for 7th & 8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Binder, loose leaf notebook paper

Books Needed: Thesaurus (Siblings can share. Purchase only one per family.)

Instructor: Sandy

Class Time: 50 minutes each day

  This U.S. History-Based writing class (IEW) will develop students’ skills with the Structure and Style® Writing Method while learning about important people and events in U.S. History.  Recommended for 6th, 7th, & 8th graders.

Homework: yes

Supply Fee: included in $80 supply fee

Supplies Needed: Binder (1/2in.), clear sheet protectors

Books Needed: REQUIRED U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons Student Book

Reading Books (optional, but highly recommended) Books/Novels to be purchased throughout the school year:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith

Instructor: Britt

Class Time: 50 minutes each day