Academics

Reading and Writing

Students’ reading skills become stronger as they move from learning how to read to reading to learn. The children are taught by using classic literature as well as modern pieces. Story themes are used to bridge language and reading lessons allowing students to fully comprehend stories and skills. Students are taught to write complete sentences and two to three well written paragraphs.

Journal work is completed on a weekly basis along with more formal writing assignments such as persuasive, narrative, and descriptive. Throughout the year, third grade students are responsible for completing a variety of book report assignments such as poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and biographies. Third grade is also where students will master cursive writing.

Book Report

Book Report Section can be taken out as that is uploaded to my Google Classroom.

Math

The Mathematics curriculum allows students to continue to practice and develop addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills. Through hands-on activities and repetition students will master these skills along with graphs, measurement, geometry, and fractions.

Social Studies

Social Studies focuses on the beginning of our beautiful country. Through a variety of projects and activities students will explore the Native American tribes and Pilgrims that inhabited our country so many years ago. Students will also be taught the roots of our government and how our country is still run today based on decisions made by our forefathers. These units are completed with either a trip to Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, the Town Hall in Southbridge, Old Sturbridge Village or The Freedom Trail in Boston.

Grammar skills are reinforced throughout the year, including parts of speech and punctuation.  Students are taught how to write compound and complex sentences to form three to four well structured paragraphs.  Students are also given a variety of book reports assignments to demonstrate these skills throughout the year.

At Trinity Catholic Academy, Fifth Grade Science class is a brand-new experience. It is the first time that students are changing classes and have another teacher for a major subject area. This entails new expectations, traveling with their books, and answering to someone other than their homeroom teacher. It allows for a taste of the major adjustment next year as a part of the middle school.

Science is introduced as an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STREAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

READING:

The Reading Streets program presents a variety of literary genre, literary elements, vocabulary, and promotes critical thinking. The program lends itself to opportunities for the development of writing skills, mirroring the intentional and purposeful writing that is done in the fifth grade Language Arts grammar and writing program. Students also read novels during the year that aid in reinforcing the skills learned in the Reading Streets program. Additionally, book report projects are assigned that further expose students to a variety of literary genres.

LANGUAGE ARTS:

Voyages in English, published by Loyola Press, is implemented for our Grammar and Writing program. It is strong in teaching parts of speech, sentence structure, and writing skills. It is an irrefutable strength to be able to express oneself through the written word. To that end, much time is spent in developing a fifth-grader’s writing skills, and they are provided with many opportunities to do meaningful writing across the curriculum. In addition, we have a strong spelling and vocabulary program, Wordly Wise, that presents challenging words, not only for developing strong spelling skills, but also to provide opportunities to become familiar with synonyms and antonyms and how to use words in context.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

The Social Studies curriculum for grade 5 is American history, taught at a more simplistic level than it is taught in grades 7 and 8. The Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Timelinks The United States program is presented in two volumes. They include a history beginning with the Native Peoples of the North American continent and ends with the modern era. The series provides students with opportunities to learn about events, historical documents, important persons, geography, to practice critical thinking and to develop visual literacy. Every other year, a school-wide Social Studies Fair is held that enhances our students’ understanding of history and geography.

RELIGION:

An integral part of attending Trinity Catholic Academy is spiritual formation. Through the Blest Are We text published by RCL Benziger, fifth graders examine sacraments as part of their curriculum. Students are taught how the seven sacraments operate in their lives and in the world at a level that they can understand. We examine basic precepts of the Church, scripture stories, the lives of important people within the Church and in the world, and then apply the lessons to be learned to our own lives. As students in a Catholic school, it is important for them to perform community service projects. There are events during the school year, such as Catholic Schools Week in the month of January, that present opportunities for students to carry out such a project. Students attend weekly Mass and lead a Mass or prayer service each year.

Grade 6 English is composed of four major components: Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing, and Poetry.  A very strong study of the parts of speech and proper sentence construction is an integral part of fine-tuning a student’s writing skills.  To that end, we concentrate heavily on parts of speech and their role in sentence construction and in proper syntax.  We apply these grammatical skills when we study proper paragraph and essay construction.  A variety of types of writing are practiced in sixth grade which might include the personal narrative, expository writing, writing that compares and contrasts or which cites evidence in order to persuade.  We further extend those skills in the writing of a research paper in connection with a school wide Science Fair or Social Studies Fair, each of which is held in alternating years.  We have a very strong vocabulary program that serves to enhance both our reading and writing.  In the spring of the year, we enjoy a unit on poetry.  We take a look at the elements of poetry and focus in on some conventional and some not so conventional forms.  The most enjoyable part of this unit for our sixth graders is that they try their hand at writing their own poetry—with remarkable results.

Grade 6 is a big transition year for literature! There is a distinct shift from focusing on reading within a reading anthology to reading and analyzing whole novels. Students are challenged to move beyond reading for understanding to reading to critically think and analyze.

We kick off the year with summer reading selections. Students are required to read Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Giff for literature. This story is a touching coming of age novel with a challenging story line that contains flashbacks. This novel is perfect for introducing plot structure and characterization. The second book that is required reading is There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead. This book is discussed at length within the 6th grade science curriculum while studying biomes.

Within the 6th grade literature curriculum, students learn about summary, plot, theme, characterization, and symbolism. They explore various types of poetry and the wonderful world of folk tales. Novels are read and dissected in class such as Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Firegirl by Tony Abbott.

In addition, students are encouraged to engage in their own independent reading through a 40 Book Challenge. This is intended to teach students the love of reading by giving students choice, and to encourage students to grow into lifelong readers long after they leave sixth grade.

Grade 6 students will prepare for Pre-Algebra by becoming proficient in number sense, operations with decimals and fractions, interpretation of data, customary and metric measurement, perimeter, and area.

Key concepts introduced during the year will be expressions, equations and integers.  Students will learn the steps of how to solve equations and check their solutions

Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing on new skills.

Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

The curriculum for Grade 6 Social Studies at Trinity Catholic Academy is World Geography. The subject matter is presented in seven units: The World (which is an introduction to the world of geography), North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica. Each of the seven units contains chapters that address areas within the units more specifically. Students examine the physical and cultural attributes of each region; are presented with essential questions that are used as a focal point for each lesson within a chapter; and exposed to robust visual literacy using colorful graphics– charts, graphs, photographs, sketches, and maps. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion and for ongoing development of critical thinking skills. Additionally, there are opportunities to integrate science and writing skills.

In grade 6 religion, students study our ancestors in faith and draw historical and thematic connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each theme is then examined from a modern perspective, exploring the ways in which a particular value might be lived out in our lives today. Students also gain a deeper understanding of the sacraments and what it means to be a Catholic.

Sixth graders are very curious about how their faith relates to their lives. Questions about Church history, the life of Jesus, the theology of the afterlife, and modern morality are often asked at this stage of spiritual development. These topics are woven into the curriculum where appropriate, and added in where necessary, to allow each individual class the flexibility to explore the concepts of interest to them.

Welcome to Science in the Sixth Grade! There are so many wonderful and exciting things going on this year. We start off in the summer with reading There’s an Owl in the Shower by Jean Craighead George. This story leads us into our study of Earth Systems and owl pellet dissection. We discover how cool science really can be.

The highlight of this year is our weeklong excursion to Nature’s Classroom. We quickly come to realize that learning does not just happen in the four walls of a classroom or during the normal hours of a school day but that it happens everywhere and at any time. Students come back with a new sense of self, of others and some really cool stories about their adventures. Nature’s Classroom helps students discover their potential, bond with their classmates and have the experience of a lifetime!

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process.  STREAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

Grade six, beginning students will learn ABC’s, basic expressions, greetings, numbers, and some vocabulary.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

The course of study for Grade 7 is Pre-Algebra Part I. Students will use their knowledge of decimals, fractions, and integers to solve for the variable in one-step and two-step equations and inequalities.  They will study ratio, direct and inverse proportion, and percents and their applications.

In the geometry unit, students will learn the basics in area, volume, surface area,and coordinate planes geometry.  

Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing on new skills. 

Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

Our course of study is American History covering the time period from early Western Hemisphere civilizations to Civil War. Reconstruction to modern day history will be continued next year in grade 8.

We begin our journey among the ancient advanced civilizations of the Aztecs, Incas, Mayans and Olmecs, learning that ancient does not mean “backward”. We next go into the Age of European Exploration and its implications for the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere. European Colonization of the Americas is next on the agenda, leading into the Revolutionary War era and the development of the Early American Republic.

We will wrap up the year with events leading to dissent between the North and the South that ultimately leads to the American Civil War and its effect on our nation.

The textbook used in the study of American History is My World Interactive by Pearson Publishers. Students use the textbook in class and can access it online at home, and enjoy the online components to the series as well.

Grade 7 English focuses on grammar.  Extensive work is done with the eight parts of speech, compound and complex sentences, subject and verb agreement, and punctuation.  Students are expected to apply these lessons in their writing.  Compositions are assigned every other week.

In addition to grammar lessons, students are assigned a two week long vocabulary unit. The test at the end of each unit is comprised of spelling, definitions, synonyms and antonyms, and words in context.

A research project is required in seventh grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, form a bibliography, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between Science and Social Studies.

While studying autobiographies in Literature class, seventh grade students write their autobiographies.  Parents are asked to help provide early memories and with the selection of photographs. While students first balk at this assignment, they soon discover that writing about themselves can be fun!

The 7th and 8th graders work together on Morality. It is a two year course that focuses on all the facets of morality. Many tools are used including class discussion, lecture, movies and student led questions.

As a group, they participate in The Stations of the Cross during Lent. They work together on the Stations Project which has the students recreating the Stations for the whole student body on Holy Thursday.

Prayer and a relationship with God are the goals for the students at the end of the course.

Science in the 7th grade is all about what is going on in our bodies. We start off with cells and move onto genetics and heredity. The majority of the year is spent on human biology and how the body works. We also talk about how wonderfully God made our bodies and the best way to take care of His precious gift.

Class time focuses on notes and discussion while the reading of the material is generally left to the students. This is the first time where students have pop quizzes and many announced quizzes to aid in the understanding of the material. Class participation is not only encouraged; it is vital to the students’ grasp of the subject matter.

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STREAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

Grade seven students will learn basic questions, adjectives, numbers from 1 -100, clothing, places, vocabulary and complete sentences using their newly learned lexicon.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

Students begin with summer reading selections. In seventh grade two books are required: Gossamer by Lois Lowry and Peak by Roland Smith. These two books are high interest novels that prepare students for the curriculum in seventh grade. Grade 7 literature exposes students to the various genres available to them. Short stories, non-fiction selections, poetry, drama, and novels are read and discussed during the year.

Throughout the school year, students read the entire Giver series by Lois Lowry. These novels allow students to delve deeply into the study of characterization, plot, theme, and critical analysis of texts. In addition, these stories lend themselves to rich classroom discussions based on Catholic identity and morality.

In addition, students are encouraged to engage in their own independent reading through a 40 Book Challenge and sustained silent reading time given in the classroom. This allows students to foster a love for reading that will hopefully translate into continuing a life as a reader long after they leave Trinity.

In grade 7 English, grammar instruction focuses on the eight parts of speech, compound and complex sentences, subject and verb agreement, and punctuation. All of this instruction is learned through examining mentor sentences, in which students learn how to implement their grammar instruction into their own writing.

In addition, seventh grade English focuses heavily on writing through a writer’s workshop approach. Through the writer’s workshop, students learn essential writing skills to apply to the type of writing that is ultimately their choice. Throughout the year, students write within the following genres: narrative, expository, and poetry. Students are evaluated through a portfolio, which follows them to eighth grade.

A research project is required in seventh grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, form a works cited page, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between science and social studies.

Eighth grade Science is a challenging curriculum that begins with discovering hurricanes and tracking their movements. The science of force and motion are introduced. The reality of hurricanes really makes science come alive for the students in a year where science is mostly microscopic. This year we will also study matter and elements, chemicals and what they do and how they work. All the components of energy are also discovered. Class time focuses on notes and discussion while the reading of the material is generally left to the students. Students have pop quizzes and many announced quizzes to aid in the understanding of the material. Class participation is not only encouraged; it is vital to the students’ grasp of the subject matter.

Science is an area where we play and discover, an area where being wrong can lead to new discoveries, and an area where questions begin the scientific process. STREAM is integrated into the curriculum on a regular basis allowing students to problem solve in different ways.

Every other year we have a science fair where students may work by themselves or with a partner for several months on a project of their choosing. The project is based on the scientific method. The fair gives students an opportunity to work in an area of interest, work on a long term project and share their results with judges in order to gain public speaking skills and self-confidence.

The 7th and 8th graders work together on Morality. It is a two year course that focuses on all the facets of morality. Many tools are used including class discussion, lecture, movies and student led questions.

As a group, they participate in The Stations of the Cross during Lent. They work together on the Stations Project which has the students recreating the Stations for the whole student body on Holy Thursday.

Prayer and a relationship with God are the goals for the students at the end of the course.

Grade 8 English focuses heavily on writing through a writer’s workshop approach. Through the writer’s workshop, students learn essential writing skills to apply to the type of writing that is ultimately their choice.

Throughout the year, students write with the following genres: narrative, expository, and poetry. Students are evaluated through a portfolio.

A research project is required in eighth grade. Students are taught how to research a subject, formulate a thesis, form a works cited page, and cite sources. Topics are alternated yearly between science and social studies.

In addition, students study grammar extensively and apply that to their own writing.

Students begin with summer reading selections. In eighth grade, The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan is required reading. In addition, students have to choose one of the following novels, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen and Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos. We start off the year discussing these books at length and analyzing their structure.

Grade 8 literature exposes students to the various genres available to them. Short stories, non-fiction selections, fairy tales, poetry, drama, and novels are read and discussed during this year. Videos are shown to introduce authors to students and to compliment a short story or novel. Students are exposed to classical works such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

This encourages students to look at literally critically and engaged in discussions surrounding major themes. To Kill a Mockingbird opens up deep discussions on Catholic Social Teaching, as well as current event issues.

Grade eight students will continue with vocabulary, questions, jobs, numbers past 100, body parts, and reading and writing complete conversations using their lexicon.

Students in all grades will also be introduced to traditional Spanish celebrations like Dia de los Muertos at the beginning of November, Posadas at Christmas and Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5th.

Student will have the basic knowledge to be able to succeed in Spanish I in high school.

Grade 8 students will take Pre-Algebra Part II.  Students will study data analysis, two and three-dimensional geometry, probability, relations and functions, and polynomials. Periodic cumulative review assignments are given to ensure that students don’t lose the skills they have acquired while focusing new skills.

 Problem-solving and test-taking strategies are built into the curriculum, enhancing students’ critical thinking skills and their performance on standardized tests.

Grade 8 Pre Algebra is not a complete Algebra I course.  Graduates should expect to be placed in Algebra I or Algebra I Honors upon entering High School.

The Grade 8 Social Studies curriculum continues where 7th grade leaves off, beginning with Ancient Rome and continuing through to the Renaissance and Reformation.  Students study the growth of civilization and the themes and trends that affect its people.