Marist Brothers International School
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Upper School
Grade 7
The Grade Seven English course focuses on the core elements of reading comprehension, composition, grammar and mechanics, vocabulary development, and speaking. Students will read classic and contemporary selections with the goal of strengthening fluency, while providing an introduction to literary analysis and criticism. Students will write reflective, research, analysis, and comparison/contrast essays, understand literary elements such as theme and characterization, and gain an understanding of the writing process.
The first semester consists of order of operations, basic problem solving, decimals and scientific notation, units and conversions, basic statistics, prime numbers and fractional operations, the coordinate plane and solving equations and functions. The second semester extends into the topics of ratios and rates, slope and proportions, fractions, decimals, percentages, percentage increase and decrease, compound interest, angles, triangles, congruence and transformations, square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem, area, solid shapes and their surface areas and volumes and concludes with probability and tree diagrams.
Integrated Science 7 is a course based on California’s Next Generation Science Standards. The course will be a combination of life and physical science concepts. In the first semester students will learn about the history of life on earth, evolution, and composition of matter. In second semester students will learn about chemical reactions, cells, the human body, genetics. They will become familiar with basic scientific equipment such as microscopes to assist in their explorations of life. Theory will also be covered in terms of geologic, anatomical, and physiological evidence, with biological principles being applied to structures and their functions. We will also explore environmental influences and how those have shaped organisms over time.
In Grade 7 Health a range of different topics will be studied to help the student identify, develop and maintain positive personal health. By the end of Grade 7 Health students will demonstrate ways in which they can enhance and maintain their health and well-being, practice behaviors that reduce the risk of becoming involved in potentially dangerous situations and react to potentially dangerous situations in ways that help to protect their health. They will also be able to understand and demonstrate behaviors that prevent disease and speed recovery from illness as well as demonstrate how to play a positive, active role in promoting the health of their families. They will understand the variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social changes that occur throughout life.
This course, looking at Major Religious practices, is aimed at finding out what people believe, how they behave and what they think is important. It explores how different people search for and find meaning in their lives and how it is affected by their religious belief. Religious symbols, images and action; religious beliefs and worldviews about God; and different viewpoints on life after death are topics that will be covered by this course. In this course, students will not only learn about other people and their beliefs, they will also be asked to think about their own beliefs and opinions.
Throughout this course students will cover the essential elements of geography. The first quarter of the course begins with an introduction to mapping and other geography related skills. For the remainder of the course, students will conduct a geographic review of major world regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, East and South-East Asia. Special emphasis will be given to environmental, political and economic conditions, as well as social and cultural characteristics of selected countries. This class will provide students with an understanding of how geography influences culture and history, preparing them for their next Social Studies class of American History.
It is the goal of the Physical Education program for students to learn the skills and rules necessary for the enjoyment of sports and to develop a positive attitude towards physical fitness and to encourage a personal awareness of the choices that will lead to a healthy lifestyle. The grade 7 Physical Education course includes the following activity modules: Team Building, Volleyball, Fitness, Fitness Testing, Touch Rugby, Game Skills, Soccer, Gymnastics, Track and Field and Striking and Fielding.
This course is designed to provide students with a brief overview of various styles from different fields in Japanese writings. Students will learn the systematic view of Japanese society, its culture, history, and important knowledge and technical terms through newspaper articles, textbooks, stories, and research style reports. By the end of this course, students will be able to understand various Japanese writing styles, and also improve their ability to explain/express their thoughts using technical terms and more challenging words. Students will work extensively in improving their Kanji ability. Students will learn approximately 150-200 Kanji depending on their level.
This course is designed for students with some previous learning of Japanese. Speaking, listening, reading and writing skills will be developed around the main themes of everyday activities and personal and social life. Students will learn to write informative passages about a familiar theme and read and write in Kanji. Students will participate in simple group discussions related to social and teenage life and share their thoughts in writing. The four language skills will be assessed through a variety of tasks using specific rubrics. Students will work extensively in improving their Kanji ability. Students will learn approximately 150-200 Kanji depending on their level.
This course is designed to develop Japanese communication skills in all four language skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing. It also provides to integrate the acquired language and cultural knowledge to effectively communicate personal perspectives on familiar topics.
In addition to acquiring Japanese language skills, students also learn about many traditional ceremonies and events that happen in the nation. By the end of this course, students will be able to read and write all the Hiragana, Katakana, and 110 (N5 level) Kanji.
Students are provided with a supportive group environment in which students can grow in self-confidence, creative daring, and technical ability. The program develops an in-depth understanding of the foundations of the elements and principles of design. Students have experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles, collage, printmaking, and 3D design. Students will express their ideas by using art as a form of communication. As students work toward an appreciation and understanding of art they will relate visual arts to various historical and cultural traditions. Students learn to respect their own ideas and artistic expressions and those of others as they analyze and evaluate works of art.
Concert Band: This is a performance-based course intended to further students’ music literacy skills through playing wind band or percussion instruments. Previous music experience is recommended but not required. During the course, students will continue to develop their instrumental skills, perform a wide variety of band repertoire, and learn historical and theoretical musical concepts. This class performs four major concerts during the year: at Food Fair, the Christmas Concert, the Spring Concert, and on Founder’s Day. Students also have the opportunity to learn and perform a solo at a festival.