Course Catalog for Mark Twain Middle School:

5 Grade History: United States Beginnings Through 1820s: United States Beginnings Through
1820s - Students will analyze key historical periods; patterns of change over time; and ways
people view, construct, and interpret the history of the United States.
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6 Grade History: World History Beginnings of Civilization Through 1500 C.E. - Students will
analyze key historical periods; patterns of change over time; and ways people view, construct,
and interpret the history of nations and cultures of the world.
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7 Grade History:
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World in Spatial
Terms
1.

Students will interpret spatial information using geographic

representations.
Students will analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and
environments on Earths surface.
Students will analyze regions created through cultural, human, and
physical characteristics.
Students will apply geographic skills and tools to interpret the past,
the present, and plan for the future.
Human Systems
5. Students will analyze the demographics and migration of human
population and settlement over time.
Students will evaluate the characteristics, distribution, and
complexity of cultural regions.
Students will analyze patterns and networks of economic
interdependence among regions.
Students will analyze causes and effects of cooperation and conflict
among people.
Environment and
Society
9. Students will analyze the interactions between humans and the
environment.
Students will evaluate patterns of change and continuity in the
distribution and consumption of resources.

8 Grade History:
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Era 4: Expansion and Reform

1801-1861
1.

Students will analyze the period of expansion and

reform in the United States.

Era 5: Civil War and

Reconstruction 1850-1877
2. Students will analyze the American Civil War and
Reconstruction and their effects on the social,
economic, and political development of America.
Era 6: Development of the
Industrial United States 18701900
3. Students will analyze the development of the
industrial United States and the economic and cultural
transformation that led to modern America.
5 6 7 8 Grade Science:
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Nature of Science
1. Characteristics
and Processes of
Science

Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of the

characteristics and processes of science using appropriate safety
procedures, equipment, and technology.

Life Science

2.

Living
Systems:
Characteristics,

Structure, and
Function
3. Life Cycles,
Reproduction, and
Heredity
4. Populations
and Ecosystems

Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of living systems

using
appropriate
safety procedures, equipment, and technology.

Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of life cycles,

reproduction, and heredity using appropriate safety procedures,
equipment, and technology.
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of populations and
ecosystems using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and
technology.

Physical Science
5. Matter:
Properties and
Changes
6. Motion and
Forces
7. Energy and
Transfer of
Energy

Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of matter,

including properties and changes, using appropriate safety
procedures, equipment, and technology.
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of motion and
forces using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and
technology.
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of energy and
transfer of energy using appropriate safety procedures, equipment,
and technology.

Earth and Space Science

8. Earth Systems
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of Earths structure
and properties using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and
technology.
9. Earths History:
Changes in
Earth and Sky
10. Objects in the
Universe

Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of Earths history

using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and technology.
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of objects in the
universe using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and
technology.

5 Grade Mathematics: Operations and Algebraic Thinking

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Write and interpret numerical expressions.

Analyze patterns and relationships.

Number and Operations in Base Ten

Understand the place value system.

Perform operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths.

Number and OperationsFractions

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.

Measurement and Data

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 to addition.

Geometry

Graph points on the coordinate plane to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
Classify two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties.

6 Grade Mathematics: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

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Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.

The Number System

Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide

fractions by fractions.
Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.
Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.

Expressions and Equations

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.

Geometry

Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume.

Statistics and Probability

Develop understanding of statistical variability.

Summarize and describe distributions.

7 Grade Mathematics: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

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Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical
problems.

The Number System

Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract,
multiply, and divide rational numbers.

Expressions and Equations

Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.

Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and
equations.

Geometry

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.

Statistics and Probability

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.

8 Grade Mathematics: The Number System

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Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational
numbers.

Expressions and Equations

Work with radicals and integer exponents.

Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear
equations.
Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.

Functions

Define, evaluate, and compare functions.

Use functions to model relationships between quantities.

Geometry

Understand congruence and similarity using physical models, transparencies, or geometry

software.

Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.

Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving volume of cylinders, cones and
spheres

Statistics and Probability

Investigate patterns of association in bivariate data.

5 6 7 8 Grade English:
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Key Ideas and Details

1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical
inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to
support conclusions drawn from the text.
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development;
summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the
course of a text.
Craft and Structure
4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical,
connotative, and figurative meaning; analyze how specific word choices shape meaning
and/or tone.
4. Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger
portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, stanza) relate to each other and the
whole.
4. Assess how point of view, perspective, and/or purpose shapes the content and style of a
text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats.
7. Analyze and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of
the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence
7. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build
knowledge or to compare the approaches of the author(s).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently

French: French Curriculum

Spanish: Spanish Curriculum

Theatre/Music/Art/Dance:

Creating
1. Students will generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
2. Students will organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
3. Students will refine and complete artistic work.
Performing
4. Students will analyze, interpret, and select artistic work for presentation.
5. Students will develop and refine artistic work for presentation.
6. Students will convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Responding
7. Students will perceive and analyze artistic work.
8. Students will interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
9. Students will apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
Connecting
10. Students will synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
11. Students will relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to
deepen understanding.

Choir: Students will learn and perform songs in a variety of languages and styles, stretching their
vocal range and artistic capabilities.

Show Choir: Students will learn and perform songs in a variety of languages and styles,
stretching their vocal range and artistic capabilities with an emphasis on performance.

Photography: Students will learn different techniques with lighting, style, composition, etc. They
will practice taking pictures through a variety of mediums and different themed projects and will
learn to critique the work of others with respectful and appropriate feedback.

Yoga:
Module 1: Foundation and Integration
History and Foundation of Yoga
Intention and Meditation
Philosophy and Ethics
Personal Awareness and Connection