Middle School Curriculum

Sayre creates an environment in which students are immersed in literature and writing, encouraging students to become accurate, life-long readers and sound writers aware of their own voices, while deepening students' awareness of themselves, others, and the world.

6^th Grade

• Introduce plot line and narrative elements
• Read from a variety of genres
• Use a variety of formats in writing
• Investigate interdisciplinary themes
• Read critically and analytically
• Write a cross-disciplinary research paper
• Study and practice grammar skills

7^th Grade

• Read literature in its historical context
• Analyze themes of utopia, dystopia, individuality, and Power
• Write alternative scenes in novels Write expository essays with literary analysis
• Develop an understanding of writer's voice
• Introduce the analysis of poetry
• Develop transitional sentences in writing
• Additional reading and writing sessions are scheduled each semester and focus on outside readings, book discussions, and book talks

8^th Grade

• Write original short stories focusing on voice character and conflict
• Extend poetry and short story analysis
• Read and write several forms of poetry
• Read a Shakespearean play
• Focus on grammar usage and punctuation in the context of student writing
• Compose and peer edit multiple essays
• Additional reading and writing sessions are scheduled each semester and focus on outside readings, book analysis, and writing

Sayre incorporates creativity, aesthetics, criticism, and history into a flexible and evolving curriculum which emphasizes the development of increasingly sophisticated skills and concepts through students' experiences in the arts. Each student in the Middle School takes Music, Drama, and Visual Art every year. Fine Arts classes are scheduled each marking period and meet four times per week.

2017-2018 Visual Arts & Performing Arts Changes

6th Grade, 7th Grade, and 8th Grade 

Visual Arts:
• Extend understanding of the elements and principles of art, multicultural art, environmental art, and famous artists
• Introduce textiles as an art medium
• Introduce three-dimensional art
• Introduce art history

Music:
• Introduce and develop rhythmic skills, including notation, dictation, and performance
• Develop a knowledge of instruments and their aural and visual identification
• Provide opportunities for participation in Chorus, Band, and an annual musical production
• Identify classical music and composers and keyboard skills
• Create individual compositions
• Create and perform an instrumental blues improvisation

Drama:
• Introduce the elements and principles of drama
• Participate in reader's theater, script analysis, storytelling, and character development
• Develop stage comfort and technique
• Focus on individual, group, and class performance
• Introduce radio theater
• Develop basic acting and improvisational skills
• Introduce basic Shakespearean theater history and acting

Sayre prepares students to comprehend the past and to identify and understand the challenges facing our diverse nation in an increasingly interdependent world.

6^th Grade World Cultures and Geography

• Geography and its effects on climates, the movement of people, and production
• Reading physical, political, and thematic maps
• Understanding the use of a world atlas
• Studying the connection between geography and current events
• Incorporating the five key geographic themes: location, place, region, human environment interaction, and movement
• Extensive research on a global topic

7^th Grade Ancient World and Civilizations

• Study the development of human society from prehistory through the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Egypt, India, China, Africa, Mesoamerica, Greece, and Rome
• Explore the history and ideas of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity
• Further develop map skills as they apply to the ancient world

8^th Grade American Studies

• US government and the Presidency
• Historic patterns of US immigration and contemporary patterns of immigration in Kentucky
• The Bill of Rights and its application in the Twentieth Century
• America's wars and the rise of the US as a world power

Sayre communicates mathematical concepts through independent reasoning and cooperative exploration using comprehensive mathematical knowledge.

6th Grade:

Math 6: 
• Decimals
• Communative, associative, and zero properties
• Prime and composite numbers
• Multiples and factors
• Tables and graphs
• Numerical and algebraic expressions
• Fractions and mixed numbers
• Estimation
• Geometric concepts

7th Grade:

Pre-Algebra:
• Order of operations
• Distributive property
• Operations with integers
•  Algebraic equations and inequalities
• Positive integers
• Ratios, proportions, and percentages
• Algebraic applications to geometry

Algebra I*:
• Variables and solving for them in linear equations
•  Algebraic properties
• Coordinate plane and graphing linear equations
• Ratio and proportions
• Rules of exponents and negative exponents
• Simplifying radicals
• Factoring binomials and trinomials
• Inequalities
• Quadratic equations 

* Specific criteria must be met

8th Grade:

Preparation for Algebra:
• Reinforce concepts of Pre-Algebra
• Linear equations
• Applications of percentages

Algebra I:
• Variables and solving for them in linear equations
•  Algebraic properties
• Coordinate plane and graphing linear equations
• Ratio and proportions
• Rules of exponents and negative exponents
• Simplifying radicals
• Factoring binomials and trinomials
• Inequalities
• Quadratic equations

Geometry*:
• Proper geometric notation
• Geometric constructions (with construction tools and Geometer's Sketchpad)
• Inductive and deductive reasoning
• Euclid's theorems and postulates
• Introduction to proofs
• Circles and polygons (emphasis on triangles and quadrilaterals)
• Congruent and similar polygons
• Introduction to trigonometry
• Midpoint and distance formulas
• Coordinate geometry
• Area and volume of two and three dimensional figures

* Specific criteria must be met

Sayre empowers students to explore, comprehend and appreciate cultures and languages as curious and empathetic world citizens.

Students are engaged in an active learning process in developing cultural competency and language proficiency for interpersonal, interpretive and presentational communication. The thoughtful use of authentic materials, the target language, and existing and emerging technologies, guides students towards building both language and general literacy skills.

6^th Grade

French:
•  Review of numbers, time, weather, school vocabulary, home vocabulary, clothing, and transportation 
• Introduction of vocabulary related to restaurants, groceries, shopping, and leisure activities
• Verb conjugations

Spanish:
•  Introduction to the phonetic system of pronunciation
•  Introduction to basic vocabulary
• Verb conjugations
• Culture of Mexico and the Aztecs

7^th Grade

French:
• Continued vocabulary acquisition
• Regular/irregular verb conjugations
• Use of the present tense, immediate future, and passé Compose
•  Use of the  negative
•  Regular/irregular adjectives
• Cultural focus on French education and provinces

Spanish:
• Continued vocabulary acquisition
• Use of adjective/noun agreement, possessive adjectives, and commands
• Further study of irregular verbs
• Hispanic influence in Texas
• Hispanic music and the culture of Puerto Rico

8^th Grade

French:
• Master vocabulary relating to family, daily routines, dining, sports, and travel
• Master present and past tense
• Master reflexive verbs
• Fluent and accurate oral and written expression
• Read simple French stories
• Acquire a knowledge of French geography and cultural products

Spanish:
• Vocabulary expansion, including school subjects, shopping, and travel related expressions
• Grammar expansion including reflexive verbs, pronouns, parts of the sentence, and the preterite tense
• Study of Spain, Miami's Hispanic population, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the Incas

Sayre gives students the opportunity to participate in team and individual activities designed to promote the physical, social, and cognitive domains.

6^th Grade, 7^th Grade, and 8^th Grade

• Efficiency of motor skills
• Apply rules, concepts, and strategies to games and activities
• Develop a knowledge and a positive attitude toward fitness and wellness
• Maintain and improve fitness
• Positive teamwork and sportsmanship in competitive sports
• Develop an interest in lifetime sports
• National and Presidential Fitness Testing
• Focus on specific health issues, including drugs, alcohol, and puberty
• Students are scheduled for Physical Education classes four times per week

6^th Grade Environmental Science
• Types of ecosystems
• Environmental issues with special attention on the Bluegrass region
• Characteristics and interrelationships of water, atmosphere, earth, weather, and energy
• Reading scientific text

7^th Grade Life Science
• Cell structure and function
• Heredity and evolution
• Characteristics of major classification groups
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Formal laboratory reports and position papers

8^th Grade Earth Science
• Astronomy
• Geology
• Introduction to Atomic Theory and chemistry
• Nuclear chemistry and nuclear power

Sayre students use technology to communicate, acquire information, increase productivity, and stimulate creativity as well as increase technological proficiency and promote flexible, lifelong learning.

• Maintaining and troubleshooting hardware and software
• Configuring the desktop and managing network files
• Refining word processing and spreadsheet skills
• Working with multiple applications simultaneously
• Intermediate graphic editing, design, and layout
• Creation of intermediate electronic/multimedia presentations
• Video production and editing
• Self-directed
• Internet research
• All 6^th grade students are given touch typing reinforcement during the first weeks of school
• An on-line touch typing program is available