6th-8th Grade Courses

6th-8th Grade Courses

Core Courses - Grade 6

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 6

English Language Arts

Using a motif of Heroes, Helpers, and Hope, students in the Middle School Language Arts I course will acquire the reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and beyond. Students will become critical readers and thinkers as they delve into fiction and informational texts within the course. They will also learn to effectively write narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces and present their ideas clearly and cohesively.

MATH 6

Math

The course is designed to engage students at every turn. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of number manipulation by applying it to real world scenarios. The course is packed with games that reinforce content and let students practice the skills they have learned throughout the course. Tidbits of trivia and activities throughout the course leave students with a smile.

SCIENCE 6

Science

Comprehensive Science I is the first in a series of three consecutive science classes. This course provides an introduction to Science, Energy, Force, Weather, Climate, The Earth’s Systems, and the Living World. Some topics are explored in depth while others are introduced to serve as building blocks for Comprehensive Science II and III. During this course, students will explore science through every day examples and experiences. Students will participate in activities and online laboratory experiences to apply what they have learned.

SOCIAL STUDIES 6

Social Studies

Somebody discovered the wheel. Somebody discovered written communication. Somebody even figured out how to count to ten. From the ancient river civilizations to China and its ancient dynasties, different civilizations left their mark on history. They also left their mark on how we live today. In this course, students join travel agent Mr. Lightfoot to travel back in time digging out the past of these ancient civilizations. In ancient Egypt students visit the pyramids and find out the secrets of preserving mummies. They see how the Mayans developed astronomy to a precise science. They even investigate the difference between the Athenians and the Spartans. Students will journey through India discovering their contributions to medicine, moving on to Africa to follow the rise and fall of the ancient east African kingdoms of Kush and 14 Axum. Throughout the centuries, and still today, our world is made up of dozens of different cultures. They all are different, and they all have made big contributions to what we know and who we are.

Core Courses - Grade 7

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 7

English Language Arts

Using a motif of Mystery, Monsters, and Mayhem, students in the Middle School Language Arts II course will acquire the reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and beyond. Students will become critical readers and thinkers as they delve into fiction and informational texts within the course. They will also learn to effectively write narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces and present their ideas clearly and cohesively.

MATH 7

Math

This course is designed to expand student knowledge about the transformation of shapes by sliding, flipping, rotating, and enlarging them on a coordinate plane. This course gives students the opportunity to create, investigate, and demonstrate knowledge at both intermediate and advanced levels. Students will be amazed with the skills that they accumulate while completing this course. This course is so full of animations, applications, videos, games, and real-world scenarios, students may think it is the latest video game.

SCIENCE 7

Science 7

Comprehensive Science II is the second course in the Middle School Comprehensive Science Sequence. In this course students explore: The Foundations of Science, Energy, The Earth and its features, The Earth’s internal and external structures and how they change, The Earth’s history, Living things and how they change and interact, Genetics and Heredity, and The Organization of the living world. Some of these topics are introduced and serve as a foundation for Comprehensive Science Three and others are discussed in detail. Students will learn through real world examples and virtually visit 6 different
continents to see science in action all over the world. Students will participate in activities and online laboratory experiences to apply what they have learned.

ARKANSAS HISTORY

Arkansas

Arkansas History is an in-depth and rigorous study of civics/government, economics, geography, and history of our state. Students will develop and apply the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will examine a variety of primary and secondary sources and communicate responses in multiple ways including oral, visual, and written forms. Students will learn how to evaluate sources of information, explore issues, examine data, and analyze events to develop critical thinking skills.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography

Grade 7 social studies provides a study of both physical and human geography of the world through a geographic lens. As students study the continents and regions across the globe, they will learn about the historic, cultural, economic, and political development, as well as interconnections that occur in both human and physical systems of each area. Students will develop and apply literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. They will examine primary and secondary sources and develop critical thinking skills essential for becoming productive.

Core Courses - Grade 8

Science 8

Science

Comprehensive Science 3 is the last class of the M/J Comprehensive Series. The course introduces new information and reviews some basics of science to prepare students for high school science coursework. Topics covered in this course include: The Nature of Science, Earth and Space Science, Properties of Matter, Changes in Matter, Matter and Energy, and Energy flow in the living world. During this course, students will learn through real world examples and applications. Students will participate in activities and online laboratory experiences to apply what they have learned.

Pre-AP Physical Science*

Pre-AP Physical Science

High School Credit
This course is designed as an interactive, 21st century course focusing on basic physics and chemistry. Topics include forces and motion, energy through waves, electricity and magnetism, the matter around us, chemical bonding and reactions. This course is designed to serve as a foundation for the study of the physical sciences. The utilization of scientific inquiry, web 2.0 tools, interactive experiences, higher order thinking, collaborative projects, real world application through labs and a variety of assessments all aid the student in ultimately demonstrating a vast understanding of the importance of the physical and chemical properties of the world around them; enabling them to apply these properties to their everyday lives.

Social Studies 8

Social Studies 8


Learning about history allows people to see how far we have come and what awaits us on our path to the future. In this course, students will explore the history of the United States and analyze the cause and effect in historical events. They will investigate history by using the tools of a historian to examine the historical, geographic, political, economic, and sociological events that influenced the development of the United States. Students will imagine what it was like to live in the past by reading the stories from the people who experienced it. This course begins with the engaging stories of what brought the earliest American colonists to the New World and ends with the struggles to repair the United States following the Civil War. Engaging in this study allows students to recognize the themes of history that span across centuries and leads to a greater appreciation of the development of the United States and the resulting impact on world history.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 8

English Language Arts

Using a motif of Innovation, Imagination, and Invention, students in the Middle School Language Arts III course will acquire the reading, writing, language, and speaking/listening skills necessary for success in college, career, and beyond. Students will become critical readers and thinkers as they delve into fiction and informational texts within the course. They will also learn to effectively write narrative, informational, and argumentative pieces and present their ideas clearly and cohesively.

MATH 8

Math

Students who love interactive learning will enjoy Math 8. They experience intrigue and fun when they log in to Math 8. This hands-on course is full of slideshows, applications, videos, and real-world scenarios. The satisfaction students gain from truly understanding higher level concepts such as functions and systems of equations encourages excitement and joy for learning that they may have never experienced before.

Honors ALGEBRA I

PRE-AP ALGEBRA I

Algebra I is the foundation. The skills acquired in this course contain the basic knowledge needed for all future high school math courses. The material covered in this course is important, but everyone can do it. Anyone can have a good time solving the hundreds of real-world problems algebra can help answer. Each module in this course is presented in a step-by-step way right on the computer screen. Hands-on labs make the numbers, graphs, and equations more real. The content in this course is tied to real-world applications like sports, travel, business, and health. This course is designed to give students the skills and strategies to solve all kinds of mathematical problems. Students will also acquire the confidence needed to handle everything high school math has in store for them. 

Required Electives

6 - Technology Communications

6 - TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS

The standards from this course are taught during orientation and integrated with English Language Arts. Students will receive a grade based on their use of word processing, email, electronic presentations, the Internet, and soft skills for business applications.

7 - Info. & Comm. Technology

7 - INFO. & COMM. TECHNOLOGY

Information and Communications Technology is integrated in everything 7th grade students do at FVA in their daily coursework. Students are taught word processing skills, how to create electronic presentations, information about computer hardware, the Internet, and soft skills for business applications during orientation. They are introduced to the skills necessary to be productive and efficient in today’s competitive workplace.

8 - Career Orientation

8 - CAREER ORIENTATION

What career are you best suited for? In this course, students will explore career options in many different fields including business, health science, public administration, the arts, and information technology.

Physical Education

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Team sports, extreme sports, and outdoor sports are among the types of activities students learn about and participate in during this course!

This interactive, highly animated course helps students learn safety rules for exercise, how to improve skills, and how to establish and accomplish goals. It also provides an overview of many dual, team, extreme, and outdoor sports.

Practicing game strategy to improve the chance of 16 winning in competition, improving sport skill and performance, diversity in sports, nutrition, peer pressure, and making good choices balance out the topics students discover in this course. Fitness logs help students monitor physical activities. Students complete projects that lead to the knowledge, skills, and values they need to implement and maintain a physically active lifestyle.

Online Electives

Orientation to Art 2D - Semester

Orientation to Art 2D - Semester

Where do super heroes come from? They live in the action-filled pages of comic books. Who gives them their super powers? It's the creative artist who puts energy and excitement into every drawing. You too can create your own super heroes, and discover the power you hold in your pencil. Using the tools, tricks and techniques of professional artists, you will create people and objects that leap off the page. You will start with your sketchbook, and put down your ideas and impressions. You will develop those ideas by using lines, colors, composition and perspective. You will finish with a collection of original artwork that tells the story your way. In this course you will experience the creative processes used by all artists. You will learn how to analyze, interpret and evaluate art. But most of all, you will have a portfolio of work that demonstrates your own skill and creativity as an artist. Students will need access to a scanner or a digital camera for submitting work for this course. In addition, students will need to use some basic art supplies. This course does not meet the criteria for a High School Course and is available for Middle School only.

Photography - Semester

Photography - Semester

Students see photographs every day on television, on the Internet, and in magazines and newspapers. What makes a great photograph? How did the artist capture a story? What makes a great picture? What are careers in photography? In this course, students learn and apply fundamental skills to use a camera and take photographs of animals, people, and landscapes. Students gain an understanding of how photography can be a means of documentation or high art. Students examine photographic careers and explore selfreflection to progress their creative growth as they develop a photographic portfolio. This course helps students select subjects, take a photograph, and print and display memories!

Journalism - Year-long

Journalism - Year-long

Who? What? When? Where? Journalism provides us with the answers to these questions for the events that affect our lives. In this course, students will learn how to gather information, organize ideas, format stories for different forms of news media, and edit their stories for publication. The course will also examine the historical development of journalism and the role of journalism in society.

Personal Communications - Semester

Oral Communications - Semester

HS Credit (8th grade only)
The art of public speaking is one which underpins the very foundations of Western society. This course examines those foundations in both Aristotle and Cicero’s views of rhetoric, and then traces those foundations into the modern world. Students will learn not just the theory, but also the practice of effective public speaking, including how to analyze the speeches of others, build a strong argument, and speak with confidence and flair. By the end of this course, students will know exactly what makes a truly successful speech and will be able to put that knowledge to practical use.

Digital Information Technology - Year-long

Digital Information Technology - Year-long

HS Credit (8th grade only)
Dive into an exciting course that will provide you with the foundational skills needed for exciting careers like game development, military defense, web design, and software engineering! You will explore Microsoft Office online applications, web design, emerging technologies, operating systems, project management, communication methods, Information Technology careers, and much more in this course. Learn about your strengths and how they relate to different career paths.

Health - Semester

Health - Semester

HS Credit (8th grade only)
Each day hundreds of decisions are made, including important decisions that have a huge impact on personal life. Making good decisions is a whole lot easier for those who have the correct information before 18 making those decisions. Being equipped with correct information will empower students to manage real issues, like quality nutrition, substance abuse, and coping with stress. Good health is both mental and physical. Making good decisions starts with knowing the facts, understanding the consequences, and having the confidence to choose well. A series of signposts take students through the course, providing information, direction, and a little encouragement. Students learn to use important tools for communicating feelings and opinions. Other tools provide a foundation for becoming a savvy consumer in a world of advertising, credit cards, and focusing on earth-friendly practices that will help the environment. This course comes with a long-term payoff. Learning to make good decisions now will set a positive direction to follow for the future.

Languages

Middle School Spanish Beginning

Middle School Spanish Beginning

(6th – 8 th grades: NOT for HS credit)
In this course, students take a virtual tour of Spain. Of course, the visit will be more enjoyable if the students know what the people around them are saying. No need to worry—this course provides basic vocabulary, keeps students from getting lost, and helps them make some new Spanish friends. Students learn to ask for directions, order food in a restaurant, and talk about the weather, all without being embarrassed by their accents. New words and phrases are introduced with text, pictures, and audio clips that demonstrate proper pronunciation. Students acquire skills to read, write, and speak basic Spanish. Students also learn the basic Spanish grammar that will make their sentences come out right. Don’t leave home without MJ Spanish Beginning. This course gives students the ability to enjoy their trip to Spain and to soak up some of the local culture during their virtual tour.

Middle School Spanish Intermediate

Middle School Spanish Intermediate

(6th – 8 th grades: NOT for HS credit)
For this course, our student traveler, Cristina, will be taking you on a journey to Spain, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Argentina. She will share her experiences with you as she learns about the different cultures of each of these Spanish speaking countries. As you explore each country with Cristina, you will learn how to speak Spanish in many practical and useful situations that will apply to your everyday environment. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, speak about your family, your home, food, sports, weather and your likes and dislikes.

New words and phrases will be introduced with pictures, audio clips, videos, and examples. You will learn basic Spanish grammar to help you form sentences correctly, build your fluency, and provide you with a more thorough understanding of the Spanish language. There will be many opportunities to practice what you learn through interactive activities in the form of games and written, listening, and speaking exercises. Learning about other cultures and appreciating their differences is also an important part of this course. You will learn about foods, shopping patterns, meal times, music, homes, and celebrations in different Spanish speaking countries. As you explore with Cristina, you will begin to appreciate and understand the diversity of the Spanish speaking world. Enjoy your journey with Cristina and share your experiences and everything you learn with your family and friends!

French I- HS Credit

French I- HS Credit

(8th grade only)
Bienvenue! Welcome! Come and join various native French speakers as they give students a lively introduction to the language and its rich culture. Join them in their everyday environment as they take students through different daily scenarios and give them the necessary skills to read, write, and speak French. In this course, students learn the basic French language. After one semester, students will be able to engage in conversation in French including greeting people, introducing themselves, and exchanging basic information with others. Students learn to count from one to 1,000 and make simple sentences in both spoken and written French. Students continue to develop their French skills in semester two.

New words and phrases are introduced with pictures, audio clips, and examples. Students learn basic French grammar to help them build fluency and understand the structure of the French language. Students have many opportunities to practice what they learn through interactive practice activities in the form of games, written practice, and listening and speaking exercises. Students also explore the cultures of France, Canada, and other French-speaking regions by learning about geography, foods, celebrations, and traditions from each place. Bon Voyage! Enjoy the trip!


Spanish - HS Credit

Spanish - HS Credit

(8th grade only)
¡Bienvenidos! Welcome! Students are taking a virtual trip to Spain, Cuba, Colombia, and Argentina. As students explore each country, a student blogger is there to help them learn about the place and its unique characteristics. As students travel to each country, they learn how to speak Spanish in many practical and useful ways. Students learn how to greet people, introduce themselves, and speak about their home, family, 20 school, and community. As students learn basic vocabulary and grammar skills, they expand on their knowledge and learn to speak about more complex topics such as shopping, weather, sports, entertainment, and leisure activities. The course introduces new words and phrases with pictures, audio clips, and examples. Students learn basic Spanish grammar to help them build fluency and understand the structure of the Spanish language. There are many opportunities to practice through interactive activities in the form of games, written practice, and listening and speaking exercises. Students also explore the cultures of Spain, Cuba, Colombia, and Argentina by learning about geography, foods, celebrations, and traditions from each place. Student bloggers guide students through these countries and help them appreciate and learn about their diversity.