Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rooted in Sacred Scripture and centered on the Eucharist, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School embraces the values of Education, Faith, and Citizenship.
Middle School Course Descriptions
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GRADES 6-8 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 2025-2026
The following courses will be offered to our Middle School students during the 2024-2025 school year. Each student must enroll in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Theology. Two additional elective courses may be selected per semester.
ELECTIVES
MIDDLE SCHOOL ART
Available to students in grades 6-8 (Multi-Age Classes)
1-2 Semesters
Students will be learning the rudiments of drawing, painting in acrylic and watercolor, and will construct simple dimensional art works. Color theory will be explored and used after tints, tones and shades are mastered. Harmonies such as Complementary, Monochromatic, and Analogous will be taught. Calligraphy and pottery will be explored. Many of the drawing and painting projects will be collaborative with other classes. Emphasis will be placed on preparing works for Art Show entry.
6th GRADE BAND
2 semesters
In 6th grade band students continue to develop and build upon the skills they learned in 5th grade band working towards a full ensemble sound and balance. Students will also have the opportunity to audition for percussion or try out instruments such as the bass clarinet, tuba, tenor sax, oboe, bassoon and french horn that are not available in 5th grade. Students will perform in the Christmas Concert and Spring Concert.
7th AND 8th GRADE BAND
2 semesters
In 7th and 8th grade band students will continue to build upon the skills they have learned in previous years. The 7th and 8th grade band performs at the Christmas Concert and Spring Concert. Students in 7th and 8th grade are able to perform in District Solo and Ensemble events in December and April. All students in 7th and 8th grade will explore solo and chamber ensemble music as part of the band curriculum.
FIT-4-LIFE
Available to students in grades 6-8 (Multi-Age Classes)
1-2 Semesters
Physical education is a sequential, developmentally appropriate educational program that provides students with the knowledge, skills, fitness, and attitudes necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. All students will show competence in the following six physical education content standards: motor skills and movement patterns, understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities, regular participation in lifelong physical activity, achieving and maintaining a health-enhancing level of physical fitness, exhibiting responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings, and value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.
Health education provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice healthy behaviors and teaches students how to recognize the influence of responsible decision-making on quality of life.
LIFE MANAGEMENT
Available to students in grades 6-8 (Multi-Age Classes)
1-2 Semesters
Life Management topics include Nutrition, Basic Cooking, Sewing, and Consumer Education. During Nutrition and Basic Cooking, students will explore nutrients and the effects on the body, kitchen safety, food safety, safe appliance use and parts of a recipe. Responsibility for handling equipment will be stressed. Reading directions, reasoning, and many problem-solving techniques will be utilized in a way that will be new to most students. The expected benefits will be much more than just a finished product; more importantly, students will experience a successful learning process. Students learn advertising, appliance care, and basic money skills in Consumer Education. This course will be taught in a Finance Lab setting. Students will have access to our Global Trading Platform-StockTrack.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH
Available to students in grades 6-8 (Multi-Age Classes)
1 Semester
Middle School Spanish is a course based on Michigan's Academic Standards for World Languages in which students are introduced to beginning concepts of foreign language such as phonics, grammar, and commonly used phrases. The instruction of this course focuses on the 21 Spanish-speaking countries and their cultures, history, geography, and current social issues. The students will engage in cultural activities, discussions, crafts, and music. This course is intended to introduce students to the Spanish-speaking world and its many cultures as well as Spanish itself.
CONTENT COURSES
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
6th GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a course of integrated studies of literature, composition and language. Students will engage in the study of grammar usage and mechanics, listening skills, spelling, vocabulary, and study skills. Novels and literature, as well as themed units of study will be used to engage students in word recognition, fluency, comprehension, and metacognition activities. Students will use informational and narrative text, as well as practice the writing process for a variety of purposes and audiences. Speaking, listening, and viewing skills will be employed in this course. Emphasis in this course is placed on understanding the writing process.
7th GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a course of integrated studies of literature, composition and language. Students will engage in the study of grammar usage and mechanics, listening skills, spelling, vocabulary, and study skills. Units organized by genre, as well as novels and literature will be used to engage students in word recognition, fluency, comprehension, and metacognition activities. Students will use informational and narrative text, as well as practice the writing process for a variety of purposes and audiences. Speaking, listening, and viewing skills will be employed in this course. Emphasis in this course is placed on practicing the writing process.
8th GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a course of integrated studies of literature, composition and language. Students will engage in the study of grammar usage and mechanics, listening skills, spelling, vocabulary, and study skills. Units organized by genre, as well as novels and literature will be used to engage students in word recognition, fluency, comprehension, and metacognition activities. Students will use informational and narrative text, as well as practice the writing process for a variety of purposes and audiences. Speaking, listening, and viewing skills will be employed in this course. This course will emphasize integrating the use of current technology tools to practice the writing process and publish student work.
MATHEMATICS
6th GRADE MATH
2 Semesters
Description:
This course is intended to teach students operations with fractions, rational numbers, and integers, applied problems using decimals, percentages and rational numbers, introduction to exponents, coordinate plane, writing and simplifying expressions, solving equations, measurement and converting between measurement systems, basic geometric properties and transformations, and probability.
7th GRADE MATH
Available to all 7th grade students
2 Semesters
Description:
This course will prepare students for Pre-Algebra. Students in this class will acquire information in the following areas: applying whole numbers, fractional and decimal operations, ratios, proportions and percents, expressions, one-step equations and inequalities, volume and surface area, and understanding probability and data concepts.
PRE-ALGEBRA
Available to all 8th grade students and 7th grade students with teacher approval
2 Semesters
Description:
This Pre-Algebra course is offered to 7th and 8th grade students and is an introduction to basic algebra concepts and a review of arithmetic algorithms. The course emphasizes the concepts necessary to be successful in Algebra I and II. The course helps students develop good mathematical study skills and learning strategies. Students will explore algebraic expressions and integers, solve one- and two-step equations and inequalities, factors, ratios, proportions, percents, exponents, linear functions and graphing, area and volume, data analysis and probability, and nonlinear functions and polynomials.
ALGEBRA I
Available to 8th grade students with teacher approval
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a first year algebra course. The key content involves writing, solving, and graphing linear and quadratic equations, including systems of two linear equations or inequalities. This course also includes study of monomial and polynomial expressions, exponents, functions, and rational expressions. Quadratic equations are solved by factoring, completing the square, graphically, or by application of the quadratic formula. Algebraic skills are applied in a wide variety of problem-solving applications.
SCIENCE
6th GRADE SCIENCE
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a course where students in sixth grade develop their investigation and knowledge of science through integrated science units. Students will focus on four areas of study this year: Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Engineering Design Practice as directed by the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
Life Science: Ecosystems, Biomes, Energy Cycles of Living Organisms
Physical Science: Forces, Potential and Kinetic Energy, Energy Transfer, Newton’s Laws
Earth Science: Rocks and Minerals, Geologic Time, Fossils, Earth’s Changing Landscape
Engineering Design and Practice: STEM Practice and Application, Coding Introduction and Practice, and Technology Use and Inquiry/Learning
7th GRADE SCIENCE
2 Semesters
Description:
This is a course where students in seventh grade continue to develop their investigation and knowledge of science through integrated science units. Students will continue to focus on four areas of study this year: Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, and Engineering Design Practice as directed by the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
Life Science: Cells, including structure and function, Transport of Materials, Diffusion, Osmosis, Cell Reproduction (mitosis and meiosis).
Physical Science: Matter, Elements, Periodic Table, Chemistry of Matter, Atoms
Earth Science: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate of Earth, Influences on the Earth by Human and Non-human Forces
Engineering Design and Practice: STEM Practice and Application, Coding Introduction and Practice, and Technology Use and Inquiry/Learning
8th GRADE SCIENCE
2 Semesters
Description:
This course enables students to further their understanding of the core studies of science before high school electives. It is the third step of the integrated curriculum as directed by the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Students will further focus on four areas of study in Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science and Engineering Design and Practice.
Life Science: Natural Selection, Genetics and Heredity, Adaptations, Body Systems
Physical Science: Waves--Sound Energy, Physical Energy, Electromagnetic Energy
Earth Science: Space, Earth-Moon Relationships, Solar System, Astronomy
Engineering Design and Practice: STEM Practice and Application, Coding Introduction and Practice, and Technology Use and Inquiry/Learning
SOCIAL STUDIES
6th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
2 Semesters
Description:
Sixth grade students will explore the tools and mental constructs used by historians and geographers. They will develop an understanding of Ancient World History of the Western Hemisphere and will study contemporary geography of the Western Hemisphere. Contemporary civics/government and economics content is integrated throughout the year. Social Studies is a multifaceted discipline, integrating the study of social science humanities. The purpose of the social studies curriculum is to promote civic competence and responsible behaviors that enable students to actively participate in our democratic society. Our approach is the teaching of social studies that integrates our Christian values with the development of civic attitudes and responsibilities. We consciously connect responsible citizenship with the Social Justice Teachings of the Catholic Church, establishing real world application for Social Justice in the study of historical events and figures, economic conditions, cultural influences and appreciation, political issues, and the participation of civilization in society. The Social Studies Curriculum also integrates literacy standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language when appropriate. Students will learn about past and present global issues. Using significant content knowledge, research and inquiry, they will analyze issues and be given opportunities to compose essays using reasoned argument.
7th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
2 Semesters
Description:
Seventh grade students will review the tools and constructs used by historians and geographers. They will develop an understanding of Ancient World History of the Eastern Hemisphere and will study contemporary geography of the Eastern Hemisphere. Contemporary civics/government and economics content is integrated throughout the year. Social Studies is a multifaceted discipline, integrating the study of social science humanities. The purpose of the social studies curriculum is to promote civic competence and responsible behaviors that enable students to actively participate in our democratic society. Our approach is the teaching of social studies that integrates our Christian values with the development of civic attitudes and responsibilities. We consciously connect responsible citizenship with the Social Justice Teachings of the Catholic Church, establishing real world application for Social Justice in the study of historical events and figures, economic conditions, cultural influences and appreciation, political issues, and the participation of civilization in society. The Social Studies Curriculum also integrates literacy standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language when appropriate. Students will learn about past and present global issues. Using significant content knowledge, research and inquiry, they will analyze issues and be given opportunities to compose essays using reasoned argument.
8th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
2 Semesters
Description:
Eighth grade students continue their study of United States History from the writing of the Constitution through Reconstruction. Geographic, civics/government, and economics content is integrated within the historical context. Using significant content knowledge, research, and inquiry, the students analyze an issue or propose a plan for civic action. They develop reasoned arguments and write a persuasive essay addressing issues from the past within a historical context. Where appropriate, they make comparisons to relevant contemporary humanities. The purpose of the Social Studies curriculum is to promote civic competence and responsible behaviors that enable students to actively participate in our democratic society. Our approach is the teaching of social studies that integrates our Christian values with the development of civic attitudes and responsibilities. We consciously connect responsible citizenship with the Social Justice Teachings of the Catholic Church, establishing real world application for Social Justice in the study of historical events and figures, economic conditions, cultural influences and appreciation, political issues, and the participation of civilization in society. The Social Studies Curriculum also integrates literacy standards in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language when appropriate. Students will learn about past and present global issues. Using significant content knowledge, research and inquiry, they will analyze issues and be given opportunities to compose essays using reasoned argument.
THEOLOGY
6th GRADE THEOLOGY
2 Semesters
Description:
Theme: Following Christ
The blueprint for a life of love: the law of God, especially in the Ten Commandments, and the presence of Jesus in the Holy Mass. The interaction of the challenges of God’s law and his gifts of grace that help us fulfill his law.
Sequence:
Part 1: The Ten Commandments. Forming the conscience and increasing closeness to God.
Part 2: The Holy Mass. An emphasis on the Real Presence and Christ’s sacrifice and explanation of the parts of the Mass.
Part 3: The Last Things. Death and God’s judgment of us, with an emphasis on the great happiness of Heaven.
Aim: To help sixth-grade students learn to love the moral law as Christ did and to cherish and love the Mass as our best prayer to God, and especially to revere and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
7th GRADE THEOLOGY
2 Semesters
Description:
Theme: The Life of Grace
Grace as our link with God, his gift to us to bring us to Himself and his eternal life, with an emphasis on transmission of grace through the seven sacraments and on God’s loving gifts of revelation, of himself through the prophets, the Incarnation, and the Church. The role of grace in developing the virtues.
Sequence:
Part 1: God Reveals Himself. The revelation of God through creation, the prophets, and to the chosen people.
Part 2: God Becomes Man. Jesus, true God and true Man, Priest and Sacrifice.
Part 3: God Shares His Life. The operation of grace in our lives, in developing the virtues especially through each sacrament.
Aim: To help seventh-grade students treasure the sacraments as indispensable to a full Christian life of love and truth. To understand how grace works and its relation to practicing the virtues, and to appreciate our gifts of reason and faith.
8th GRADE THEOLOGY
2 Semesters
Description:
Theme: Our Life in the Church
The history of the Church - its founding by Christ, its birth in the Holy Spirit, the marks of the one, true Church, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, the saints and the role of the religious and laity up to the present. The structure of the Church Jesus planned, the role of the Magisterium, the clergy, the religious and the laity and our own vocations.
Sequence:
Part 1: The Church. Christ’s plan for the Church’s structure and its necessary attributes; the Church’s teaching authority. The early Church: Martyrs, Fathers, Saints and Mary.
Part 2: The Christian in the World. Religious and laity, Holy Orders, Marriage, and family life; call to holiness.
Part 3: The Last Things. Death, Judgment, the end of the world.
Aim: To help eighth-grade students know and love the Church as Christ’s Body, and respond to the teaching of the Magisterium as the sure voice of Jesus, so that young people may be strengthened through their lives in the Church to face the confusion and secularism of modern-day society.