Ninth Grade Curriculum Outlines

(Compiled from all faculty who teach 9th grade subjects)

World Literature I (English 9)

With a specific focus on literature from around the world, students study and respond to historically, culturally, and socially significant works of fiction, non-fiction, drama, Shakespearean drama, mythology, and poetry. Writing exercises include expository (analysis and comparison/contrast), description, and technical writing. In addition, students respond to literature through speaking and listening activities. Students study literary terms, vocabulary, and conventions of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Core Texts:
  • ♦ Shostack, Jeremy. Vocabulary Workshop, Level G. New York: Sadlier-Oxford, 2002
  • ♦ Skiba, Laurie et al. (eds.) Literature and the Language Arts: The American Tradition. Minnesota: EMC/Paradigm Publishing, 2001.

Selected novels include but are not limited to:

  • ♦ Night/Elie Wiesel
  • ♦ Tuesdays with Morrie/ Mitch Album
  • ♦ The Crucible/ Arthur Miller
  • ♦ The Kite Runner/ Khaled Hosseini
  • ♦ Romeo and Juliet/ William Shakespeare
  • ♦ The Odyssey/ Homer
  • ♦ The Little Prince/ Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Mathematics

Texts: Primarily Saxon Math series or as noted (see below)

Students in grades 5-12 are tested and placed in the level of math they will be most successful in. Students who are accelerated will be tested and given the opportunity to take more advanced math levels. Saxon is a comprehensive system through pre-calculus, which emphasizes learning in small increments and review of all previously learned concepts throughout the year. Each night's homework consists of many different types of problems from all previous lessons.

  • ♦ Math 8/7 (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
  • ♦ Algebra 1/2 (Pre-Algebra) (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
  • ♦ Algebra 1/Geometry (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
  • ♦ Algebra 2/Geometry (Saxon Publishers, Inc.)
  • ♦ Advanced Math - Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus (Robert Blitzer)
  • ♦ AP Calculus - Advanced Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry (Saxon & Wang)
  • ♦ Practical Math - Consumer Applications (Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1998)

Science (Lab Science: Environmental Science)

Texts: Holt Environmental Science (Holt Mifflin Harcourt 2013)

The Holt Environmental Science text has been designed to provide students with a balanced approach to the diverse study of the environment. The emphasis in this program is the study of science and the development of thinking and decision-making skills. Our goal is to provide students with the science background they need to analyze for themselves many of the issues concerning our environment.

The following themes are emphasized:

  • ♦ Energy
  • ♦ Natural progression
  • ♦ Interacting Systems
  • ♦ Stability
  • ♦ Patterns of Change
  • ♦ Scale and Structure

The Laboratory Experience:

Holt Environmental Science Laboratory and Field Guide is designed to introduce students to the experimental side of environmental science. As students perform fieldwork and laboratory investigations, they will develop their process skills and learn to apply them to environmental problems. This practical, hands-on science framework supports and extends the conceptual learning that students gain by studying the test material.

The three basic kinds of activities include:

  • ♦ Laboratory experiments - students learn hands-on laboratory skills and scientific methods
  • ♦ Fieldwork exercises - students learn the important skill of observation and other skills used in real-world environmental science research
  • ♦ Issue-oriented classroom activities - students are required to think critically about environmental problems

Students participate in a 90-minute laboratory on a biweekly basis.

Social Studies: History (Modern American History)

Text: Modern U. S. History: The American Vision (McGraw Hill, 2003)

Modern U.S. History will be an opportunity for students to experience the historical events which have shaped this country and turned it into what it is today. A comprehensive understanding of American History is vital for young people living in a democracy where they will be writing the future of this great nation. In order to understand the role the United States of America plays in today’s world, it is necessary to explore our past and to make connections to the present and future. The content of this class will cover everything from the waning days of the Civil War through the 21st century and today. Specific units of study include the end of the Civil War and Reconstruction, late 18th century immigration, urbanization and industrialization, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.

Foreign Language: Korean

The Korean language program is designed for students to develop and polish their skills in reading, writing, and speaking the Korean language. In addition, students will be able to identify Korean language and culture through a variety of special activities.

Ninth through Twelfth Grade: Students will attend class five times a week. They will develop fluency in speaking, reading, and writing the Korean language. They will learn from Korean Textbook and Korean Reading III. They will learn to read, write, and speak a higher level of Korean.

Foreign Language: Spanish

Ninth through Twelfth Grade: Acquire knowledge of Spanish language step by step using the textbook, workbook, audio and visual aids and a Spanish/English dictionary. There will be several modes of instruction ranging from lectures to group discussions and activities in which all participate. This course is divided into Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced.

Memorize and apply the vocabulary and grammar of the Spanish language through oral, written, reading, and audio exercises. To review basic grammatical structures already studied followed by more advanced structures needed to acquire better proficiency. Classroom activities progress from drills to exercises of a more communicative approach. The course will consist of the following: Lecture by instructor, the use of the textbooks (Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced levels respectively), workbooks, oral activities, listening activities, Internet activities, written activities, and cultural activities.

Evaluation: Homework, project assignments, class participation, quizzes, textbook unit tests, midterm and final. Required Texts: Paso A, Paso I, II, and III (Prentice Hall).

Character Education

Text: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Health (including Marriage & Family)

Text: Health (Glencoe McGraw Hill, 1999)

Other sources:
  • ♦ I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
  • ♦ Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus by John Gray
  • ♦ RQ: Relationship Quotient by Richard Panzer

The focus of this course is making informed and healthy life choices. The course covers:

  • ♦ Fitness and nutrition
  • ♦ Mental and emotional health
  • ♦ Body systems
  • ♦ Growth and development
  • ♦ Medicines and drugs
  • ♦ Disease and disorders and injury prevention and safety
  • ♦ Healthy relationships

Information Technology

Information Technology is not normally offered in 9th Grade.