All Religion Classes
Religion classes are a daily part of the sixth grade's school day.  Students learn the traditions of the Christian faith according to the traditions of the Catholic Church.  The teachings are based on the scriptures found in the Bible, the doctrines of the Church, and the worship traditions of the Church.  The lives of saints are also an important focus of many of the classes.  

5th Grade
Fifth grade will learn how each person is called to the mission of Jesus through His Church and the sacramental life 

Learning Objectives: 

• Sharing in the mission of Jesus
• Our calling to be the body of Christ through the sacraments Confirmation and Eucharist
• The sacraments of healing
• The sacraments of service

Learning Objectives: 

• The revelation of God's Old Testament Covenant
• God's chosen people
• Living the covenant through the commandments
• Living the covenant as a follower of Jesus

Learning Objectives: 

• Who is God? 
• Who is Jesus? 
• Life in the Spirit through the Church
• The Church as the Body of Christ

5th Grade Reading
The Reading 5th-grade course at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic School encompasses a wide array of genres. Delving deep into these reading pieces allows the fifth graders to deepen their understanding of concepts about text and comprehension strategies in a variety of ways. Timed Reading comprehension tests,  reading speeches, and poems along with Accelerated Reader and Star Assessments help fifth graders to understand their reading capabilities and growth. The reading assessments given several times throughout the year allow the students to take ownership of their own reading goals. The students receive a variety of informational text, fiction, and nonfiction which leads to a rich and well-rounded experience in the classroom.

6th Grade Reading
This course thrust our Sixth graders into a world of all levels of reading. There are several novel studies that allow the students to dig deep into the world of literary elements such as irony, symbolism, plot analysis, and character study. The sixth graders engage in comprehension reading strategies, critical thinking skills, and vocabulary building, which comprise the main elements of strong and engaging reading. Through fiction, nonfiction, and poetry reading, students practice reading strategies and comprehension skills using literary elements.  The goal of this class is to increase reading levels through intense reading pieces and to increase the student's love for reading as well. 

6th Honors Reading and English
This course ends with a portfolio of short stories from all genres on middle school, high school, and college levels. It introduces the students to college preparatory novels and pieces that allow the student to explore many different characters and literary elements. Students complete a writing portfolio and an intense reading portfolio that allows them to share documents in google docs and peer review MLA formatted papers to ensure that students give evidence, have correct grammar, use transitions, apply vocabulary, analyze literary elements and evaluate the author's theme and main idea to create a thesis strong enough to argue. The goal of this course is to allow these students to delve deep into various reading pieces and then create and compose their own pieces in short stories, poems, plays, and newspaper articles to get them to use more critical thinking skills and creativity.

 

5th Grade English
The English 5th-grade course at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic School provides the students with many opportunities to apply what they have learned in grammar, spelling, and vocabulary in other classes to ensure retention. Through the integration of language arts with other subjects, students are able to practice what they have learned in English to reading and writing in other classes. Furthermore, the fifth graders at AOL use writing as a tool for learning, and they write for various purposes and audiences. They enjoy learning about expository writing, informative, and narrative writing which are the three main writing pieces focused on year-round. The fifth graders also write in a variety of genres and they enjoy exploring writing through journals and reflections. Finally, the fifth-grade course has several novel studies which lend to the success of increased reading levels.

6th  Grade English
This course targets students’ growth in the areas of reading, grammar, writing, listening, speaking, discussion, reflection, and viewing. Basic grammar skills are reviewed and are assessed within the writing context of the class.  The focus of writing is on narrative, informational, argumentative, persuasive, and cause and effect writing. Sixth graders complete several creative writing pieces including poems and
short stories to complete a yearly portfolio. Sixth graders complete word study through the analysis of prefixes and suffixes in order to build vocabulary. The overall goal of the class is to increase the literacy of the students through writing and vocabulary.

6th Honors Reading and English
This course ends with a portfolio of short stories from all genres on middle school, high school, and college levels. It introduces the students to college preparatory novels and pieces that allow the student to explore many different characters and literary elements. Students complete a writing portfolio and an intense reading portfolio that allows them to share documents in google docs and peer review MLA formatted papers to ensure that students give evidence, have correct grammar, use transitions, apply vocabulary, analyze literary elements and evaluate the author's theme and main idea to create a thesis strong enough to argue. The goal of this course is to allow these students to delve deep into various reading pieces and then create and compose their own pieces in short stories, poems, plays, and newspaper articles to get them to use more critical thinking skills and creativity.

7th Grade English
This course focuses on improving the writing, listening, and reading skills of the students. Students will be provided with daily practice of these skills through instruction, group work, and individual practice. Weekly writing prompts help the students produce clear and coherent papers in which they are able to demonstrate their ability to use these new skills. The goal of the class is to strengthen the grammar skills of the students so they will be successful in high school and the world beyond.

Middle school math builds upon and expands skills learned in lower elementary.  When practicing mathematical concepts, we focus on the why just as much as the how.  Students who understand why the process works become much more accurate and efficient when problem-solving.  We use as many real-life connections as possible to make math more meaningful and engaging. 

4^th Grade
Topics covered by the 4th-grade curriculum include place value; addition and subtraction of multi-digit numbers; multiplication by 1-digit and by 2-digit numbers; division by 1-digit numbers; solving multi-step problems; factors and multiples; fraction equivalence and ordering; and addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions.   We also work with understanding and comparing decimals; data on line plots; generating and analyzing patterns; equivalence in units of measure, and developing an understanding of angles and their relationship to shapes.

5^th Grade
Topics in the 5th-grade math curriculum include place value; addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of multi-digit numbers, decimals, and fractions; writing and interpreting numerical expressions.  We also learn about analyzing and interpreting patterns, relationships, and data; graphing points on a coordinate plane; conversion of measurements understanding volume concepts; and classification of two-dimensional figures.

6^th Grade
Topics in the 6th-grade math curriculum include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of rational numbers; using mathematical concepts to solve numeric and algebraic expressions; representing and solving equations and inequalities; understanding and using ratios, rates, and percent; solving area, surface area, and volume problems; and displaying, describing, and summarizing data.

7^th Grade
Topics in the 7th-grade math curriculum include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of rational numbers; analyzing and using proportional relationships to solve problems; analyzing and solving percent problems; generating equivalent expressions; solving problems using equations and inequalities; using sampling to draw inferences about populations; probability; and solving problems involving geometry.
 

5th Grade Science
The central focus in 5th-grade science is to begin to expand on the basic science skills and knowledge that were gained in 3rd and 4th grade. Through chemistry, astronomy, earth sciences, and biology they will conduct investigations, create and support scientific arguments, interpret data, design solutions, use models, and ask questions. We also have the wonderful opportunity to learn how to plant and grow fruits and vegetables in our own gardens on campus right outside the science room.

6th Grade Science Honors
In 6th grade science, there is a focus on diving into basic physics and biology with a little exploring into astronomy and natural resources. Through these topics they will continue to learn how to ask questions, design solutions, conduct investigations, interpret data, use models, and create and support scientific arguments. We also have the wonderful opportunity to learn how to plant and grow fruits and vegetables in our own gardens on campus right outside the science room. In honors class in addition to higher expectations, we may explore deeper into some topics.

6th Grade Science Academic
In 6th grade science, there is a focus on diving into basic physics and biology with a little exploring into astronomy and natural resources. Through these topics they will continue to learn how to ask questions, design solutions, conduct investigations, interpret data, use models, and create and support scientific arguments. We also have the wonderful opportunity to learn how to plant and grow fruits and vegetables in our own gardens on campus right outside the science room. In academics class, we focus on the skills necessary to master science class. 

7th Grade Science
In 7th grade science, there is a focus on diving into basic chemistry, meteorology, and biology (specifically human and plant anatomy, ecology and genetics). Through these topics they will continue to learn how to ask questions, design solutions, conduct investigations, interpret data, use models, and create and support scientific arguments. We also have the wonderful opportunity to learn how to plant and grow fruits and vegetables in our own gardens on campus right outside the science room.

 5^th Grade Social Studies  
The Social Studies curriculum for 5^th Grade is a focus on early American History. Notable topics include the early Native American civilization of the Americas, the early colonies set up by the French, Dutch, and English settlers, and the geography of each of the colonies: New England, Middle, and Southern.  5^th Grade Social Studies students at Ascension of Our Lord enjoy being creative and learning culture with the Native American winter count calendar project. 

6^th Grade Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum for 6^th grade has a focus on Ancient Civilizations and Empires. Notable Topics include: Mesopotamia as the cradle of civilization and the world’s first empire that originated in that region, the later civilization of Ancient Egypt, and the empires of Greece and Rome. 6^th Grade Social Studies students at Ascension of our Lord enjoy playing their review games through Kahoot as a means of preparing for their tests and learning the information.

7^th Grade Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum for 7^th grade has a focus on American History. Notable Topics include the colonial protest of taxes and the American Revolution that founded the United States, the Articles and Amendments of the Constitution, the early years of the nation, the War of 1812, Texas Revolution, the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. 7^th Grade Social Studies students at Ascension of Our Lord enjoy playing review games on Kahoot to study for their tests. 

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