FLOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

1. FLOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL Honors Open House Grades 7 & 8 June 20, 2011

2. Honors History • On April 27, 2009 an Honors Program Pilot at Wooster Middle School was approved by the Stratford Board of Education. • For the 2011-2012 school year the Stratford Board of Education approved the Honors Program here at Flood Middle School.

3. Daily Schedule • Students will be integrated with other students during: • Homeroom (Same Team/Different Classes) • Physical Education/Health • Experiencing Music/Band/Chorus • World Language • FCS/Project Lead The Way/Art • Cafeteria/Assemblies/FLASH/Field Trips

4. Sample FMS Student Honors Schedule Period Grade 7 Grade 8

5. HonorsLanguage Arts Presented by Janet Zeiner

6. CurriculumThe Honors Language Arts curriculum was created: based on the need for rigorous and enhanced units for the advanced learners of Flood Middle School. to model the high school curriculum, delving into inquiry- based exploration of literary themes and real-world applications of the units. to ensure that honors students are challenged with high academic expectations, and that they have the opportunity to creatively demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of the content and standards of the curriculum in a meaningful way.

7. Seventh Grade The 7th grade Honors Language Arts curriculum incorporates the skills necessary for advanced learning within thematic-based literature units. Enhancements to the regular curriculum which develop literacy fluency and 21st century skills will include: • Poetry – Images, Sounds, and Messages • Classical Poetry (Shakespeare, Whitman, Frost) • Forms and Structures (sonnet, haiku, free verse, concrete) • Poetic Devices (imagery, sounds, figures of speech) • Thematic Novel Units • Family and Social Structure: • The Prince and the Pauper – Mark Twain • Identity/Coming of Age • Jump the Cracks – Stacey DeKeyser • Utopia/Dystopia • Life As We Knew It – Susan Beth Pfeffer

8. Eighth Grade The 8th grade Language Arts Honors curriculum builds upon the foundations that were generated in the 7th grade. It incorporates additional novels, plays, and performance tasks. Enhancements to the regular curriculum which develop literacy fluency and 21st century skills will include: Overarching Literature-Based Theme of “A Study of Human Nature” • Drama Unit: • The Tempest – William Shakespeare • A Raisin in the Sun – Lorraine Hansberry • Novel Unit: • The Book Thief – Martin Zusak • The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemmingway

9. Honors Mathematics Presented by Susan Schultz

10. Honors Pre-Algebra • The Honors Pre-Algebra class uses the same text as the other Pre-Algebra classes • The Pre-Algebra curriculum includes 8 units

11. Pre-Algebra Units Patterns in Algebra Patterns in Numbers Ratio, Proportion and Percentage Side and Angle Relationships Surface Area and Volume Patterns and Functions Making Decisions with Statistics Permutations and Combinations

12. Honors Algebra I • The Honors Algebra class uses the same text as the other Algebra classes. • Honors Algebra follows the same Honors level curriculum as the high school.

13. Honors Algebra This course introduces the student to the language and fundamentals of Algebra and the real number system. Students develop an understanding of important concepts, skills, procedures and ways of thinking and reasoning in Algebra. Students investigate math concepts in everyday situations and develop mathematical skills through investigations and projects.

14. Algebra Units Unit 1: Tools of Algebra - Using variables and real numbers Unit 2: Solving Equations – Solving multi-step equation with variables Unit 3: Proportion applications Unit 4: Graphs and Functions Unit 5: Linear Equations – Working with slope and equations Unit 6: Exponential Reasoning Unit 7: Applying Math Properties to Inequalities Unit 8: Systems of Equations and Inequalities Unit 9: Polynomials and Factoring

15. Honors Science Presented By Phil DiMeola

16. 7th Grade Honors Science curriculum includes: The entire regular 7th grade science curriculum, with the addition of more advanced content. The addition of the standards from the 9th grade Studies in Science curriculum that fit into the curriculum. More rigorous and challenging performance assessments, assignments, and advanced hands-on laboratory experiences and projects.

17. Science Continued Human Body Systems – focus on skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems. Reproduction and Heredity – focus on inherited traits, structure/importance of chromosomes, use of Punnett squares. Ecosystems – focus on populations and the physical factors that affect them. Food-Borne Illnesses and Food Preservation

18. 7th Grade Honors Science includes everything from the previous slide, with the addition of the following: • Human Body Systems: • Enhanced topics: immune, nervous, endocrine systems, concentration on medical conditions associated with each system • Scientific Literacy: unit on novel, Code Orange (infectious diseases) • Additional Performance Assessments included with each body system, including lab dissection

19. 7th Grade Science continued • Reproduction and Heredity • Enhanced topics: structure of DNA/RNA, human genetic disorders, biotechnology, cloning • Enhanced Performance Assessments on karyotyping, genetic disorders, and biotechnology • Ecosystems - Inclusion of the 9th Grade Studies in Science standards • Cycles of Matter in Earth’s Systems (carbon and water cycle, solar energy) • Human Environmental Impacts • Embedded Tasks on Acid Rain and CT Brownfields (landfills) – CAPT Tasks

20. 8th Grade Science Curriculum • Scientific Inquiry How scientists investigate problems and write up formal lab reports, designing experiments and carrying them out with proper techniques • Energy Types of energies and energy transformations • Study of Matter Structure of the atom, properties of the periodic table including elements and compounds, mixtures, properties of matter including density

21. 8th Grade Continued • Forces and Motion Speed, velocity, acceleration, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Circular motion and gravity. Embedded task: Slipping and Sliding –friction • Bridges Different types of and forces acting on bridges, and designing bridges. • Simple Machines 6 types of machines, calculating work and power, Mechanical Advantage and Mechanical Efficiency

22. 8th Grade Honors Curriculum The following will be added: • Scientific Inquiry Continuation of how scientists investigate problems, and more elaborately written lab reports, Analyzing and writing up literature reviews, independent projects and designing more complicated experiments. • Energy More intensive study of the kinetic theory, that is, the way molecules behave. Embedded Task: Solar Cookers • Energy Sources Renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Embedded Task: Energy Use in CT • Chemical Interactions Ionic and Covalent bonding, ions, isotopes, acid and bases, and chemical reactions

23. 8th Grade HONORS CURRICULUM enhancements (continued) • Organic and Inorganic Compounds/Polymers 2 Embedded Tasks: Synthetic Polymers • Electricity and Magnetism Electrical charges, electric force, current and electric field. Study of conductors, insulators, superconductors and semiconductors as well. **Other independent projects, enrichment activities and labs will be added accordingly**

24. HonorsSocial Studies Presented by Kevin Schock

25. CURRICULUM The honors curriculum will consist of an American history survey course that has geographic themes and skills embedded throughout each unit. Grade seven will cover Exploration through the Civil War era. Grade eight will continue with post-Civil War through the modern era. It will be designed to promote self-motivated learning with the inclusion of independent research and information literacy projects. An inquiry-based approach, supplemented with primary source documents, will be used to encourage critical thinking skills.

26. 7th Grade Enhancements for the grade seven curriculum include: • Document Based Questions (primary source analysis followed by an open- ended response) • Redcoat’s guilt/innocence in the Boston Massacre • Evaluation of the Fugitive Slave Act (1850) • Reflective writing • Webquests related to periods of history and/or geographic themes and skills (possible topics may include the Lewis and Clark expedition, Oregon Trail, and the Underground Railroad) • Possible incorporation of historical fiction • Research/Information literacy projects on various topics related to the curriculum with increased/exclusive reservations of the library media center • In-depth analysis, criticism, and synthesis of Constitutional amendments • Geography infused thematic approach to course content

27. 8th Grade Enhancements for the grade eight curriculum include: • Geography themes and connections infused throughout each unit. • Document-based Questions on various topics including the cause of World War I and the leaders of the Depression Era • Webquests related to periods of history and/or geographic themes and skills. Topics will include: • Child labor in America’s past and in the world today • The impact of the Dust Bowl • Major events during the Cold War • Information literacy projects with increased/exclusive library media center reservations focusing on different perspectives throughout the nation’s history. Topics to include: • The Immigrant Experience • Reform movements in American history • The impact of the New Deal on future generations • 20th Century Conflicts • Student-centered discussions • Technology-centered activitiesincluding the ICONS project, creation of slideshows and resumes, and the use of reference material databases available online via the Stratford Library and the Flood Middle School library media center.

28. University of Maryland ICONSA web-based international decision-making environment with dynamic role-playing simulations focused on critical world issues. “International Whaling Commission” The students will represent ten different nations, each with their own position and level of involvement in whaling issues. They will meet in this simulation to discuss a controversial commercial whaling moratorium. Negotiations focus on whether the current moratorium should continue, although many countries have additional concerns. The ten roles in represent pro-whaling, anti-whaling, and neutral countries. A scenario is provided along with a private role sheet to give students additional information about their country’s position on the issue. This simulation includes an opportunity for students to develop, debate, and vote on specific proposal plans to address the issues in the scenario. Students will debate the issue in an online forum with students in the Honors program at Flood Middle School.

29. Research Honors Social Studies students will use the Stratford Public Schools research problem-solving process to solve multiple information problems throughout the year

30. Students Will • Evaluate currency, accuracy, relevancy, reliability, purpose, point of view and bias in print and non-print resources • Synthesize accurate information from multiple resources and provide supporting evidence • Synthesize written, oral and visual products demonstrating knowledge gained through research

31. Students will… • Define tasks, frame questions and identify information needs • Articulate the essential question • Differentiate between fact, opinion and bias • Develop more advanced search strategies • Record information in their own words using appropriate formats and following MLA guidelines for citing work

32. Finally, Students will • Demonstrate ethical behavior when using technology and accessing networks • Demonstrate and understand the concept of ownership of ideas and information • Apply MLA citation format to all research papers and apply MLA parenthetical documentation to all research papers

33. Study Skills • Study Skills are taught in all classes and are important for student success. • They Include: note taking, active listening, test/quiz study skills, organization, outlining and other strategies.

34. Homework • Students should expect daily homework during the week. This may include: skill reinforcement, studying, long term project work, writing assignments, reading assignments, question answers, lab write-ups, or other assignments.