Junior High

Immaculate Conception Junior High seeks to assist the transition from childhood to adolescence for its students by creating an environment of support and encouragement, culminating in the creation of independent critical thinkers. Students participate in a number of independent and collaborative projects ranging from research papers to science labs to history projects. 

All IC junior high students take the following courses:

Mathematics: The curriculum for 7th and 8th-grade math at Immaculate Conception helps students develop the skills and conceptual understanding necessary for them to be successful in elementary algebra and to further their general math education. The curriculum is aimed at mastering junior high/early high school content so the students are prepared for the rigor that the high school curriculum can provide.

The 7th grade uses a 7th-grade textbook written by Holt and McDougal most of the year. Depending on each year's group of students, the teacher may see fit to move into the Pre-Algebra book before the end of the school year.     
In the first half of the year, student learning involves real numbers and operations (order of operations, integers, fractions, and decimals), algebraic concepts (solving and writing algebraic equations and expressions), proportional relationships, working with graphs and functions, and percents. In the second half of the year we will work with collecting, displaying, and analyzing data, geometric figures, measurement of two and three-dimensional figures, probability, and multi-step equations and inequalities. 

In 8th grade, we begin in the Pre-Algebra textbook written by Holt and McDougal. It is very important that the students have a strong foundation in these skills before moving into the Algebra 1 textbook.     
In the first half of the year, lessons cover the foundations of pre-algebra which involve solving multi-step equations and inequalities, using the order of operations with integers, properties of exponents, rational numbers, proportions, probability, percents, linear functions, square roots, the Pythagorean theorem, and the distance and midpoint formulas.     
Once the students have mastered this content, the class will move into the Algebra 1 textbook by Holt and McDougal. Depending on where the group is academically, the class has the potential to move into linear functions, quadratic functions, systems of equations and inequalities, and polynomial functions.

Science: In 7th grade, students will learn primarily about Physical Science (chemistry and physics) and Earth Science. In the Physical Science unit, students will have the opportunity to learn about Matter, States of Matter, Energy, and Thermal Energy. While studying Earth Science, students will explore Earth's systems, weather, mineral and rocks, plate tectonics, and Earth's surface systems. To develop problem-solving skills labs are dispersed frequently that apply to real-life situations. Inquiry skills during labs will include organizational problem-solving, mathematical analysis of data, variable manipulation, and application. 

In 8th grade, students study Physical Science (chemistry and physics), Life Science, and Earth Science. Students begin the year in Physical Science learning about atoms and the periodic table, chemical reactions, and forces and motions. Then, students will explore genes and heredity, as well as, natural selection over time and how this theory coexists with our Catholic faith. In Earth Science, students will learn about the history of the Earth, energy in the atmosphere, ocean, climate, and the solar system. To develop problem-solving skills labs are dispersed frequently that apply to real-life situations. Inquiry skills during labs will include organizational problem-solving, mathematical analysis of data, variable manipulation, and application. 

English: In 7th grade English, students read The Giver, The Outsiders, and The House of the Scorpion, and a novel of their choosing, as well as selections of short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and drama. Grammar is reviewed and incorporated into writing frequently in paragraphs and five-paragraph essays. Creative writing includes poetry and a short story.

In 8th grade English, students read The Old Man and the Sea or To Kill a Mockingbird, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and a novel of their choosing. Other literature studied includes short stories, poetry, non-fiction, and drama. Grammar is reviewed for a final time before reaching high school and incorporated into a number of timed writings, five-paragraph essays, a short story, and poetry. Most of the third 9-weeks is taken up with writing a research paper that is a cross-curricular project with their social studies class; our Media specialist comes to share her expertise in how to access various academic databases and online resources for doing research in today's connected world.

Social Studies: Social Studies in junior high is comprised of Early American History, Modern United States History, and World Geography. 

In 7th grade, students examine the history of the Americas from migration through the development of the United States into the Civil War. This time period includes the American Revolution, Civics, and Westword Expansion. Political, economic, scientific, and social developments are covered in a historical overview of this time period.

In 8th grade, students study the history of the United States and its political structure from the Reconstruction Era of the early 20th century through the present day. This historical overview includes World War I, World War II, and the Civil Rights Era. A strong focus on analysis, primary source interpretations, and evidence-based historical writing is included in this course.

World Geography is a one-semester course offered to 8th graders. This class is the study of places and relationships between people and their environments through project-based learning and current event research. A strong focus is placed on understanding physical and human geography through the 5 themes of location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region. 

Enrichment: This course is required of junior high students daily. Students utilize a personalized and self-pacing online platform known as IXL to increase fluency in math, language usage, reading, and science. This class period is also used for core class tutoring and is designed to meet the individualized needs of each student during the regular school day.