|
Overview of
the O'Rourke Middle School Curriculum & Course
Offerings |
|
Courses and programs at the
Richard H. O'Rourke Middle School
are designed not only to fulfill
New York State requirements for grades 6-8, but also
to meet the many needs of developing early adolescents as they
grow socially and emotionally.
For example, classes for
6th
grade pupils are specifically designed to help
students make the transition from the self-contained
classrooms of elementary school to the departmental
approach of secondary school. Students are
team taught and spend most of their time in one wing
of the Middle School — a
mini school-within -a-school for these pupils.
6th Grade
courses are organized into a 9-period day
(one period for lunch) with teaching teams using
flexible blocks of extended instructional time.
This structure provides program continuity and more
diverse, integrated and interdisciplinary learning
experiences.
Year-long courses for 6th
graders are: English/Writing, Literature, Math,
Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, and
General Music or Chorus. Students also take 13 weeks
of Art, 6 ½
weeks of Health, and a special exploratory foreign
language course in which they study 6
½
weeks each of French, German and Spanish. If they
wish, pupils may also elect to take Band or
Orchestra. |
|
6th Grade Courses
|
| English /
Writing |
| Literature
(i.e., Reading) |
| Social Studies |
| Science |
| Math |
General Music
or Chorus every other day and
Physical Education every other day |
|
6 ½ weeks of
French, 6 ½ weeks of German, 6 ½ weeks of
Spanish, 6 ½ weeks of Health, and 13 weeks
of Art |
|
"Flex" block
(i.e., study hall) including Band or
Orchestra twice a week if desired |
|
|
Year-long courses
for 7th graders are: English, Math, Social
Studies, Science, Physical Education, Foreign Language
(either French, German or Spanish), and General Music or
Chorus. Students also take one semester each of
Technology, Family & Consumer Sciences, Art, and study hall. If they
wish, pupils may also elect to take Band or Orchestra.
7th grade courses fit into a traditional 9 period day,
with one period for lunch.
|
|
7th Grade
Courses
| English |
| Math |
| Social Studies |
| Science |
Physical Education
every other day and
Study Hall or Band or Orchestra every other day |
Technology for one
semester and
Family & Consumer Sciences for one semester |
French, German, or
Spanish every other day and
General Music or Chorus every other day |
Art for one
semester and
Study Hall for one semester |
|
Year-long courses
for 8th graders are: English, Math, Social
Studies, Science, Physical Education, and Foreign
Language (either French, German or Spanish). Students
also take one semester each of Technology, Family &
Consumer Sciences, Art, and Health. If they wish, pupils may also
elect to take Band or Orchestra and Chorus. 8th grade
courses fit into a traditional 9 period day with one
period for lunch.
8th Grade Courses |
| English |
| Math |
| Social Studies |
| Science |
| French, German or
Spanish |
Physical Education
every other day and
Study Hall or Band or Orchestra every other day
with Chorus (if desired) every other Friday |
Technology for one
semester and
Family & Consumer Sciences for one semester |
Health for one
semester and
Art for one semester |
|
|
Return to:
|
|
|
|
