English – Emily Smith

 

5^th Grade - The fifth grade will begin with a unit on poetry. They will read and produce poems in different styles and learn literary terms to discuss poetry. We will then read Hoot by Carl Hiaasen and write persuasive essays. Grammar instruction will focus on adverbs and prepositions.

 

6^th Grade - The sixth grade will begin with a Shakespeare unit. They will read Romeo and Juliet and then perform and film scenes from the play. We will discuss Shakespeare’s language as well as his influences on modern literature. In April they will study poetry, reading and producing poems in different styles.

 

7^th Grade - The seventh grade will begin with a Shakespeare unit. They will read The Tempest and then perform and film scenes from the play. We will discuss Shakespeare’s language as well as his influences on modern literature. In April they will study poetry, reading and producing poems in different styles.

 

8^th Grade - The eighth grade will begin with a Shakespeare unit. They will read The Merchant of Venice and then perform and film scenes from the play. We will discuss Shakespeare’s language as well as his influences on modern literature. In April they will study poetry, reading and producing poems in different styles.

 

 

 

French - Delia Ahouandjinou Geter

 

 

3/4^th Grade - Grades 3 and 4 will continue the play "Boucles Violette et les Trois Ours”. They will broaden their knowledge of basic vocabulary. Themes such as days of the week, body parts and counting will be developed. They will work with incomplete questions (when the answer is not included in the question).

 

5/6^th Grade - Grades 5 and 6 will continue the play "Louis la Grenouille”. They will formalize their understanding of concepts such as infinitive, 3^rd person in present tense, contractions and pronouns.

 

7/8^th Grade - Grades 7 and 8 will continue the play "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge”. They will work with forms of past tense (passé compose and imparfait) and object pronouns.

 

 

 

History – Mary Beth Benbenek

 

4^th Grade - Now that grade four has finished studying ancient Egypt, we will move on to a brief examination of the ancient Hebrews and Phoenicians.  We will then shift our attention to the east to explore the culture and history of ancient India, where we will focus primarily on Hinduism and Buddhism.  After India, we will turn to China to study the ancient dynasties, including the Qin and the Han, and ancient Chinese philosophies, Confucianism and Taoism.  In addition to class projects, the boys will continue to have several writing assignments, quizzes, and tests

 

5^th Grade - We are moving at a brisk pace through ancient Rome; so far we have covered a great deal, from the founding legends to the Punic Wars.  We will now move on to the decline of the republic from the Gracchi brothers to Julius Caesar and the emergence of the empire under Augustus. By term’s end, we will have examined the rise of Christianity, the fall of the western half the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the rise of Islam. The boys will continue to have both long and short writing assignments, quizzes and tests. 

 

6^th and 7^th Grade - Currently, grades six and seven are completing essays on the rise of the Shogun system in medieval Japan. Next we will shift attention to the civil examination system in Song Dynasty China, the Mongol Empires of both Genghis and Khubilai Khan, Zen arts, and Marco Polo’s travels to the east during Yuan Dynasty China.  By the term’s end, we will have turned our attention back to Europe to explore the Renaissance and the Reformation.  The boys will write several short and long essays this term in addition to the standard assignments, quizzes and tests.

 

8^th Grade - After just completing essays comparing the French and American Revolutions, the eighth grade has moved on to the U.S. constitution and Bill of Rights, studying the ideas and debates that helped shape these all-important documents.  After exploring the successes and failures of the first three presidents, Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, we shall turn our attention to the era of Jacksonian Democracy.  By term’s end, we will have examined the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era. The boys will continue to have several two to three-page writing assignments, along with a slightly longer research paper.

 

 

 

 

Latin – John Lee

 

6^th Grade – Now that we just finished a major vocabulary and form test, we will move on to explore the case system of Latin grammar in more detail. We will also introduce two more verbal tenses.  

7^th Grade – We move onto the second book of the Oxford Latin series. We will examine more nuances of Latin grammar with a special emphasis on verbal tenses and forms and subordinate clauses.

8^th Grade – The goal is to prepare the eighth grade for high school. For this reason, we will do some review (just finished a comprehensive test on forms), and cover more sophisticated grammatical points. We will also be moving onto the final book of the Cambridge Latin Course by the end of the school year.

 

 

 

Math – Michael Rose

 

4^th Grade - The fourth grade will be studying the following topics:

 

* Geometric Figures

* Fraction Concepts

* Multiplication and Division of Fractions

* Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

* Decimals and Percents

* Area and Perimeter

* Three-Dimensional Geometry

 

5^th Grade - The fifth grade will be studying the following topics:

 

* Fraction Operations: understanding and skill with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions.

 

* Statistics: formulate questions; gather, organize, represent, and analyze data; interpret results from data; measures of center and range.

 

* Computing with Decimals and Percents: understanding and skill with addition, subtractions, multiplication, and division of decimals; solving percent problems.

 

6^th Grade - The sixth grade will be studying the following topics:

 

* Positive and Negative Numbers: understanding and modeling positive and negative integers and rational numbers; operations; distributive property; four-quadrant graphing.

 

* Similarity: similar figures; scale factors; side length ratios; basic similarity transformations and their algebraic rules.

 

* Ratio, Proportion, and Percent: rates and ratios; making comparisons; proportional reasoning; solving proportions.

 

7^th  Grade - The seventh grade will be finishing topics in Algebra 1 and moving on to the following topics in Algebra 2 - Polynomials and Factoring; Radical Expressions and Equations; Matrices; Logarithmic Functions; Probability and Statistics; Periodic Functions and Trigonometry.

 

8^th Grade - The eighth grade will be finishing topics in Algebra 1 and moving on to the following topics in Algebra 2- Polynomials and Factoring; Radical Expressions and Equations; Matrices; Logarithmic Functions; Probability and Statistics; Periodic Functions and Trigonometry.

 

 

 

Music Theory – Scott Eyerly

 

3^rd Grade – Construction of major and minor thirds [new]

Singing strings of scale degrees, as numbers and note names, from C, G, F [new]

Melodic dictation in treble clef, bass clef and grand staff [continuation]

Performing longer rhythm exercises with ties, dots and rests [continuation]

Introduction of key signatures [new]

 

4^th Grade – Review of intervals: 3rds, 4ths and 5ths [continuation]

Construction of major and minor 6ths [new]

Review of sharp key signatures [continuation]

Flat key signatures [new]

Rhythms with half beats in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 [continuation]

Sight singing [continuation]

 

5^th Grade – Introduction of minor keys [new]

Circle of 5ths with minor as well as major keys [new]

Review of all intervals within the octave (M, m, P, d, A) [continuation]

Syncopation [continuation]

Sight singing [continuation]

 

N.B.: Grades 6, 7 and 8 will be attending a performance of Puccini’s "Madame Butterfly” by the New York City Opera on March 25 at Lincoln Center. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the boys to see an operatic masterwork, one of the 2 or 3 most popular operas in the repertory. I’ll be presenting special classes to these three grades leading up to the performance, in which we’ll listen to recorded excerpts, sing parts of the score, learn the story and background, sketch set designs, and generally immerse ourselves in this wonderful opera.

 

The syllabus below concerns regular Music Theory classes, post-Puccini:

 

6^th Grade – Review of natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales [continuation]

Introduction of parallel minor keys [new]

Synthesis of major, relative minor and parallel minor keys [new]

Longer exercises in compound time (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) [continuation]

Sight singing [continuation]

 

7^th Grade – Construction of the subdominant or "IV” chord [new]

Harmonization of familiar melodies [continuation]

Introduction of harmonic cycle [new]

Longer exercises in compound time (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) [new]

Sight singing [continuation]

 

8^th Grade – Review of 1^st Species counterpoint [continuation]

2^nd Species counterpoint [new]

Introduction of V7/IV chord [new]

Synthesis of all secondary dominants used thus far (V/V, V/vi, V7/IV) [new]

Polyrhythms [continuation], going on to 4:3 and 3:4 [new]

 

 

 

 

 

Physical Education – Nathan Holst

 

3^rd/4^th Grade – Grades 3 and 4 will be working on teamwork, endurance and self-awareness. We will be moving on to kickball and hockey to work on learning rules of sports that are played at the older levels.

 

5^th/6^th – Grades 5 and 6 will work on group building using hockey and kick ball. We will begin softball at the end of March.

 

7^th/8^th – Grades 7 and 8 will be working on endurance and strength building through hockey, running and kickball. We begin softball at the end of March.

 

 

Science – Dr. Matthew Gilbert

 

5^th Grade - In fifth grade earth science, we will continue our study of space.  We are finishing up our discussion of inertia, gravity, velocity, acceleration, and the shape of orbits, and are now moving up to stars, galaxies, and the universe.  Toward the end of the term we will study erosion and weathering, and the oceans.

 

6^th Grade - In sixth grade life science, we will continue our study of ecology.  We have looked at predator-prey simulations, how organisms become adapted to their environments, and the kinds of relationships organisms have with one another (symbiosis).  We will now study ecosystems, and move on to plant biology.  Concepts to be studied include types of ecosystems, food chains and food webs, energy pyramids, populations and communities, and cycles of water, nitrogen, and carbon.

 

7^th Grade - In seventh grade physical science, we have completed our discussion of motion, waves, electromagnetic radiation, electricity and circuits.  We will now move on to the study of simple machines, such as pulleys and levers.  We will cover such concepts as mechanical advantage, torque, force, springs, and elastic potential energy.  Later we will discuss forces in fluids, including surface tension and pressure.

 

8^th Grade - In eighth grade biology, we will continue our discussion of human physiology.  We have just concluded our study of renal (kidney) physiology, and have just begun respiratory physiology.  We will examine how oxygen enters the lungs and is transported by the circulatory system to all body tissues, as well as how carbon dioxide is removed from the body.  We will cover metabolism and physiologic adaptations to altitude and exercise.  Later in the spring, we will study the immune system, and the endocrine and exocrine systems.

 

 

 

Theology – John Lee

 

The goal for all grades will be to continue with our survey of the Old Testament. We just finished the Pentateuch and now we are beginning the life of David. The goal is to show that there is a theological unity to the Bible that climaxes in the story of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ.

 

 

Grade 3 and 4 – Steve Kelly

 

English

Writing

-          Continue creative writing with stories that have circular endings.

-          Continue working with persuasive writing.

-          Begin writing poetry.

-          Begin expository writing using the tropical rain forest as the main topic.

Vocabulary

Move on to Greek word parts, coined words, word stories, newspaper jargon, prefixes and suffixes.

Continue to use words from the books we are reading in class. Practice using context clues.

Continue working with word analogies.

 Spelling

Vowel pairs and digraphs, plurals, possessives, prefixes, compound words synonyms antonyms and homonyms.

Reading

Fiction = The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, A Wrinkle in Time

Nonfiction = One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest

Primary and secondary sources for information about tropical rain forests

 

Science

Continue with, and finish, unit on measurement. Unit finishes with experiments on temperature.

Begin and complete unit on tropical rain forests. Class installation creating a rain forest is made.

 

Grade Three History

Continue with survey of New York history: The British in New York; The Revolutionary War; New York’s growth into a preeminent city; Industries; modern New York.

Grade Three Mathematics 

Multiplication and division, fractions, geometry, measurement, and probability