Saint Thomas Choir School
2009 – 2010 Syllabus (November through December)
English – Emily Smith
5th Grade - During the second half of the term the fifth grade will focus on survival.
They will read Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, and a third selected
title with a book group. They will continue to work on concise expository writing. The
term will end with a writing project about survival.
6th Grade - During the second half of the term the sixth grade will focus on literature set
in the Middle Ages. They will read Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman and
Avi’s Crispin, the Cross of Lead. They will work on writing character sketches and will
end the unit with a memorization project.
7th Grade - During the second half of the term the seventh grade will read novels about
characters searching for a home. They will discuss Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men and
read Fagle’s translation of Virgil’s Aeneid. They will also work on independent projects
with books about immigration and finish the unit with a writing piece on place.
8th Grade - During the second half of the term the eighth grade will continue reading
Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and then read Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. They will
focus on the topic of journeys that define individuals, and they will work on
incorporating textual evidence into their writing.
French - Delia Ahouandjinou Geter
3/4th Grade Grades 3 and 4 will continue to memorize the piece “Le chat et la lune”. This, along with
increasingly complex oral and written language manipulations, will bring them to a
greater familiarity of French sentences structures. The subject pronoun and the double
verb construction will be among the major grammar concepts introduced.
5/6th Grade - Grades 5 and 6 will continue to memorize the piece “Boucles Violettes et
les trois ours”. Increasingly complex oral and written language manipulations will
accompany the piece. In grammar the boys will review the spelling of singular forms of
verbs and third person plural. The use of infinitive form will expand.
7/8th Grade Grades 7 and 8 will continue to memorize the piece “Veux-tu danser. Increasingly
complex oral and written language manipulation will bring them to story retelling and
story extension. This will as well help them develop and achieve oral fluency.
History – Mary Beth Benbenek
4th Grade - After the fall break, the grade four boys will conclude a study of ancient
Mesopotamia by examining the various groups that conquered this region from the
Sumerians to the Persians. We will also look closely at one of history’s earliest set of
laws: the Code of Hammurabi. The class will then turn its attention to ancient Egypt and
explore the culture, religion and politics of this storied society. In addition to short
writing exercises and daily assignments, the boys will also take an exam in midDecember.
5th Grade – During the second half of term, the grade five boys will explore the GrecoPersian Wars, the rise of imperial Athens as well as its dramatic defeat at the hands of the
Spartans in the Peloponnesian War, and the emergence of Greek philosophy when we
will closely examine the life of Socrates, and the ideas of Plato and Aristotle. After a
brief look at ancient Greek scientists and the Olympics, we will conclude the term with
Alexander the Great. The boys will continue to have short writing assignments and
quizzes, and will take a final exam in mid-December.
6/7th Grade - For the last two months of term the grade 6 and 7 boys will complete their
study of the Middle Ages in Europe. Immediately after the fall break, they will learn of
William the Conqueror and his legendary defeat of England in 1066. We will quickly
move on to an exploration of the Crusades in which we will profile many intriguing
figures of the time: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionhearted, and Saladin. The
boys will also learn of the limits placed on the English monarchy by the Magna Carta, the
rise of medieval scholasticism and the formation of universities, and, finally, the
decimation of the European population by the Black Death.
8th Grade - In November and December, the grade eight boys will explore the early
American colonies, the rise of an American identity, the American Revolution, and the
formation of the republic. The boys will complete several short essays and one longer
written assignment comparing the French and American revolutions. They will also have
quizzes and the final exam in mid-December.
Latin – John Lee
6th Grade The students have taken a liking to Latin and they are doing very well. The
reading approach with gradual introduction of grammar has proved successful. They are
excited in class and they are working hard. In the next few months, we will solidify their
knowledge of Latin forms. More specifically, we will focus on the case system of Latin
grammar and verb tenses. This will require memorization and analytical thought.
7th Grade In the second half of the term, we will continue with our reading approach.
However, we will focus more on the memorization of forms and how they function in
increasingly complex situations. We will also introduce a new verb tense and the
remaining cases in Latin (the genitive and ablative). This should be plenty to cover in the
next few months.
8th Grade We will be moving into more sophisticated Latin constructions. The past few
weeks, we covered participles and deponent verbs. We will have to go over these again,
since their knowledge of these points of grammar is still imperfect. After this we will
spend the bulk of our time covering the future and future perfect tense and the
subjunctive mood. This will entail new forms and more subtle points of grammar. Also,
they will be well positioned for high school Latin.
Math – Michael Rose
4th Grade - The fourth grade will study the following topics during the fall semester:
Place Value and Data
Geometric Figures
Measurement, Perimeter and Area
Multiplication and Division Concepts
Multiplication Algorithm (double digit multiplication) Division Algorithm (long division)
5th Grade - The fifth grade will study the following topics during the fall semester:
Factors and Multiples (number theory, primes, composites, prime factorization)
Understanding Rational Numbers (fractions, decimals, percents)
Two-Dimensional Geometry (regular and non-regular polygons, special properties of
triangles and quadrilaterals, angle measure, angle sums, tiling, triangle inequality)
6th Grade - The sixth grade will study the following topics during the fall semester:
Two-Dimensional Measurement (area and perimeter relationships, area and perimeter of
polygons and circles, including formulas)
Probability (reason about uncertainty, calculate experimental and theoretical
probabilities)
Introducing Algebra (variables, representation of relationships, multiple representations)
7/8th Grade - The seventh and eighth grades will study the following topics during the
fall semester:
Exponential Relationships (recognize and represent exponential growth and decay in
tables, graphs, words, and symbols; rules of exponents; scientific notation)
Quadratic Relationships (recognize and represent quadratic functions in tables, graphs,
words, and symbols; factor quadratic expressions)
Polynomials (equivalent expressions, substitute and combine expressions, solve quadratic
equations, the quadratic formula)
Music Theory – Scott Eyerly
3rd Grade – Flats [new]
Ties and rests [new]
Bass clef [new]
Half and whole steps [continued, now both up and down]
4th Grade – Major triads [continued]
Minor triads [new]
Major and minor thirds [continued]
Perfect fourths [new]
Major key signatures, starting with sharps [new]
Rhythms with half beats in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 [continued]
5th Grade – Major and minor 7ths [new]
Augmented triads [new]
Singing tonic triads [continued]
Circle of fifths [review]
Syncopation [continued]
6th Grade – (Identical to gr. 7, because last year's gr. 5 and 6 were combined; gradually
their curricula may diverge)
Melodic minor [new]
Seventh chords [new]
Compound time (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) [continued]
Identification of harmonic minor scales via the augmented 2nd [new]
7th Grade – Melodic minor [new]
Seventh chords [new]
Compound time (6/8, 9/8, 12/8) [continued]
Identification of harmonic minor scales via the augmented 2nd [new]
8th Grade – Polyrhythms [continued], going on to 4:3 [new]
Notation of polyrhythms [new]
Secondary dominant chords (V/V, V7/V) [new]
Changing key with secondary dominant chords [new]
Physical Education – Nathan Holst
3rd/4th Grade - We will continue to work on Self awareness and our coordination through
Basketball, Hockey, and Dodge ball. We will be having indoor soccer games against The
Geneva School, therefore we will be using our PE time to prepare for those games.
5th/6th - We will be working on hand-eye coordination through soccer Basketball and
Hockey. We will also use the time to prepare for our last soccer game, and the beginning
of the Basketball season.
7th/8th - We will use our PE time for group play of both soccer and Basketball. Being
who we are, we do not get a lot of outside of school practice time, we will also use the
time for drills in Basketball later on in the semester.
Science – Dr. Matthew Gilbert
5th Grade - In fifth grade science, we will finish studying earthquakes, and move on to
volcanoes and weathering and erosion. The boys will design, build and test
seismographs, and perform other experiments to model these natural processes.
6th Grade - In sixth grade science, we will finish studying the cell cycle (how cells divide
and multiply), and begin studying taxonomy and nomenclature (how living things are
classified and named), and evolution. The boys will learn to access DNA databases to
gather information about different organisms. We will perform experiments to study cell
structure.
7th Grade - In seventh grade science, we will continue studying organic chemistry, work
more on heat and energy, and then move to electrochemistry. From there, we will segue
into physics, starting with motion (velocity and acceleration) and forces. We will
perform experiments in organic chemistry (soap making) and electrochemistry; physics
experiments will revolve around moving objects.
8th Grade - In eighth grade science, we will continue studying the cardiovascular system,
and will move on to the pulmonary and the renal systems. We will perform experiments
to study exercise physiology, and the boys will give oral presentations about various
topics in pharmacology.
Theology – John Lee
In all grades we will continue covering the major stories and covenants of the Bible. We
just finished the exodus story and we will be moving on to cover topics such as: the
Mosaic covenant, the sacrificial system, the judges cycle, and the life of David. Our
approach has been discussion oriented and it has proved very fruitful.
Grade 3 and 4 – Steve Kelly
English
Our Writing Workshop will begin. A published piece of writing in the fantasy genre is
the goal. Conferences and mini lessons focusing on each student’s writing process,
editing needs and helping each writer find his own voice will be covered.
We will read the Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis and sections of The Five Children
and It by E. Nesbit. C.S. Lewis and E. Nesbit write fantasy stories from different
perspectives. These two books will help the class in writing their fantasy stories by seeing
how authors create novels.
Spelling will be focusing on consonant blends, vowels with r, consonant digraphs, and
words with the sound of f, silent letters, adding er and ing to words, dropping the final e,
doubling final Consonants, words ending with y adding e, des and ing. Words ending
with y adding er, est. Each week a spelling pretest and test will be given for all list words
from the workbook.
Vocabulary will focus on words in context from the literature we read as a class and from
our 240 Words 3rd and 4th Grade Kids Need to Know workbook. Homographs, eponyms,
words from other languages, clips, and blends will be highlighted.
Science
The class will continue with measurement. Experiments and lessons will focus on
practice with weighing, comparing the mass of different objects and identifying and using
standard measures of volume of liquids.
Mathematics
Grade 3 math will focus on geometry followed by multiplication.
History
We will begin our study of New York State. The first two units will look at New York
State today and the role it plays and then trace its roots back to Native Americans and
their lives before the arrival of Europeans. Several realistic fiction novels will be read in
conjunction with the texts for each unit.
Daily Homework
Parents can follow homework assigned by the teachers each evening in study hall.
Go to: docs.google.com
Email: choirschoolparent
Password: stthomas
Click on "Study Hall"