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Humanities
Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. Thus, Concordia strives to educate students who are equipped linguistically and culturally to communicate both critically and creatively as informed global citizens. Part of being an informed global citizen is knowledge of and appreciation for our past. It is for that reason Concordia has woven together the studies of language arts and social studies a together into one, creating the "Humanities."
In this lively, teacher-created curriculum, Grade 7 students explore three main themes that often extend into other areas of studies across the curriculum.
- During the unit "Change," students explore Modern Chinese History: From Mao to Market, a literature study of historical fiction (including "The Red Scarf Girl"), and narrative writing.
- In the unit "Leadership Beyond Borders," students explore Gandhi and President Truman as leaders, poverty alleviation, globalization, and fair trade. A study of classic and contemporary novels and short stories exposes students to a variety of leaders in literature.
- During "Justice," students explore the questions, what is fair, who judges, and punishment or mercy through short stories, the novel "Nothing but the Truth," a study of the U.S. Constitution, re-enacting court cases, and researching original debates.
Ongoing aspects of the curriculum include current events, independent reading, vocabulary development, direct reading and writing, and research instruction. Grade-wide activities include storytelling, speeches and debates. Humanities teachers also work with the guidance counselor during "the gathering," using dynamic activities to deliver meaningful messages and create valuable relationships.
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Science
Grade 7 science requires students to develop critical thinking skills as they encounter issues critical to their future - the environment, ecology, the geosphere, and global climate changes.
Students are expected to explore more deeply the scientific principles that inform how they live in order to discover how each one of us impacts our environment.
To the extent possible, the classroom and the activities within it are designed as extensions of the real world. Field trips and components of the Grade 7 class trip to Beijing serve to supplement what is learned on campus.
Students are assessed on their ability to read and interpret scientific literature, how well they are able to communicate their understanding of scientific principles, and their skills as designers of experiments and inquiries.
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Mathematics
In the Grade 7 and Grade 8 Community, the math program is designed to meet the developmental readiness of each student. Courses offered include Math 7, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra 1, and students are assessed to determine their preparedness for and placement in the proper math course. Please click here for further information about placement testing after acceptance.
Concordia uses the McDougal Littell Middle School Math Program and McDougal Littell Algebra, and teachers offer math labs before and after school four days a week. The Middle School also hosts an active math club and participates in the annual American Math Competition.
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Mandarin
Mandarin Chinese is compulsory through Grade 7 and is studied daily. Given the rich environment for learning Mandarin in which our students live, many take advantage of the school's strong Mandarin program. As China takes an increasingly prominent role internationally, learning the national language of China is a critical way to prepare students for the future
The school offers several Mandarin streams , and students are placed in a level appropriate for them. Among these streams are Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL), for students with little or no experience in the Chinese language with an emphasis on spoken Mandarin, and Chinese Literacy (CL), designed for students with a background in spoken Mandarin with an emphasis on literacy.
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Physical Education
The Grade 7 Physical Education program is specifically designed to improve the students' understanding and application of fitness and complex sports skills. Healthy competition is encouraged, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and sportsmanship and advanced game strategies. Academic subjects are integrated into physical education lessons whenever appropriate and where meaningful connections can be made.
The units at this level feature a more competitive feel and are designed to enhance each individual's sport-specific skills. These skills, along with the fitness component, are then applied in both individual and team-related situations. It is in these grades that the CISSA (China International Schools Sports Association) extracurricular program is introduced.
Students' fitness levels will be assessed each semester and a report will be sent home using the FITNESSGRAM program. In addition to fitness, students will be evaluated on the performance and application of sports skills and knowledge of rules and strategy, with a large emphasis placed on participation and cooperation.
Concordia's excellent sports facilities include a full-size soccer field and three climate-controlled indoor gyms (a fourth will be added, along with an exercise room, studio, and PE Commons area in the 2009-10 school year). The school's state-of-the-art gymnasia have regulation basketball, volleyball and badminton courts along with practice courts.
For more information about after-school and community sports activities, see Activities.
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Guidance
Concordia understands that students at international schools have more than their share of transitions. So part of the curriculum is time with the school counselor in regular guidance classes. Students get the chance to deal with critical life issues - including transitions like moving to China, saying goodbye, and returning to a home country.
The school counselors use role play, class discussion, and written reflections to help students build skills in making transitions - and in areas like communication, decision-making, and social interaction. In Grade 7 and Grade 8, in addition to these topics, growth toward future college application is begun, with career exploration classes and introduction to university opportunities.
For more information about the school's counseling and support services, see Guidance Counseling.
Religion
There are two major components to the Grade 7 religion classes:
- Old Testament studies - "From Family to Nation: God's Chosen People"
Students explore the evolution of the nation of Israel and, specifically, God's plan and purpose in that evolution. With a focus on the stories of Abraham, Moses and David (and selections in between), students are encouraged to discover for themselves God's presence in their lives. Students of other faith traditions are encouraged to make personal connections with their tradition or heritage.
- New Testament studies - "Who is Jesus? Four Gospel Perspectives"
Using the Bible and other contemporary resources, students explore how the writers answer the question, "Who is Jesus?" Through comparison and contrast, students are encouraged to develop a personal answer to this question.
Students are evaluated (assessed) in three areas:
- Reflection: Can the student demonstrate an ability and willingness to think about his/her beliefs and faith and can he/she articulate that thinking?
- Participation: Is a student willing and able to engage in the process of discovery and exploration?
- Tolerance: Can a student demonstrate an attitude of tolerance for the spiritual journey of others and allow for the expression of opinions and beliefs that are contrary to his/her own?
Technology
Technology isn't a class at Concordia; it's a way of learning. Computer skills aren't learned in an isolated lesson in a lab; instead, students gain strong skills as they use computers throughout the day in all class learning and projects.
Individual student-owned laptops are used in all learning in the Grade 7 and Grade 8 Community. Students become skilled at: use of Front Page for report writing; use of a curriculum-oriented database; creating power-point presentations; using Internet search tools; network security; creating web-based portfolios; producing audio-video samples; and using e-mail to communicate with classmates and teachers.
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Library
Books are an essential part of a good education. Students can visit the school library to browse the shelves, choose books, and borrow them for reading and research.
Concordia's library continues to grow with more than 20,000 resources available to all students. Our full-time librarian places at least one large book order annually to add to our collection, and the library staff continually develops programs and resources to support our teaching faculty in their instruction.
Electives
Concordia's Grade 7 electives provide an encouraging and inspiring environment where students can exercise their creative sides. Offered annually are Visual Arts, Drama and Music selections (see below for more information). Student choices also include a range of other semester-long electives. Recent offerings include Invention Convention, Media Literacy, Communications, and Film Making.
The Fine Arts: Visual Arts, Drama and Music
Concordia's Fine Arts Department develops students' artistic gifts through music, theatre and the visual arts. Students from Grade 5 to Grade 12 comprise five curricular bands, five curricular choirs and four curricular orchestras. Students also present three annual dramatic productions per school year from Grade 5 to Grade 12 as well as an annual musical (productions in recent years included Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Wind in the Willows and The Sound of Music). Additional evidence of the importance of the fine arts at Concordia is through its extensive and active visual arts department, which offers schoolwide exhibitions for all grade levels and participation in citywide exhibitions.
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Visual Arts
Creativity is fostered through Concordia's Visual Arts program, which offers a variety of elective courses for Grade 7 students:
- Abstraction and Drawing
- Expressionism and Painting
- Realism and Sculpture
- Clayworks
Middle School fine arts courses are held in Concordia's 4,000-square-meter fine arts center (opened in 2007), and the school has on-site kilns for firing ceramics. Student works of art are displayed throughout the school's hallways, on the school website's digital gallery, and at art exhibitions throughout the school year.
Music
Music is an elective course for Grade 7 students with choices including Grade 7-8 Band, Grade 7-8 Choir, and Grade 7-8 Strings. Students electing band or strings should have at least one to two years of experience on their instrument and should own their instrument. Choir members will have formal singing training during class and can expect to sing three-part music: soprano, alto and bass. All music students learn sight reading and rhythm reading skills. Students can expect to perform in two to three concerts per school year.
Middle School extracurricular music activities include:
- Alleluia Singers (Grade 7 and Grade 8); meets before school
- Middle School Jazz Band
- Intermediate Strings
- Hand Bell Choir
- Outside, seasonal performances at area hotels and shopping centers
Drama
Why are the students squirming on the floor, quoting Shakespeare, and making faces at their teacher? This is drama in the Grade 7 Community. The emphasis of the elective Grade 7 theatre course is on developing performance skills, creating theatre, and forming aesthetic judgments about performances. Additionally, students explore characterization, dramatic reading and analysis, using their senses, and conflict and creative problem solving, all of which can be applied to other curricular areas.
Students whose chose theatre experience all these aspects of drama and have an opportunity to show off their newly honed skills at the annual Grade 7-Grade 8 play.
Return to the Middle School home page.
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