Traverse City West Junior High

Eighth into Ninth

Parent Orientation

Upcoming Diploma Requirements

• 4 Language Arts

• 4 Math (Algebra 1, 11 and Geometry)

• 3 Science

• 3 Social Studies

• 1 Fine Arts or Music

• 1 Health

• Possible 2 year Foreign Language

• 16 to 18 Credits Required/6 to 8 Electives=24 Credits

Student Graduation RequirementsStudent Graduation Requirements■ Completion of a Michigan Merit Curriculum that

includes a Michigan Merit Core and a 21st Century Applied Learning Core.

■ Completion of an online credit or noncredit course or learning experience.

■ Participation in the Michigan Merit Examination or MI-Access in the spring of the junior year.

4

Michigan Merit RequirementsMichigan Merit Requirements

■ Requirements beginning with the freshman class of 2006-07 (the graduating class of 2010) unless legislation to support this requirement has not been signed by March 1, 2006 (otherwise the requirement will begin with the freshman class of 2007-08).

Ninth GradeRequired Classes

Social Studies

Language Arts

Science

Math

Art Pottery and Sculpture

• Exposes students to three hand building techniques in clay, the pinch pot, and slab coil building

• Students “throw” (or make) a pot on a kick wheel or electric wheel.

• In sculpture, students experiment with additive, subtractive and assemblage methods.

Computer Art / Creative Design

• Exposes students to the field of graphic art.

• Students will learn about illustration; advertisement; typographical design

• Students will be exposed to software programs: Adobe Illustrator 10 and Photoshop 6.

• Final exam project will be to create a nine month design calendar

Drawing and Painting

• Designed for the young but serious art student.

• Visual and drawing skills will be developed.

• Materials: pen, ink, chalk, watercolor, tempera and charcoal.

Exploring Photographic Art

• Explores a wide variety of photographic techniques.

• Projects include pinhole cameras, picture taking, film developing and enlarging, and other aspect of photography.

Traditional American Arts

• The student will learn the background of many traditional American arts.

• Projects in weaving , basketry, time and metal work, painting, quilting, paper making batik, and sculpture will be explored by the student in traditional and contemporary methods.

Video and Animation Art

• Students will

• Learn to create a storyboard

• Create 5 animations with aspects of sequenced movement, color, character and story.

• Create a thaumatrope and flipbook to illustrate the principle of delayed vision.

Foreign Language

• Why should you take a foreign language?

• College

• Enhance Job Skills

• Personal Growth

Foreign Language

• Which language should you take?

• Family history

• Career choice

• Explorations favorite

Foreign Language

• Which program is best for your student?

• 2-year choice

• 8th Grade Beginning (French/German/Spanish) 9th Grade Continuing (French/German/Spanish)

• 1-year choice

9th grade (French/German/Spanish): Accelerated Academic Program

Foreign Language

• When should I start?

• 8th or 9th grade

• 10th, 11th, 12th Grades

Math Course Offerings

• Algebra I

• Algebra, Data and Geometry

Algebra I• First course in a four year sequence• Topics Include:

- Practice of operations with algebraic equations including exponents, radicals, and absolute value.- An analytical and graphing approach to functions including linear, quadratic, and exponential equations- Solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities.- Solving systems of linear equations- Basic operations relating to polynomials, including factoring.

Algebra, Data and Geometry• The first course in a four year sequence.

• This course integrates algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, trigonometry, and discrete topics

• Study Topics: -Functions -Graph Models

- Two and Three Dimensional Geometry

- Exponential Growth and Decay

- Mathematical Simulations of Real-world situations.

• Ninth Grade Math

Family and Consumer ScienceGlobal Cultural Foods

• Students will study four different countries

• Students will study culture, history, art/design architecture, apparel, food education system, music, family life and traditions.

• Students will develop life-long food preparation skills.

Family and Consumer ScienceTextile Design

• Students will:• Learn a variety of techniques in working with fabrics,

yarns and textiles.• Learn competencies in using the sewing machine and

related tools.• Use the principles of design to create clothing and

accessory designs for different body types.• Learn how to update, personalize and repair clothing and

home décor items.

Family and Consumer Science American Foods

• Teacher demonstrations, hands-on labs, individual and cooperative group projects provide students with an overview of food preparation skills and nutrition information.

• Kitchen safety, sanitation procedures and food poisoning precautions will be emphasized.

• Units of study are based on food influences by regions and ethnic cultures within the United States.

• All recipes and foods studied will be evaluated based on current nutrition information.

9th Grade U.S. History and Government

What do we study?

• We study 20th century American History while incorporating the basic concepts of Democracy and the U.S. Constitution.

• Students will be challenged to compare the present with the past and encouraged to become active participants in the Democratic process.

Government Concepts/Topics

• Functions and purpose of government• Types of governments• Who are Americans?• Individual rights,according to the

Constitution

Government Concepts/Topics Continued

•The Three Branches•Voting and Elections•Current Events

History Topics

•The Progressive Era •World War I•The Great Depression•World War II•The Cold War

– The Korean War– Vietnam War

History Topics Continued

• Civil Rights• Contemporary Decades (80’s &

90’s)– Desert Storm– Contemporary Presidents

How do we learn?

• Maps• Power Points• Readings & Discussions• Group & Individual Projects• Research & Inquiry• Videos & Slide Shows• Visuals & Graphics• Guest speakers• Case Studies• Music

*Discovering Lit & Writing

•Public Speaking•Debate• Journalism (School Newspaper)

Discovering Lit & Writing

•Short Stories

•Career Research •Drama Unit•Novel Unit

*Writing Lab

Short Story Unit

A sampling of

literature

…story analysis…style…vocabulary…writing prompts…

Novel Unit

Career ResearchE x p l o r a t o r y . . .

• library research & research paper

• a resume

• the job application

• the business letter

• a mock interview

Drama Unit

Shakespeare’s “Romeo &

Juliet”

Writing Lab

Appointments scheduled once each marking period for every student.

Public Speaking

•Basic speaking & listening skills

•Body language (basics of verbal & non-verbal communication)

•Outlining & note-taking skills

•Speeches for all occasions

Debate

•Highly research focused (emphasis on gathering effective research & correct citations)

•Policy debate format (in two person teams)

•Logical arguments

Newspaper

•Produce the school newspaper

•Work both cooperatively and independently to write, edit and publish articles

•Learn about journalism

Biology: from the two Greek words, bios meaning life and logos meaning study of.

Brief Course Syllabus of Main Topics Covered in Biology• 6 Kingdoms – Fungi, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protistae, Animalia, Plantae • Classification – 9 Phyla, Invertebrate + Vertebrate• Scientific Method• Chemistry – Organic + Inorganic• Photosynthesis + Respiration• Cells – Prokaryotic + Eukaryotic Animal, Plant, Viruses• Cell Division – Mitosis + Meiosis• DNA + RNA, Protein Synthesis• Genetic- Chromosomes, Heredity, Mutation, Genome• Human Body Systems – 11• Disease – Contagious, Non-communicable, Inherited• Immunity – Natural + Acquired• Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco – Affects on Human Body

Instructional Techniques

Textbook – 2002 Edition Lecture Material supplemented with Reading Guides from text Classroom Lab Experiments + Independent Lab Experiments Exploratory Worksheets for both Individual and Group work Computer Technology – Word, PowerPoint, Publisher Research – Library + Internet for Writing, Graphics, Pictures Career Speakers + Guest Speakers Classroom Demonstrations by Instructor Classroom Presentations by Student’s explaining their Science Research + their Science Projects VHS Tapes CD Animations Charts – both Anatomical and Explanatory Posters – both Anatomical and Explanatory Quizzes Tests

Inoculation: Dog’s Saliva

Student Experiment - Bacterial Growth from Pet

Inoculation: Dog’s Saliva

Why I Used My Dog’s Mouth: I wanted to see if my dog’s mouth contained a little or a lot of bacteria. Hypothesis: I hypothesized that a few dime size colonies ofbacteria, all the same color, would result but not much else. Experiment: I let my dog lick the agar in the petri dishfor the inoculation. Observations/Results: Within the first day, my agar cultured afew pin head size white, smooth bacterial colonies. In later days, hundreds of small to medium size, multi-colored colonies, more textured, overlapped each other. A tiny amount of white, gray and black mold also cultured on the agar. Just a small amount of hemolysis was apparent near some yellow colonies.Conclusion: My hypothesis was somewhat right as bacteria did culture. But the colonies differed in color, texture and size. didn’t expect mold. What I Learned: My dog’s mouth has an abundance of various species of bacteria. I no longer let my dog lick my face and always wash my hands before I eat if I’ve played with him.

Student Field Lab Specimen

Scientific Name: Lycoperdon maximumCommon Name: Giant Puffball

Found: Traverse City Zoo

Edibility: Excellent when young, but use caution

Habitat: Worldwide in meadows, fields, and gardens

General Description: Specimens can vary from 10 - 65 cm inwidth with a white, thin exoperidium (covering) and slightly mealy inside tissue, turning olive with age

Additional Facts: - Edible in white stage, can be fried in butter and has a firm texture - Can weigh up to 56 pounds - The spores are olive-yellow in color when the puffball is mature and a fist size puffball can release some 6 billion trillion spores

Reference: Simon and Schuster’s Guide to Mushrooms

Student Research

Corn + Potato = Cortato

Student Collaborative Ideas – Genetic Engineering

Algae Extension Student Projects

Change in Bowel or bladder habits

Sore that does not hEal or thickening / lump

Difficulty SWallowing or digesting

Unusual bleeding or dischArge

Cough or hoaRseness

ChangE in mole or wart

Beware of Cancer by Knowing the WarningSigns and a Yearly Checkup with your Doctor

ALCOHOL WILL CAUSE

DEATH OR

DREARYNESS.

IT

COSTS

LOTS OF MONEY

IF

YOU ARE

IN THE ADDICTION STAGE.

Theater Arts I

• Students will study the various aspects of drama.

• Student will build self-confidence in front of groups through stage movement, vocal production activities and the development of acting techniques.

• Students will focus on verbal and non-verbal expression.

Theater Arts IProjects and Activities

• Voice Skills:

tongue twisters, 3 word improvisation, group improvisation, dramatic group reading, poetry reading

• Stage Skills: necessary and interpretive actions, blocking a scene, dominant/subdominant characters, 2 person humorous scene, semester project, monologue

• Body Skills:

charades, observation skills. mime, pantomime

Theater Arts II• Students will study more specific aspects of theater including

improvisation, characterization, theater production. Students are selected by teacher recommendation.

• Projects and activities:- Advanced improvisation- Script reading- Character analysis- Prop, Costume, Scene design and planning- Introduction to make-up- Following a rehearsal schedule- Play performance- Two person dramatic scene- Monologue

Physical Education• Team Sports: This semester long class will provide a team

sport emphasis. Activities may include basketball, football, soccer and softball.

• Individual Sports: This semester long course will provide an individual sport emphasis. Activities may include tennis, badminton, weight training and golf.

• Aerobic Dance: This semester-long course will provide an aerobic dance and conditioning emphasis. Activities may include step aerobics, and dances.

• Weights and Conditioning: This semester elective is a co-ed course that requires the pre-approval of the teacher for enrollment. Students will develop their muscular strength and endurance through the use of free weights, machine weights, and strength and endurance activities.

Other Physical Education Options

• Physical Education/Work Experience: This is a semester long work experience program where students assist the HPE teacher. The experiences include officiating, demonstrating skills, leadership, and organizing class activities.

1 Semester Class

For 8th and 9th Grade Students

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Publisher

Microsoft Paint

Photo Draw

FrontPage

Adobe PhotoShop

Adobe Illustrator

Ainsworth Keyboarding

Projects require not just computer knowledge, but…

practical knowledge like…

Reading

Writing

Researching

And Presenting

Keyboarding every day

Mini-Autobiography

Olympic Athlete Pamphlet

Fun Cartoon Drawing

Travel Brochure

Personal Note Cards

Personal Stationery

Greeting Cards

Family Newsletter

Bookmarks

Memory Book

Website on a topic of their choice

1 Semester Class

For 8th and 9th Grade Students

Students…

Learn about business & the Internet in a hands-on easy step-by-step way.

They use the computer and Internet to complete all assignments.

They create Excel spreadsheets that are used to play fun credit card and finance games

And they listen to exciting guest speakers who work in the field of finance and investing

Students use the Internet to Learn…

What it takes to pay the monthly bills

How to avoid credit card debt

How interest rates affect them

They also learn about…

Setting financial goals

Saving and Investing

Writing checks and logging transactions

Buying a car

The Stock market and tracking stock via the Internet

Starting a new business

Each student creates a business plan for a new business that they would like to own.

They use the computer and Internet to promote their business by…

Designing a company logo

Designing Business Stationery & Business Cards

Writing a Press Release

Creating a Product Brochure

Creating a Business Web Site

Designing fun promotional items like…company

t-shirts, Frisbees, and mugs

1 Semester Class

For 9th Grade Students

This class is for students who…

Always wanted to learn how to make a web site but thought it was too hard

Know the basics of Web Publishing and want to learn more

Would like to work on the West Junior High Web site or the WJH Channel 2 News.

Students learn web publishing in a hands-on easy step-by-step way.

In this class students learn how to create a variety of different styles of webs using Microsoft FrontPage.

Web topics include…

Personal Web

Travel in Northern Michigan

Space Explorations

The Louvre

The Smithsonian

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Students learn how to enhance their webs by adding…

Graphics created in Adobe PhotoShop or Illustrator

Sound

Video

Animation

Forms

And Special Effects.

Technology Education

• Technology Education I

• Technology Design I

• Technology Design II

• Woodworking I

• Woodworking II

Music -Band

• Ninth Grade Band members will be placed in one of the three bands based upon their audition at the end of their eighth grade year.

• Symphonic Band

• Concert Band

• Renaissance Band

Music - Band • Band Opportunities:• Jazz Band• Percussion Ensemble• Traverse City Band Festival• Solo and Ensemble• Michigan School Band and Orchestra District

Band Festival • Concert at Interlochen• Seasonal Concerts• Elementary Jazz Band Tours• Music Scholarship Opportunities

Music – Orchestra

• Opportunities:• Michigan School Band and Orchestra District

Band Festival• WJH Symphony Orchestra• Octet +7• Solo and Ensemble• MSBOA String Workshop• Music Scholarships• Enrichment Opportunities

Music – Choir

• OPTIONS:

• Symphonic Choir Women’s Choir

• Tenor/Bass Choir – For changed voice boys, rehearse separately from 9th grade Symphonic girls but to combine with them in resource to make Symphonic Choir

• Madrigals – a highly select mixed choir that meets during resource period

School Nurse

Pat Quinlan

Thank You

• Please plan to attend parent teacher conferences on Thursday, March 8, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Conferences will conducted in classrooms using a walk-in format. No appointment is necessary.