Pleasant Plains Middle School

Team 6

CORE  Exploratory

& Encore

Learning Today, Tomorrow, For The Rest Of Your Life!

PLEASANT PLAINS MIDDLE SCHOOL OVERVIEW

Pleasant Plains Middle School practices a philosophy that focuses on students making a successful transition from the elementary school to the high school.  The Middle School is organized in a “school within a school” concept.  Each grade level (fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth) has its own area within the building.  Teachers are organized into teams whereby a group of teachers representing the core learning areas pool their expertise, interest and resources to serve their respective students.

Other key components of Team 6 are:

1. Exploratory classes designed to expose students to enrichment activities.

2. Core Curriculum

3. Encore Curriculum

4. An Advisory program in which a small group of students meet with one teacher daily.  This teacher serves as an advocate for his or her students.

Special Education Services

Pleasant Plains Middle School provides a full spectrum of special education services in partnership with the Sangamon Area Special Education District. 

CORE Curriculum

English Composition

· Expository Writing

· Persuasive Writing

· Narrative Writing

· Grammar (Parts of speech, punctuation, and capitalization.)

· Spelling & Vocabulary

· Proofreading (Each student’s work and the work of others.)

· Critical Thinking Skills (Interdisciplinary Units)

· Paragraph parts & Sentence types

· Ability to work in small groups

· Oral presentations skills

English Literature

· Literary terms

· Reading Comprehension

· Poetry

· Novels

· Drama

· Literary Interpretation & Analysis

· Critical Thinking Skills

· Ability to work in small groups

· Oral presentations skills

Science

· Science Process Skills (Tools & Lab Safety)

· Scientific Inquiry using Scientific Method

· Paleontology & Archeology through Geology     (Plate Tectonics, Rocks and Erosion)

· Chemistry (Structure of matter, heat)

· Motion & Force (Catapults, baseball and simple machines)

· Interaction of Living Things (Predator-Prey Relationships)

· History of Flight (Kites to Shuttles)

· Interaction of Science & Society (Study of scientists)

Social Science—World History

· Beginning Civilizations (Prehistoric, Archeology, & development of civilizations are investigated.)

· Ancient Civilizations (A look at Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to analyze their contributions to today’s world.)

· Middle Ages (An extensive interdisciplinary unit that allows students to research and recreate life during Medieval Europe.)

· Renaissance (Students gain a better understanding of the “awakening” that occurred during this time.)

· Modern History (How did we get to today’s world?)

Mathematics

· Graphs, Tables, and Statistics

· Number Sense and Integers

· Algebra

· Fractions

· Percents, Proportions, and Ratios

· Probability and Measurement

Exploratory/Encore

Kid’s Engineering - To use design technology, physics principles and teamwork to solve problems.

· Sailboats

· K Nex Dragsters

· Toothpick Bridges

Drama - Students learn about playwriting, Improv, and  careers in the field of theatre.

AYP Reading - Students will improve reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension skills to meet Adequate Yearly Progress-NCLB.

AYP Math (Adequate Yearly Progress—NCLB)

· Review of basic math facts

· Explore “life” skills with math

· Homework Assistance (Re-teach and Review)

· Strengthen Problem Solving and Logic Skills

· Benchmark Testing (Following the Leaders)

Keyboarding - Students learn the proper keyboarding skills necessary for  typing papers, letters, etc.

Agriculture - Investigates how it touches their lives and how it is connected to all curriculum areas.

Health  -  Students will learn how to be healthy today and in the future.

· Self awareness

· Tobacco and Alcohol

· Inhalants

· Safety and First Aid

Physical Education - Physical fitness is a major portion of this class.  Students will participate in daily physical    fitness to  improve individual fitness level; increase cardiovascular endurance and help develop a healthier lifestyle.

· Cardiovascular Fitness

· Team & Individual Sports

Grades 6-8 dress out for PE, including red shorts, royal blue shirt and tennis shoes. 5th grade students are required to wear tennis shoes daily.

General Music - Students in grades 5-7 can build upon previous musical experiences by listening and performing.

· Piano keyboarding

· History of 20 Music

· Advanced study of musical notation

Band - Students will perform in at least two concerts.  They will have an opportunity  to participate in solo and ensemble    contest.  The band will meet as a group and  small group lessons.

Scholastic Team - This is an academic team  that competes  as a member of the IESA.   Students in the 6-8 grade may try out for this team.  The season lasts from January - May. 

Beta Club  -  Service organization that participates in school and community projects.

Yearbook - Students from all grade levels will assemble and edit our annual yearbook.

Prairie Creek Habitat is a seventeen acre outdoor classroom located adjacent to Pleasant Plains Middle School.  It   includes prairie, wetlands and trees.  This habitat is utilized by all grade levels to enhance lessons in many curricular areas.  Prairie Creek Habitat construction is completely funded by  government and private grants in addition to private donations.

Art - Continued techniques and methods of art to advance skills.

· Picture Rendering

· Emphasis on proportion and detail

· Architectural Study and Water Color Technique

Green Team (5/6 Grade) - Students are responsible for recycling in the school community.  The 6th grade provides the experience and leadership for this club.

Student Council -   Student Council is the elected student government and is responsible or various school functions and for charitable contributions to the school and the community.  Student Council helps with Veterans Day activities, arranges Angel Week, and raises funds for school and community needs. 

Computer Literature - Learn Microsoft Publisher to create banners, business cards and web pages.