Course Descriptions

Computer Keyboarding and Technology
Technology becomes a seamless part of student learning at NLA as keyboard and computer skills are taught both in regular coursework, and in "computer class."  All students are trained to use and navigate successfully through many types of educational software.  Every student must also learn how to properly use the Internet for research.  NLA imposes strict guidelines for computer and technology use, including an Internet Usage Agreement that all students must sign and adhere to.          

Language Arts
The North Lakes Academy language arts curriculum is a high-intensity reading and writing program.  With the use of computerized testing and a wide variety of paperback books, students must meet a reading goal based on their reading level (as established through a computer-based reading test).  Student comprehension is tested upon completion of each book.  The Reading Renaissance program, as it is called, has produced noteworthy reading-level improvements at all grade levels.  Dedicated reading and writing time is a part of each week's schedule. The language arts course offers a workshop atmosphere that includes mini lessons on reading and writing strategies as well as individualized coaching in both areas.

Literary Arts
The program primarily focuses on classic or time-tested literature, and their accompanying themes, in each quarter of the school year. Projects and papers demonstrate learning throughout the lessons.  For sixth and seventh grade, some of the literary selections include Call of the Wild, by Jack London, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, and Pacific Crossing, by Gary Soto, and other selections from the textbook Adventures for Readers.  Eighth and ninth grade will study various classic literature on alternate years; one year will include Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and the other year will cover Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, Jack Schaefer’s Shane, Dickens’ Great Expectations, Lawrence and Lee’s Inherit the Wind, William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker, and The Diary of Anne Frank. The course will also include quarter units on short stories and poetry.

Mathematics
Sixth grade math topics include: Number Sense – patterns and sequences, estimation, use of a calculator (all students are required to have a TI-30), order of operations, fractions and mixed numbers, decimals; Geometry – lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, angle measurement, polygons and lines of symmetry, transformations, parallelograms, space figures, designing nets and geometric figures; Data Analysis – averages, graphs, ratios and proportions, coordinate plane, number line, percentages, scientific notation, circles.  Seventh grade math topics take each of the sixth grade topics to a higher level, including Pre Algebra – variables and their use in equations – basic geometric principles, and data analysis.

All students are required (in both sixth and seventh grades) to keep a notebook to learn how to record class notes.  Strong emphasis is placed on presentability of class work (including the use of a ruler when required).  Real-life applications of mathematics concepts are an important part of the math curriculum.  Observation skills are emphasized.

Eighth and ninth grade math topics include a review of operations, the rules of Algebra, linear equations (graphing, writing, solving), linear inequations, powers and exponents, the quadratic equation, polynomials, factoring, proportions and rational equations, functions and an intro to geometry.

Music
The goal of the NLA music department is to provide each student with training and experiences that will develop the student’s musical understanding and confidence.  This goal of musicianship development serves as the guiding principle for all class and performance activities.  NLA strives to help students appreciate a variety of musical styles, individually perform music with confidence, and be conversant in the fundamental concepts of music.

Classroom work will focus on developing competence the following musical skills and concepts: steady beat, tone development, rhythmic confidence, ensemble precision, articulation/diction, scale proficiency (band), solfege proficiency (choir), musical independence, musical elements (sound, melody, harmony, rhythm, growth and context), phrase shape, improvisation, composition, composer background, and music history.

Physical Education and Health
North Lakes Academy's physical education program is uniquely tailored to its facilities.  Using the school gym, the neighboring gymnastics gym and a nearby park/ball field, students participate in a variety of sports and activities, including football, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, softball, kickball, basketball and other gym games.  All students take the Presidential Physical Fitness tests in the spring.

Health courses – life skills training – cover the basics of nutrition, first aid, and exercise, in addition to topics addressing self image and self-improvement, decision-making, drug and chemical awareness, coping with anxiety and anger, communication and social skills, assertiveness, resolving conflicts, and media influences.

Science
NLA offers a comprehensive science program through all four grades.  Grades six and seven take detailed routes through physical geography, climate and weather, cell biology and genetics, dissection and human anatomy.  The eighth and ninth grades do extensive overview studies in geology, winter ecology, space and physics.  All graduation standards are incorporated into the curriculum.  Proper use of the microscope and measurement tools is basic to the science program.  Throughout the science curriculum, students are expected to be able to formulate questions based on observations, design models to work with, collect and analyze data, defend premises with concrete facts, and create plausible predictions of future events.

Social Studies
Sixth and seventh graders will study different concepts of social studies; one year will include both Minnesota and world history.  The roles of leaders, as well as common citizens, will be used to develop an understanding of history.  Students are challenged to use various problem- solving and thinking skills to examine the causes and effects of events throughout our historic past. On alternate years, students will study geography.  This course is a combination of basic geographic topics as well as human geography, which is the study of people and their cultures.  The course also covers the geography of the United States and other countries throughout the world.

Eighth and ninth graders do a survey of American history from the pre-Columbian period to Reconstruction in one year, and government/civics in the second year of their alternate-year cycle.  The survey places an emphasis on a worldview of American history, looking at the contributions and effects of cultures, the founding fathers, slavery, and division as the American people held on to their goals and aspirations.  Topics covered include: Pre-Columbia America, Age of Exploration, the Revolution, Nation Building, Manifest Destiny, pre-Civil War, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.  Text used for the class: America Is.

Government/Civics includes topics on principles of government, the American constitution, political action, state and local government, economics, public policy and social interaction.  Students are challenged to improve their research and critical thinking skills, and become skilled at separating fact from opinion.

Spanish
Students at NLA are required to study Spanish throughout their middle school career.  Students who attend NLA for four years (grades 6-9) will complete the equivalent of two years of study in the Spanish language and develop a strong basic understanding of sentence structure, verb conjugation and vocabulary.  Students also study the cultures and traditions of Hispanic nations worldwide.  Seventh graders are invited to spend a four-day weekend at the Concordia Language Village in northern Minnesota for a full-immersion experience with the Spanish language.  (Families and student fundraising efforts cover the cost of the language camp program.)

Special Education – Resource Math
The focus of the Resource Math class is to present students with concepts that build a foundation for higher-level math concepts.  Through a variety of teaching techniques – large group discussion, hands-on, small group participation, and individual instruction – students will be exposed to all twelve of the concepts presented in the Basic Skills Test (required for all eighth graders).  Key concepts include: estimation, number sense, fractions, decimals, percentages, scientific notation, space/shape, measurement, probability, proportions, tables and graphs, problem solving.

Visual Arts
As part of the core NLA curriculum, the visual arts help students learn the basic principles of art, with each of the four grade levels taking their understanding to a higher plane.  Students begin learning the six basic elements of design (line, shape, color, value, texture and form) and become familiar with using them in their own artwork.  The course is made up of studio problems (sculpture, drawing, painting, textiles, printing, art criticism), written work, art appreciation, and art history.  Students will also study diversity in art, examining the art of different cultures (specific regions of study vary from year to year).  Art history will cover works from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, and some modern art.  Students will be encouraged to use art as a form of self-expression.