Middle School

“Bringing Good News” is the Archdiocese of Baltimore Religion Curriculum for Middle Schools. This standards-based curriculum serves as a guide, a road map for both teachers and students as they embark on a journey, which will provide them with the knowledge and understanding of the faith as witnessed in the teachings and the traditions of the Catholic Church. The curriculum is built on the Six Tasks of Catechesis: Promoting Knowledge of the Faith; Liturgical Education; Moral Formation; Teaching to Pray; Education for Community Life; and Missionary Initiation and is aligned with the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education (IFG:ACRE).

By the completion of sixth grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Explain that at the end of time, Christ will return and we will be held accountable for how we responded to the gift of faith and helped to build the Kingdom of God.
• Trace the unfolding of God’s revelation through the history of the Chosen People ‐ the Jews.
• Describe each of the seven sacraments as entrusted to the Church.
• Indicate how the Decalogue relates to current moral issues and leads to greater understanding of the Gospel through the Great Commandment.
• Discuss evangelization as central to the mission of the Church in which we all have a role.

By the completion of seventh grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Recognize that the Bible has both divine and human authorship initiated by God to reveal the truths God intends.
• Investigate the fruits of the Sacrament of Baptism to include forgiveness of all sins, birth into a new life, and a share in Christ’s three‐fold mission as priest, prophet, and king.
• Explain how a well‐formed conscience is developed through the knowledge of Scripture and Church doctrine as well as the witness of Church leaders and faithful role models, past and present.
• Explain the importance of Christians taking an active part in public life and promoting the common good.
• Discuss the call to religious life in the Church which is identified in two forms: active and contemplative.

By the completion of eighth grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Understand that Jesus’ paschal mystery, that is his life, passion, death, resurrection and ascension, are central to Jesus’ mission on earth and the fulfillment of revelation.
• Explain that the context of moral decision‐making within the Catholic Christian tradition reflects the values of human dignity, God’s grace, the virtues, the Holy Spirit, and the teaching of the church.
• Understand that our beliefs are sound and rooted in Apostolic Tradition and Sacred Scripture, as entrusted to the teaching office (Magisterium) of the Church.
• Describe the progress and continuation of the Church’s mission through ecumenical councils, including, but not limited to: the Councils of Nicaea and Chalcedon, Vatican I, Vatican II, Fourth Lateran, Trent, Constantinople, and Ephesus.
• Communicate that our respect of other Christians means that we can both recognize what we share in common but that we also need to be honest about how we differ.

The English Language Arts Curriculum for the Archdiocese of Baltimore is designed using the Catholic, College and Career Ready clusters as its foundation. Through literature, this course of study fosters students’ Catholic identity, shaping them to be models of Christian living for others. This curriculum is fully integrated with our Catholic faith. We provide students with a curriculum that is rigorous and rich in literature, oral and written language, grammar, writing, vocabulary, informational literature, and multimedia/technology.

By the completion of sixth grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Use of the process in research writing.
• Use of the process in essay writing.
• Voice and tone in writing emphasized.
• More Focus in Fiction, Genre, and Literary Elements.
• Use of Grammar integration.
• Collaboration, oral presentations, speeches, and technology components incorporated regularly.

By the completion of seventh grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Students will be able to write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
• Students will analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media and formats and explain how the ideas clarify a topic, text, or issue under study.
• Students should demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
• Students should acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; gather vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.

By the completion of eighth grade, students will master a variety of skills including:

• Students use their knowledge of word origins and word relationships, as well as historical and literary context clues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to comprehend the written word.
• Students read a good representation of narrative and expository text (e.g., classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, online information).
• Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays. The writing exhibits students’ awareness of audience and purpose. Essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions.
• Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.
• Students write and speak with a command of Standard English writing mechanics including correct grammar and usage that is appropriate to this grade level.