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9TH GRADE
Our Curriculum
חומש: Rise to the Challenge
.5 credits
This course covers the foundations of כלל ישראל through the lives and lessons of the אבות and אמהות. The goals of the course are to gain a solid understanding of the נסיונות and achievements of our אבות and אמהות to broaden students’ appreciation of their greatness. Skill development focuses on understanding and appreciating פּשט of each פּסוק, strengthening independent learning skills, and utilizing רש"י with the aid of שפתי חכמים. Through in-depth learning of the text, students discover relevant and inspiring life lessons and hopefully develop a passion for lifelong learning.
נביא: Transition of Leadership
.5 credits
This course covers יהושע and שופטים, with a focus on understanding the storyline and explanations of the פּסוקים. This course takes a בקיאות approach, as a פּרק is finished every few classes. Students learn the main events and individuals involved in these ספרים, with an overarching focus on the lessons that the נביא teaches future generations.
כתובים: Words of Wisdom
.25 credits
This course covers a variety of topics and themes drawn from ספר משלי. This ספר is about applying תורה values and concepts to everyday life through the brilliant advice and guidance of שלמה המלך. The goal of the course is to explore how these topics relate to the students’ personal lives and current times. Students embark on a journey of self-discovery together as they delve into the פסוקים. In the last quarter of 9th grade, מגילת רות is taught leading up to שבעות. As מגילת רות occurs during the time period of the שופטים, it aligns with the 9th-grade נביא course.
הלכה: Me & You
.25 credits
The overarching goal of this course is to deepen the quality of students’ interpersonal relationships by following the Torah’s guidelines for interactions בין אדם לחבירו. Students read & translate original Torah sources as well as מפרשים & הלכה sources. They learn practical, relevant applications of הלכות בין אדם לחבירו. Through the content of the curriculum, students are encouraged to reflect on the quality of their interpersonal relationships & take concrete steps to improve key areas within them. Finally, students acquire the key ideas & underlying principles of הלכות בין אדם לחבירו
Biology
.5 credits
In this course, students delve into an understanding of the basic principles of life processes, cellular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and ecology. Students develop the technique of scientific inquiry and learn about the nature of science throughout the year. Lab sessions focus on scientific inquiry, the application of the metric system, and experiments that enhance the students' understanding of conceptual material learned in class. This course also prepares students for Ohio’s State Test.
English: Knowledge and Literature
.5 credits
In 9th-grade English, students will learn to answer the following essential questions: What does it mean to learn and know? Why do we learn? How can we use the knowledge we acquire? Is there such a thing as learning, or knowing, too much? The focus of 9th-grade English is to develop students’ reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills as well as further foster an appreciation for literature and the language arts. Texts explored in this course include Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and Shaw’s Pygmalion, as well as a multitude of short stories, poems, and student-selected texts to broaden the scope of students’ understanding of literature and literary tradition. Students also study vocabulary and the mechanics of language and grammar in order to strengthen writing at the technical and stylistic level.
Geometry
.5 credits
9th-grade Geometry continues building critical thinking and problem-solving skills by learning and applying the foundational concepts of Geometry. Students learn about relationships between geometric figures and apply them to real-life situations as they build mathematical literacy. Course content includes basic geometry concepts, the Pythagorean Theorem, formulas, proofs, angles, polygons, area, and volume. This course also prepares students for Ohio’s State Test.
Public Speaking
.12 credits
9th-grade Public Speaking is a semester-long course designed to give students the tools to prepare and deliver speeches effectively. The principles learned and skills developed in this course will enable students to become better communicators in various aspects of life. Course objectives include building confidence, developing listening skills, evaluating speakers, mastering public speaking terminology, researching sources, and speech development and delivery.
World History
.5 credits
This course examines world events from 1600 to the present. It explores the impact of the democratic and industrial revolutions, the forces that led to world domination by European powers, the wars that changed empires, the ideas that led to independence movements, and the effects of global interdependence. The concepts of historical thinking introduced in earlier grades continue to build with students locating and analyzing primary and secondary sources from multiple perspectives to draw conclusions.
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