Music
For all grades, the students will be learning choral music in class and in choir for various performances throughout both terms. Choir is mandatory for students in grades one to five. The Boys’ Choir is available for students in grades four to eight – all are welcome. Students in grades four to eight are welcome to audition for the Highlander Choir.
Music rudiments will be accumulative across all grades. The skill set for each grade will be built upon the previous grades. There will be note reading and rhythmic drills appropriate for each grade given on a regular basis throughout both terms.
Grade 1
Term I
- identifying and describing the sounds in their environment
- understanding the difference between steady and unsteady beats
- introduction of rhythm and stress the fact that it is different from beats
- differentiating between volume and pitch
- comparing pitches (determine relative high and low pitches)
- creating melodies and rhythmic passages
- choral warm-ups including solfeggio
- introduction of and identifying meter
- reading and performing rhythmic passages
Term II
- reading the notes of the treble clef
- locating specific measures
- introduction of the instrumental families (strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion)
- exploration of instruments around the world
- learning about Tchaikovsky and his music
- exploring songs throughout Canada
Grade 2
Term I
- reading and performing basic rhythmic passages
- identifying notes of the treble clef
- locating specific measures of a musical score
- identifying and classifying musical instruments
Term II
- learning about the life and music of the following composers: Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven
- exploring music from different parts of the world: Orient, India, Middle East, and Africa
- students will examine and interpret how music is used in different media (movies, theatre, television, advertising, etc.)
Grade 3
Term I
- reading, writing, and performing basic rhythmic passages
- reading and writing notes of the treble clef
- reading and performing unison and two-part choral scores
Term II
- instrumental program begins
- performing in unison (technical exercises)
- performing as an ensemble with different parts
- analysis of how instruments are used to convey emotion and/or imagery – Peter and the Wolf
Grade 4
Term I
- fundamental rudiments
- reading scores with repeat signs including del segno, da capo, fine and coda
- reading and performing multi-part choral scores
- rudimentary instrumental music
Term II
- instrumental music continues
- understanding the science behind musical instruments
- constructing musical instruments
- studying influential Canadian musicians
Grade 5
Term I
- reading and writing ledger lines
- reading and performing SA and SAB scores
- analyzing scores for form – AABA, ABA, ABAC, etc.
- exploring the origins of music
- instrumental music
Term II
- instrumental music continues
- understanding tones, semitones, and whole tones
- melodic and harmonic intervals
- reading and writing major scales
- exploring the origins of and comparing different genres of music
Grade 6
Term I
- review of tones, semitones, and whole tones
- musical terms referring to tempo and dynamics
- writing major scales using accidentals and key signatures
- identifying and writing major triads
- instrumental music
Term II
- instrumental music continues
- miscellaneous musical terms
- introduction to minor keys and how they are related to major keys
- writing and performing percussion ensemble
Grade 7
Term I
- review key signatures (up to four sharps and flats)
- identifying the quality and size of intervals
- major and minor triads
- instrumental music
Term II
- instrumental music continues
- transposing musical scores
- completing measures with rests based on given time signatures
- score analysis
- Students will look at how music has influenced culture and vice versa. They will also study how it is used in media.
Grade 8
Term I
- Students will study the development of Western music starting from the Medieval to 20th Century. For each era, students will learn about the social and technological developments that influenced art and music. They will also study representative composers for each era.
- Students will study and compare two composers from two different eras. They will then present their projects to the class.
- Instrumental music
Term II
- instrumental music will continue
- students will create a multi-media presentation including a musical score
- students will compose and/or arrange their own music
Computers
Grade 1
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Computer Lab Procedures
- navigating safely on the internet
- keyboarding skills (this will continue throughout the entire year)
Unit 2: Google Suite
- composing, opening and saving documents
Term II
Unit 3: Computer Graphics
- resizing and pictures while maintaining aspect ratio
- cut and paste pictures into documents
Unit 4: Introduction to Computer Coding
- students will use block coding
Grade 2
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Computer Lab Procedures
- navigating safely on the internet
- keyboarding skills (this will continue throughout the entire year)
Unit 2: Google Suite
- composing, opening and saving documents
Term II
Unit 3: Computer Graphics
- resizing and pictures while maintaining aspect ratio
- cropping pictures
- cut and paste pictures into documents
Unit 4: Introduction to Computer Coding
- students will use block coding
Grade 3
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Computer Lab Procedures
- navigating safely on the internet
- keyboarding skills (this will continue throughout the entire year)
Unit 2: Google Suites
- composing, opening and saving documents
- creating presentations using Slides
Term II
Unit 3: Computer Graphics
- resizing and pictures while maintaining aspect ratio
- cut and paste pictures into documents
Unit 4: Introduction to Computer Coding
- Hour of Code
- Turtle Logo
Grade 4
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Computer Lab Procedures
- navigating safely on the internet
- keyboarding skills (this will continue throughout the entire year)
Unit 2: Google Suites
- composing, opening and saving documents
- creating presentations using Slides
Term II
Unit 3: History of Computers
- defining the term "computer"
- exploration of the exponential growth of computers
Unit 4: Introduction to Computer Coding
- Hour of Code
- Turtle Logo
Grade 5
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Computer Lab Procedures
- navigating safely on the internet
- keyboarding skills (this will continue throughout the entire year)
- securing passwords
- logging into various accounts including personal folders on our local network
Unit 2: Google Suite (part I)
- creating tables and embedding graphics in Docs
- creating and presenting presentations using Slides and a remote presentation tool
Term II
Unit 3: Google Suite (part II)
- introduction to spreadsheets
- setting up and manipulating tables
- applying simple formulas
- applying appropriate graphs for given data
Unit 4: Introduction to Computer Programming
- introduce the concept of algorithm
- writing a pseudo code
- creating fundamental shapes using Turtle
- introduction to Python Language
Grade 6
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety
- navigating safely on the internet
- determining the validity of websites
- securing passwords
- logging into various accounts including personal folders on our local network
Unit 2: Google Suite (part I)
- intermediate level formatting and editing in Word
- creating hyperlinks within a document
- applying advanced techniques (e.g., narration and automated kiosk) in Slides
Term II
Unit 3: Google Suite (part II)
- creating reference cells in spreadsheets
- sorting tables
- introduction of operators
- applying global formulas
- creating and analyzing graphs
Unit 4: Computer Programming
- review of Python language fundamentals
- using the input, if and loop functions
Grade 7
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Etiquette
- navigating safely on the internet
- determining the validity of websites
- securing passwords
- logging into various accounts including personal folders on local and online networks
- responsible use of personal email and devices
Unit 2: Google Suites
- exporting and merging elements between Google Suites programs
- using spreadsheets for data analysis
Term II
Unit 3: Website Design
- students will study trends in website design
- using online editors, the students will create their own websites
Unit 4: Computer Programming
- using Turtle, students will create geometric designs based on mathematical equations
- students will write programs using Python that will incorporate decision making based on user's input
Grade 8
Term I
Unit 1: Internet Safety and Etiquette Review
- navigating safely on the internet
- determining the validity of websites
- securing passwords
- logging into various accounts including personal folders on local and online networks
- responsible use of personal email and devices
Unit 2: Google Suites
- integrating different functions within the Suite to create robust documents
- applying simple programming into spreadsheets
Term II
Unit 3: Computer Programming
- students will practice writing and debugging simple codes
- students will design and code various applications including a culminating project (Math Quiz)
Unit 4: Digital Photography and Videography
- understanding how pictures are "digitized"
- fundamental techniques of photography (balance between subject, foreground, and background)
- use of natural and artificial lighting (including flash)
- using digital editors and green screen