Middle School andlaquo; Curriculum
The Middle School (grades 6-8) provides a bridge between the academic foundation of the elementary years and the increasingly complex challenges students will encounter in high school and college. The hallmark of middle school years is the developing ability to engage in abstract thinking and to synthesize and analyze complex issues. It is a time to build and extend intellectual capacity, academic skills, and social abilities to meet new levels of challenge and understanding. Students look deeply into events to their causes and the underlying values of the time and culture in question in order to foster critical thinking and deep understanding. The eighth grade has an SSAT prep course, as well as mock interviews, in preparation for high school and speech writing for their graduation.
Curriculum Details
Middle School Language Arts
Literal (identification of main idea, support, sequence) and inferential comprehension, such as literary analysis content: characterization, plot elements, theme and motif, devices of imagery; author's purpose, choice of narration, voice, persona; written language: mechanics, grammar and usage, sentence structure, essay structure, timed and forced writing, genres of writing; spelling and vocabulary.
Middle School Math
6th Grade: Pre-Algebra: Tables and graphs; order of operations; decimal, fraction and negative number operations; percents and proportions; graphing, perimeter, area; solving with variables; exponents; Pythagorean theorem; probability, and metrics.
7th Grade: Elementary Algebra: Percents; properties of equality; solving with variables and like terms; linear graphs and equations; polynomials and factoring; word problems.
8th Grade: Algebra: Multi-step equations; linear functions and graphing; linear systems; solving fractional equations; word problem families; inequalities; radicals, and quadratics.
Middle School Studies
We feature a three-year cycle of study with emphasis on research skills; identification of causal factors in historical events; providing logical support for interpretation of historical causation; compromise and negotiation; logical self-assessment.
Year One: Asian Pacific focus: Geography of Asia—emphasis on Japan; Henian period of Japanese history; Shinto and Zen Buddhist philosophy; Meiji Restoration; World War II: Cause and effect; ancient and Shogunate history of Japan.
Year Two: European and African Focus: Birth of Medieval Europe; feudal Europe rise of European monarchs/states; Renaissance; culture/political structure of West African kingdoms; roots and expansion of Islam; cause and effect of European exploration of Africa.
Year Three: Year Three: North American History: Focus on American constitutional government; Iroquois Confederation; compare and contrast charter and royal colonies; American Revolution; Articles of Confederation/The Constitution; Growth of the breach between North and South/Civil War; Manifest Destiny; immigration; African-American, women’s and inclusion history.
Middle School Science
We feature a three-year cycle of study that allows for practice of skills, which include: Applying scientific method; metric literacy; lab skills; acquisition of learning science content through observation and investigation.
Year One: Big Bang Chemistry: From primordial atom to the atomic bomb; gems and minerals; Ring of Fire: Investigating earthquakes and volcanoes.
Year Two: The physics of energy and motion; the dirty deeds of fleas and tsetse flies; investigating viruses; environmental science.
Year Three: The physics of simple machines; The Miracle Machine: Human biology; Fueling America: Energy technology.
Middle School Health/Advisory
Adolescence and Puberty: Physical change; emotional change; nutrition; exercise; sex; drugs/alcohol; emotional health; smoking; STD's and AIDS; eating disorders; peer pressure; media awareness; journaling; North Star concept; personal values; rites of passage.
Middle School Arts And Music
The Middle School Arts Program is contained within the Specialists Program that is taught by a variety of teachers who specialize in their field, from 2:00-3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each student takes two visual arts, one music and one drama class per year. Scheduled classes vary somewhat based upon teacher availability and the student's current curriculum and interests. Courses have included, but are not restricted to: drawing and painting, ceramics, drama, photography, video arts, media literacy, flute and guitar instruction, and choral or instrumental music instruction.
Middle School PE
Sports skills: team sports; school teams; cooperative and competitive activities; exercise physiology; physical fitness evaluation; soccer, baseball, basketball, football, track, cross country, volleyball, and hockey.
Middle School Spanish
Instruction focuses on verbal and written skills, grammar and syntax. Content includes the following: activities and hobbies; discussing likes/dislikes; shopping/money matters; general feelings, characteristics, descriptions of people; asking/giving directions; talking on the phone; making appointments; accepting/refusing invitations; introduction to and practice with verb system; reading for the content; Culture: Cultural patterns and differences; brief overview of geography, history; Spain: Arab influences; 1492 and Spanish exploration; downfall—the Armada, Spanish-American War; Spanish Civil War—Franco; Juan Carlos and modern Spain; Mexico and Central America; Ancient Cultures—Maya, Aztec, Inca; "El Encuentro"—Cortez; Mexico's Greatest Extent—Mexican-American War; El Mestizaje and "La Raza," current cultural conflicts, East Coast—Gaucho, European immigration; Cuba and Puerto Rico; South America and the Caribbean.
