Middle School
Curriculum by Grade
Grade 6
Humanities: Focus on acceptance through understanding of other cultures
Language arts- Writing Workshop
- Reading Workshop
- Daily Grammar Practice
- Poetry
- Short Stories
- Novels
- Memoirs
- Legends
- Folktales
- Independent Reading
- World Geography
- Geography Skills
- China
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Middle East and North Africa
- Latin America
- Chinese Artist-in-Residence
- African Drumming and Dance Residency International Festival
Math
Math 6 is a concentrated review and consolidation course. Students may be allowed to move to higher level courses based on placement testing.
Science
- Laboratory Skills
- Scientific Process
- Matter
- Cells and Cell Structure
- Nervous and Reproductive Systems
- Genetics
- Periodic Table
- Forensics
- Healthy Life Choices
World Languages
French 6 or Spanish 6: Oral comprehension and speaking skills developed through an interactive approach for meaningful communication.Physical Education
- Focus on Fitness and Team Building Through Aerobic Activities
- Weight Training
- Lifetime Sports
- Team Sports
- Hawks Quest Challenge Course
- Intramurals
Enrichment
- Study Skills
- Library Skills
- Research Skills
- Media Literacy
- Digital Citizenship
- Emotional Intelligence Skills
- Public Speaking
- Drama
- Technology Skills
Art
- Drawing
- Painting with Watercolor and Silk Paints
- Photography
- Ceramics
- Mixed Media
- Metalwork
Music
- Band
- Chorus for boys
- Chorus for girls
- Orchestra
Grade 7
English
Focus on Heroic Journey- Writing process
- Formal vs. Informal writing
- Multi-genre writing
- Grammar
- Vocabulary development
- Mythology
- Poetry
- Novels
- Biographies
- Everyday Hero oral presentations
- Book Buddy project
- Independent Reading
Social Studies
- Mesopotamia
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient India
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient Rome
Math
- Pre-Algebra
- Advanced Pre-Algebra
(Students are allowed to move to higher level math courses based on performance.)
Science
- Scientific process
- Coastlands ecology
- Marine organisms
- Meteorology
- Energy and energy transfer
- Chemistry
- Body systems
- Disease/Disorder presentation
- Cardboard Boat Regatta
World and classical languages
- French 7 and Spanish 7: speaking, listening, writing and reading skills are developed through an interactive approach for meaningful communication.
- Introduction to Latin: introduction to some of the grammatical and cultural topics in the study of Latin.
(Students may move to a higher level language course when recommended by the current language teacher.)
Physical Education/Health
- Focus on fitness and team building through aerobic activities
- Weight training
- Lifetime sports
- Team sports
- Hawks' Quest Challenge Course
- Intramurals
- Emotional Intelligence skill-building
Reading/Study Skills
Reading Comprehension Strategies
- Organizational skills
- Test preparation
- Time management
- Homework completion
Leadership through Public Speaking
- Research
- Organization
- Speaking
- Listening with a focus on famous leaders in history
Grade 8
English
Focus on Hardships as Opportunities for Growth- Composition
- Reading Comprehension Strategies
- Grammar
- Vocabulary Development
- Selected Shakespeare
- Introduction to Genre
- Odyssey Essays
- Holocaust
- Civil Rights
History
- Federal Government and the Political System
- Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in a Democracy
- Supreme Court Oral Presentations
- Monumental Events Project
- Mock Trials
- Political Cartoon Drawings
Math
- Introductory Algebra
- Algebra I-A, Algebra
- Advanced Algebra
- Geometry
(Advanced students may take Upper School math courses.)
Science
- Earth Science
- Geology
- Dendrology
- Volcanoes
- Topographic Maps
- Plate Tectonics
- Natural Disasters
World and Classical Languages
- French 8
- Spanish 8
- Introductory Latin
- French I
- Spanish I
- Latin I
(Students may take language courses in the Upper School based on evidence of proficiency.)
Physical Education/Health
- Focus on Fitness and Team Building Through Aerobic Activities
- Weight Training
- Lifetime Sports
- Team Sports
- Leadership Development
- Choosing the Best Journey
- Emotional Intelligence Skill Building
Grade 7 & 8 Electives
Grade 7 Electives
Art
- Drawing
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Collage
- Photography
Music
- Band
- Chorus for Boys
- Chorus for Girls
- Orchestra
Drama
- Improvisation
- Theater Games
- Pantomime
- Script Reading
- Monologues
- Partner Scenes and Group Scenes
Engineering for Girls
- 3D Design and Printing
- 2D Design and Laser Cutting
- Electrical Circuits and Soldering
- Analysis of Loads and Forces
- “Serving Others” Project
Engineering for Boys
- 3D Design and Printing
- 2D Designing and Laser Cutting
- Electrical Circuit Design and Soldering
- Bridge Building
- Foundations of Flight
- Robotics and Basic Programming
- Competitive Design Challenges
- Digital Portfolio Demonstrations
Reading & Study Skills
- Reading Comprehension Strategies
- Organizational Skills
- Test Preparation
- Time Management
- Homework Completion
Leadership through Public Speaking
- Research
- Organization
- Speaking
- Listening with a Focus on Famous Leaders in History
Grade 8 Electives
Art
Focus on independent projects in:- Painting
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Mixed Media
- Photography
- Digital Art
Music
- Band
- Chorus
- Orchestra
Drama
- Musical Theater
- Monologues
- Partner and Group Scenes
- Singing
- Choreography
- Musical Theater History
- Audition Skills
Engineering for Boys
- Advanced 3D Design and Printing
- 2D Design with Laser and Vinyl Cutting
- Casting and Molding
- Advanced Electronics and Soldering
- Architectural Design and Building
- Advanced Flight and Rockets
- Physical Computing and Programming
Engineering for Girls
- Prototyping
- Simulating
- Evaluating Models
- 3D Design
- Printing
- Laser Cutting
- Electrical Circuit Design
- Soldering
Programming
- C++ and Python Fundamentals
- Game Programming
- Robotics
Leadership through Public Speaking
- Research
- Organization
- Speaking
- Listening
- Focus on Famous Leaders in History
Writing Workshop
Essential traits of clear and effective writing with focus on:- Generating Ideas
- Organization
- Strong Thesis Statements
- Voice
- Word Choice
- Sentence Fluency and Variety
- Grammatical Conventions
