Middle School

Individuals and Societies begins with a study of man’s prehistoric beginnings, explores the Neolithic Revolution, and analyzes the development of several ancient civilizations. The curriculum uses both a textbook and literature chosen to bring this era to life. Readings, discussions and activities focus on geography, society, religion, art and architecture, achievements and government. Students develop critical and creative thinking skills by connecting ancient history to today’s world through a variety of projects and writing assignments.

The core of Fifth Grade Math is to develop greater efficiency with all four operations including basic facts, regrouping, and mental math, while working with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Students also delve deeper into geometry, measurement, graphing, and probability, and learn to describe and explain mathematical concepts in class discussions and in writing.  The common Fifth Grade question, “Is this right?” is often met with, “Explain why you think it’s right.” Students learn to look more at the process and algorithms rather than just the answer.

Fifth Grade covers concepts in Physical, Life and Earth Science which follow the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). Units include Gravity and the Four Spheres, Solar System Patterns and Star Brightness, Plant and Abiotic Resources, Matter Movement Among Organisms and the Environment, Visualizing Matter and Compounds, and Theories of Matter. Each unit includes opportunities to explore concepts in greater depth through labs and investigations. Field trips allow students to explore concepts in real-life settings.

Grade 5 Students partake in several co-curricular activities such as music, art, physical education, and world language. Please see our Beyond Core Academics page.

• The Sixth Grade Individuals and Societies curriculum encompasses a wide array of world cultures and tracks their development from the Dark Ages through the Modern Era. Beginning with the rise of the Byzantine and Islamic civilizations and extending through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, students explore the historical, economic, political and cultural achievements of early societies inhabiting Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The curriculum utilizes a textbook and integrates rich literature that supports intelligent discussions and meaningful connections to the time periods and cultures studied. A variety of non-fiction and fiction texts are incorporated into the curriculum.

Sixth Grade Math builds on the independence gained in Fifth Grade as students continue to develop their facility with basic operations involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals, and are introduced to complex systems of mathematics like algebra and geometry. Students develop a fuller understanding of factors and divisibility. They continue to explore forms of measurements, both U.S. customary and metric in the areas of weight, length, temperature, and capacity, while extending their skills to include conversions. As they pursue algebra, they investigate integer operations and algebraic expressions.

Sixth Grade covers concepts in Life, Physical, and Earth & Space Science which follow the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). Topics of study include Ecology, Classification of Plants and Animals, Cell Structures, Environmental Issues, Temperature and Thermal Energy Transfer, Gravity, Earth’s History and the Formation of the Solar System, and Seasons and Lunar Phases. Students create models and complete labs and demonstrations to expand their learning. Field trips also provide opportunities for students to see the real-life application of concepts.

Grade 6 Students partake in several co-curricular activities such as music, art, physical education, and world language. Please see our Beyond Core Academics page.

• The Seventh Grade Individuals and Societies curriculum focuses on America and the formation of the United States. Students begin their study with an examination of Native American history and societies, moving through the arrival of Europeans up to the end of the Civil War. Students examine the development of American geography, economics, politics and culture, focusing on the impact of decisions on many groups, from the indigenous people of the Americas to enslaved people to women. The curriculum utilizes the core text A Young People’s History of the United States in addition to carefully selected rich literature that provides a platform for intelligent discussions and meaningful connections to this time period.

Seventh Grade Math continues to explore complex systems of mathematics such as algebra and geometry. Students develop a broad understanding of exponents, roots & scientific notation. They begin to examine geometric theorems and the balancing and graphing of algebraic equations. Students become familiar with coefficients and formulas. Throughout these new explorations, they will continue to improve their facility in working with integers, decimals, fractions, and percents. An advanced section, a pre-algebra course, offers more independent problem solving explorations and skill development, as well as an additional unit of data analysis, and further exploration of functions and graphing to help prepare them for algebra in Eighth Grade. Projects can differ from year to year, depending on current events, but have included topics such as risk analysis for hurricane and tornado prone areas or creating a newspaper to showcase the use of percentages in real-world situations.  Grade 7 Math also includes a personal finance course with lessons centered on money management, wise consumerism and career exploration. Topics include savings, investing, and risk management, taxes, salary, net monthly income calculation and creation of an effective household budget.

Seventh Grade covers concepts in Physical, Life, and Earth & Space Science which follow the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards).  Units of study include Energy, Waves, Electromagnetism, Cellular Processes, Photosynthesis, Genetics, Human Body Systems, Thermal Energy, and Renewable Resources. Students not only learn about the scientific concepts but connect them to issues of equity in the world. They create models, engage in experiments, and view demonstrations to support their learning. Field trips further enhance their experience by providing real-world examples of scientific concepts.

Grade 7  Students partake in several co-curricular activities such as music, Latin, art, physical education, and world language. Please see our Beyond Core Academics page.

The Eighth Grade Individuals and Societies curriculum begins where the Seventh Grade study of American history ends. This survey of American history spans from the end of the Civil War and Reconstruction to the modern era. The curriculum uses a core text as well as carefully selected rich literature that is the impetus for high-level classroom discussions and powerful connections to this time period. Additionally, Eighth Grade students examine the global influence of the U.S. in a geographic, political and economic context throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Students examine and analyze historical and present day political maps, identifying areas of U.S. influence throughout the world.

Eighth Grade Math continues to explore complex systems of mathematics like algebra and geometry. Students develop a fuller understanding of coefficients, formulas & positive and negative scientific notation. They begin to examine direct variation, inequalities with negative and positive coefficients, slope, and various forms of linear equations. Throughout these new explorations, they continue to improve their facility in working with decimals, fractions, percents, and exponents. For those in the advanced section, an Algebra course, the curriculum covers additional topics in algebra such as adding radical expressions, defining and graphing sequences, function notation, systems of equations, exponential functions, and various methods for solving quadratic functions. Eighth Grade students also explore the history of mathematics as a tool for understanding nature.

• Eighth Grade covers concepts in Life, Earth & Space, and Physical Science which follow the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). Topics of study include Evolution and Adaptation, Weather, Climate, the Human Impact on the Earth, Energy, the Electromagnetic Spectrum, Circuits, and Forces and Motion.  Students use the practices of analyzing and interpreting data, developing and using models, and engaging in arguments from evidence to make sense of these topics. Projects, labs, and demonstrations further enhance the curriculum, as students are expected to engage in increasingly sophisticated demonstrations of their knowledge, such as building a circuit and designing an environmentally-friendly tiny house in conjunction with their Design studies.  

Grade 8  Students partake in several co-curricular activities such as music, Latin, art, physical education, and world language. Please see our Beyond Core Academics page.