Middle School PROGRAM
Grades 6-8
The Middle School is a structured yet relaxed environment where each student is challenged through world-life Christian instruction. The students challenge authority and crave acceptance and approval by their peers. Each student will develop habits of positive, productive behavior, both as a student and as a Christian citizen. While work will be presented in ways appropriate to the developmental age and learning style of the students, a high expectation will be held for all. The students are taught a strong base of skills and knowledge to last a lifetime. The Middle School philosophy emphasizes a variety of subject material through electives. This is different from a junior high approach in which everything is taught on a mini-high school approach.
In preparation for the transition to high school, faculty and staff work together to nurture and develop students' academic, personal, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. The reading and foreign language option is expanded while the offering of a wide range of electives gives the students opportunity to better understand social challenges and individual choices. Electives which are offered include Art, Drama, Spanish, Home Economics, Chorus, Band, Yearbook, and Physical Education/Health. Various classes include community service projects that reach outward into the neighborhood.
History/Social Studies
Sixth grade Social Studies includes the study of Western history Middle Eastern civilizations to the Middle Ages. There is a particular emphasis on the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations. Specialized projects accompany each unit. Seventh graders study World Geography using research and critical thinking skills. Eighth graders study American history from the Colonial period to the present. Various projects and a research paper culminate their study.
Language Arts
Literature provides the basis for the Middle School Language Arts curriculum. The teaching and learning of reading and literary skills are used, including analyzing, evaluation, and responding to text. Text consists of fiction in all genres nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Students will also read novels throughout the year to enhance their study of theme and genre. Grammar, writing, spelling, and vocabulary skills are derived through explicit instruction. Sixth grade specifically uses accelerated reading in their evaluation of novels read in their classes including individual and group work
Math
Middle School Math is a transition from the basic operations to preparation for algebra. Sixth graders review the basic operations while working with whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Seventh graders are introduced to basic algebra concepts and problem solving. Eighth graders build a solid foundation for high school algebra. Students are placed in classes that challenge them at their ability level. This means that some students will be working with material that is a year above their current grade level concluding with some eighth graders completing the first course of high school algebra.
Science
The sixth grade begins with an introduction to the scientific method and incorporating this method into their classes. Students spend this year with an introduction to life science, earth science, and physical science. Topics which are well studied include environmental science, motion, forces, and energy, as well as weather and climate. The seventh grade studies are based on a year of life science including populations and ecosystems. Classification becomes our next field of study with a look into the unseen world: bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungi. The students utilize this unit to become familiar with the microscope. Our study then progresses towards the plant and animal kingdoms. Our year comes to a close with an introduction to genetics. The eighth grade emphasizes earth and space. The curriculum touches on most aspects of the earth, such as ecology, geology, weather and climate, and the Earth's waters. The course discusses how life and the Earth have changed. Also, the students will be utilizing a "hands on" approach in dealing with the experiments in the class.
Bible
The Middle School Bible curriculum is based on the Christian Schools International (CSI) curriculum. The sixth grade students study the creation of people and earth to the beginning of the kings. Seventh grade students finish the study of the Old Testament and eighth grade students study the New Testament as well as church history. We require that students not only study the curriculum, but apply that knowledge of the Bible to the world in which they live. Videos, research, and trips to the assisted living facilities compliment this curriculum.
