Middle School Courses

The world is filled with so many different forms of art – including digital art. In this course, you’ll explore this special genre of art found in everything from advertising to animation to photography and beyond. Additionally, you’ll tap into your creative side to create digital art and make it come alive!

LENGTH: 1 Term | LEVELS: E, P

We use technology to communicate with friends and family, find never-ending entertainment options and do our schoolwork. Discover what it means to be a responsible digital citizen, expand your digital literacy, and become a successful online student. Consider the best ways to find, create, and share information, learn to maximize information and communication technologies, and explore digital content creation, from emails and blogs to social media, videos, and podcasts.

LENGTH: 1 Term | LEVELS: E, P

Middle School Digital Photography 6, 7, 8 introduce students to visual arts practices through digital photography, including instruction in proper use of a DSLR and editing software. Students learn and use basic terminology, elements of art, and principles of design to grow in their proficiency with the medium.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students study the ideas, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution up to the Industrial Revolution. After reviewing the development of America’s democratic institutions, particularly the shaping of the Constitution, students trace the development of American politics, society, culture, and economy and relate them to the emergence of major regional differences.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Middle school students expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development of the human story. Continued emphasis is placed on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world into the present.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Middle school students expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students study the social, cultural, and technological changes that occurred in Europe, Africa, and Asia in the years 500 A.D. through the Age of Exploration while incorporating elements of how our modern governments were founded. After reviewing the ancient world and the ways in which archaeologists and historians uncover the past, students study the history and geography of great civilizations that were developing concurrently throughout the world during medieval and early modern times.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

The Middle School Earth Science course assists students in becoming life-long learners who grow in their understanding of the world. This course connects students to the beauty of geological history, the amazing landforms around the globe, the nature of the sea and air, and the newest discoveries about our universe, it gives students an opportunity to relate to their everyday world.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

English 6 students develop skills in reading, literary analysis, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and writing. While the focus of English 6 will be on expository texts, students will also read short stories, novels, mythology, drama, and poetry.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

English 7 students focus on grammar, literature, and spelling. Vocabulary will be taught using an integrated approach. Literature includes short stories, nonfiction, the novel, mythology, folk tales, drama, and poetry. Grammar units will include parts of speech, parts of a sentence, kinds of sentences, fragments, run-ons, subject-verb agreement, verb usage, comparison of adjectives and adverbs, and essay writing in the four writing modes.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

8th grade English primarily emphasizes the careful reading and analysis of literature from various literary genres. Students also gain further experience in narrative, descriptive, and essay writing. Students continue to develop their vocabulary and refine their understanding and use of formal English grammar and mechanics.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Are you interested in business, leading people, or making decisions to help a business be successful? While there are many different career choices in the field of business, in this course, you’ll discover options such as management, human resources, business operations, information management, and accounting. Explore the skills you’ll need, common tasks, the technology used, and characteristics of various business careers.

LENGTH: 1 Term | LEVELS: E, P

Where do healthcare workers spend their days? What do they really do? From cruise ships to sports arenas, you can find healthcare workers in many places that you might not expect. Explore this field, including what it would be like to work in a medical lab. Learn what it takes to keep you and your patients safe, and begin to learn about the human body and basic first-aid.

LENGTH: 1 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Are you interested in creating a website or app, or managing various technology solutions, but not sure where to start? If so, then it’s time to explore the different career options available to you in IT and learn the foundations of IT to get you started. Examine various IT pathways of web and digital communications, information and support services, network systems, and programming and software development. Let’s investigate which career pathway is right for you!  

LENGTH: 1 Term | LEVELS: E, P

This one-to-one course is designed to equip students to make a successful transition from the physical education instructional program to participation in physical activity for life.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | ONE LEVEL

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the basics of the language and the cultures that speak the language, assuming that the students have minimal or no prior knowledge of the language and culture. It addresses four areas of language development: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Students that complete this course will be prepared for further successful study in high school French with a strong foundation in the language.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

We love to play video games, but have you ever wanted to build your own? If you are interested in a career in technology but also want a creative outlet, Game Design might be the field for you. Learn how to build a game from the ground up in this interactive and hands-on course that will teach you all the ins and outs of making your own game.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

MS German introduces students to reading, listening, writing, speaking, and culture in introductory German for a strong foundation for language development. As a result of their time in the course, students are prepared to transition smoothly into HS German.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students may enroll in an off-campus independent PE. This course must be supervised and documented by a fitness expert for the requisite number of hours per semester.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | ONE LEVEL

Each year of the middle school Integrated Science sequence covers topics in Earth, Life, and Physical science, as well as integrates technology and lab skills. Students learn about matter, energy, the Earth’s surface and structure, oceans, weather and climate, and the biosphere in this first year of middle school lab science.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Each year of the middle school Integrated Science sequence covers topics in Earth, Life, and Physical science, as well as integrates technology and lab skills. Students learn about the cell and human body systems, ecology, human impact on Earth, and the electromagnetic spectrum in this second year of middle school lab science.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Each year of the middle school Integrated Science sequence covers topics in Earth, Life, and Physical science, as well as integrates technology and lab skills. Students learn about matter, energy, forces, reactions, weather, heredity, and space in this third year of middle school lab science.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course provides students with an introduction to Italian culture, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. It immerses students in the foundational understandings of Italian, including where it is spoken, benefits of learning, and connections to other disciplines. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to dive into High School Italian.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course engages students in the basics of the Japanese language and provides them with the opportunity to gain life-long learning skills and prepare for higher education, while allowing them to broaden their foreign language skills. It encourages students to explore themselves and their potential, and to develop a rich and broad understanding of the Japanese language and culture.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Are you someone who likes to write to get the story straight? Skilled journalists know how to find key facts and write them up in a way that makes it easy for others to read. In this course, you’ll learn how to ask the right questions, how to gather information effectively, organize ideas, format stories, and edit your articles. Get ready to break that news!

LENGTH: 1 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course coincides with English 6. Students are introduced to a variety of writing styles and practice composing their own informative, narrative, and argumentative texts to demonstrate a strong understanding of English conventions and language devices. Poetry will also be a focus as students will engage in creative expression through a variety of poetic styles. Students’ writing will be further supported by grammar studies.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course is a continuation of MS Language Arts 6 and coincides with English 7. The purpose of this course is to provide instruction and practice in grammar, spelling, and writing related to language arts, reading, and writing. In Language Arts, students continue to develop an appreciation of spoken and written language, expand their use of descriptive words and complex sentences, as well as their choices of modes of writing. Students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Students use the stages of the writing process to write clear, coherent compositions that apply and further develop their knowledge of the grammatical rules and standards of the English language.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course is a continuation of MS Language Arts 7 and coincides with English 8. Students will continue to explore various types of writing styles, including informative, narrative, and argumentative, in addition to creative writing through poetry. A focus will be on vocabulary development and the use of formal conventions of communicating. Grammar studies will support the development of students’ command of the English language.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

The purpose of this course is to provide a middle school student with a solid foundation to move forward to high school Latin or any other Romance language. Students engaged in this course will become familiar with the very basics of Latin from pronunciation to parts of speech and declensions.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course sparks students’ curiosity in discovering the interconnectedness and diversity of our living world. All the units in the course will include a focus on: biological and environmental literacy, authentic laboratory experiences, determining the validity of claims, participating in citizen science, designing new studies based on their questions, and methods of analyzing their collected data.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students taking this course will be given tools to effectively study the Mandarin language. Focus is placed on building understanding of the construction of Chinese characters rather than memorizing specific characters themselves. Students will learn pronunciation by studying the proper way to read pinyin, giving them the ability to correctly pronounce all vocabulary they will encounter in the future. Students will also practice looking up the meaning and pronunciation of unfamiliar Chinese words, and how to effectively use resources to translate between English and Mandarin independently.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Prerequisite: MS Course 2 or Placement

MS Math Course 3 is the last of three courses in an integrated middle school mathematics sequence designed to prepare students for Algebra 1. The content presented in the course covers five main areas of mathematics: the number system; expressions and equations; functions; geometry; and statistics and probability. Students begin to extend their knowledge of real numbers and explore the fundamental aspects of algebra involving solving linear equations, using functions to model relationships, and systems of linear equations. Students investigate deeper in bivariate data and ways to represent it. Finally, students explore congruence and similarity, the Pythagorean Theorem, and surface area and volume.

LENGTH: 2 terms | LEVELS: E, P

Math Skills and Strategies: During this class, students will work to sharpen their math skills. Alongisde ALEKS, a McGraw Hill product, students will utilize self-driven curriculum to increase their math and problem-solving skills while developing executive functioning.

LENGTH: 1 Term | ONE LEVEL

Students explore and experience creative expression through art. With a focus on drawing, painting, lettering, perspective, and the world of crafts, students are exposed a variety of mediums to discover their unique perspective as an artist.

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

Artificial Intelligence Applications is perfect for the student who is already somewhat familiar with AI. This mini-course allows students to take a deeper dive into specific applications and uses to pursue AI’s relevance to their personal interests.

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

Welcome, writers! In this Mini Course, students will learn story structure and key elements of storytelling. Using their imagination as a guide, students will move through the writing process as they create an original short story.

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

An awesome introduction to artificial intelligence (AI). Get hands-on with AI applications, see how it’s changing the internet, and find out how it may shape your future. It’s all about cool projects, big ideas, and getting ready for its increasing presence in our high-tech world – come explore AI with us!

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

Language is a portal to other ways of seeing the world and the people the live in it. In this Mini Course, explore a variety of languages and discover new cultures and patterns of communication.

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

Discover the world of science in your daily life through this Science in Real Life Mini Course. Students question, model, collect data and have fun as they apply the steps of scientific experimentation to solve real-world problems.

LENGTH: 0.5 Term | ONE LEVEL

Modern Geography examines people, places, and environments on local, regional, national and international scales in contemporary society. Students are provided the opportunity to study the influence of individuals and groups on historical and contemporary events in those societies including the Americas, Europe, Russia, Australia, and the Pacific.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students study the ideas, issues, and events from the Second Industrial Revolution through the present. They make connections between the rise of industrialization and contemporary social and economic conditions.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Middle school music students gain a broad understanding of music and how it is used as a language of human expression. A large emphasis is placed on music history and exposing the students to music of diverse cultures and genres.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Students will learn the basics behind core ideas in the physical sciences – physics, chemistry, astronomy, and life sciences. The performance expectations blend the core ideas with scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to support students in developing usable knowledge to explain real world phenomena, master scientific practices, and develop skill sets that are transferable into future studies.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Prerequisite: MS Course 2 or Placement

MS Pre-Algebra prepares students for Algebra 1. The course covers five main areas of mathematics: the number system, expressions and equations, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Students extend their fundamental knowledge of algebraic concepts to include the concept of a function, and to extrapolate to make predictions using data.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

Reading Skills and Strategies: Students work to hone their reading and writing skills in this research-driven, innovative program. Using Lexia PowerUp and extensive emphasis on mentoring, teachers support students as they combine metacognitive and executive functioning skills with direct literacy support. Using SVR research, students will focus on strengthening their Word Study, Grammar, and Comprehension skills.

LENGTH: 1 Term | ONE LEVEL

In MS Spanish, students learn the basics of the Spanish language. Students will become skilled in using conversational phrases, including greetings, introductions, and the expression of feelings. Fundamental Spanish grammatical concepts will also be covered. During this course, care will be taken to explain differences and similarities between the English and Spanish languages and hispanophone cultures, preparing them for further study in high school.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course focuses on the fun and practical applications of any language. Technical aspects of any language are covered to improve communication, and cultural aspects are emphasized to promote effective language use and interaction. Students should have background in a world language, or take this concurrently with a language course.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | LEVELS: E, P

This course allows students to learn and practice: physical postures (asana), discussion, readings, meditations, and hands-on activities to help the student understand all aspects of the art and practice of Hatha Yoga.

LENGTH: 2 Terms | ONE LEVEL