English Language Arts
Grade 6 English Language Arts
This course eases students’ transition to middle school with engaging, age-appropriate literary and informational
reading selections. Students learn to read critically, analyze texts, and cite evidence to support ideas as they read essential parts of literary and informational texts and
explore a full unit on Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Through the Looking Glass. Vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills are sharpened through lessons that give students
explicit modeling and ample practice. Students also engage in routine, responsive writing based on texts they have read. In extensive, process-based writing lessons,
students write topical essays in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery of reading, writing, and language arts skills.
Grade 7 English Language Arts
Students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers in this middle school course. With engaging literary and informational texts, students learn to think critically, analyze
an author’s language, and cite evidence to support ideas. Students complete an in-depth study of Jack London’s classic novel White Fang and read excerpts from other
stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Explicit modeling and ample opportunities for practice help students sharpen their
vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills. Students also respond routinely to texts they have read. In extensive, process-based writing lessons, students write topical essays
in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery
of reading, writing, and language arts skills.
Grade 8 English Language Arts
In this course, students build on their knowledge and blossom as thoughtful readers and clear, effective writers. A balance of literary and informational texts engage students throughout the course in reading critically, analyzing texts, and citing evidence to support claims. Students sharpen their vocabulary, grammar, and listening skills through lessons designed to provide explicit modeling and ample opportunities to practice. Students also routinely write responses to texts they have read, and use more extensive, process-based lessons to produce full-length essays in narrative, informative, analytical, and argumentative formats. In this full-year course, students develop a mastery of reading, writing, and language arts skills.
Mathematics
Grade 6 Math
This course begins by connecting ratio and rate to multiplication and division, allowing students to use ratio reasoning to solve a wide variety of problems. Students
further apply their understanding of multiplication and division to explain the standard procedure for dividing fractions. This course builds upon previous notions of the number system to now include the entire set of rational numbers. Students begin to understand the use of variables as they write, evaluate, and simplify expressions.
They use the idea of equality and properties of operations to solve one-step equations and inequalities. In statistics, students explore different graphical ways to display data.
They use data displays, measures of center, and measures of variability to summarize data sets. The course concludes with students reasoning about relationships among shapes
to determine area, surface area, and volume.
Grade 7 Math
This course begins with an in-depth study of proportional reasoning during which students utilize concrete models such as bar diagrams and tables to increase and develop conceptual understanding of rates, ratios, proportions, and percentages. Students’ number fluency and understanding of the rational number system are extended
as they perform operations with signed rational numbers embedded in real-world contexts. In statistics, students develop meanings for representative samples, measures of central tendency, variation, and the ideal representation for comparisons of given data sets. Students develop an understanding of both theoretical and experimental probability. Throughout the course, students build fluency in writing expressions and equations that model
real-world scenarios. They apply their understanding of inverse operations to solve multi-step equations and inequalities. Students build on their proportional reasoning to solve problems about scale drawings by relating the corresponding lengths between objects.
Grade 8 Pre-Algebra
This full-year course is designed for high school students who have completed a middle school mathematics
sequence but are not yet algebra-ready. This course reviews key algebra readiness skills from the middle grades and introduces basic Algebra I work with appropriate support. Students revisit concepts in numbers and
operations, expressions and equations, ratios and proportions, and basic functions. By the end of the course, students are ready to begin a more formal high school
Algebra I study.
Science
Grade 6 Science
Students will explore cell theory and structure including cellular interactions with the environment. They will learn about homeostasis, the nervous system, and other aspects of cells such as energy, reproduction, and respiration in animal and plant cells. Genetics, heredity, and mutations will be explored including challenging work with Punnett Squares. Finally, understanding will be cultivated regarding organisms, diversity of life, and animal and worm behavior. Students will learn through online instruction, planning investigations, and participating in virtual labs.
Grade 7 Science
Seventh grade students will delve into the study of atoms, elements, and the periodic table. Learning will include information on metals, metalloids, and nonmetals. Additionally, students will learn about the properties of matter (physical, states, changes, etc.) as well as ionic and covalent bonds, compounds, polymers, and more. Chemical reactions and different forms of energy will be explored including thermal, potential, and kinetic energies. Concepts surrounding sound, light, and electromagnetic waves will be introduced, all of which provide a foundation for future studies in High School. The Earth; its geology and interior will be studied, including plate tectonics, the sea floor, earthquakes, weathering, erosion, and other environmental factors. Finally, ecosystems, population, biodiversity, and human impact on the environment will be presented. Students will learn via online instruction, assignments, and virtual lab experiences.
Grade 8 Science
This course presents a more in-depth study of plate tectonics and forces in Earth’s crust. Natural forces and disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, climate change, ocean circulation, winds, and storms will be investigated. Minerals, rocks, land , air, and water resources and the human impact on these resources will be examined. Students will learn through online instruction, assignments, and virtual labs.
Social Studies
Grade 6 World History
This yearlong course covers ancient peoples, cultures, civilizations, and innovations through approximately 300 CE . Students are introduced to historical inquiry skills for application to studies of ancient civilizations . Students explore physical and human geography to explain how ancient people interacted with the environment and understand how civilizations developed . Students study early economies and how trade relations affected culture and language . In later lessons, students examine how early forms of government and technology have
had a lasting influence on modern civilization . Throughout the course, students analyze maps and primary sources to identify patterns and make connections across time and space . Students are exposed to diverse cultures and learn to explore the past with historical empathy .
Grade 7 Civics & Geography
Exploring the structure of the United States government on a national, state, and local level, this course challenges students to learn and understand fundamental concepts and philosophies that led to the creation of the United States Constitution. Students enrolled in this two-semester course analyze the political process, political parties, and influences that affect them both. Engaging, interactive content introduces economic concepts and encourages students to explore government and economics on a global scale. By instilling a thorough understanding of
government and economics, this course inspires students to investigate what it means to be an American citizen.
Grade 8 US History
Offering an interactive and comprehensive overview of American history, this course engages and inspires students to learn about the rich and diverse history of America’s native peoples, early European colonization
and settlement in America, and the creation of a new nation through the American Revolution. Middle school students enrolled in this course will closely examine major
changes brought about by the nation’s reconstruction, industrialization, urbanization, and progressive reforms
and consider the implications each of these events had on the expansion of the United States’ global influence through modern times. Over the course of two semesters,
interesting course content encourages students to think carefully about the challenges and opportunities facing the United States in the twenty-first century.
Electives
Health Quest
This middle school Health course introduces students to the concepts of what good health is, why good health is important, and what students should do in order to achieve
good health. By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of health as it applies to their
bodies, minds, and environment; identify the components of a healthy lifestyle; set reasonable wellness goals; and apply
health concepts across multiple contexts.
Online Learning & Digital Citizenship
This one-semester course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to online learning, including how to work independently, stay safe, and develop effective study habits in virtual learning environments. Featuring direct-instruction videos, interactive tasks, authentic projects, and rigorous assessments, the course prepares students for high school by providing in-depth instruction and practice in important study skills such as time management, effective note-taking, test preparation, and collaborating effectively online. By the end of the course, students will understand what it takes to be successful online learners and responsible digital citizens.
Keyboarding & Applications
Keyboarding and Applications is a semester-long course
that teaches students keyboarding skills, technical skills, effective communication skills, and productive work habits. Students learn proper keyboarding techniques. Once
students have been introduced to keyboarding skills, lessons
include daily practice of those skills. Students gain an understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, file management, and the Internet. In addition, students apply their keyboarding skills and create a variety of business documents, including word processing documents and electronic presentations.
Digital Literacy
This semester-long elective provides a foundation to understanding key applications, computing fundamentals, and online living. This course focuses on describing technology basics including finger placement on the keyboard and the differences between hardware and software. Students describe the functions of operating systems and their utilities, identify computer networks, how they work, and computer and internet safety. Students identify different communications industries and how to use email, Google, G-Suites, Sheets, Docs,
describe how to create spreadsheets, enter data, create graphs, and use formulas and shortcuts in spreadsheets. Additionally, students will identify the functions of Google Slides, digital media, intellectual property law, workplace crimes, privacy concerns, digital citizenship, and how to stay safe on social media.