Middle School
Grades 6th - 8th
Students learn in a rich and varied program to foster critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.
History
History is taught to all grade levels chronologically in four volumes (years): Ancient Times, Middle Ages, Early Modern Times, and The Modern Age. During class time, students learn about a significant event, place, or important person from the focus time period for the school year. We advance through the timeline at a much slower pace than the younger cohort to allow for deeper study and greater context. We use The Mystery of History as the guiding text for this block, which presents a rich and comprehensive overview of history through a biblical worldview.
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Science
Students alternate a science lesson and a science lab each week giving students time to dive deep into experiments and discovery and exercise the learning that took place during the previous week’s science lesson. Though the middle school class uses the same sequence as the lower grades, they go deeper in our learning and discussion.
Creative Arts
This block brings the art of the historical time period to life. In alternating weeks, students explore the visual culture of the time as they learn about significant works of art, artists, techniques, and meaningful objects connected to the time period. Then they apply that learning during hands-on studio time. By creating projects rooted in the historical era, students gain a richer understanding of how people of the past expressed beauty, belief, and aspects of daily life. The sequence will be the same as the elementary school, but the students will be challenged to deepen their learning and engagement.
Presentations & Literature Lounge
On alternating weeks, students participate in either brief presentations or Literature Lounge, a relaxed book-sharing time. During Lit Lounge, students share books they’ve enjoyed, ranging from family read-alouds to independent reads, and encourage classmates to explore new titles. On presentation weeks, students give short talks on a variety of engaging topics.
Logic & Critical Thinking
This class introduces students to the logical fallacies and the fundamentals of sound reasoning through a sequenced middle school progression. In the first two years, students focus on understanding how arguments are formed, identifying flawed reasoning, and constructing well-reasoned conclusions. In the third year, the focus shifts to critical thinking and executive functioning skills, helping students learn to organize their thinking, evaluate information, and reflect on their own reasoning processes. Through interactive discussions, real-life examples, and group activities, students practice questioning assumptions, discerning truth, and making persuasive arguments in a respectful and thoughtful manner. The Fallacy Detective, The Thinking Toolbox and Raising A Critical Thinker are the guiding texts for this class.
Writing & Composition
Students explore the powers of words through imaginative writing and journalistic practice. Through a thoughtfully sequenced middle school multi-year cycle, students develop clarity, creativity, and confidence in written expression. Using The Creative Writer Level 1 and The Creative Writer Level 2, students spend two years exploring fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including character development, plot structure, descriptive writing, and writing in verse. In the third year, students apply these skills through journalistic writing, focusing on clear reporting, research, audience, ethics, and responsibility. Weekly in-class writing activities, discussion, and feedback foster a collaborative environment, while optional at-home exercises provide additional opportunities for practice and growth.
Scholar Showcase
The end-of-year showcase project guides students through the process of researching a topic of personal interest, developing critical thinking and communication skills, and expressing their findings through writing and presentation. This project gives students the opportunity to practice new or refined skills and to share what they have learned. The Scholar Showcase is not a separate class; rather, it is the culminating project of the year that integrates the different subject blocks.
Language Roots
Students explore Greek and Latin language roots through interactive and engaging activities. Each week, we introduce new roots and their meanings, discuss their connections to modern English words, and practice using them in context. Students participate in fun games, such as root word matching or word-building challenges, to reinforce their understanding and retention. These hands-on activities not only enhance their vocabulary but also deepen their appreciation for the linguistic foundations of the English language.