Middle School Courses

6th Grade

7th Grade

6th Grade English - Full year course
In English, you will explore literary elements in both nonfiction and fiction texts. You will examine point of view in memoirs and practice writing a short memoir. In the latter part of this course, you will study character in different genres of literature. You will explore the topic of change in nonfiction texts and evaluate arguments and claims in informational texts. Finally, you will study the characteristics of persuasive writing and practice writing persuasively. In the 2nd semester, you will begin with analyzing the element of conflict in literary nonfiction texts and examine examples of cause and effect. You will also investigate different genres of literature to analyze the element of conflict. Next, you will explore methods for developing multimedia presentations. In the latter part of the course, you will analyze elements of poetry such as theme, structure, meter, language, and sound. You will also examine different types of poetry. Finally, you will identify techniques for developing a research paper.

7th Grade English - Full year
In this class, you will explore different elements of fiction such as theme, characters, setting, and plot. You will also improve your writing by developing skills required for academic writing. You will evaluate how change affects society and an individual’s personal growth by analyzing various informational texts. In the latter part of the 1st semester, you will examine various poetic devices and elements of drama. You will also compare a dramatic text to its film version and you will analyze elements of writing such as tone, audience, purpose, and structure in informational texts. In the 2nd semester, you will analyze the literary elements of point of view and conflict in literature. You will study the features and techniques of persuasive writing. You will evaluate the use of the literary element of conflict in informational texts. In addition, you will learn about the main characteristics of public speaking. In the latter part of this semester, you will investigate the topic of identity in literature. In the final unit, you will read novels and explore various literary elements.

6th Grade Math - Full year course
In 6th Grade Math, you will analyze proportional relationships, and determine the ratios that describe them, use your own words to describe the relationship a ratio describes, divide fractions by fractions. work fluently with fractions and decimals, converting fractions to decimals and vice versa. You will visualize numbers and ordered pairs by using number lines and the coordinate plane, determine solutions to inequalities on number lines, and evaluate expressions using absolute values. By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following: Evaluate exponential expressions. work with expressions with variables. describe the properties of operations to determine whether two expressions are equivalent, evaluate equations and inequalities. and analyze real-world problems and use variables to solve them. You will determine the area of a triangle, rectangle, or polygon made up of triangles and rectangles, determine the volume of right rectangular prisms, recognize questions that can be answered using statistics, and describe different methods of determining the center of a set of numbers

7th Grade Math - Full year
In 7th Grade Math, you will identify the constant of proportionality, use equations to represent proportional relationships and solve real-world and mathematical problems involving ratio and percent. You will apply and extend your previous understanding of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers, convert a rational number to a decimal number, use variables to represent quantities in a real-world or mathematical problem and write simple expressions, equations, or inequalities to solve the problem. You will use properties of operations to rewrite linear expressions in different forms. In the 2nd semester, you will solve problems that involve scale drawings of geometric figures, construct geometric shapes with traditional tools and with technology to satisfy given conditions, and solve real-world and mathematical problems involving angle measure, area, surface area, and volume. While studying statistics and probability, you will use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population, compare two populations using their measures of center and measures of variability, and understand that probability is a measure of the likelihood that a chance event will occur.

6th Grade Science with Virtual Labs - Full year course
This course discusses the structure and properties of matter, force interactions between objects, and Earth and space systems. In the first unit, you will explore the composition of matter and atomic arrangements of substances. In the second unit, you will identify forces and analyze the motion of objects using words, equations, and graphs. In the last unit, you will study interactions in the solar system and the role that gravity plays in the motion of celestial bodies. In the 2nd semester, you will discusses Earth’s history, its ecosystems, and its climate and weather. In the first unit, you will explore the history of Earth and how natural forces such as wind and water shape its formation. In the second unit, you will study the relationships between the physical and biological elements of Earth’s ecosystems. In the last unit, you will discover how the uneven heating of Earth from the Sun leads to its various climates and weather patterns.

7th Grade Science with Virtual Labs - Full year course
In this course, you will discusses the structures, processes, and reproduction of organisms. In the first unit, you will explore the cell as the structural and functional unit of life. The second unit covers the growth, development, and modes of reproduction in different plants and animals. In the third unit, you will learn about sensory receptors, photosynthesis, and cycles of energy transfer that occur in nature. In the 2nd semester, you will discusses chemical changes that occur in matter, and it teaches how to identify different forms of energy. The course also covers force fields and the factors that affect their strength. In the first unit, you will apply the law of conservation of energy to the products and reactants in a chemical reaction. In the second unit, you will be introduced to gravitational, electric, and magnetic force fields. In the third unit, you will learn more about energy transformations in objects and systems as you study kinetic energy, potential energy, and thermal energy.

6th Grade History: Ancient Civilizations - Full year course
This course is designed to help you understand ancient history. The first unit delves into the skills used by historians to study the past. The first unit also traces the development of early humans. It will help you understand the importance of the Neolithic Revolution. In the second unit, you’ll study the development of early civilizations of the Middle East and North Africa. In the 2nd semester, you will explore the major civilizations in India and China. In the second unit, you will examine early civilizations in the Mediterranean and the Aegean, as well as the rise of the Persian Empire and the city-states of Ancient Greece. You will also identify the spread of Greek civilization during and after the life of Alexander the Great. In the third and final unit, you will learn about ancient Rome, including its transition from a republic to empire and the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome.

7th Grade History: Medieval and Early Modern Times - Full year
In the 1st semester of this course, you will learn about major historical events from the end of the classical empires through the Mongol invasions. In the first unit, you will study the collapse of the classical empires and the importance of the Byzantine Empire. You will also explore the development of western Europe in the early Middle Ages. In the second unit, you will analyze the rise of Islam. You will also study trade in China and the development of civilization in Japan and Korea. In the third unit, you will learn about the development of civilizations in the Middle Ages and the Mongol invasions. In the 2nd semester, you will learn about major world events from the late Middle Ages through the American Revolution. In the first unit, you will learn about European society and the development of nation-states during the late Middle Ages. Next, you will study European exploration in the Americas and the effects on global trade. In the third unit, you will examine Renaissance culture. You will then learn about the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. You will finish the course with an exploration of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment.

8th Grade

Electives

8th Grade English - Full year
In the 1st semester, you will read and analyze literature in several different genres. In addition, you will explore many types of writing, such as creative, descriptive, expository, narrative, and persuasive. Dramatic conventions and the structural elements of poetry are also a focus of this course. You will sharpen your writing skills as you evaluate literary works and informational texts by examining formal techniques, form, and writing structures. In the 2nd semester, you will read and analyze literature from several different genres, as well as argumentative texts and informational texts. As you read, you will examine the author’s purpose, audience, and point of view. In this course, you will build your research skills by evaluating sources for credibility and bias, develop a research plan, and write a research paper. An important aspect of the research process will be synthesizing information and correctly citing research sources. This course will prepare you to give a presentation based on your research. Throughout this course you will sharpen your reading and writing skills.

World Geography - Full year
This course will introduce the foundational concepts and tools of geography. You will learn about natural processes that shape the physical world and examine how these processes vary around the globe. You will earn about human geography and resource development. The course then goes on to cover each region of the world in depth.

8th Grade Math - Full year
In Math 8, you will explore transformations and solve linear equations. You will also solve real-world problems with two linear equations. In this course, you will study and interpret functions that can help you solve problems you encounter in everyday life. You will also study the use of scientific notation and learn to use roots appropriately. You will plot and compare irrational numbers and simplify expressions with irrational numbers. You will also explore the Pythagorean Theorem and probability, which you can use to solve real world problems.

Students who show preparedness may take Algebra I during 8th grade.

Earth and Space Science- Full year
Earth and space science is the study of the structure of our planet and Earth’s role in the solar system and universe. This branch of science relies on observations, historical data, and physical evidence to describe the natural processes that occur around us and in distant space. Semester 1 begins with a discussion of the methods and tools that scientists use to study Earth and space science, including the scientific method, modeling, and mathematics. You’ll look at theories for how the planets, solar system, and universe formed and explain the interactions between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. You’ll also learn about the emergence of Earth’s materials, atmosphere, and first lifeforms, as well as the dating methods that help us piece together Earth’s unique history. You’ll begin Semester 2 by comparing the composition of rocks and minerals and analyzing the processes involved in the rock cycle. You’ll explore the tectonic mechanisms that lead to some of Earth’s most prominent geological features. Next, you’ll study important interactions between the hydrosphere and atmosphere and the role they play in weathering and erosion. You’ll also differentiate between weather and climate and make evidence-based predictions about both using data and modeling. The last unit in this course highlights the negative effects that humans can have on the natural cycles of Earth, as well as effective measures we can take to protect our planet.

Algebra I - Full year
Algebra I begins with the study of linear relationships. You will graph, create, and solve linear equations and apply function notation to describe linear relationships. You will also study linear transformations and represent linear data using scatter plots and mathematical models. You will write and solve systems of linear equations and inequalities. At the end of the 1st semester, you will represent, compare, and analyze datasets in a variety of contexts. The major topics of the 2nd semester are quadratic and exponential relationships. You will learn to perform operations on polynomials and factor them. You will examine quadratic relationships in detail by writing and graphing quadratic equations. You will also model real-world situations with quadratic functions and solve quadratic equations using a variety of methods. You will investigate exponential relationships and apply exponential models to describe and make predictions about real-world situations. You will solve linear-quadratic and linear-exponential functions. At the end of the 2nd semester, you will compare different function types graphically and algebraically.

8th Grade Science with Virtual Labs - Full year
In this course, you will discuss genes and inheritance, the evolution of species, and managing energy resources on Earth. You will explain how an organism’s genes transfer traits from parents to offspring. You will also learn about genetic diversity and genetic mutations. In the second unit, you will compare the anatomy and development of species to give evidence for evolution. You will also see how fossils and rock strata on Earth hold important clues about evolution. In the third unit, you will differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable energy resources on Earth. You will see how energy transforms as it moves from one sphere of Earth to another. In the second semester, you will discuss climate change and methods for confronting it, the physical features of waves and wave technology, and the positive and negative ways that humans and technology affect the Earth and its ecosystems. In the first unit, you will study the factors that have led to climate change and explore scientific solutions to address these changes. In the second unit, you will learn how waves and interactions between them can be used to develop new technologies. In the third unit, you will broaden your knowledge of technology-based and human-based threats to the environment and find ways to reduce their negative impact.

8th Grade History: History of the USA - Full year
In this course, you’ll evaluate historical data to develop your historical thinking skills. In the second unit, you’ll learn about the major events and developments of colonial America. In the third unit, you’ll analyze the causes and effects of the American Revolution. In the last unit, you’ll explore developments in the new nation, including the creation of the US Constitution, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the administrations of George Washington and John Adams, and the importance of the election of 1800. You’ll analyze the importance of the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, industrialization, and the Monroe era. In the second unit, you’ll examine the Jacksonian era, the impact of westward expansion, the reform movements of the mid-1800s, and the abolitionist movement. In the third unit, you’ll learn about the Civil War. You’ll analyze the factors that led to the Civil War and the impact of the war on the United States. In the last unit, you’ll explore the Reconstruction period.