Middle School Curriculum
THE ARTS
In
fifth grade art, students work on portraiture, perspective, and still
life drawings that focus on contour and shading using charcoal and linoleum
mono prints. In music, fifth graders learn guitar and connect music
studies with their colonial history curriculum. In drama, students learn
rhythmic movements and explore sensory awareness through team-building
activities, pantomime and expression exercises.
Sixth
grade art students study the principles and elements of design, create
abstract compositions, and learn the proper proportions of the human
form through life drawing. In music, they study music theory and analysis,
and sing, dance and play instruments to connect music studies with their
Civil War curriculum. In their drama class, students explore character
building and plot through visualizations, group skits and solo improvisations.
They also perform a play in conjunction with their language arts studies.
In
seventh grade, art students study the concept of negative and positive
design, learn painting techniques that focus on color theory and value,
and are introduced to surreal art. Seventh graders study music theory
and analysis, sing, dance and play instruments, and connect to their
geography studies through world music. In drama, students hone acting
skills such as observation and concentration through strategy exercises
and theatre games.
Eighth grade students focus on art history and painting; monochromatic painting and designs are introduced. Eighth grade music explores 20th century history through American roots music. In drama and music, the work culminates with the annual Spring Musical.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Fifth
grade students focus on vocabulary development, grammar, literature,
writing, spelling and organizational skills. The students study the
Age of Exploration through the end of the Revolutionary War in a unique
way. English and American History are combined in an integrated approach
for 120 minutes a day. Students learn history not only through simulations,
presentations, and field trips, but also through the historical fiction
they read in their English class. Novels include Sign of the Beaver,
Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Johnny
Tremain.
Language
Arts and History are also integrated in sixth grade. Students learn
important historical events while building and strengthening their comprehension,
grammar, vocabulary and writing skills. The historical events covered
include: the Constitutional Convention, the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
Westward Expansion and the Civil War. In-class activities, demonstrations,
role-playing, simulations, cooperative learning activities, brainstorming,
evaluations, direct instruction, group discussions, and games integrate
themes with academic needs. Students are introduced to new skills and
concepts through a variety of activities that require participation
and reflection.
In
seventh grade, students have eighty minutes of language arts class each
day (two forty-minute classes). Language arts in seventh grade consists
of three main parts: literature, writing and vocabulary. Reading, writing,
thinking, speaking and listening are the key components of the program.
Literature study is based on a variety of genres. Students read novels
and plays, short stories, poetry, biography and autobiography from the
anthologies. There is a strong emphasis on class discussion of material
read. Students write every day. Their writing is often integrated with,
and flows naturally from, their reading. In addition to their daily
response journal, they attempt a variety of forms of writing: book review,
literary analysis, research paper, speech and creative writing. Grammar
is taught in relation to their writing.
In
eighth grade, students have two forty-minute language arts classes each
day. One class—eighth grade English—is devoted to grammar
and composition; the second (in which the students are placed in smaller
groups) is devoted to literature and vocabulary.
Eighth grade English is roughly divided into two, inter-related subjects—grammar and composition. The composition component begins with an in-depth study of sentence structure, moves into paragraph and essay structure, and culminates with a research paper in the spring. Throughout the year, there are special topics in creative writing—including short plays and short stories—speeches, and practice in “response” essays for secondary school testing and admissions. The grammar component covers a variety of topics needed to prepare the students for a strong ninth grade grammar curriculum.
For the literature class, conflicts that create plot are used as a basis to develop themes that reflect the thinking and questioning of adolescents. The literature selections are integrated with the eighth grade history curriculum (1900-present). Students read novels, plays, and selected short stories and poetry, and strong emphasis is placed on group discussion of material read. Novels/plays include Our Town, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Diary of Anne Frank and Fahrenheit 451.
MATHEMATICS
Throughout
the middle school, the math curriculum reflects the National Council
of Teachers of Mathematics standards in the development and reinforcement
of concepts in number and operation, algebra, geometry, measurement,
data analysis and problem solving.
Fifth grade students focus on learning to show neat and complete solution steps and mastering all whole number operations and all decimal and fractions operations except division. Throughout the year, students work in cooperative learning groups on simulations to sharpen problem-solving skills and to work on geometric principles. They learn to navigate and find distance, rate and time, and to make nets for 3-D objects.
Sixth
grade students focus on mastery of all fraction and decimal operations
and work on building a solid foundation for pre-algebra and algebra.
Students use math, science, technology and engineering skills to build
a mini-golf course and continue to work on creating nets for more complex
3-D constructions. As in fifth grade, there is a strong focus on problem
solving. Students are encouraged to take risks, to stretch, and to focus
on strategies for tackling challenging problems.
Seventh grade students take Pre-algebra, focusing on problem solving, equations and inequalities, and the fundamentals of algebraic principles. Students work on problem solving, such as acting out different real world scenarios involving money and trip planning. An emphasis is placed on math study skills and integration with other subjects. The curriculum also includes two weeks of practice for the SSAT test that students will take in December.
Eighth grade students take Algebra I with the goal of testing out of Algebra I upon entering secondary school. Algebra classes are split into two sections so students can work at a pace that ensures their success. Eighth graders explore advanced algebraic concepts to build a solid foundation for math study in secondary school. All aspects of math are reviewed from basic math principles through polynomials and quadratics. The eighth grade spends two weeks reviewing concepts for SSAT testing in December.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Four
days a week, middle school students participate in a wide variety of
sports and activities in physical education class. Students focus on
improving individually as well as becoming more cohesive team units.
In an effort to help our students realize their full promise, the students
learn to create, maintain, and value physically fit lifestyles. Students
participate in sport-specific units such as field hockey, soccer, flag
football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and softball. Activities
such as step aerobics, yoga, wrestling, tumbling and vaulting, Frisbee
and various team-building activities help to round out the curriculum.
The
primary goal is for students to build a solid foundation of skills in
a wide range of activities. Each spring, all students participate in
the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge to assess abdominal strength,
endurance, flexibility, upper body strength and short distance sprinting.
Throughout middle school, students are encouraged to set individual,
as well as team, goals.
SCIENCE
The
fifth grade uses experimentation and hands-on demonstration to examine
and learn scientific method and the physical and chemical properties
of matter. Exploration of energy is taught through special topics in
magnetism and Newton’s laws of motion. The class also works on
special topics of Earth Science and Life Science in preparation for
their sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes.
The sixth grade course gives the students an in-depth view of the earth’s physical features, weather and climate, oceans and water cycle, and the processes within the earth that are responsible for plate tectonics, earthquakes and all associated landforms. Students will also explore special topics in astronomy, including our solar system, stars, galaxies and the universe.
The
seventh grade course begins with an in-depth presentation of cells and
cell processes, including genetics and the processes of biological evolution.
The course also introduces the complexity of living things and their
scientific classification, as well as the interaction of living things
within their ecological boundaries. Human biology and health are also
presented.
The eighth grade course gives students a basic understanding of physical science and provides the means by which scientific knowledge is acquired. The theme of the course is the development of evidence for an atomic model of matter through experimentation and guided reasoning of the results of those experiments.
A science exposition is held every other year and all middle school students participate. Each student is responsible for an individual project, which they will present to their class. Students also work for a few weeks on group challenges that culminate with competitions such as catapult, Rube Goldberg, mousetrap cars and paper airplanes.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The
fifth and sixth grade social studies programs are integrated with the
language arts. Please refer to that section of the curriculum.
In seventh grade, the students study physical and cultural geography. They learn the five themes of geography, the different types of maps, and related vocabulary. Work with maps includes labeling, scale, symbols, latitude and longitude. Students also compare cultures by exploring the material goods and circumstances of different societies. At the end of the year, students research one “Wonder of the World” and create a presentation and model.
Eighth grade students study twentieth century history, from the dawn of the Industrial revolution through the tragic events of 9/11. Using primary and secondary resources, news footage, interviews, simulations, and trips to the Newseum and the Holocaust Museum, students learn the modern history that shapes who we are as a nation.
¡Viva Español!
Whether
composing songs to remember conjugation charts or producing music videos
and television shows, students at Kent School see, hear, move and think
in Spanish. The middle school experience encompasses cultural elements
and a solid foundation of the language. Many of our students place out
of Spanish I when they enter secondary school. Active learning contributes
to our success.
The fifth grade “travels” the world, visiting the many Spanish-speaking countries. Through research, presentations, games and creative projects, the class acquires new information about the language and the culture.
Combining
cultural elements and basic language skills, the class develops a better
understanding of the diverse lifestyles and varying customs of the Hispanic
countries.
The sixth grade begins the structured curriculum of a first-year high school course. The total immersion approach challenges the students to think and communicate in the target language. Students learn to conjugate verbs, utilize vocabulary learned in past years, and construct entire conversations and responses.
The seventh grade continues to build on the foundation set in the previous year. Learning more complex concepts, mastering the present tense, and improving oral competency are the major goals for the year. Interactive projects and oral discussions allow the students ample opportunity to practice the target language on a daily basis.
By the end of the eighth grade, the class has completed the curriculum requirements of a Spanish I course. The students master the preterit tense and examine the many nuances in the language. In addition to formal assessments, the class proves their mastery of the material by creating music videos, newscasts and other media projects
TECHNOLOGY
During
the school year, the middle school students have two four-week blocks
of a dedicated technology class. Starting in fifth grade, and continuing
through eighth grade, all students work to develop proficiency in word
processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications. The goal is to
have every student achieve complete independence with these applications
for use within regular classroom activities. All classes also spend
time learning how to navigate and make the best use of the Internet
as a research tool. 
Starting
in sixth grade, the students are introduced to a “dynamic geometry”
application that reinforces fundamentals of geometry that are presented
in their math classes, as well exposing the students to special topics
in geometry. Seventh graders continue to work with all previously learned
applications and are also introduced to a 3-D design program. In eighth
grade, the students use their first four-week block of classes to review
and expand their abilities with the basic applications. During their
second block, eighth graders work on reinforcing their essay writing
skills.
BUT WAIT . . . THERE’S MORE!
ADVISORY PROGRAM
Each
middle school student is assigned a faculty advisor and is a member
of an advisory group of 6-8 students from grades 5-8. The goals of the
advisory program are to provide a safety net for students, to provide
each student with an adult advocate, and to give students the opportunity
to interact with a small cross-graded group of middle school students.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
All middle school students participate in community service projects ranging from on-campus activities—recycling and Opsrey Day for campus beautification, to local projects such as supporting the local food pantry, and to international projects, for example, the Heifer Project.
COMPETITIONS
Students have numerous opportunities to showcase their many talents throughout the year, competing in the Geography Bee, the Kudner Leyon Essay Contest, the Modern Woodmen Speech Contest, the Spelling Bee, the Talent Show and various essay and poster contests in the community.
All Kent students are members of either the Red or White Team. There are competitions throughout the year in both academics and athletics, and Play Day, at the end of the year, is devoted to a full day of athletic contests.
STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES
Student-led conferences take place in the spring and fall. Students share their goals, discuss strengths and challenges, and share their portfolio of work.
Through this process, students learn to advocate for themselves and evaluate their own performance.
DEARS
Drop
Everything And Read
Silently is scheduled after lunch each day for twenty
minutes.
EXPLORATIONS
Middle
School Explorations is an opportunity for middle school students to
explore topics that are an extension of our regular curriculum, to pursue
an interest or talent, or discover a new one. Small, crossgraded groups
provide a setting for students to interact with students in other classes.
There are two six-week Exploration Blocks, one in the fall and one in
the spring. Typical offerings include:
News
from the Middle, Edible Art, Alternative Dance, Math Warriors, Up, Up
and Away (rocketry), Slam Poetry, Exploring the World of Drums, Hand
Modeling Animals with Clay, Inside the Actors' Studio—Monologues
for the Masses, and Pumpkin Chunkin' (trebuchet).
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Chorus is open to students in grades three through eight. Chorus meets twice a week after school, and students perform at school programs and carol in town at First Friday in December.
French is offered to students from Little School through eighth grade. Classes meet before school.
The school’s interscholastic sports program includes field hockey/soccer, basketball and lacrosse. The program promotes physical fitness, good sportsmanship, skill development and personal responsibility.
FIELD TRIPS
Field
trips are designed to provide a variety of experiences to supplement
the curriculum and fulfill goals for students’ growth and development.
Middle school trips include adventures with Echo Hill Outdoor School,
theater trips to New York as well as nearby cities, museum trips to
the Newseum and the Holocaust museum, a walking tour of Philadelphia,
the Flamenco Ballet followed by a Spanish lunch, and trips to Fort Delaware
and Harper’s Ferry.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
An
active SGA elects officers from grades 7 and 8 and class representatives
from grades 5 and 6. Other middle school students have opportunities
to serve on committees. Students organize dances, fundraisers, activities
and community service projects.
STUDY SKILLS
Organization, time management, note taking, research and test taking strategies are taught and practiced within the regular curriculum. All students are required to keep a planner for writing daily assignments and for keeping track of long-term projects. Research papers are assigned in every grade.
Homework Assignments
Kent School Student Assignments now available online. Click on the button below to view assignments.
PREPARATION FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
What can you do to help your child be a strong candidate for secondary school?
Fifth Grade:
• READ, READ, READ! Encourage your child’s independent reading
habit.
• Begin a resume (list activities, memberships, community service).
• Read progress reports carefully. Work with your child on any weak
areas, such as organization and time management.
• Provide the time and the place for successful completion of homework.
• Avoid over scheduling your child. It is best to do one or two
things well. A good rule of thumb is to schedule no more than one activity
after school each day and no more than a total of three per week.
• Help him/her learn to be independent and responsible. Encourage
him/her to solve problems and be responsible. Resist the urge to phone,
fax or drive to school to collect forgotten books, assignments, deliver
lunch, etc. Encourage your child to talk directly to a teacher or advisor
when there are questions about grades or if help is needed.
Sixth Grade:
• READ, READ, READ!
• Pay attention to areas where teachers note need for improvement.
If necessary, work with the teacher or advisor to develop a plan.
• Encourage independence with time management and problem solving.
• Attend the meetings with the secondary school admission representatives
when they visit Kent School.
• Talk, as a family, about different types of schools (public,
private, day, boarding, co-ed, single gender, etc.)
• Talk with other families about the schools their children attend.
Keep in mind experiences vary with each student, so try to get as many
different views as possible.
Seventh Grade:
• READ, READ, READ!
• Continue to pay attention to your child’s strengths and
weaknesses as noted by teachers. Support your child in setting and reaching
goals for improvement.
• Research schools. Send for information, visit web sites (www.schools.com
and www.petersons.com), and talk to other families about the schools
their children attend.
• Begin visiting schools. Do not limit yourself; visit a wide
range of schools. Leave 8th grade visits for your narrowed list of schools.
Time away from school in 8th grade should be minimal as fall term grades
should reflect a solid effort.
• Register your child to take the SSAT in December. We will review
test taking strategies and have students do practice tests in November.
• Narrow your list of schools to three or four that you feel would
be a good match for your child and your family by the end of this year.
Remember to include a “safety” school where you are confident
of acceptance.
• Ask to see student profiles (average SSAT score and grades of
admitted students) and ask about the acceptance rate. Try to get a real
sense of your child’s chance of acceptance as well as his/her
chance for success if admitted.
• Your goal is to find a school where your child can be successful
and happy.
Eighth Grade:
• READ, READ, READ!
• Visit and interview at the schools on your “short list.”
Be sure to acquire applications from these schools.
• Register your child to take the SSAT in December. We will review
test taking strategies and have students do practice tests in November.
• Pay attention to application deadlines! Submit recommendation
forms to Debbie Williams by early December. These will be completed
and sent by the school.
• Mail your application and fee at least two weeks before the
due date. We recommend Certified Mail.
• Keep a sense of humor and try to minimize stress!
Secondary Schools consider the following in the admission process:
• character
• teacher recommendations
• interview
• what the candidate would contribute to the school community
• grades
• SSAT scores
• student application and essay
Click here to download a pdf copy of "Preparation for Secondary School"