MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS CURRICULUM GUIDE 2015 – 2016
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE
As students are guided to discover their intellectual and personal strengths, they learn perseverance and resilience and, through authentic collaboration, an abiding respect for both the individual talents of classmates and the power of the group. Students encounter an innovative curriculum within a rich and challenging environment that is filled with creative projects, interactive lessons, rigorous academics, and teachers who understand this transformative time in a young person’s life. MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS Community and bonding through class trips Learning from and experiencing the outdoors is an important part of the Middle School experience. Class trips punctuate the Middle School years, helping to build class unity and providing new perspectives on classroom learning. Many students cite their outdoor and trip program experiences as among their most memorable ones at SCH. Honing skills and entrepreneurial thinking Middle School students enjoy classes through the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL). These classes focus on specific 21st century skills and topics identified as important for college and employment, including leadership and ethics, interviewing and oral presentation, prototyping, coding, economics and finance, and research, data, and analysis. Service learning opportunities to serve Students build their sense of effectiveness and learn they are part of a larger community through opportunities to serve, both within and beyond the school. Learning environments outside the classroom Opportunities abound for Middle School students to try new pursuits—on the playing field, on stage, and in a broad range of learning environments. In this way, students develop the confidence to act and are empowered to use their intrinsic talents as artists, authors, musicians, scholars, scientists, “techies,” community activists, and more.
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS CURRICULUM GUIDE
“Our teachers care deeply about the development of girls and take pride in serving as their advocates, challenging them in the classroom, empowering them to discover their passions, and helping them develop into compassionate and empathetic human beings.” ~ Meadow Sakovics Head of Middle School for Girls ENGLISH The English program supports students’ developing fluency in reading and writing. We foster a culture of reading that includes self-selected books as well as common class texts. Students learn to read critically and interpret a mix of contemporary and classical works. HISTORY The Middle School for Girls history curriculum is designed to take advantage of the passion, curiosity, imagination, and energy of Middle School students. Students in 5th and 6th grade examine the geography and history of the ancient world, exploring themes with contemporary relevance. In the 7th and 8th grades, students participate in a two-year study of American history using the resources of Philadelphia to engage in experiential, hands-on learning. • 5th Grade – World History • 6th Grade – World History • 7th Grade – American (U.S.) History • 8th Grade – American (U.S.) History MATH Middle School math emphasizes process over results as it exposes students to the fundamentals of algebraic thinking. While reinforcing basic arithmetic skills with fractions, decimals, and percents, we begin in 5th grade to use variables in mathematical expressions and equations, culminating in 8th grade with formal algebra. • 5th Grade – Expanded Everyday Math • 6th Grade – Advanced General Math • 7th Grade – Pre-Algebra • 8th Grade – Algebra
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
SCIENCE Students in Middle School for Girls continue to refine and strengthen basic science practices—skills used by real scientists and engineers. Our project-based approach to learning challenges students to design their own investigations by forming hypotheses, investigating in the lab or field, quantifying and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. • 5th Grade – Life Science • 6th Grade – Life Science • 7th Grade – Earth Science • 8th Grade – Physical Science LANGUAGE Students may choose either to continue their Chinese studies or to start on a Romance language track. If they choose the latter, in 5th and 6th grades they take a Prima Lingua course in which they study the linguistic features common to many languages and the grammatical structures of English. In 7th grade, those students not continuing to study Chinese may choose to begin to study Spanish or Latin. • 5th Grade – Chinese or Prima Lingua • 6th Grade – Chinese or Prima Lingua • 7th Grade – Chinese, Spanish (Pt. 1), or Latin (Pt. 1) • 8th Grade – Chinese, Spanish (Pt. 2), or Latin (Pt. 2) MUSIC Beginning with their first ensemble experiences in 5th grade, Middle School girls are exposed to high-quality repertoire from a variety of eras, styles, and cultures; written and aural theory practice; and reinforcement of teamwork and ensemble skills that will benefit them in all areas of their academic study. In addition, every 5th grade student receives general music instruction, which explores concepts of music appreciation, music literacy, and music technology, and has the opportunity to participate in either a choral or instrumental ensemble. In 6th grade, students continue their choral or instrumental study at a more advanced level. They may also elect to take specialized classes in World Music and Western Music History. • 5th Grade – [5th Grade Ensemble or 5th Grade Chorus] plus 5th Grade General Music • 6th Grade – Girlchoir, Orchestra, General Music (Explorations in World Music) • 7th Grade – Girlchoir, Orchestra, General Music (Explorations in Western Music) • 8th Grade – Girlchoir, Orchestra, Explorations in Music Ensembles VISUAL ARTS Our lively visual arts program seeks to balance the learning of solid foundational skills with the adventure of expressive freedom. Our program is rich in two-dimensional, threedimensional, and digital art opportunities, collaborative experiences, and exposure to a variety of artistic traditions and cultures, building a broad visual literacy. Our students develop an understanding of artistic concepts and an appreciation of the richness and complexity of artistic expression across the world.
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007
CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP (Introduction to skills needed for the 21st century) The Middle School girls experience the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning (CEL) through their core curriculum classes, CEL-specific classes, and the CEL Venture Incubator. The students take classes in coding, design, research and communication, engineering, economics/finance, and entrepreneurship. • 5th Grade – Adventures in New Media, Social Entrepreneurship, Communication 1: Video, Acting, and Design • 6th Grade – Introduction to LEGO Robotics and Programming, Communications 2: Video, Acting, and Design • 7th Grade – Introduction to Computational Thinking, New Media: Design and Prototyping, Communications 3: Interviewing, Presentation, and Stage Technology • 8th Grade – Digital Publishing, Creative Problem Solving – Introduction to Engineering and Material Science, Money Matters ENGINEERING AND ROBOTICS (Identifying problems and seeking solutions through design) In the Middle School, girls take a course that serves as an introduction to the basic facets of design and engineering. Through active engagement and tinkering, students identify problems and seek solutions while learning that resiliency in problem solving is essential to success.
Hear what parents have to say about why they selected SCH for their child: “As a parent of two very different daughters, we have found the SCH Middle School supportive in helping each of them find subjects and activities that resonate with their personal approach to learning. The single-sex environment has also allowed each of them to find their voice in the classroom and comfortably express their thoughts and perspectives in a non-intimidating environment.” ~ Liz P., MSG parent
500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 • 215-247-7007