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Middle School Curriculum
 In addition to upholding and adhering to the national and state standards for education, The Country School Middle School provides an environment where education is life itself, learning is directly related to the interests and needs of the child, problem solving takes precedence over the inculcating of subject matter, the teacher's role is not to direct but to advise, and where cooperation is encouraged rather than competition.
6th Grade Science Physical Science
Topics : the nature of physical science; data in science; properties of matter; states of matter; elements, compounds, and mixtures; atoms; the periodic table; matter motion; forces and motion; forces in fluids
Skills : give oral presentations; evaluate resources for research; communicate through written reports; plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis; evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of data; distinguish between variable and controlled parameters in a test; construct appropriate graphs from data and develop quantitative statements about the relationships between variables; classify substances by their properties; identify the structure of the atom and that it's composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons; use the periodic table to identify elements in simple compounds and to identify regions corresponding to metals, nonmetals, and inert gases; identify separately the two or more forces that are acting on a single static object, including gravity, elastic forces due to tension or compression in matter, and friction; predict whether an object will float or sink; calculate density; construct models
 6th Grade Mathematics
Topics : arithmetic operations with whole numbers, positive fractions, positive decimal and positive and negative integers; accurately compute and solve problems; addition and multiplications of fractions; statistics and probabilities; mean, median, and mode; ratios and proportions; area; perimeter; volume of two and three dimensional figures
Skills : understand the positions of negative numbers and the geometric effect on the numbers on the number line when a number is subtracted from them; interpret and use ratios in different context; learn how to use, write and solve ratios and proportions; develop and understand how to solve simple one variable equations; learn the concepts of mean, median and mode and how to calculate the range; analyze data and sampling processes for possible biases and misleading conclusions; routinely use addition and multiplication and fractions to calculate the probabilities for compound events; use a constant such as phi in formulas to calculate the circumference and the area of a circle; learn that the lengths of the sides of a polygon or the diameter of a circle are used to find the distance around the figure; learn that the volumes of three-dimensional figures can often be found by dividing and combining them into figures whose volumes are already known
6th Grade English
Topics: reading comprehension; symbolism; modes of development: compare-and-contrast, narrative, expository, persuasive and descriptive writing; prose; poetry; drama; nonfiction; simple and compound sentences; verb tense; vocabulary; spelling
Skills: read aloud narrative and expository text fluently and accurately and with appropriate pacing, intonation, and expression; read and understand grade-level-appropriate material; describe and connect the essential ideas, arguments, and perspectives of the text by using knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose; i dentify the forms of fiction and describe the major characteristics of each form; identify and analyze features of themes conveyed through characters, actions, and images; define how tone or meaning is conveyed in poetry through word choice, figurative language, sentence structure, line length, punctuation, rhythm, repetition, and rhyme; write clear, coherent, and focused essays that contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions; write comparison and contrast, narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 to 700 words in each genre; write research reports: support the main idea or ideas with facts, details, examples, and explanations from multiple authoritative sources; use simple, compound, and compound-complex sentences; identify and properly use indefinite pronouns and present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect verb tenses; ensure that verbs agree with compound subjects; spell frequently misspelled words correctly (e.g., their, they're, there)
6th Grade Social Studies
Topics : western and non-western ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia , Egypt , India , Greece , China , Rome and Mesoamerica ; geography; social, economic and political structures; ancient art and architecture; technology and science; literature and language; religion
Skills : describe what is known through archaeological studies of the early physical and cultural development of humankind from the Paleolithic era to the agricultural revolution; analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, Greece, China, Rome and Mesoamerica; discuss the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world; locate and describe the major river systems and discuss the physical settings that supported permanent settlement and early civilizations; trace the evolution of language and its written forms; analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds ; develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did; discuss important aesthetic and intellectual traditions; discuss legacies of art and architecture
 7th
Grade Life Science
Topics : the nature of life science, light and living things, cells, heredity, studying Earth's past, the history of life on Earth, the evolution of living things, classification, plant processes, animals, body organization and structure, reproduction and development
Skills : give oral presentations; evaluate resources for research; communicate through written reports; plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis; communicate the logical connection among hypotheses, science concepts, tests concluded, data collected, and conclusions drawn from scientific evidence; select and use appropriate tools and technology (including computers, balances, and microscopes) to perform tests, collect data, and display data; construct scale models and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate scientific knowledge; identify the differences between the life cycles and reproduction methods of sexual and asexual organisms; identify the levels of organization for structure and function of plants and animals, including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the whole organism; identify how independent lines of evidence from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provide the bases for the theory of evolution; identify how movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms
7th Grade Mathematics
Topics : number theory and algebraic reasoning; integers and rational numbers; operations with rational numbers; proportional reasoning; percents; plane figures; perimeter, circumference and area; volume and surface area; probability; multi-step equations and inequalities; graphs and functions
Skills : study the connections to algebra through the study of algebraic representations and linear relationships, study in-depth the connections among properties operations and representation of rational numbers, study linear relationships including graphical representations and algebraic representations, gain an understanding of congruency and the relationship of units of measurement and the use of ratios for conversations between measurements systems, develop number sense through the use of the Pythagorean Theorem, use experimental and theoretical probability, learn about independent and dependent events in probability, study geometry and determine surface area and volume of common three-dimensional figures, students will study linear functions through proportional relationships
7th Grade English
Topics : short story; novel; poetry; drama; elements of fiction; research papers; creative writing; modes of development: narrative, expository, cause and effect, process; persuasive and descriptive writing; parts of speech; comma usage; spelling; vocabulary
Skills : articulate the expressed purposes and characteristics of different forms of literature; identify and trace the development of an author's argument, point of view, or perspective in text; identify and analyze recurring themes across works; d efine how tone or meaning is conveyed in poetry through word choice, figurative language, sentence structure, line length, punctuation, rhythm, repetition, and rhyme; develop interpretations exhibiting careful reading, understanding, and insight; write clear, coherent, and focused essays and research papers; essays contain formal introductions, supporting evidence, and conclusions, organize interpretations around several clear ideas, premises, or images from the literary work; use a variety of effective and coherent organizational patterns, including narrative, process, cause and effect, expository, persuasive and descriptive writing; identify all parts of speech and types and structure of sentences; demonstrate the mechanics of writing (e.g., quotation marks, commas at end of dependent clauses) and appropriate English usage (e.g., pronoun reference); spell derivatives correctly by applying the spellings of bases and affixes; use context clues to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary and to understand the precise meaning of grade-level-appropriate words
7th Grade Social Studies
Topics: medieval and early modern times; Europe, Africa and Asia in the years A.D. 500- 1789; geography; social, economic and political structures
Skills: review the ways in which archaeologists and historians uncover the past; analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of Islam, Europe, China and Japan in the Middle Ages ; examine the growing economic interaction among civilizations as well as the exchange of ideas, beliefs, technologies, and commodities; learn about the causes and effects of the vast expansion and ultimate disintegration of the Roman Empire; compare and contrast the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Meso-American and Andean civilizations; analyze the origins, accomplishments, and geographic diffusion of the Renaissance; learn about the resulting growth of Enlightenment philosophy and the new examination of the concepts of reason and authority, the natural rights of human beings and the divine right of kings, experimentalism in science, and the dogma of belief; assess the political forces let loose by the Enlightenment, particularly the rise of democratic ideas; analyze the historical developments of the Reformation; discuss the historical developments of the Scientific Revolution and its lasting effect on religious, political, and cultural institutions; explore the political and economic change in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries (the Age of Exploration, the Enlightenment, and the Age of Reason)
 8th
Grade Earth Science
Topics: scientific method, tools and measurement, models, cartography, topography, heat and energy, the cycling of matter, natural resources, using material resources, fossil fuels, alternative energy, Earth's structure, the theory of plate tectonics, deforming Earth's crust, California geology, earthquake measurement, types of volcanoes, effects of volcanic eruptions, rates of weathering, soil conservation, erosion and deposition, stream and river deposits, using water wisely, resources from the ocean, ocean pollution, currents and climate, characteristics of the atmosphere, air movement and wind, biomes and ecosystems
Skills: give oral presentations; evaluate resources for research; communicate through written reports; develop a hypothesis; plan and conduct a scientific investigation to test a hypothesis; communicate the logical connection among hypotheses, science concepts, tests concluded, data collected, and conclusions drawn from scientific evidence; select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers, balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and display data; construct scale models and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate scientific knowledge; recognize whether evidence is consistent with a proposed explanation; read a topographic map and a geological map for evidence provided on the maps and construct and interpret a simple scale map; know that Earth is composed of several layers: a cold, brittle lithosphere, a hot, convecting mantle, and a dense, metallic core; know matter is transferred over time from one organism to others in the food web and between organisms and the physical environment; know different natural energy and material resources, including air, soil, rocks, minerals, petroleum, fresh water, wildlife, and forests, and know how to classify them as renewable or nonrenewable; know that energy can be carried from one place to another by heat flow or by waves, including water, light and sound waves, or by moving objects; identify how independent lines of evidence from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provide the bases for the theory of evolution; identify how movements of Earth's continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms
8th Grade Pre-Algebra or Algebra
Topics: integers and exponents; rational and real numbers collecting, rational functions and equations; displaying and analyzing data; plane geometry; perimeter, area, and volume; ratios and similarity; percents; probability; systems equations and inequalities, quadratic functions and equations; graphing lines; sequences and functions; factoring polynomials
Skills: identify and use the arithmetic properties of subsets of integers and rational, irrational, and real numbers, including closure properties for the four basic arithmetic operations where applicable; understand and use such operations as taking the opposite, finding the reciprocal, taking a root, and raising to a fractional power; understand and use the rules of exponents; solve equations and inequalities involving absolute values; solve multi-step problems, including word problems, involving linear equations and linear inequalities in one variable and provide justification for each step; graph a linear equation and compute the x- and y- intercepts; sketch the region defined by linear inequality; add, subtract, multiply, and divide monomials and polynomials; solve multi-step problems, including word problems, by using these techniques; simplify fractions with polynomials in the numerator and denominator by factoring both and reducing them to the lowest terms; add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational expressions and functions; solve both computationally and conceptually challenging problems by using these techniques; solve a quadratic equation by factoring or completing the square; know the quadratic formula and are familiar with its proof by completing the square; explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning and identify and provide examples of each; identify the hypothesis and conclusion in logical deduction; use properties of the number system to judge the validity of results, to justify each step of a procedure, and to prove or disprove statements
8th Grade English
Topics: elements of fiction: plot (e.g., subplots, parallel episodes, climax), the plot's development, the relevance of the setting (e.g., place, time, customs) to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text, recurring themes (e.g., good versus evil), and the way in which conflicts are (or are not) addressed and resolved; significant literary devices (e.g., metaphor, symbolism, dialect, irony); contemporary works of literature; different forms of poetry (e.g., ballad, lyric, couplet, epic, elegy, ode, sonnet); vocabulary development; grammar: parallelism, subordination, coordination and apposition
Skills: create compositions that establish a controlling impression, have a coherent thesis, and end with a clear and well-supported conclusion; establish coherence within and among paragraphs through effective transitions, parallel structures, and similar writing techniques; support theses or conclusions with analogies, paraphrases, quotations, opinions from authorities, comparisons, and similar devices; achieve an effective balance between researched information and original ideas; revise writing for word choice; appropriate organization; consistent point of view; and transitions between paragraphs, passages, and ideas; employ narrative and descriptive strategies (e.g., relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description, comparison or contrast of characters); write research reports; write persuasive compositions; find similarities and differences between texts in the treatment, scope, or organization of ideas; evaluate the unity, coherence, logic, internal consistency, and structural patterns of text; compare and contrast the features and elements of consumer materials to gain meaning from documents (e.g., warranties, contracts, product information, instruction manuals); analyze text that uses proposition and support patterns; analyze idioms, analogies, metaphors, and similes to infer the literal and figurative meanings of phrases; use word meanings within the appropriate context and show ability to verify those meanings by definition, restatement, example, comparison, or contrast
8th Grade Social Studies
Topics: ideas, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution up to World War I, with an emphasis on America's role in the war; the development of American politics, society, culture, and economy and relate them to the emergence of major regional differences; the challenges facing the new nation, with an emphasis on the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War; the connections between the rise of industrialization and contemporary social and economic conditions.
Skills: understand the major events preceding the founding of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy; analyze the political principles underlying the U.S. Constitution and compare the enumerated and implied powers of the federal government; discuss the foundation of the American political system and the ways in which citizens participate in it; understand the aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation; discuss U.S. foreign policy in the early Republic; understand the divergent paths of the American people from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced, with emphasis on the Northeast; analyze the divergent paths of the American people in the South from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced; focus on the divergent paths of the American people in the West from 1800 to the mid-1800s and the challenges they faced; discuss the early and steady attempts to abolish slavery and to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence; analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War; analyze the character and lasting consequences of Reconstruction; understand the transformation of the American economy and the changing social and political conditions in the United States in response to the Industrial Revolution
Creative Writing and Illustration (6th, 7th and 8th Grade)
This course is designed to further enhance and encourage the creative art of writing. Focusing on the process of writing imaginative stories and poetry, students will be presented with appropriate information and instruction needed to write effectively and meaningfully. Students will look closely at how stories develop, at what poetry is, at student modeled stories and poems, at the traits of effective writing (stimulating ideas, logical organization, engaging voice, original word choice, smooth-reading sentences, and correct accurate copy), and at guidelines for the writing process (prewriting, writing, revising, and editing). The end product will be a folio of students' writing and illustrations.
Middle School Latin (6th, 7th and 8th Grade)
Topics : ancient Roman cultural history; institution of familia ; slavery and freedmen; Roman religious beliefs; gladiatorial combat; topography, locale, and social structure of Pompeii ; the destruction and excavation of Pompeii
Skills : gain a knowledge of Latin vocabulary; increase understanding of derivation and word study in English; improve use of English grammar by comparison and contrast with that of Latin; translate composed Latin and passages adapted from Latin authors; analyze Latin grammar in context; understand Latin as an inflected language whose nouns consist of five declensions, five cases, and three genders; learn: the first three declensions, noun and adjective agreement, comparative adjectives, personal pronouns, four tenses (present, imperfect, perfect, and pluperfect) of verbs in all four conjugations, present tense infinitives, present and imperfect tenses of irregular verbs ( esse , posse , velle , nolle ), first three principal parts of verbs, Latin word order (subject, indirect object, direct object, verb), the enclitic ๑ ne , and complex sentences with indicative mood used in dependent clauses; examine the political, economic, and social institutions and procedures during Roman rule; develop an appreciation of the artistic, cultural, and intellectual accomplishments of Roman civilization
Middle School Spanish (6th, 7th and 8th Grade)
Topics : influence of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures, vocabulary development, verb conjugation, sentence structure, language mechanics, informal vs. formal language
Skills : translate greetings; describe oneself, hobbies, food preferences, family members, past vacations, future activities, personal feelings, past activities, and natural environment; list actions to protect the environment; name species that are in danger in Latin America and in the United States
Middle School Electives
Sculpting and Ceramics
Create original clay sculptures using various tools and techniques and learn the many possibilities obtainable with the use of different clays and glazes. Create a Terracotta bowl, a mug, and a box with a lid. Students learn a variety of ceramic techniques to construct these clay pieces using slab and coil techniques, limited only be their imagination.
*Limit: 15 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8 th
Instructor: Lisa Blatt
Yearbook
This course is designed to have the students explore the world of journalism with hands-on experience in the creation of the school yearbook. Students will learn the foundations of design and page layout, letter type, and how to navigate and use the online yearbook program. They will work like journalists, having to meet publication deadlines, sorting through photos, writing brief editorials, and planning page layouts. Students will be required to fulfill their yearbook assignments along with assisting the yearbook teacher committee with faculty members to ensure that school events are represented.
*Limit: 8 students Grade: 7th & 8th
Instructor: Leslie Smith
Improvisation
Students will have the opportunity to experience a unique form of theatrical expression that has been beloved by actors and actresses since the time of Shakespeare. The class will focus on allowing students to be comfortable conveying their feelings and thoughts within their own space, as well as in front of others. Each class will begin with relaxation and vocal exercises to help students feel at ease in their own bodies and prepare for a variety of improvisational activities. This course will not be focused on preparing students to go on stage, but rather to expose them to the diversity of expressional forms that exist in the art world, including speech, body language, writing and even some visual arts. Taryn has recently become an active member of the Write Act Repertory Company Theatre in Hollywood . Guest speakers and visits to the company to see how professional actors use this art will also be a strong part of the course. If students choose, they will have the opportunity to put on a small performance to conclude the course.
*Limit: 10 students Grade: 6th & 7th
Instructor: Taryn Chaifetz
S.E.A.C.S. (Students for an Environmentally Aware Country School )
In this innovative service learning project based on TreePeople's Generation Earth program, students will become an integral part of making The Country School a more environmentally friendly place. Students will design their own projects to decrease waste on the entire campus and plan new projects for the middle school campus. This will help ensure that the new campus starts out with an environmental basis and the students can feel they have truly left their mark on the middle school. Some possible projects include: recycling program, a compost bin, a native garden, and many moreึ
*Limit: 8 students Grade: 6th & 7th
Instructor: Taryn Caifetz
Council
Students will participate in the council process which helps foster communication and group strength. Taryn has been trained as a council facilitator by the Ojai Foundation and will use this process to help students understand each other and their classmates on a deeper level. Although the facilitator helps the class move smoothly, the participants come together to decide where the group will go in each session. Each person is an integrative part of the communications process. Council has been used by schools, organizations, and corporations for years for conflict resolution, tackling issues of race, gender, culture, religion, etc. as they arise. Students will come out of council more attuned to their own needs and feelings, as well as those around them. This will continue to build the strong community which The Country School strives to be every day.
*Limit: 24 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8th
Instructor: Taryn Chaifetz
Writing Study Hall
The student will receive one-on-one help with grammar, paragraph structure, and reading comprehension. They will work from a packet with interactive activities, and they will receive individual tutoring. We will also play word games for fun (i.e.: Scrabble, crossword puzzles, etc.). This elective serves as enrichment for humanities (social studies, English, and writing workshop).
*Limit: 6 students Grade: 6th & 7th
Instructor: Chelsea Jarecke
Observational Drawing and Painting
*Limit: 10 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8th
Instructor: Lisa Blatt
Leadership
This elective allows the student to put forth his/her talents through interaction with the elementary school population. After being assigned to a particular classroom (kindergarten through 5th grade), each student will play a key role in assisting with the overall needs of the classroom and the individual needs of the elementary school students. These roles include, but are not limited to, assisting with academic centers, providing one-on-one tutoring, and offering supervision and assistance with physical activities such as P.E.
*Limit: Unlimited Grade: 6th
Instructor: Elementary School Faculty
Chorus
Do you love music, singing and hanging out with friends? Middle School Chorus is the place for you! Choose this elective and learn to sing in harmony, using your voice as an instrument. Have you ever wondered how your body creates the sounds that come out of your mouth? Join Middle School Chorus, and learn about: voice mechanics, breath control and support, how to produce a clear tone, and how to be expressive while singing. Course may include a great field trip and performance opportunities! Most importantly, though, and with your welcome suggestions, we will sing, sing, sing our hearts out!!
*Limit: 15 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8th
Instructor: Carlin Singer
Hip-Hop Dance
This is a creative movement class with a focus on age-appropriate modern Hip-Hop moves accompanied by Radio Disney and Radio Friendly Hip-Hop Music. Each class leads students through a warm-up routine, cross-floor work, and development of a dance sequence, culminating in a performance demonstration for teachers, parents, siblings, and friends on the last day of class.
*Limit: 15 students Grade: 6th & 8th
Instructor: Michelle Hanley
Circus Kids
This creative movement class focuses on circus skills accompanied by age appropriate music. Each class leads students through a warm-up routine, technique development, and experimentation with various circus props such as hula-hoops, baton-twirling, and juggling, culminating in a performance demonstration for teachers, parents, siblings, and friends on the last day of class.
*Limit: 15 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8th
Instructor: Michelle Hanley
Time Travel in the Discovery of Mathematical Perspective
Students will get a unique perspective on mathematics and science by taking a historical tour of developments within these subject matters through the ages and in civilizations around the world. They will hear, read, and discuss the lives of some famous and revolutionary figures in science and math. Participants will watch videos, research, read, and discuss stories related to the developments in mathematical and scientific thinking; they will also research the historical developments of inventions taken for granted in everyday life and read about the inventors who have revolutionized our lives and lead to the technologically intensive society we live in today. There will be hands-on demos and experiments to enhance the experience. Science and mathematics are an integral part of everything we do, even art, as exemplified by the life of Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh. As a culminating activity, students could possibly write a story, create a drama, or develop an exhibit to highlight the life of a person or work in mathematics or science they find interesting. Students who are inclined to try their hand at inventions can even invent something fun and revolutionize the world!
*Limit: 10 students Grade: 7th & 8th
Instructor: Monali Khandagle
Bookworms
As a member of Bookworms, you will take part in weekly discussions of a selected work of literature. The novels will vary in genre, appeal to both boys and girls, and include a mix of new and older titles. Activities during Bookworms will include talking about books, contests, Readers' Theater, games, and other book centered events. This promises to be an exciting and interactive learning experience!
*Limit: 15 students Grade: 6th & 7th
Instructor: Chelsea Jarecke
Geek Squad
Students will not only build computers from ์the ground up,๎ but will also refurbish used computers for donation to members of our neighboring communities. If possible, students will assist with on-campus computer issues as well.
*Limit: 10 students Grade: 7th
Instructor: John Preston
North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony Project
Students will assist with installing a wireless network in the senior retirement home and supplying twenty laptops to the residents who are interested in participating. The seniors will be learning basic computer skills, searching the Internet, and establishing contact with the students through email. Students will document this project through digital video and digital photography, posting their progress online and culminating the year with a documentary of their own creation. The main focus of this program is on community service and the skills developed will be basic computer knowledge and operation, video and photo editing, and website design. Transportation will be provided to and from the North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony.
*Limit: 13 students Grade: 6th, 7th & 8th
Instructors: John Preston & Sergio Camachos
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