Middle School Programs & Courses

In this art class, students will begin by learning how an artist uses the principles of design to arrange their images on the page. Students will paint, draw, use mixed media and create collages. They will learn how they can trick the eye of the viewer by studying Op-art, Pointillism and Trompe-l’oeil realism. The course will also focus on the artists M.C. Escher, Victor Vasarely, Georges Seurat, amongst others.

Students in this course will work through design challenges and solve problems by prototyping and making in any number of materials. They will be encouraged to ask repeatedly, “What else could this be?” and “What else could this do?” Along the way, they will expand their imaginations, sharpen their observation skills, and learn to critique with positivity and focus

Explores digital drawing and art using Wacom drawing tablets, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Students will be encouraged to seek creative ways of using technology to prepare projects and assignments. Color Psychology, character design and drawing techniques will be the main focus of this class. Design for blogging, portfolio setup and logo design will be studied. The core software for this class will be Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, though the exploration of other software and how to use design and art software will be a focus.

The course is designed for the student who wants to be able to draw objects and make them look “real”. Using various dry media (graphite, charcoal, pastels), students will master looking at three-dimensional subjects placed in front of them and replicating them on a page.

An introductory course in which students learn basic principles of design and jewelry fabrication, while working with copper, brass, and silver filled wire & sheet. Students will also be encouraged to incorporate nonmetal objects into their work. They can expect to learn how to cut, drill, file and hammer metal. Wire work, chain maille, and installing manufactured rivets will also be covered. Students will develop a plan, taking into consideration design elements such as composition, movement, balance, aesthetics, and wearability.

Beginning with a study of photography and Photoshop, students progress to project-based experiences that help them to write, critique, film, edit, and produce cinema rooted in a story that they develop. Assessment will consist of photography presentation and critiquing, individual and group presentations (both traditional and media-based), and use of digital technologies.

This class is for students interested in modern dance technique and performance. Students will gain an increased understanding of their individual range of movement, and develop balance and coordination. Students perform in both the Winter and Spring Dance Concerts.

Middle School Tap Attack combines traditional tap dance technique found in 42nd Street and “Singing in the Rain” with the energetic contemporary style of STOMP and TAP DOGS, to provide students with the opportunity to raise the roof and make some noise! They develop focus and rhythmic intelligence, while also increasing physical stamina and coordination. Students will perform in the Winter or Spring Middle School Performing Arts Showcase.

This class gives students the opportunity to learn about the rich history of the American musical theater, while pursuing specialized performance training in acting, singing, and dancing.Through the production of an hour-long musical, students develop musicality, spatial awareness, and collaborative skills, and also learn to create sustainable and motivated characters for the stage. The musical will be chosen specifically for the students in the class to help them cultivate these skills, and will be performed at the end of the semester.

In addition to developing skills in reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar, students in English 6 learn how to annotate effectively, identifying themes and symbols as they discuss plot and character development. Students learn to use a writing process (planning, drafting, revising, publishing) with respect to the construction of individual sentences that are then linked to create cohesive, well-organized paragraphs. By mid-year, students begin to write analytical responses and use rubrics for revision that facilitate a growing sense of autonomy and confidence as writers. Use of iPads is carefully introduced so that students learn techniques of working with paper as well as electronic texts in both their reading and writing. Texts include short stories, poems and longer texts, such as The Bread Winner, A Long Walk to Water, The Outsiders, and Look Both Ways.

English in Grade 7 continues to deepen and broaden habits of critical thinking introduced in Grade 6. Literature is used both to enhance student understanding of the world in which they live and to understand the complexity of life through effective study of characterization. As students begin to understand the ways in which authors create, they respond to such close reading through regular
annotation, writing, and class discussion. Study of vocabulary and grammar continues to occur within the context of reading and writing along with the use of specific exercises. Ongoing use of writing and revision rubrics reinforces the understanding of writing as a process, particularly with respect to the creation of analytical essays. Independent thinking is encouraged through the use of expository and creative journaling. Texts include short stories, poetry, and longer texts, such as The Alchemist, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, and New Kid.

Students in Grade 8 deepen their skills in literary criticism with continuing emphasis on the decisions authors make when creating theme, character, and plot. The emphasis on authorial intent is further promoted through the creation and revision of analytical essays that require strong thesis statements, appropriate use of evidence, and the discovery of subtextual levels of literary meaning. Shorter writing assignments promote robust patterns of thinking that are both critical and creative. Study of vocabulary and grammar continues within the context of reading and writing along with the use of specific exercises. Students are encouraged to work autonomously and with confidence as a means of prefiguring expectations in the Upper School. Texts include short stories, poetry, and longer texts, such as Animal Farm, Orbiting Jupiter, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You, and Night.

Literary Investigations is a quarterly class that introduces sixth grade students to a variety of learning strategies that enhance and optimize the potential for school success across the curriculum. When provided with frequent opportunities to identify strategies and understand why they work, students are better able to transfer those strategies to everyday practice. As reading comprehension is an integral part of all coursework at MBS across disciplines, students will also reinforce critical comprehension skills such as: preview, visualize, monitor, identify the main idea, summarize, inference, and make connections to self and beyond. Activities will focus on understanding readings and evaluation prompts within Math, Science, Social Studies, and Literature.

In addition to their Grade 7 English class, students rotate through English Workshop 7, a semester-long course designed to enhance writing and reading skills. After analyzing expository, descriptive, and persuasive writing from a number of academic disciplines, students will develop a portfolio of their own writing in each rhetorical mode. A major new component of Workshop 7 this year is the student reading club. Under the guidance of their teacher, small groups of students will select texts, create reading assignments, and establish weekly discussion topics.

In addition to the Grade 8 English class, all students rotate through English Workshop 8, a semester-long class designed to enhance skills in reading, writing and public speaking. Areas of focus in the first half of the course include note-taking and annotation, essay and paragraph planning, and the incorporation and analysis of textual evidence. Students also practice the key skills of proofreading and revision for clarity and precision. Focus in the second half of the course shifts to public speaking. Through analyzing a range of famous speeches, students learn the elements of successful persuasive speaking, paying keen attention to what speakers say and how they say
it. Students then build skills and confidence by creating and delivering a series of their own speeches of varying lengths and styles.

Geography 6 introduces some of the basic concepts and skills that are expanded upon in Grades 7 and 8. The course is designed to help students better understand themselves and the world in which they live as they examine the physical and human aspects of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Students learn about the world’s people, places and environments through hands-on activities, mapping labs, oral presentations, cross-curricular real world simulations, and using technology to communicate with others around the globe. There is a strong emphasis on the writing process.

Students in seventh grade History, Society, and Civics focus on decoding artefacts from the past to make sense of the world they live in. Moving from the personal to the global, and from the Ancient World to recent American history, they learn how the past lives on in the present. The year culminates with an investigation of the US constitution as a living artefact, undergoing amendment and reinterpretation since its inception, shaped by and actively giving shape to American society. The year includes a field trip to Philadelphia and draws on local history.

The US in 20th century World History asks students to consider American history in relation to 20th century conflicts and social movements around the globe. Relating the national to the international, students will learn to understand history from a global perspective. Over the year, students will focus on pivotal 20th century conflicts and social movements, while sharpening their abilities to ask questions, conduct research, and analyze forces of change in the world.

Math Foundations is a study of basic mathematical skills while challenging students with some abstract algebraic concepts. The course introduces students to number properties and integer operations, integrating negative numbers with a study of other rational numbers. Through a mix of problem solving, logic challenges, and word problems, Math Foundations emphasizes critical thinking in preparation for more advanced courses. The course challenges students to show and explain work, demonstrating that process and end-product are equally important.

Introductory Integrated Math Part B is part two of a two-year introductory course that begins with Part A. In Part B, students continue their work with rational numbers by synthesizing them with an in depth study of expressions, equations, exponents and radicals. Students apply those skills and concepts in a study of geometry including angle relationships, the pythagorean theorem, and two and three dimensional measurement. Finally, to prepare for the subsequent course work, students learn to solve, write and graph multi-step equations and inequalities. Students use a variety of means of expression to justify, explain and model mathematics as they make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

Integrated Math 2H continues the Integrated Math sequence by building on the foundational concepts acquired in Math 1. Students will encounter thought-provoking problems in a variety of contexts that require strong connections between algebra and geometry. Principle topics covered through problem solving and exploration include right triangle trigonometry, quadratic functions, methods of proof, polygons, transformations, and rational expressions. Each topic requires an added level of sophistication and abstraction as students obtain a higher level of mathematical fluency.

Vocal Ensemble gives sixth graders the opportunity to sing with one another in a choral setting, while at the same time building individual musicianship skills. The group rehearses and performs with a focus on ensemble work, using rounds and partner songs to develop musical independence as singers. Additionally, through games and activities, the students learn to sight-sing, the skill to look at a piece of notated music, hear it in one's head, and sing it.

Every person has within themselves the ability to create music. Music Foundations encourages seventh graders to function as composers, using various media to create different types of music. With a mixture of group and individual projects, students use both physical instruments as well as software to create many types of music, be it a chamber piece for Upper School students to perform, or 8-bit music to accompany a video game.

Science 7 deepens students’ understanding of biology in the human body, building on their understanding of their work in Science 6. In addition, students are introduced to the fundamentals of chemistry and geology, as they engage in projects that strengthen the skills of hypothesis formation, observation, and interpretation of data.

Science 8 introduces students to botany, challenging them to think through problems of form and function of cells and organisms from a new perspective, with opportunities for local fieldwork. Students build on their knowledge of plant life to gain new understanding of environmental crisis and resilience. During the year, students are also introduced to the fundamental principles of physics. As in previous years, strong emphasis is placed on the experimental process, observation, and the analysis of data.

In Wellness class this year, Seventh Graders will focus on a variety of topics centered on personal safety, decision-making, and adolescent development. Our personal safety discussions will include discussions on “street smarts” and online safety, including un-derstanding our digital footprints and preventing and dealing with cyber-bullying. Students will examine and refine their decision making with units on ethics and stress management. In the unit on adolescent development, our sessions will emphasize hygiene and the physical changes associated with adolescence including puberty and brain development.

In eighth grade Wellness, students will deepen their understanding of many of the concepts explored in seventh grade, focusing on personal safety, decision-making, and adolescent development. In addition, we will delve into new areas, including commu-nication skills, managing relationships, resolving conflicts and developing a growth mindset that is resilient and seeks challenges. We will also spend time considering the students’ impending move to the Upper School, discussing the changes they can anticipate, and ways to prepare.

Sixth Grade Language Exploration introduces students to Morristown-Beard's emphasis on providing a foundation in the Liberal Arts through a semester each in French and Latin, interspersed with cultural-linguistic lessons in Spanish. Recognizing that a large percentage of students have studied Spanish as part of their elementary education, students will explore French and Latin, discovering the personalities of these languages and the cultures they represent before they choose a language - French, Latin, or Spanish - for continued study in 7th grade. Consistent use of the target language helps students explore meaningful contexts of communication such as social and cultural interactions, games, songs and stories. A variety of motivational and student-centered techniques are used to inspire young language learners. A range of assessment practices, both formative and summative, measures progress in the targeted areas. The programs in Latin and French seek to heighten students’ awareness of root words and cognates, thus informing and bolstering their familiarity of vocabulary in English. The Language Exploration program supports the overall humanities curriculum in 6th grade through extending upon key themes studied in Geography and English. Interim units on the school experience in other parts of the world, human migration, and food culture and security broaden students’ understanding of these topics, while developing language proficiency and cultural awareness.

French, Spanish, or Latin 8 continue to develop linguistic ability by surrounding students with the target language. The course aims to promote acquisition and fluency through a variety of activities in all four-language skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writ-ing. Students learn to communicate meaningfully through cooperative learning and interactive language tasks that range from conversation to paper and pencil to iPad-based. Students encounter a variety of in-class materials including audio, video, and on-line resources. Creative student-use of the iPad fosters engagement and collaboration, provides convenient access to authentic materials and allows easy integration of student-generated resources into learning sequences. The iPad additionally facilitates active student-intervention through more dynamic pre-sentations, digital stories and the use of various applications to promote novel ways of practicing and learning. Authentic materials are used to enhance and develop cultural understanding of the countries where the language is spoken.