Middle Years

Language & Literature: Students will work on improving vocabulary and reading comprehension skills in fiction and non fiction texts and explore literary analysis of fictional themes, character traits/character development, and author’s point of view utilizing text evidence. Selected literature will make many connections to the I & S subject matter. They write for different purposes that include research reports, persuasive letters and speeches, personal narratives, poetry, fantasy narratives, and literary analysis essays. Many media options beside traditional writing are used to communicate ideas, including google slides, podcasts, imovies, and art.

Science: During 6th grade science, the students will explore what it means to be a scientist throughout the Middle Years Program. We focus on hands-on science, developing testable questions, collecting data, and evaluating the validity of sources and quality of data. Students are encouraged to follow their curiosity and find their own answers. Outdoor Learning is an essential ingredient for connecting science concepts to real-world experiences.

Individuals & Societies: We start the year in a unit that focuses on developing map skills and connecting how they relate to our orientation in space and time. Students also learn about ancient civilizations in the eastern hemisphere; Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. Special attention is given to scientific and technological innovations developed in those civilizations and how they impact us today. The year ends with a cross curricular unit taught simultaneously in science and L & L that addresses globalization and sustainability issues; the goal is to understand what it means to be a global citizen.

Math: In sixth grade, students move beyond math facts to discover a greater variety in the number system. Students learn to convert fractions, decimals, and percentages. They multiply and divide portions and include negative numbers into their computations. Students begin to write expressions to represent unknown quantities and learn to solve simple equations. Students explore geometry by calculating area, perimeter, and volume.  We connect visual representations of data to our science concepts, creating a variety of graphs. Students will also discover that statistics can help them communicate a message with their data.

Performing Arts: The program will often align the Language Arts and Individual & Societies units. 6th Grade students will have an introduction to Shakespeare and adapt one of his plays. They will also create and give performances that explore Greek literature and conflict in history.

Design: 6th Grade is the first year of the Middle Years Program. The first quarter will be spent learning and refreshing the students’ skills with the tools found in the design lab. During the second through fourth quarters, they will be using these skills to go through the design thinking process while integrating knowledge from other subject areas, such as using measurement skills from math class, problem solving issues discussed in humanities, and creating solutions to needs found within their day to day life.

Band: Sixth grade band continues with their progress in method book one and playing concert repertoire to their ability. Students enjoy the success of playing concert music for an audience. We strive to advance all students to be confident players on their instruments while playing through Method Book One with the goal of starting Method Book Two.
This group will explore more styles of concert music and extend their level of play from Grade 1 to Grade 1 1⁄2 concert pieces.

Students are always so proud of their progress through learning, playing and performing. Students need to be able to support each other and work together as a group to be a successful ensemble. We will also include new students to the program with help of advanced musicians.

Spanish: Students will progress through the three levels during middle school. Completing level 3 will prepare students to successfully transistion to Spanish 2 or 3 in high school. The course objectives align with National Forgein Language Standards and Bend-LaPine secondary programs. 

PE: Strength and Conditioning II Fitness for Life (Weight lifting, circuit training, aerobics, yoga II, power walking, Jogging and Cross Country Running)

Team Sports II: (Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee)

In-door Games II: (Team Handball, In-door Soccer, In-door Football, International Kickball and Wiffleball)

Individual Sports II: (Pickle ball, Badminton, Golf, Tennis, Archery, Racquetball, Croquet, Bocce, Project Adventure II and Horseshoes)

These are a few examples of the types of action projects done in 6th grade:

Language & Literature: Students will write personal narratives exploring their identities and relationships, design comic books using vocabulary words, and create fantasy stories that demonstrate personal and cultural expression. They participate in weekly Word Wednesdays and Book Clubs throughout the school year. Kids have a chance to bond during whole class field trips such as our 2 day overnight at Camp Tamarack, and during many Friday SEL activities.

Science: We kick off our year together with “How Strong is an Egg?” Students are given a problem that too many eggs are breaking during transport, and they need to design a test to determine how to best protect the eggs as they travel. Students design their own investigations to gather evidence for their proposed design solution for the engineers of egg transport materials.  

Our Moon Project occurs later in the year when we are studying cycles. Students spend a month observing the moon and its patterns, drawing sketches, and recording quantitative data and qualitative data. Ultimately, students create a model of the moon and all of its phases to share with the class. The creativity is endless!

Individuals & Societies: Students create fictional maps, make comparisons across civilizations, and present individual research projects.

Math: The “Bottle Flip Challenge” is a fun and interactive way to collect data and explore concepts of statistics and graphing data. Students try to flip a water bottle completely before it lands on the desk, which is not an easy task! They record their successful attempts per bottle and discover the average among students. Ultimately, they graph the levels of success across all bottles attempted to discover the best bottle for flipping. 

The “Design a Park Project” combines the concepts of geometry, ratios, and multiplying fractions altogether. Students create a blueprint using shapes to create the park of their dreams, including any feature that would serve the community. They ensure the plans are realistic by calculating the area and perimeter of each shape, including fractions. Finally, students must justify the value of their park for the local community to fellow classmates.

These are a few examples of the class experiences done in 6th grade:

Science: Sixth graders raise Rainbow Trout in the classroom from eggs to fry. They monitor the water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen to ensure the living conditions support healthy fish. We take several field trips to the Deschutes River to test the water quality for wild fish, then to Shevlin Pond, where we release our trout babies. Students have the opportunity to try fishing for their own trout during our visit to the Metolius in the Spring.

Individuals & Societies: Students particularly enjoy Greek Day in the spring where they perform plays and experience various Greek foods. After learning about the lack of clean water in other countries they have the opportunity to to run a 5k to sponsor building a well in a third world country.

Math: In the design lab, we use our math skills to build boxes for design lab supplies! Students will practice the skills of measuring, converting, and calculating the surface area. They will apply what they have learned about geometry to designing solutions for an authentic problem that benefits all students at Seven Peaks. 

Science: Through a broad range of in-class and student-centered activities, Seventh Grade Science  covers the basics of Chemistry, Scientific Method, and Cellular Biology/Genetics with a focus on critical thinking and problem solving and connecting scientific knowledge to everyday real-world applications. The overarching theme for the year is “Identity: what makes something unique”

Individuals & Societies: Concept-based inquiry empowers students to prompt their own learning and gives them the flexibility to make connections to their local, regional, global experiences.  I strive to have a student-centred approach that allows for an inviting and warm atmosphere that promotes communication, open-mindedness, critical thinking, reflection, and global understandings across various subject matters. I encourage my students to be self-driven inquirers and empower them to express themselves as individuals and to collaborate with their peers. Through this approach, students are more engaged and gain more depth in their understandings by inviting each student to make connections and gain multiple perspectives in their surrounding global community.

Language & Literature: In 7th-grade L&L, students study how perspective shapes meaning across a range of genres and styles of writing. We also consider the many elements that produce a perspective (context, history, culture, identity).

Math: Students progress into pre- algebra building their skills of operations, solving equations, probability, proportions, lines, and graphs.

Visual Arts: Quarter 1: An exploration into art mediums, techniques, artists and genres (both historical and modern). 2D Art - Drawing Fundamentals- Elements and Principles of Design 3D Art - Ceramics - Empty Bowls Community Service

Quarter 2: 2D Art - Collage/Mixed Media 2D/3D Art - Figure Drawing/Wire Sculpture 3D Art - Ceramic Sculpture - Creating Characters - Career exploration

Quarter 3: 2D Art - Painting - Pointillism - Impressionism/Post-Impressionism 3D Art - Fused Glass - Themed Art Show Piece

Quarter 4: 2D Art - Altered Books or Copper Relief 2D/3D Art - Linoleum Block Prints - Printmaking Historical & Modern day

Performing Arts: The program will often align the Language Arts and Individual & Societies units. 6th Grade students will have an introduction to Shakespeare and adapt one of his plays. They will also create and give performances that explore Greek literature and conflict in history.

Design: The first quarter of 7th grade design will be spent learning and refreshing the students’ skills with the tools found in the design lab, and going deeper within the digital programs used for the Laser Cutter and 3D printer. During the second through fourth quarters, they will be using these skills to go through the design thinking process while integrating knowledge from other subject areas, such as integrated units around National History Day, performing arts stage needs, and creating solutions to needs found within their day to day life.

Band: Seventh grade band is a complete ensemble with great instrumentation. Students continue to learn their instruments and are ready to move to book 2 and more complex concert music. These students are committed to their instruments and love the achievements they hear in class and at concerts. This group should advance playing Grade 1 1⁄2 to Grade 2 literature. Students are always so proud of their progress through learning, playing and performing. I hope to be able to take this ensemble to contest in the spring. Students need to be able to support each other and work together as a group to be a successful ensemble. We will also include new students to the program with help of advanced musicians.

Spanish: Students will progress through the three levels during middle school. Completing level 3 will prepare students to successfully transistion to Spanish 2 or 3 in high school. The course objectives align with National Forgein Language Standards and Bend-LaPine secondary programs. 

PE: Strength and Conditioning II Fitness for Life (Weight lifting, circuit training, aerobics, yoga II, power walking, Jogging and Cross Country Running)

Team Sports II: (Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee)

In-door Games II: (Team Handball, In-door Soccer, In-door Football, International Kickball and Wiffleball)

Individual Sports II: (Pickle ball, Badminton, Golf, Tennis, Archery, Racquetball, Croquet, Bocce, Project Adventure II and Horseshoes)

These are a few examples of the types of action projects done in 7th grade:

Science: Students will participate in projects such as Stop-motion animation creation and constructing a mobile to represent their individual identity. 

Individuals & Societies: Students in Individuals & Societies will participate in many action projects that are driven by their own inquires while navigating The Middle Year’s Program.  Such exemplars of this framework will include the opportunity to explore Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences during our National History Day exploration in the New Year!

Language & Literature: Our inquiry begins with portraits and S.E, Hinson’s The Outsiders, develops with our interdisciplinary unit exploring creativity and constraint through podcasts, climaxes with student’s original research in National History Day, and concludes with Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch.

Math: Students will use their math knowledge in 7th grade to make blueprints, create a carnival game, research a UN sustainability goal and predict a world trend, and enjoy pi day!

These are a few examples of the class experiences done in 7th grade:

Science: Students also participate in supporting experiences such as presenting their own experimental data in a grade level Science Fair where students must demonstrate their thought process and defend their conclusions based on the evidence presented.  

Individuals & Societies: One of our highlighted experiences is participating in the Oregon Historical Society. This trip/experience is a student-directed, project-based, interdisciplinary learning program that invites students to interpret a historical event that connects to the annual theme by creating a website, paper, performance, exhibit, or documentary. We are hoping to all physically attend this event in April 2022

Another highlighted experience is the Model United Nations Program. This is a widely practised program across the globe in IB schools that is “student-led” learning by informing our students about the world and developing the skills such as research, position papers,  public speaking and problem-solving.

Language & Literature: Students whose National History Day projects are selected to compete at the state-level competition will travel to Portland, Oregon to showcase their projects for consideration for the national competition.

In an interdisciplinary unit with Science, students will read Andy Weir’s The Martian, exploring narrative structures in L&L and the science behind Weir’s fiction in Science. Students will have the option of creating their own research based work of fiction or nonfiction, conducting research to support their creation.

Science: Using a variety of student-driven, design-thinking activities, Eighth Grade Science  students explore the basics of Newtonian Physics, Wave properties, Human Sensory Systems, and Planetary Geology. Using science based novels they delve deeper into the Periodic Table of the Elements and Scientific Ethics with a focus on critical thinking and connecting scientific knowledge to everyday real-world events both past and present. The overarching theme for the year is “Change: how do changes to a system affect its performance?”

Individuals & Societies: Concept-based inquiry empowers students to prompt their own learning and gives them the flexibility to make connections to their local, regional, global experiences.  I strive to have a student-centred approach that allows for an inviting and warm atmosphere that promotes communication, open-mindedness, critical thinking, reflection, and global understandings across various subject matters. I encourage my students to be self-driven inquirers and empower them to express themselves as individuals and to collaborate with their peers. Through this approach, students are more engaged and gain more depth in their understandings by inviting each student to make connections and gain multiple perspectives in their surrounding global community.

Language & Literature: In 8th-grade L&L, students take up difficult debatable questions that shape the world: we begin by exploring the limits of ambition through our reading of Shakespeare’s Macbeth; consider the limits of communication through our reading of Anne Frank’s diary and other Jewish holocaust writing; take up global conflict and resolution through Model UN position papers; and conclude by reflecting on the ethics of continuing to consume works of art by controversial artists. 

Math: Students begin learning algebra, including lines, solving for variables, exponential functions, through quadratic functions. 

Visual Arts: Quarter 1: An exploration into art mediums, techniques, artists & genres (both historical & modern). 2D Art - Drawing Fundamentals- Elements & Principles of Design 3D Art - Ceramics - Empty Bowls Community Service Project

Quarter 2: 2D Art - Painting - Modern Expressionism 2D Art - Collage - Self Portraits - Modern Art

Quarter 3: 2D Art - Drawing/Mixed Media - Perspective Drawing historical and modern achievements 2D Art - Drawing/Mixed Media - Hero Portraits - Artist focus: Chuck Close - Modern Art

Quarter 4: 2D/3D Art - Themed Art Show Piece 3D - Independant Ceramic Project

Performing Arts: The program will often align the Language Arts and Individual & Societies units. 6th Grade students will have an introduction to Shakespeare and adapt one of his plays. They will also create and give performances that explore Greek literature and conflict in history.

Design: The first quarter of 8th grade design will be spent learning and refreshing the students’ skills with the tools found in the design lab, and practicing more independence with digital design programs/machines and power tools. During the second through fourth quarters, they will be using these skills to go through the design thinking process while integrating knowledge from other subject areas, such as science standards around sketching and designing to scale, math concepts around measurement and geometry, performing art productions, and creating solutions to needs found within their day to day life.

Band: Eighth grade band continues with their progress in method book 2 and playing concert repertoire to their ability. We strive to advance all students to be confident players on their instruments while playing in their method book and concert music.
This group will explore different styles of concert music and extend their level of play from

Grade 1 1⁄2 to Grade 2 and beyond. Students will continue to become better musicians through class work and practice at home.

Students are always so proud of their progress through learning, playing and performing. Students need to be able to support each other and work together as a group to be a successful ensemble. We will also include new students to the program with the help of advanced musicians.

Spanish: Students will progress through the three levels during middle school. Completing level 3 will prepare students to successfully transistion to Spanish 2 or 3 in high school. The course objectives align with National Forgein Language Standards and Bend-LaPine secondary programs. 

PE: Strength and Conditioning II Fitness for Life (Weight lifting, circuit training, aerobics, yoga II, power walking, Jogging and Cross Country Running)

Team Sports II: (Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey, Lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee)

In-door Games II: (Team Handball, In-door Soccer, In-door Football, International Kickball and Wiffleball)

Individual Sports II: (Pickle ball, Badminton, Golf, Tennis, Archery, Racquetball, Croquet, Bocce, Project Adventure II and Horseshoes)

These are a few examples of the types of action projects done in 8th grade:

Science: Students will participate in projects such as building water bottle rockets and Newton-Scooters in demonstration of Newton’s 3 laws of motion.

Individuals & Societies: Students in Individuals & Societies will participate in many action projects that are driven by their own inquires while navigating The Middle Year’s Program.  Such exemplars of this framework will include the opportunity to explore Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences during our National History Day exploration in the New Year!

Language & Literature: In an interdisciplinary Model UN unit (L&L and I&S), students are challenged to take up the greatest issues facing our global community today by representing the perspective of our assigned country. All students then submit a position paper and participate at the MUN conference, held April 7-9 in Eugene, OR.

Math: Students will use their math skills to predict linear trends related to world issues, find solutions to real life quadaries (economics of gas consumption), model bridges, and enjoy Pi day.

These are a few examples of the class experiences done in 8th grade:

Science: Students participate in supporting experiences such as presenting a mini-lesson on a scientific concept of their choosing to another grade level as a final demonstration of their knowledge. 

Individuals & Societies: One of our highlighted experiences is participating in the Oregon Historical Society. This trip/experience is a student-directed, project-based, interdisciplinary learning program that invites students to interpret a historical event that connects to the annual theme by creating a website, paper, performance, exhibit, or documentary. We are hoping to all physically attend this event in April 2022

Another highlighted experience is the Model United Nations Program. This is a widely practised program across the globe in IB schools that is “student-led” learning by informing our students about the world and developing the skills such as research, position papers,  public speaking and problem-solving.

Language & Literature: As theater is a communal art, students will bring Macbeth to life through in-class theatrical readings, as well as a live performance of a modernized interpretation of the play by the 8th-grade Performing Arts students late fall.