Middle School

What does a Middle School Education look like at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School?

Middle Schoolers are a wonderful mix of childhood and growing adulthood, a time when wonder and curiosity need to be encouraged as they explore the world in new and independent ways. At the same time they are building social skills and relationships. At St. Stephen’s, they are given opportunities to grow, to seek leadership, to become formed as human beings ready to explore their worlds.

The goal of Middle School at St. Stephen’s is to prepare students for high school and for life. Core subjects form the base of the Middle School curriculum. Students are given solid skills in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This is done through teaching basic skills and concepts in the core subjects as well as applying these skills and concepts through real life situations, project based learning as the opportunity arises, hands on learning, field trips, visiting guest experts, and small group learning. Students learn the core standards in a traditional and rigorous curriculum and then take those skills and apply them where they are reinforced and extended.

Academics Highlights

ELA-Literature

6th Grade

  • Understand and identify elements of fiction (characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution)

  • Analyze character development and plot structure

  • Identify main ideas and supporting details in nonfiction texts

  • Summarize and discuss key points

  • Understand and use poetic devices (simile, metaphor, imagery)

  • Write and analyze poetry

  • Develop clear narratives and descriptive writing

  • Revise and edit written work

7th Grade

  • Analyze themes, settings, and conflicts in short stories

  • Understand character development and resolution

  • Analyze the author’s perspective and significant events

  • Understand the impact of life experiences on writing

  • Write effective persuasive essays using convincing arguments

  • Understand and apply persuasive techniques

  • Understand the structure and elements of drama

  • Analyze character motivations and dramatic tension

8th Grade

  • Analyze complex plot structures and character development in novels

  • Understand and discuss themes and literary elements

  • Conduct research using credible sources

  • Summarize, cite, and present research findings

  • Analyze advanced poetic forms and literary techniques

  • Interpret and create complex poetry

  • Develop creativity in writing and construct strong arguments

  • Write and present creative and argumentative essays

Social Studies

6th Grade - Social Studies

  • Geography

  • Economics

  • History & Civics

7th Grade - US History

  • The Revolutionary Era

  • The Trail of Tears & Westward Expansion

  • Civil War & Reconstruction

8th Grade - US History

  • Industrial Revolution

  • Progressivism & WWI

  • The New Deal & WWII

  • Cold War & Global Super Power

Mathematics

6th Grade

  • Ratios and Proportional Relationships

  • Operations with Multi-digit Numbers, Fractions, and Integers

  • Expressions and Equations

  • Geometry- Area, Volume, and Surface Area

  • Statistics and Probability

7th Grade

  • Rational Numbers and Exponents

  • Proportionality and Linear Relationships

  • Statistics and Probability

  • Creating, Comparing, and Analyzing Geometric Figures

8th Grade

  • Pre-Algebra review

  • Expressions, Equations, Linear Equations and Functions

  • Linear Functions, Linear Inequalities

  • Exponential and Quadratic Relationships

  • Radical and Rational Functions

  • Geometry

  • Statistics and Probability

Science

6th Grade

  • The Scientific Method, hands on experiements & the impact of scientists

  • Matter and the structure of living things

  • Ecosystems, adaptations and evolution

  • The water cycle, geology and astronomy

  • Natural resources and the environment

7th Grade

  • Developing hypotheses

  • Atomic structure, conservation of mass

  • Cells, genetics, body systems and ecosystems

  • Watershed, wetlands, weather & atmosphere, climate & environment

  • Conservation, habitat destruction, sustainability

8th Grade

  • Designing experiments

  • Atomic theory & the periodic table of elements

  • Natural selection, ecosystem dynamics, health & disease

  • Pennsylvania watersheds, rock cycle, erosion, solar system & galaxies

  • Renewable vs. nonrenewable resources, climate change, carbon footprint