Middle School (5th-8th)

During these pre-adolescent and adolescent years, the robust development of academic skills as well as character and social/emotional education prepares Stevens graduates to succeed and lead in their chosen high schools.

The characteristics and long-term goals for our students, Portrait of a Graduate materializes in many forms in the middle school grades. Visit our classrooms and you will find 5th graders researching the societal structure or cultural aspect of Ancient India for their Exhibition Project; 6th graders Skyping with peers in China as part of the Mandarin Chinese program; 7th graders writing critical essays on Romeo and Juliet; and 8th graders learning to simplify rational expressions with all four operations and solving rational equations in Algebra I.

Science Expo

Students conduct authentic scientific investigations that are showcased in the annual Science Expo. Working under the guidance of the middle school science teacher, students formulate a hypothesis, design a method to test their proposition, conduct research and present the findings. These are some science investigations presented by Stevens students at the 2016 Science Expo:

● How does titration help determine the concentration of a solution?
● Which wavelength of light is best for growing Wisconsin fast plants?
● Which chemical reaction is most effective in producing carbon dioxide gas for a car airbag?
● How does temperature affect the formation of a Painted Lady butterfly chrysalis?
● What percent of the population have an abnormal pupillary reflex?

Math Program

The rigor of the middle school mathematics program is found in its material (algebra, geometry and advanced numeracy) and the way Stevens’ math specialists and teachers connect mathematical concepts and problem solving to real world contexts. When students study data sets or probability, they may use what they’ve learned to conduct deeper analysis or make well reasoned predictions related to current events, social studies or other topic of importance.

Students complete Algebra I by the end of 8th grade, and many Stevens graduates place in advanced math courses in high school.

Exhibition Projects

Students complete an exhibition project each year of middle school. The process begins in 5th grade when students choose a topic related to the yearlong study of ancient civilizations. Students form a claim or thesis statement, conduct research, write a paper that evaluates and interprets the information discovered and share expertise gleaned from this process in oral and multimedia presentations. Subsequent exhibition projects are also connected to the 6th grade study of the middle ages and the 7th grade world religions curriculum.

The capstone is an in-depth research project in 8th grade. Before they graduate from Stevens, students conduct an in-depth study on the topic of their choice and also exhibit all they have learned in a presentation modeled on the defense of a doctoral dissertation.

In addition to our academically rigorous program, Stevens’ attention to social and emotional growth provides emerging adolescents with opportunities to mentor, assume new responsibilities and be leaders in the learning community.

Homework
Homework in middle school is connected to daily discussions and skill reinforcement. Certain assignments may be given on a daily basis while others are more long-term, giving students the responsibility to organize, plan and manage their time. Homework can range from one to two hours each evening, depending on grade level, subject content and balance of daily and longer-term assignments given.

Class Schedule
To view sample Middle School class schedules, click here.