Curriculum Overview

Click on subject headings above for specific course descriptions.

St. Andrew's-Sewanee's Middle School curriculum encourages active learning in an environment that promotes a sense of community and offers personal attention. Our Middle School students in grades six through eight study humanities, math, science, visual and performing arts, languages, and Adventure Education. The seventh grade technology course introduces students to a variety of computer applications from word processing to synthesized music. Students are introduced to foreign language study in sixth grade. Eighth grade students ready for Algebra I are able to enroll in Upper School classes.

Adventure Education

The goal in this course is to use our beautiful campus as a setting to develop skills necessary for working with others in an efficient and respectful manner. Team-building activities include hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, low ropes training, wilderness survival studies, and community service projects. Students gain a greater appreciation for nature as they hike the trails, identify native wildlife, and swim in the campus "swimming hole."

Arts

Learning self-expression through the visual arts is an important part of the curriculum at SAS. Seventh graders begin by learning the principles of two-dimensional design. They also explore papermaking, printing methods, and bookbinding, eventually creating a book of their own design. Later, in the 8th grade, they study painting and drawing, and are introduced to hand building techniques with clay. Class discussions and writing assignments on traditional and contemporary art develop our students’ understanding of art and expand their creative horizons.

Performing Arts

Middle School drama introduces the student to the exciting world of the stage. By using improvisation, collaboration, theatre games, and other fun activities, they learn to perform and to support others while they are performing. Students also learn several physical skills such as juggling and balancing.

Humanities

The Humanities courses are writing intensive at each grade level, building sequentially on reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through the exploration of literature and the study of world and U.S. history. All middle school students read and write in a variety of genres, with writing skills taught through a workshop approach, emphasizing process equally with product. At each grade level, critical thinking skills and cooperative learning are central.

Foreign Language

Students in the sixth and seventh grades take Chinese as a way to introduce them to language and cultural studies in conjunction with the Humanities focus on ancient cultures. Eighth graders may begin focusing on the language of their choice, choosing from Latin I, French I, Spanish I or by continuing Chinese. The middle school years are an excellent time to introduce a second language to young people and SAS is committed to making language available to students in the middle school in a way that is both meaningful and fun.

Math

The Middle School math curriculum is designed to strengthen students basic math skills in preparation for higher level math courses. In addition to focussing on content, the preparation includes helping students to overcome any pre-existing math phobias and to see the real-life value and fun of math. The emphasis is jointly on learning how to “do” math and striving to understand why it’s done that way. A solid understanding of the math fundamentals are designed to prepare students for explorations in algebra, geometry, and beyond. Eighth graders have a choice of Pre-Algebra or Algebra I.

Music

Middle School music emphasizes the development of creative skills through composing, listening, and performing different kinds of music. 7th graders learn basic music skills and apply those skills in writing and performing rhythmic studies, melodies, and larger scale pieces. They learn how to process sound on the computer, often combining it with other media. They sing regularly and have access to a variety of musical instruments. 8th graders are covering similar material but are also delving into music history in greater depth than the 7th grade.

Physical Education

Students have a formal physical education program in sixth and seventh grade that uses sports to develop eye-hand coordination, balance, catching and throwing skills, movement and running form. Students work in pairs, groups and teams to learn about volleyball, basketball, soccer, football, softball, tennis, and fitness. The class is designed to emphasize teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills through team sports. In eighth grade, physical education and fitness is accomplished through participation in team sports and/or the Afternoon Programs, which provides numerous opportunities for competitive and non-competitive physical activity.

Science

The SAS Middle School science program integrates life, physical, and earth sciences to show students how all these areas connect in the world of science. Our students do many hands-on lab and outdoor projects that enrich their learning. In the process, they begin to keep lab and field notebooks. By the end of the 8th grade they are writing formal lab reports. Critical thinking skills are fostered as students are challenged to look for the “why" behind the facts

Technology

This class encourages students to understand both the personal and worldly uses of technology and encourage them to be responsible computer users. The course includes typing, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, using the Internet for research purposes, and HTML coding and Dreamweaver. Students also explore the creative uses of the computer through digital images and Adobe Photoshop. Students discover the many uses of technology through individual and class projects, presentations, worksheets, class discussions, quizzes and tests.

Our 7th graders are introduced to the use of internet, basic machine keyboarding skills, software applications, and word processing. They also learn internet safety and research techniques helpful to schoolwork. While exploring the exciting world of digital art and photography, they learn imaging software. We continually upgrade our computer lab to keep it state of the art.