Curriculum
Our aim at the Krieger Schechter Middle School is to foster each student’s love of learning as he or she moves through pre-adolescence. We encourage our students to seek the goals of academic excellence and responsible independence.
Our curriculum synthesizes the intellectual heritage of both Jewish and American cultures and strives to instill an appreciation of both. The curriculum brings together the values of the Jewish and broader communities.
A crucial portion of the program includes a forum for each youngster to develop critical and analytical thinking skills and individual expression in each discipline. Middle School academics are a critical developmental step for students, helping them form the study habits, intellectual curiosity, and love of learning that will guide them through high school, college and beyond.
English
The English curriculum of Krieger Schechter Middle School focuses on the growth and improvement of skills and strategies in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing. The literature curriculum encourages reading in a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts. Students learn to read for fluency; to understand the elements of literature; to comprehend important ideas and details; to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and expand ideas; to think critically about an author’s use of language, style, purpose, and perspective; and to gain an appreciation of literature and the shared reading experience. Grammar and vocabulary skills are developed both through targeted practice and in the context of writing assignments. Writing skills are further developed and supported in Writing Workshop classes in 5th and 6th grades. Students learn to write for different audiences and purposes, and to follow a writing process that builds from brainstorming, to writing a rough draft, to editing a final product.
Students in 5th Grade study the elements of a novel: characterization, setting, plot, and theme. They also use close text analysis build comprehension skills and understand inferences, figurative language, and other literary elements. They respond to literature through writing, class discussion, art, drama, and computer projects. Writing assignments include book reports, compare and contrast essays, character sketches, research papers, persuasive writing, and creative poetry and prose.
Writing Workshop
Meeting three times per week in 5th Grade and twice a week in 6th Grade, writing workshop students explore the craft of writing in a low-key, small-group setting. Students experiment with various writing genres to achieve proficiency in mechanics, organization, and meaning. The 5th Grade course also includes a special emphasis on grammatical concepts and the application of these rules in writing. Both courses stress the importance of the revision process and encourage students to strive for excellence in their writing.
Math
Math classes in the middle school are generally homogeneously grouped so that students at every level of ability are challenged to the best of their abilities. Our comprehensive accelerated program for gifted and talented students provides a gateway into advanced math programs in high school.
Fifth Grade Math:
- Place value, properties and problem solving
- Addition, subtraction, and multiplication of whole numbers
- Division with one, two and three digit divisors
- All operations and problem solving involving decimals
- Geometry: perimeter, area, and volume All operations of fractions
- Percents
- Standard and metric measurement
- Statistics and Probability
See the 6th Grade Math curriculum for the 5th Grade Accelerated curriculum.
Social Studies
The Social Studies Curriculum at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides students with the tools to understand how the past has effected the present. By integrating the 5 Themes of Geography (Location; Place; Human-environment Interaction; Movement of People, Goods and Ideas; and Regions), established by the National Geographic Society, the students are able to have an awareness and understanding of their past and present world.
Students in 5th Grade focus on map skills, exploration, colonization, U.S. government, and the Revolutionary War. Highlights of the year include a one-day trip to Philadelphia and a state research project, culminating in a State Fair.
Science
The Science Department at Krieger Schechter Middle School seeks to encourage discovery while providing students with insights into the field of science. Each grade’s curriculum is supplemented with lab work that provides hands-on learning experiences using the tools of today’s scientists.
Students in 5th Grade focus on the systems of the human body. They are introduced to using a microscope and conduct various dissections in the lab. The highlight of the year for many of our young scientists, their families, and our own KSMS faculty and staff is the Invention Convention where students create their own inventions to solve everyday problems.
Judaics
The 5th Grade Judaics curriculum is centered on a close exploration of the Book of Numbers (Sefer Bamidbar). Students explore the text’s themes of leadership, nation-building and personal responsibility. They also discover the cycle of gaining and losing faith in God that the Israelites experienced on their journey in the desert from Egypt to the Land of Israel. Students uncover meaning through a variety of approaches, including a close reading of the original text (in Hebrew and in English, when needed), discussion, interpretation, commentary, art and drama projects, as well as student-created PowerPoint and other presentations.
The 5th Grade Jewish history curriculum focuses on early Jewish life in America, seamlessly dovetailing with the 5th Grade Social Studies curriculum’s focus on early American history. Through skits, stories, personal reflection and our year-end trip to Philadelphia, students discover the issues, obstacles and successes facing the earliest Jewish settlers in America.
Throughout the year, students continue to explore the Jewish holidays. Building on previous years’ learning about customs, laws and purposes, the curriculum develops and enhances students’ understanding of Jewish holidays – and their enjoyment of them!
Hebrew
The Hebrew Language curriculum features an “Ivrit B’Ivrit” approach, teaching in the target language. The curriculum systematically builds listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The goal is to equip the student with the appropriate skills and stimulation to enable each student to:
- Read, comprehend, and enjoy original Hebrew prose, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as sacred texts.
- Communicate successfully using the Hebrew Language orally and in writing.
- Be familiarized and engaged with Israeli culture, Jewish tradition and general world knowledge.
Our middle school uses the NETA program. This is a comprehensive Hebrew language program for students in middle and high school. The program provides a rich and rigorous experience for students of Hebrew via high expectations, state-of-the-art Hebrew language curriculum and materials, and an emphasis on the development of communicative skills. Materials highlight Jewish tradition, modern Israeli culture and general world knowledge, using original Hebrew texts of all historical periods and genres. NETA aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to become active participants in Hebrew culture. Students in the middle school are grouped and paced according to their level and ability.
Physical Education
Meeting three times a week, PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide a foundation for teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship. Sports played include basketball, soccer, softball, track and badminton, among others.
Arts
Fifth graders rotate through the following courses, which each meet twice a week for a trimester:
Introductory Drama
Fifth graders explore creative movement and pantomime, and they develop skits based on various given prompts. Active listening, appropriate response, creative problem solving, and learning to give and to take constructive criticism are some of the skills emphasized.
Exploratory Music
Fifth graders are given an opportunity to play several instruments and begin to read some musical notation. Additionally, the students are exposed to a variety of classical and jazz pieces featuring these instruments.
Introductory Art
Students receive an introduction to basic principles of art and art forms. They develop a knowledge of art techniques and an appreciation of art styles and history.
Life Skills
Fifth graders rotate through the following courses, which each meet twice a week for a trimester:
Computers
This class teaches keyboarding accuracy and speed, word processing for use throughout the content areas, Internet use, and the creation of products using various applications.
Independent Living Skills
Students learn about proper nutrition, basic cooking and sewing skills, consumerism and advertising.
Woodshop
Students are introduced to basic tools and their safe use as they work on increasingly challenging and imaginative projects. Students learn to work as a team as they share ideas and build skills.
Study Skills
This course begins with a brief survey that begins to help students understand their strengths and learning preferences: whether visual, auditory, or kinesthetic/tactile. Students then identify the techniques that will help them become a stronger learner. Filled with broad lessons about learning and the brain, the course arms students with specific memorization and test-taking techniques, note taking methods and strategies for engaging with printed text and oral presentations. Our motto: “Study Smarter, Not Harder.”
English
The English curriculum of Krieger Schechter Middle School focuses on the growth and improvement of skills and strategies in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing. The literature curriculum encourages reading in a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts. Students learn to read for fluency; to understand the elements of literature; to comprehend important ideas and details; to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and expand ideas; to think critically about an author’s use of language, style, purpose, and perspective; and to gain an appreciation of literature and the shared reading experience. Grammar and vocabulary skills are developed both through targeted practice and in the context of writing assignments. Writing skills are further developed and supported in Writing Workshop classes in 5th and 6th grades. Students learn to write for different audiences and purposes, and to follow a writing process that builds from brainstorming, to writing a rough draft, to editing a final product.
Students in 6th Grade deepen their understanding of plot and novel structure through text analysis of various novels, poems, and short stories that focus on themes of multiculturalism, acceptance, and tolerance. Students strengthen and build comprehension by working on reading recall and retrieval skills. Close readings, discussion, and debate of selected excerpts, as well as in-class written responses and oral presentations further build students’ understanding of language and literature. Students learn to identify and incorporate selected excerpts from a text to support their ideas and use this skill to complete in-class written responses to prompts and long-term writing assignments related to readings. Other projects may include, but are not limited to, writing alternative endings of novels and creating Reader’s Guides.
Writing Workshop
Meeting twice a week, writing workshop students explore the craft of writing in a low-key, small-group setting. Students experiment with various writing genres to achieve proficiency in mechanics, organization and meaning. The course stresses the importance of the revision process and encourages students to strive for excellence in their writing.
Math
Math classes in the middle school are generally homogeneously grouped so that students at every level of ability are challenged to the best of their abilities. Our comprehensive accelerated program for gifted and talented students provides a gateway into advanced math programs in high school.
6th Grade Math and 5th Grade Accelerated Program:
- Review and enrichment of all operations of whole numbers
- Introduction to using variables and algebra
- Plane geometry and area
- Decimal system
- All operations of fractions
- Number theory
- Percentages
- Operations and equations with integers
- Statistics and Probability
See 7th Grade Math for the 6th Grade Accelerated curriculum.
Social Studies
The Social Studies Curriculum at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides students with the tools to understand how the past has effected the present. By integrating the 5 Themes of Geography (Location; Place; Human-environment Interaction; Movement of People, Goods and Ideas; and Regions), established by the National Geographic Society, the students are able to have an awareness and understanding of their past and present world.
Students in 6th Grade focus on three main regions of the world: Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Russia, and Africa. Curricular areas within each of these units include physical geography of the regions as well as culture both past and present. Maps skills, including latitude and longitude, scale/distance, and interpretation of symbols are integrated into the curriculum as well.
Science
The Science Department at Krieger Schechter Middle School seeks to encourage discovery while providing students with insights into the field of science. Each grade’s curriculum is supplemented with lab work that provides hands-on learning experiences using the tools of today’s scientists.
Students in 6th Grade are introduced to matter and learn to distinguish between physical and chemical changes. The highlight of the year for many of our young scientists, their families, and our own KSMS faculty and staff is the Science Fair, where students present projects to classmates. Projects are displayed at the Instructional Showcase.
Judaics
The 6th grade Judaics curriculum begins students’ introduction to some of the books of the Bible that they have not studied before. The Bible curriculum explores selections from the Book of Leviticus (Sefer Vayikra), including an exploration of the laws of keeping kosher, as well as the Book of Judges (Sefer Shoftim) and the Book of Ruth (Sefer Rut). Some years, the study of the Book of Ruth culminates in a 6th grade play for the entire school, retelling the story through words, song and dance. This year of Bible studies provides students with a framework for understanding how early Jewish (Israelite) society was created, what values were important to it, and how its members governed themselves as free people in their own land. Themes of leadership and responsibility continue to be discussed, as we explore how the Israelites make sense of a world without Moses as their leader.
Sixth graders also explore Shabbat – its meanings, themes, rituals, prayers and ideals. In addition, students begin their study of Jewish life cycle events through a discovery of the rituals and traditions surrounding a Jewish wedding and Jewish birth/naming ceremonies.
The 4-day 6th Grade trip to the “Teva” program at the Pearlstone Retreat Center gives our students a chance to explore nature and environmental awareness, all through a lens of Jewish texts and Jewish values.
The 6th Grade study of Jewish history covers the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem through the exile of the Jews throughout Babylonia and later, Rome, all the way through the Middle Ages. During their study of the Golden Age of Jewish life in Spain, students create multimedia projects about a particular figure from Spanish Jewry who was prominent in these times. By studying this time period in Jewish history, students begin to understand the continual process of Jewish renewal and reinvention – through community, text study, and celebration – as Jews built lives for themselves throughout history in countries and cultures around the world.
Sixth graders continue to celebrate and study the Jewish holidays throughout the year. Students participate in “The Great Fruit Debate,” in which they work in teams to promote a new fruit symbol for the nature holiday of Tu B’Shvat. Through speech, art, and song (and sometimes some great food treats!), each team tries to persuade a panel of judges to vote for their team’s fruit as the next Tu B’Shvat symbol. Examples of Jewish artists are also explored, to give students a sense of the beauty, expression, and personal meaning found in Jewish art.
Hebrew
The Hebrew Language curriculum features an “Ivrit B’Ivrit” approach, teaching in the target language. The curriculum systematically builds listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The goal is to equip the student with the appropriate skills and stimulation to enable each student to:
- Read, comprehend, and enjoy original Hebrew prose, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as sacred texts.
- Communicate successfully using the Hebrew Language orally and in writing.
- Be familiarized and engaged with Israeli culture, Jewish tradition and general world knowledge.
Our middle school uses the NETA program. This is a comprehensive Hebrew language program for students in middle and high school. The program provides a rich and rigorous experience for students of Hebrew via high expectations, state-of-the-art Hebrew language curriculum and materials, and an emphasis on the development of communicative skills. Materials highlight Jewish tradition, modern Israeli culture and general world knowledge, using original Hebrew texts of all historical periods and genres. NETA aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to become active participants in Hebrew culture. Students in the middle school are grouped and paced according to their level and ability.
Physical Education
Meeting three times a week, PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games, and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide a foundation for teamwork, cooperation, and good sportsmanship. Sports played include basketball, soccer, softball track, badminton amongst others.
A number of electives are offered throughout the middle school years.
6th Grade Electives
Each 6th Grade student selects one elective per semester. The following semester-long electives meet twice per week:
Art
Interested students explore the principles and foundations of western art and are given ample opportunity to experiment with different styles and techniques on their own. Students work with color theory, sculpture techniques, and print making.
The 6th Grade Judaics curriculum also explores the connection between Judaism and the visual arts through a study of Judaica.
Drama
Building on their Introductory Drama class from 5th Grade, students investigate the techniques of improvisation and the basic ingredients of scene-building (character; motivation/action; flow) more closely. These concepts are applied to a given classical plot line. This course also serves as an introduction to the life, times, and language of Shakespeare.
Music Ensemble
Building on their experience in Exploratory Music, students learn to play their chosen instrument and rehearse as part of a performance band.
Sewing/Cooking
In this class, students rotate between working in the kitchen and working with fabrics. In Sewing, students expand their skills from hand stitching to machine sewing. They work with patterns and are required to purchase their own material for their first project: flannel pajama bottoms. In Cooking, students work with recipes that reflect Jewish traditions from all over the world.
Woodshop
Students are introduced to power tools and some of the basic woodworking joints. Accuracy and independence are emphasized.
Trimester-long Classes
Sixth graders rotate through the following courses, which each meet twice a week for a trimester:
Computers
Students use various applications to create publications, curricular projects, and multimedia presentations that integrate text, graphics and animation.
Wellness
This course is an introduction to health and safety strategies for application in daily life. Various social scenarios are explored with emphasis on making decisions, solving problems, and establishing positive peer relationships.
Media Literacy
The purpose of the course is to orient students systematically to the research process. Students learn to obtain information from a variety of media and learn to refine their research skills. Students learn to perform advanced searches using specific databases.
English
The English curriculum of Krieger Schechter Middle School focuses on the growth and improvement of skills and strategies in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing. The literature curriculum encourages reading in a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts. Students learn to read for fluency; to understand the elements of literature; to comprehend important ideas and details; to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and expand ideas; to think critically about an author’s use of language, style, purpose, and perspective; and to gain an appreciation of literature and the shared reading experience. Grammar and vocabulary skills are developed both through targeted practice and in the context of writing assignments.
The 7th Grade literature program focuses on the theme of the individual following his or her own conscience to do what is right even when it is unpopular. Texts feature American settings from the past two centuries, inspiring students to make cross-curricular connections with their study of American history. Students are challenged to use textual evidence in responding to critical thinking questions, and to provide analysis that makes connections to their own lives, other texts, and the world around them. Students in 7th Grade complete an independent research paper on an influential 20th century American. Through the writing process, they hone their skills at organizing research information and proving a thesis statement. Students also examine elements of poetry in famous works and use them as models to develop original poems of their own.
Math
Math classes in the middle school are generally homogeneously grouped so that students at every level of ability are challenged to the best of their abilities. Each class uses textbooks and resources chosen to best meet the needs of the students. Our comprehensive accelerated program for gifted and talented students provides a gateway into advanced math programs in high school.
7th Grade Math and 6th Grade Accelerated Program:
- Geometry, the study of area and volume
- Geometry in the Real World Project
- Pre-Algebra, an introduction to algebra
- Review and reinforce the decimal system
- Explore positive and negative numbers
- Introduce and utilize rational numbers
- Study equations and inequalities
- Use practical application of ratio, proportion and percents
- Introduce coordinate geometry
In the spring, the students begin a formal study of Algebra.
See the 8th Grade Math curriculum for the 7th Grade Accelerated curriculum.
Social Studies
The Social Studies Curriculum at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides students with the tools to understand how the past has effected the present. By integrating the 5 Themes of Geography (Location; Place; Human-environment Interaction; Movement of People, Goods and Ideas; and Regions), established by the National Geographic Society, the students are able to have an awareness and understanding of their past and present world.
The 7th Grade year begins with a unit on the U.S. Constitution and the structure of the United States government. The balance of the year focuses on American history from the Missouri Compromise era (1820) through Reconstruction, expansion into the West, and Growth of the Cities (immigration). Highlights include a John Brown mock trial, a 3-day trip to New York City, a trip to the Gettysburg National Battlefield, and a Homesteading/Farming simulation.
Science
The Science Department at Krieger Schechter Middle School seeks to encourage discovery while providing students with insights into the field of science. Each grade’s curriculum is supplemented with lab work that provides hands-on learning experiences using the tools of today’s scientists.
Students in 7th Grade deepen their understanding of chemistry by experimenting with various chemical reactions in the lab. Balancing chemical equations and the importance of acids and bases are stressed. The highlight of the year for many of our young scientists is the Egg Drop Project, in which students construct protective containers out of simple materials to prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a great height.
Judaics
Students interpret and uncover meaning in some key Biblical stories in the 7th Grade Bible curriculum. The year begins with a close reading of the Book of Jonah that focuses on the themes of repentance, personal responsibility, and judgment that frame the fall Jewish holidays. One class conducts a mock trial, in Hebrew, of Jonah for acting against God. The year also includes a study of the First Book of Samuel. Students consider the concepts of leadership and nation-building as they read about the Israelites’ experiences of living independently in the land of Israel, wrestling with their role among other nations, and trying to live as a people by God’s laws. Seventh graders also do an in-depth study of the Ten Commandments to gain a deeper sense of the meaning of these core statements of Jewish law.
Seventh graders study Jewish history and 19th and 20th century immigration patterns through the lens of their own families’ journeys. Students research their family trees, learn about their immigrant families’ hometowns in other countries, and prepare for a beautiful, moving Jewish Family History Museum program during which students, parents, and other family members share stories and displays from their families’ histories.
In their Rabbinics classes, 7th graders deepen their understanding of the origins and customs of Jewish holidays through interpretation and analysis of the rabbinic texts that guided how we have come to celebrate the holidays today. In the winter, they study the Book of Esther and prepare original skits (Purim shpiels) to entertain the school on the holiday of Purim.
Seventh grade students enter the world of rabbinic literature with their first formal study of texts from the 3rd century collection of discussions about Jewish law, the Mishnah. By following the debates in the Mishnah about different topics such as business ethics, hurtful speech, the calendar, prayer, and holidays, students gain a sense of the world of the rabbis and the values that were espoused as important for living a good Jewish life. Students have the chance to translate and interpret, connecting these ancient texts to the very real, modern situations that they face in the world today. The Rabbinics course also explores the Jewish life cycle events of Death/Mourning and Birth through a study of ritual, traditional, and modern texts and a search for symbolism and meaning in these life cycle experiences.
Hebrew
The Hebrew Language curriculum features an “Ivrit B’Ivrit” approach, teaching in the target language. The curriculum systematically builds listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The goal is to equip the student with the appropriate skills and stimulation to enable each student to:
- Read, comprehend, and enjoy original Hebrew prose, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as sacred texts.
- Communicate successfully using the Hebrew Language orally and in writing.
- Be familiarized and engaged with Israeli culture, Jewish tradition and general world knowledge.
Our middle school uses the NETA program. This is a comprehensive Hebrew language program for students in middle and high school. The program provides a rich and rigorous experience for students of Hebrew via high expectations, state-of-the-art Hebrew language curriculum and materials, and an emphasis on the development of communicative skills. Materials highlight Jewish tradition, modern Israeli culture and general world knowledge, using original Hebrew texts of all historical periods and genres. NETA aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to become active participants in Hebrew culture. Students in the middle school are grouped and paced according to their level and ability.
Spanish
The Spanish program at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides an additional step (Hebrew being the first) in fulfilling the State of Maryland’s foreign language requirement for high school graduation. Students begin their study of Spanish in the 7th Grade and continue in 8th Grade, meeting four times each week. Students use written, oral, reading, and listening assignments to learn the basics of Spanish grammar and vocabulary. The program provides an opportunity for exposure to, and appreciation of, the influence of Hispanic culture and language in the world, and of our Latin American neighbors. In keeping with the Krieger Schechter philosophy, students learn about the historical relationship between Jews and Spanish culture.
Physical Education
Meeting three times a week, PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide a foundation for teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship. Sports played include basketball, soccer, softball, track and badminton, among others.
Electives
The following electives are open to 7th graders:
Art
Students work on a wide variety of projects that develop individual creativity and good craftsmanship skills using many types of media. Units include The Elements of Composition; Lettering and Design; Watercolor; Life Drawing; and Sculpture.
Drama
The focus of this course is “page to stage” and includes an introduction to readers’ theater, dramatization of poetry and short stories, and scripted scene study. Students also write and stage creative monologues and scenes. Students have opportunities to perform these original pieces, both in the classroom and before a variety of audiences. A field trip to the theater enriches the students’ working theatrical vocabulary and critical appreciation.
Band
This is a performance-oriented course for students with intermediate and advanced music skills.
Woodshop
Working in small groups, students expand and refine their skills in creating projects of increasing complexity and beauty. Items such as boxes, shelves, trucks and other moving things are some examples of the projects students construct through discovery and teamwork.
Journalism
Students create and publish the Middle School newspaper, Off the Record. In the process, they learn interviewing techniques, practice photojournalism, and write news articles.
Computers
Students use various applications to create publications, curricular projects and multimedia presentations that integrate text, graphics and animation.
Cooking and Sewing
Students in this elective split their time between exploring Jewish and Israeli cooking and working on sewing projects.
English
The English curriculum of Krieger Schechter Middle School focuses on the growth and improvement of skills and strategies in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing. The literature curriculum encourages reading in a wide range of genres, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction texts. Students learn to read for fluency; to understand the elements of literature; to comprehend important ideas and details; to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and expand ideas; to think critically about an author’s use of language, style, purpose, and perspective; and to gain an appreciation of literature and the shared reading experience. Grammar and vocabulary skills are developed both through targeted practice and in the context of writing assignments.
In 8th Grade, students are given a selection of two themes to study. Topics currently include censorship, Shakespeare, and gender stereotypes. Each semester-long course is designed to examine a variety of selections of literature with a core focus. By the end of the year, each student will have completed both a major research paper using literary criticism and a major oral presentation.
Math
Math classes in the middle school are generally homogeneously grouped so that students at every level of ability are challenged to the best of their abilities. Each class uses textbooks and resources chosen to best meet the needs of the students. Our comprehensive accelerated program for gifted and talented students provides a gateway into advanced math programs in high school.
8th Grade Math and 7th Grade Accelerated Program:
- Study of equations
- Word problems
- Operations with polynomials
- Factoring polynomials
- Solving quadratic equations by factoring
- Algebraic fractions, operations, and equations
- Introduction to functions
- Linear equations and their graphs
- Systems of equations
- Inequalities and their graphs
8th Grade Accelerated Program: Geometry
- Geometric definitions, symbols and notation
- Logic, Reasoning and two-column proofs
- Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
- Triangle congruence, centers and relationships
- Properties of quadrilaterals
- Proportions and similarity
- Right triangle trigonometry
- Transformations and symmetry
- Circles, arcs and chords
Social Studies
The Social Studies Curriculum at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides students with the tools to understand how the past has effected the present. By integrating the 5 Themes of Geography (Location; Place; Human-environment Interaction; Movement of People, Goods and Ideas; and Regions), established by the National Geographic Society, the students are able to have an awareness and understanding of their past and present world.
Students in 8th Grade focus on prehistoric and ancient civilizations, including Egypt, India and China, Greece, Rome and the Roman Empire. Highlights include a Greek Simulation.
Science
The Science Department at Krieger Schechter Middle School seeks to encourage discovery while providing students with insights into the field of science. Each grade’s curriculum is supplemented with lab work that provides hands-on learning experiences using the tools of today’s scientists.
Students in 8th Grade concentrate on physics and the Laws of Motion. Most of the year focuses on motion, forces and energy and how they relate to one another. The highlight of the year for many of our young scientists, their families, and our own KSMS faculty and staff is the Science Fair, in which projects are presented to classmates and displayed at the Instructional Showcase.
Judaics
Eighth Grade Bible brings students back to our first formative stories – the Book of Genesis (Sefer B’reishit). Students unpack these texts, looking at traditional commentary, literary criticism and personal connection to the themes and issues confronting the characters. We weave questions of theology, historicity and sacredness through our discussions of these early narratives, as we derive values and teachings from them.
In 8th Grade Jewish History, students study two important modern developments in Jewish life – the Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel. These topics are explored through traditional historical documents, field trips and the use of literature, art and music. In the fall, connected with the Holocaust unit, students spend a profound, emotional day at the United States Holocaust Museum and then prepare our school’s Yom HaShoah commemoration with poetry and art created from this day at the museum. In the spring, students explore early Zionism and the founding of the State of Israel. The country’s values, purposes and culture come alive, preparing students for their capstone 2-week Israel trip at the end of 8th grade.
Throughout the year, 8th graders continue to learn about Jewish holidays and customs, through rabbinics texts and in the context of their Jewish history courses.
Eighth Grade Rabbinics brings students from the 2nd century world of the mishnah to the 4th century world of the Gemara, forming the Talmud. This body of rabbinic literature became the core of what it means to live as a Jew. Students explore and learn to understand Jewish practice and belief from centuries of inter-textual dialogue, discussion, debate and interpretation. Students get a taste of this process through studying and interpreting Talmudic texts, looking at meaning, personal connection and connection to Judaism as it is lived today.
Hebrew
The Hebrew Language curriculum features an “Ivrit B’Ivrit” approach, teaching in the target language. The curriculum systematically builds listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. The goal is to equip the student with the appropriate skills and stimulation to enable each student to:
- Read, comprehend, and enjoy original Hebrew prose, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as sacred texts.
- Communicate successfully using the Hebrew Language orally and in writing.
- Be familiarized and engaged with Israeli culture, Jewish tradition and general world knowledge.
Our middle school uses the NETA program. This is a comprehensive Hebrew language program for students in middle and high school. The program provides a rich and rigorous experience for students of Hebrew via high expectations, state-of-the-art Hebrew language curriculum and materials, and an emphasis on the development of communicative skills. Materials highlight Jewish tradition, modern Israeli culture and general world knowledge, using original Hebrew texts of all historical periods and genres. NETA aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge to become active participants in Hebrew culture. Students in the middle school are grouped and paced according to their level and ability.
In 8th Grade, the Hebrew program culminates in a grade-wide all-Hebrew production of a full scale musical.
Spanish
The Spanish program at Krieger Schechter Middle School provides an additional step (Hebrew being the first) in fulfilling the State of Maryland’s foreign language requirement for high school graduation. Students begin their study of Spanish in the 7th Grade and continue in 8th Grade, meeting four times each week. Students use written, oral, reading, and listening assignments to learn the basics of Spanish grammar and vocabulary. The program provides an opportunity for exposure to, and appreciation of, the influence of Hispanic culture and language in the world, and of our Latin American neighbors. In keeping with the Krieger Schechter philosophy, students learn about the historical relationship between Jews and Spanish culture.
Physical Education
Meeting three times a week, PE includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and skills building through drills, games and sports contests. Our goal is to discover the joy of athletic participation and to provide a foundation for teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship. Sports played include basketball, soccer, softball, track and badminton, among others.
Electives
A number of electives are offered throughout the middle school years. The following electives are open to 8th graders:
Art
In 8th Grade students continue to practice basic art skills in conjunction with various themes and are encouraged to let their interpretations and self expression “shine” in their work. Eighth graders have several opportunities during the year to participate in art contests and illustration projects that relate directly to Judaic history and the 8th Grade musical production.
Art/Drama
The 8th Grade art/drama elective is designed to increase students’ knowledge of the possibilities of collaborative efforts in the arts. It is open to a variety of possible concentrations, including shadow puppetry and mask work. Students’ perform their own work and have it critiqued by classmates before working in small collaborative groups to apply their knowledge and skills to a larger scale production. That production is then performed for the school.
Band
This performance-oriented course is for students with intermediate and advanced music skills.
Woodshop
Working in small groups, students expand and refine their skills in creating projects of increasing complexity and beauty. Items such as boxes, shelves, trucks and other moving things are some examples of the projects students construct through discovery and teamwork.
Photography
Students explore the special capabilities of digital cameras and learn to manipulate the images with special software.
Cooking and Sewing
Students in this elective split their time between exploring Jewish and Israeli cooking and working on sewing projects.
Yearbook
This team-based 8th Grade class involves students in creating the school’s yearbook. Students organize tasks, design layouts, write copy (in Hebrew and English), and upload photographs – all using an online builder.