United States Studies 7
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Grade seven features history as
the lead discipline.
• The interdisciplinary “Studies” approach
is further enhanced with important
government, citizenship, economics
and geography content that round
out the study of United States history.
• Learn about people, issues and events of
significance to this nation’s history from
1800 to the current era of globalization.
• Examine the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights, and Supreme Court decisions for
their lasting impact on the American people.
Projects/Activities: Students create and use
detailed maps of places in the United States
and conduct historical inquiry on a topic in
the nation’s history.
Instructional Focus: Instruction is presented
in a variety of ways: class discussion, small
and large group activities, simulations and
the use of technologies.
Global Studies 8
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Understand the relationship between
physical and human geography through-
out each region of the world.
• Create and interpret a variety of maps,
calculate and estimate distance, scale,
density and spatial distribution
patterns around the world.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of
economic principles.
• Study current events and analyze their
global impact.
Instructional Focus: Instruction is presented in
a variety of ways: class discussion, small and
large group activities, simulations, and the
use of technology and geographical tools.
Special Education
Students with disabilities will be placed in
support services courses as determined by
their special education needs relating to
their disability as outlined in their Individual
Education Plan [IEP]. For more information
about the Special Education program in
general, please see the Assistance for
Students section on page 16 of this guide.
For individual student service questions,
please contact your child’s case manager.
Middle School Registration Guide
Technology Education Courses
Technology Education 7
[elective or required, every other day]
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Produce various items by using
computer generated graphic designs
and CAD drawings.
• Increase technological literacy and
investigate emerging technologies.
• Learn the processes to design, build,
and test products, and become a wiser
consumer of technology.
• Integrated STEM activities = Science,
Technology, Engineering, Math.
• Develop safe work habits in a
laboratory environment.
• Applied math/technical reading.
Projects/Activities: Use various tools and
machines to make wood or sheet metal
projects. Create 3-D printed designs and
dye sublimation items from computer
generated student work.
Instructional Focus: This is a hands-on
course in which students engage in tradi-
tional and computer led instruction utilizing
both individual and group activities.
PLTW Gateway [DSF]
[elective or required, every other day]
Intended Audience: Grades 7 and 8
This course may replace the Technology
Education requirement in grade 7.
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Understand the engineering process
from concept to production.
• Explore how science has affected
technology throughout history by
looking at concepts in nanotechnology,
physics and chemistry.
• Explore the science behind aeronautics
and use software to experience space
travel.
Projects/Activities: Students will be intro-
duced to various software throughout the
course such as 3D-CAD, NASA flight simula-
tor, and on-line resources to provide en-
riched learning experiences. Additional
design and hands-on experiences are
integrated throughout the course.
Instructional Focus: This course emphasizes
high levels of academic rigor and computer
literacy. Homework is an integral part of this
course and students must be independently
motivated to complete it in a timely
manner. This class is a part of a nationally
recognized pre-engineering program called
Project Lead the Way Gateway. The pro-
gram, which has a goal to develop more
American engineers, includes modules in
Design and Modeling, Science of Technol-
ogy, and Flight and Space. Authentic, real-
world problem solving skills are emphasized
throughout the class. This is an academically
challenging course and is best suited to
the independent learner.
PLTW Gateway [ACG]
[elective, every other day]
Prerequisite/Selection Process: PLTW
Gateway DSF strongly encouraged
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Learn about mechanical systems,
energy transfer, machine automation,
and computer control systems.
• Students learn the basics of program-
ming in Intro to Computer Science 1.
• Investigate architectural plans, construc-
tion styles, alternative materials and
processes, dimensioning, measuring and
architectural sustainability.
Projects/Activities: Students are introduced
to the influence of automation and robotics
in our world and use a robust robotics plat-
form to design, build and program a solu-
tion to solve an existing problem.Additional
hands-on student experiences are inte-
grated throughout the semester including
MIT App Inventor where students create
variations of an app and use another 3D
architectural software program to create
an environmentally friendly home using
shipping containers.
Instructional Focus: This course emphasizes
high levels of academic rigor and computer
literacy. Homework is an integral part of this
course and students must be independently
motivated to complete it in a timely manner.
This class combines key pre-engineering
content areas through a nationally recog-
nized program called Project Lead the Way:
Gateway. The program, whose goal is to
develop more American engineers, includes
modules in Automation and Robotics, Intro-
duction to Computer Science, and Green
Architecture. Authentic, real-world problem
solving-skills are emphasized throughout
the class. This is an academically challeng-
ing pre-engineering course and is best
suited to the independent learner.
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