Middle School

Middle School students take the following core academic classes each day:

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Spanish

Students also participate in daily Physical Education that promotes fitness and lifelong healthy habits. Through a movement-based curriculum, they build coordination, teamwork, and self-awareness while engaging in cooperative games, skill development, and increasingly challenging physical activities.

In addition to these core subjects, students also participate in electives and arts classes that allow them to explore interests beyond the traditional curriculum.

Sixth grade marks the transition into Middle School, and the year focuses on building strong academic foundations alongside growing independence. Teachers emphasize organization, study skills, and learning how to manage multiple classes—key steps in becoming confident Middle School learners.

Core Academic Classes

Language Arts centers on close reading, informative writing, grammar, and vocabulary development. Students explore a range of literary genres and build a strong foundation for different modes of writing and for their grammar instruction in later years. Independent choice reading is also a focus, as an important goal of our Language Arts program is shaping lifelong readers.

For Mathematics, students are placed in 6th Grade Math or Pre-Algebra, based on their mastery of 5th grade material, performance on placement tests, and teacher recommendations. 6th Grade Math focuses on topics and skills such as number theory, operations with integers and rational numbers, and variable expressions and equations, while Pre-Algebra includes skills such as solving multistep equations, graphing functions on the coordinate plane, and calculating slope and graphing linear equations.

Earth Science focuses on geology, meteorology, climate, mapping, and astronomy. Through hands-on labs such as water quality testing and building solar ovens, students learn to design experiments, analyze data, and apply scientific reasoning. Their study of the scientific method is especially evident in the Science Expo project, which requires them to identify a question, research background information, form a hypothesis, design and conduct an investigation, collect and analyze data, and present their conclusions in a formal paper.

Social Studies examines ancient civilizations and world cultures. Students learn to analyze primary and secondary sources in order to explore how early societies shaped the modern world. Additionally, students focus on building foundational research skills and completing research-based projects.

Spanish builds a foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills while introducing students to Spanish-speaking cultures. This class is the first half of Spanish I.

Seventh grade builds on sixth grade’s foundational skills, challenging students to think analytically, evaluate multiple perspectives, and make connections between ideas across disciplines. Beyond content mastery, students are expected to articulate their thinking with greater clarity, precision, and evidence.

Language Arts deepens students’ literary analysis and argumentative writing skills. Students engage in genre studies and identify common themes, refine their ability to construct clear, well-supported essays, build writing stamina while improving sentence fluency, and dive deep on media literacy and identifying bias and persuasive techniques in nonfiction. The focus on independent reading continues, with class time devoted to reading and finding new books to love.

Mathematics continues the progression toward algebraic mastery, strengthening abstract reasoning and multi-step problem solving. Students will take either Pre-Algebra or Algebra in 7th grade. Pre-Algebra focuses on skills such as solving multistep variable equations, graphing functions on the coordinate plane, and calculating slope and graphing linear equations. Algebra continues to build on these skills and also introduces solving and graphing systems of linear equations, simplifying polynomial expressions, and factoring, solving, and graphing quadratic equations. Successful completion of Algebra coursework provides students with high school credit for Math I.

Life Science focuses on cells, genetics, ecology, evolution, and human body systems. Students conduct inquiry-based labs such as extracting DNA from a strawberry, demonstrating the process of osmosis with a gummy bear, and modeling cellular respiration with yeast and balloons. This curriculum culminates in an end-of-year trip to UNC-Wilmington, where students complete labs such as squid dissections and gel electrophoresis and engage in field studies of the local marine ecosystem.

Social Studies takes a global approach, guiding students on a journey from colonialism to independence as they examine regions of the world through themes such as globalization, political systems, economics, and human-environment interaction. Students connect historical developments to current events, analyzing primary sources and conducting independent research to understand how past decisions shape today’s world. Projects such as creating regional travelogues and participating in a mock Model United Nations allow students to apply their learning in creative and collaborative ways.

Spanish expands grammatical complexity and conversational fluency, helping students communicate with increasing confidence in both spoken and written Spanish. This class is the second half of Spanish I. Successful completion of 6th and 7th grade Spanish provides students will high school credit for Spanish I.

Eighth grade is both a culminating and launching year. Students are expected to think independently, communicate persuasively, and apply their skills across disciplines. By the time they graduate, our students are not only academically prepared; they are thoughtful, capable learners ready for the next challenge.

Language Arts emphasizes literary analysis, research skills, and discussion. Students refine their ability to interpret complex texts through reading of classics such as Lord of the Flies and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, while continuing to develop their love of reading in and out of the classroom. This class affords students high school credit for English I.

In Math, students take Algebra, Geometry, or Advanced Topics in Algebra based on their mastery of prior coursework. Algebra deepens students’ understanding of linear and quadratic functions and earns high school Math I credit, while Geometry focuses on proofs, trigonometry, and in-depth analysis of shapes and figures and provides Math II credit. Advanced Topics in Algebra is a project-based course that strengthens core algebra skills while introducing concepts such as linear programming, exponential and logarithmic functions, and trigonometry.

Science focuses on Physics and Chemistry. Engineering challenges and lab investigations require students to design, test, and revise solutions using scientific principles. Students engage in hands-on demonstrations of the materials, from demonstrating Newton’s Laws of Motion with bowling balls, to creating mouse trap cars, to testing different types of chemical reactions. This class is an excellent introduction to Physical Science and Chemistry classes in high school.

Social Studies examines United States history, including constitutional principles, civil rights, immigration, and social change. Students engage in research projects, debates, and simulations that require them to support claims with evidence. This culminates in an end-of-year trip to Washington, D.C., where students visit landmarks such as Mount Vernon and the national monuments, tour the Capitol, and visit a selection of Smithsonian museums.

Spanish continues to build fluency and prepares students for high school language study through increasingly sophisticated grammar, conversation, and cultural exploration. This class serves as an introduction to Spanish II. Depending on their mastery of the coursework, some students may receive a high school credit for Spanish II.

Each fall, eighth graders begin a capstone experience that represents the culmination of their academic growth and leadership at TDS. Students select a topic of personal significance, develop a research question, craft a thesis, complete a formal research paper, and present a persuasive argument to the entire middle school community. Students also design and implement a service project related to their chosen topics. These projects range from advocacy and awareness campaigns to direct community engagement, and they allow students to bring their ideas to life in meaningful ways. The 8th Grade Project challenges students to think critically, communicate confidently, and defend their positions with evidence, preparing them well for the expectations of high school and beyond.