Welcome to the Milton Middle School Curriculum page. To view course descriptions and syllabi please scroll to the grade level and click the subject button.

Grade 6 Curriculum

Grade 7 Curriculum

Grade 8 Curriculum

Grade 6 Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Grade 6 Language Arts

Grade 6 Language Arts class is designed to increase your communications skills through reading, writing, speaking, listening and the study of the English language. Our primary focus in Language Arts class will be mastery of different writing styles, demonstration of the rules of grammar, and the ability to express yourself orally. Students will be expected to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction including excerpts from novels, short stories, dramas, poetry, and essays. Writing will include timed responses, journal writing, essays, critiques, creative pieces and text dependent analysis. Vocabulary, spelling, and grammar will also be an important part of this class. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 English Language Arts

Grade 6 Math

Grade 6 Math is designed  to provide students with a foundation of math skills traditionally considered essential for success in higher level math courses. Some of the topics include: operations, integers, equations, and measurement. Strands of geometry, algebra, and data displays are also presented throughout the course. Students engage in problem solving situations that require application of skills to make real-life connections to learned concepts. Students learn calculator skills and work with decimal operations, fraction operations, number patterns, exponents, ratios, proportions and percents as well as area, volume, and probability. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Math

Grade 6 Science

Grade 6 Earth Science  grade is designed to teach students about the earth and the universe, its processes, and human impact on our planet.  Throughout the year, we cover units in Geology, Energy Resources, Weather, Earth’s Water Systems, and Universe. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Science

Grade 6 Social Studies

Grade 6 Social Studies is a course designed to introduce students to early American History.  Students will examine a variety of topics including world maps and places, European exploration as it relates to North and South America, European colonization of North America, specifically the 13 English colonies that formed the United States of America, an in-depth study of colonial living, and a study of the causes/effects of the American Revolution. The goal of this course is to help students understand how actions of the past gives information for today to make choices for liberty and freedom while studying the struggles and sacrifices made by Europeans in order to form the United States of America.  It is expected that students participate in classroom activities including reading and writing, technology-based activities, group discussion and analysis.

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Social Studies

Grade 6 Special Education

Special Education programs and services in the Milton Area School District provide specially designed instruction to meet the needs of the exceptional child. The nature of the need may be related to autism/persuasive development disorder, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, mental giftedness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, neurological impairment, other health impairment, physical disability, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, or speech and language impairment. .

For more information, please see the Special Education portion of our website.

Grade 6 Art

Grade 6 Art is a 9-week course that introduces students to numerous mediums and tools including drawing, painting, clay, collage, and printmaking. Application and knowledge of the elements of art and principles of design will be covered.  Students will learn to think critically and discuss works of art, while self-reflecting on their own creations.

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Art

Grade 6 Health/Physical Education

Health

Standards-based Middle School Health Education will provide students with knowledge in a wide variety of topics and trends related to health of physical, mental and social domains. The health education program motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors. The course is comprehensive: using various planned and sequential 6-8 health education curricula, the class addresses all dimensions of health in a way that ultimately results in students who possess the knowledge and skills to live a healthy life.

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Health

Physical Education

Standards-based Middle School Physical Education provides students with experiences in a wide variety of activities.  During middle school, students learn to refine, combine and apply a variety of movement and motor skills in different physical activity settings.  In each area of physical education, the critical elements for each motor skill as well as concepts and principles related to biomechanics, motor development, motor learning and game tactics are taught.  Middle School Physical Education programs continue to emphasize the importance of physical activity and personal fitness throughout the school year. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Physical Education

Grade 6 Library – Silent Sustained Reading

Silent Sustained Reading offers students the opportunity to independently explore and practice their reading skills in a regular, pleasurable, and stress-free manner.  It also offers students the opportunity to model reading as a valued activity, important to every discipline and content area.   

Students will work on assignments throughout class sessions that emphasize on technology, reading, comprehension, collaboration, STEM related activities (Makerspace),video book report, and research. Students will complete research in subject matter using a computer applications, and direction from teacher.

Silent Sustained Reading in Middle School Library will offer Makerspace Stations. Makerspace Stations are STEM project-based activities that provide the opportunity to create, problem solve, and develop skills, talents, critical thinking skills by producing a product of the student’s choice.

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Library – Silent Sustained Reading

Grade 6 Music

6th Grade Music is designed to teach students about music while focusing on three aspects of music education: history, performance, and composition. The course is a planned progression from the elementary music curriculum.

Emphasis will be placed on rock music thru the modern era. Performance is accomplished through the study of keyboards, drums, and guitars using the Modern Band format. Students will perform on instruments in solos, duets, trios, quartets or quintets by themselves or with various small ensembles in class. Students then compose their own songs and/or solos and perform these compositions in class. If time permits, students may also study additional instruments.

Assessments are standards based on three areas of musical achievement: knowledge and use of musical notation, skill at playing instruments and singing, and knowledge of music history and culture. Students are assessed on their academic behaviors in class: preparation, active learning, academic endeavors, and positive contribution to the school community.

Students will be given adequate time to complete assignments in class, including all instrumental performance assignments. Although students are encouraged to practice instrumental assignments at home, this practice is not required for the successful completion of these tasks.

6th Grade Music is a marking period course that meets daily for 45 days.

Course Syllabus – Grade 6 Music

Grade 6 Technology – WEB

Sixth Grade Technology is a survey course of technology that students in the Milton Area School District will be using during their educational career.

Course Syllabus – 6 Technology-WEB Syllabus

Grade 7 Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Grade 7 Language Arts

Grade 7 Language Arts class is designed to increase your communications skills through reading, writing, speaking, listening and the study of the English language. Our primary focus in Language Arts class will be mastery of different skills, writing styles, demonstration of the rules of grammar, and the ability to express yourself orally. Students will be expected to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction including excerpts from novels, short stories, dramas, poetry, and essays. Writing will include journal writing, essays, critiques, creative pieces and text dependent analysis. Vocabulary, spelling, and grammar will also be an important part of this class.

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 English Language Arts

Grade 7 Math

Grade 7 Math is designed for all seventh grade students to learn to think mathematically throughout the school year.  This will involve being able to read real-world math problems and apply correct strategies to solve.  Topics covered will include the number system, ratios and proportional relationships, expressions and equations, geometry, and statistics and probability. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Math

Grade 7 Science

Grade 7 Science is designed for all seventh grade students. The following areas are covered: basic biological principles, chemical basis for life, ecology, bioenergetics, homeostasis and transport, cytology, cellular growth and reproduction, three domains of life, genetics, and the theory of evolution. In each area the students are made aware of the interrelationships that exist within the living world and life’s dependence on the nonliving one. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Science

Grade 7 Social Studies

Grade 7 Geography is a general survey course that covers the 5 Themes of Geography spread even across the 7 continents of the world. Each unit will identify ancient civilizations and explore how the landforms, bodies of water, landmarks, culture, history, and political features influence Modern Culture. Overall goal of the course is to prepare students for future Social Studies courses by giving them a base knowledge of global locations and the cultures associated with specific regions; students will also gain appreciation for world cultures by comparing and contrasting to their own culture. Students are expected to complete homework assignments, assessments, and projects.

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Social Studies

Grade 7 Special Education

Special Education programs and services in the Milton Area School District provide specially designed instruction to meet the needs of the exceptional child. The nature of the need may be related to autism/persuasive development disorder, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, mental giftedness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, neurological impairment, other health impairment, physical disability, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, or speech and language impairment. .

For more information, please see the Special Education portion of our website.

Grade 7 Art

Grade 7 Art is a 9-week course that introduces students to numerous mediums and tools including drawing, painting, clay, collage, and printmaking. Application and knowledge of the elements of art and principles of design will be covered.  Students will learn to think critically and discuss works of art, while self-reflecting on their own creations.

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Art

Grade 7 Health/Physical Education

Health

Standards-based Middle School Physical Education provides students with experiences in a wide variety of activities.  During middle school, students learn to refine, combine and apply a variety of movement and motor skills in different physical activity settings.  In each area of physical education, the critical elements for each motor skill as well as concepts and principles related to biomechanics, motor development, motor learning and game tactics are taught.  Middle School Physical Education programs continue to emphasize the importance of physical activity and personal fitness throughout the school year. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Health

Physical Education

Standards-based Middle School Health Education will provide students with knowledge in a wide variety of topics and trends related to health of physical, mental and social domains. The health education program motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors. The course is comprehensive: using various planned and sequential 6-8 health education curricula, the class addresses all dimensions of health in a way that ultimately results in students who possess the knowledge and skills to live a healthy life.

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Physical Education

Grade 7 Library – Silent Sustained Reading 

Silent Sustained Reading offers students the opportunity to independently explore and practice their reading skills in a regular, pleasurable, and stress-free manner.  It also offers students the opportunity to model reading as a valued activity, important to every discipline and content area.   

Students will work on assignments throughout class sessions that emphasize on technology, reading, comprehension, collaboration, STEM related activities (Makerspace),video book report, and research. 

Students will complete research in subject matter using a computer applications, and direction from the teacher.

Silent Sustained Reading in Middle School Library will offer Makerspace Stations. Makerspace Stations are STEM project-based activities that provide the opportunity to create, problem solve, and develop skills, talents, critical thinking skills by producing a product of the student’s choice.

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Library – Silent Sustained Reading

Grade 7 Music

7th Grade Music is designed to teach students about music while focusing on three aspects of    music education: history, student individual and group performance, and composition. The   course is a planned progression from the 6th grade General Music curriculum.

Emphasis will be placed on rock music thru the modern era. Performance is accomplished through bucket drumming and the study of keyboards, drums, and guitars using the Modern Band format. Students will perform on instruments individually, as a whole group, or with various small ensembles in class. Students then compose their own songs and/or solos and perform these compositions in class.

Assessments are standards based on three areas of musical achievement: knowledge and use of musical notation, skill at playing instruments and singing, and knowledge of music history and culture. Students are assessed on their academic behaviors in class: preparation, active learning, academic endeavors, and positive contribution to the school community.

Students will be given adequate time to complete assignments in class, including all instrumental performance assignments. Although students are encouraged to practice instrumental assignments at home, this practice is not required for the successful completion of these tasks.

7th Grade General Music is a marking period course that meets daily for 45 days.

Course Syllabus- Grade 7 Music

Grade 7 Technology Ed

Grade 7 Tech Ed is designed to give students an understanding of different aspects of our modern world.  The course focuses on three different technological areas.  These are structural engineering, automotive engineering and the physical laws of motion.  Students will design, construct and test a balsa wood tower, a CO2 dragster and a marble run in order to explore all three of these fields.   The first two are individual projects and the students will be able to take home their dragster but not the tower as that will undergo destructive testing.  The marble run is a group project so team work skills will be tested as well.  

Course Syllabus – Grade 7 Technology Ed

Grade 8 Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Grade 8 Language Arts

Grade 8 Language Arts offers a holistic approach to the instruction of the English language. This course will focus on the development of each student as a critical reader and writer.  Throughout the year students will become more active readers, delving into deeper discussions of a writer’s craft, using novels, short stories, nonfiction pieces, poetry and drama. Students will also sharpen their writing skills by continuing to write short and long compositions, working on their mastery of the short answer, expository, analysis, argumentative, and narrative writing techniques. Instruction on basic paragraph structure, parts of speech, spelling acquisition, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation will be provided. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 English Language Arts

Grade 8 Math

The main goal of Mathematics 8 is to help students transfer their concrete mathematical knowledge to more abstract generalizations in order to prepare for high school Algebra 1.  Algebra is the critical element in secondary mathematics education.  Topics introduced in Algebra provide the foundation students require for future success in high school mathematics, critical thinking, and problem solving.  Mathematics 8 focuses on proficiency in expressions, linear equations, graphs, data analysis, and problem solving. 

Course Syllabus- Grade 8 Math

Grade 8 Algebra I

Algebra I is the critical element in secondary mathematics education.  Topics introduced in Algebra I provide the foundation students require for future success in high school mathematics, critical thinking, and problem solving.  The main goal of Algebra 1 is to help students transfer their concrete mathematical knowledge to more abstract generalizations.   

Algebra I topics include recognizing and developing patterns using tables, graphs, and equations.  In addition, students will explore operations on algebraic expressions and apply mathematical properties to algebraic equations.  Students will solve problems using equations, graphs, and tables to investigate linear relationships. 

At the conclusion of Algebra I, students will take the Algebra I Keystone Exam.  The Keystone exam is an end-of-course assessment designed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assess proficiency in Algebra I.  The Algebra I Keystone exam is one component of Pennsylvania’s statewide high school graduation requirements.  (Click here for more information.) 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Algebra I

Grade 8 Science

Grade 8 Physical Science covers topics in the disciplines of chemistry and physics. Students participate in audio, visual, and tactile learning activities designed to increase their knowledge and interest in physical science. Additionally, students use the scientific method to collect and interpret data and report information. This course is an introduction to topics that students will see in high school biology, chemistry, and physics courses. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Science

Grade 8 Social Studies

Grade 8 United States History will refresh memories from the colonial life to the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our young nation forming the United States of America. This course will analyze the historic events through Reconstruction following the Civil War that has shaped the American culture and landscape that we can still see today. Students will continue to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they analyze critical events in history and offer alternate solutions. In addition to learning about these historic events, students will extend their learning by understanding the concepts around these events and applying those concepts to current United States issues. There will be an emphasis on reading and interpreting important historic documents and speeches. 

The themes for the course are – Life, Liberty, Civil Disobedience, Social Contract Theory, Freedom, Economics, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Civil Discourse, Humanity, Morality, and Protest. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Social Studies

Grade 8 Special Education

Special Education programs and services in the Milton Area School District provide specially designed instruction to meet the needs of the exceptional child. The nature of the need may be related to autism/persuasive development disorder, blindness or visual impairment, deafness or hearing impairment, mental giftedness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, neurological impairment, other health impairment, physical disability, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, or speech and language impairment. .

For more information, please see the Special Education portion of our website.

Grade 8 Art

Grade 8 Art is a 9-week course during which students will be introduced to numerous mediums and tools in Art including drawing, painting, clay, collage, and printmaking. Application and knowledge of the elements of art and principles of design will be covered. Students will learn to think critically and discuss works of art, while self-reflecting on their own creations.

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Art

Grade 8 Cultures

Hispanic Cultures is a course that introduces students to the influence of current Spanish-speaking countries in the Western hemisphere. Students will learn about the culture and geography of these countries. Students will further explore the United States’ history and relationship with countries such as Mexico, Cuba and the quasi-state Puerto Rico. Students will learn about the U.S. influences Central and South America and how it directly affects the United States. This course uses a variety of resources to help the student master basic concepts of the Spanish culture. Students learn about various Spanish-speaking countries, geography, relevant explorers, wars, and cultures.

Grade 8 Family & Consumer Science

Grade 8 Family & Consumer Science is an introduction to the basic principles of nutrition, wellness, and food preparation. The focus of the course is centered on healthy food and lifestyle choices. The general goal is to enhance student awareness in regards to personal food choices and physical activity. Theoverall goal for all levels of the foods program is to enhance student knowledge of food choices and to motivate students to improve their choices as well as give them a selection of healthier food options they are able to cook for themselves and/or their families.

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Family & Consumer Science

Grade 8 Health/Physical Education

Health

Standards-based Middle School Health Education will provide students with knowledge in a wide variety of topics and trends related to health of physical, mental and social domains. The health education program motivates students to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease, and reduce risky behaviors. The course is comprehensive: using various planned and sequential 6-8 health education curricula, the class addresses all dimensions of health in a way that ultimately results in students who possess the knowledge and skills to live a healthy life.

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Health

Physical Education

Standards-based Middle School Physical Education provides students with experiences in a wide variety of activities.  During middle school, students learn to refine, combine and apply a variety of movement and motor skills in different physical activity settings.  In each area of physical education, the critical elements for each motor skill as well as concepts and principles related to biomechanics, motor development, motor learning and game tactics are taught.  Middle School Physical Education programs continue to emphasize the importance of physical activity and personal fitness throughout the school year. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Physical Education

Grade 8 Music

Grade 8 Music continues with listening to and discussion of music. A review and further explanation of the seven elements of music is expanded upon this year, as these elements are critical to analysis and understanding of music at this level. The evolution of music and music history is highlighted in this course, from primitive music to modern popular styles. American Musical Theater and Broadway storylines and musical examples are discussed and explored, as well as the various roles of theater production. The role of music in television and film emphasizes the important role that music plays in these mediums. Performance and composition experiences will also be included in this course.

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 Music

Grade 8 STEM

Grade 8 STEM covers a wide range of basic physics concepts. These concepts will be viewed from the theoretical side and show through a series of labs and web activities. Topics such as the relationship between the study of Newton’s laws of motion, and problem solving using vectors will be discussed; exploring the physics behind the operation of everyday items, such as, tools and machinery. This course is intended to provide an understanding of how physics affects and describes our universe. This course would benefit students pursuing careers, which would not require advanced science studies, as well as, technical students wanting to understand the science behind today’s technology. 

Course Syllabus – Grade 8 STEM