Tuition-Free Online Middle School Program in Florida

ENGLISH 6

Middle school students are able to independently read increasingly complex text, as well as respond in writing to these same texts. Readings include classic short stories and a variety of informational texts related to historical topics. Students will also have the opportunity to read and study a novel of their choice. Each unit in 6th grade Language Arts includes explicit instruction and practice in writing, grammar, morphology, spelling, and reading.

Grade 6 writing expands in scope and complexity, consisting of a robust series of unit-long writing activities that incorporate language skills and focus on developing craft and structure while incorporating and building upon writing skills learned in the earlier grades. These writing projects are intended to prepare middle school students for the writing they will do in high school, college, and the professional world.

The semester culminates with a project in which students apply the learning from the semester to complete a comprehensive activity. The projects are intended to promote independent learning as students make choices about work products and apply self- management skills to plan activities.

MATH 6A

In this problem-based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

Students begin the year exploring geometry through the study of area and surface area of figures. They then move into a study of ratios, unit rates, unit pricing, and percentages. The semester concludes with an in-depth dive into dividing fractions, focusing not only on algorithms, but also conceptualizing and applying this skill. Additional course elements include real-world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

MATH 6B

In this problem-based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

Students begin this semester by exploring decimals, and learn how to perform operations with decimals in context of real- world situations and problems. They then begin to delve into algebraic concepts such as expressions, expressions with exponents, and equations with one variable. Students begin to learn about negative numbers and plot positive and negative numbers on a coordinate grid. Finally, students explore data analysis and statistical questions through the study of dot plots, histograms, median, IQR, and measures of center. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 6A

In this inquiry-based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

Students begin the semester with a study of light and matter, exploring the phenomenon of one- way mirrors which act as both a window and a mirror. They will investigate how light transmission and reflection impacts how we see an object. Next, they will study thermal energy and learn how containers can keep materials hot or cold. During this study, they will investigate closed and open systems and the movement of particles. Finally, they will learn about cells and systems. Students will explore the systems of the body and investigate how we heal from injuries at a cellular level. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 6B

In this inquiry-based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

Students begin the semester with a study of weather, climate, and water cycling. They investigate the movement of air in the atmosphere and the impact that it has on the weather. Students explore precipitation and storms and investigate why some storms are more severe than others. Next, student will learn about plate tectonics and rock cycling. They study Earth’s surface and how tectonic plate movement has impacted land. Finally, students will focus on tsunamis as they investigate natural hazards and how to prepare for them. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

SOCIAL STUDIES 6A

Sixth grade students will study the beginning of early civilizations through the Gupta dynasty. Students will learn the geographical, social, economic, and political foundations for early civilizations progressing through the Gupta dynasty. They will analyze the shift from nomadic societies to agricultural societies. Students will study the development of civilizations, including the areas of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ancient Israel, and India. The study of these civilizations will include the impact of geography, early history, cultural development, and economic change. The geographic focus will be studying physical and political features, economic development and resources, and migration patterns. This class will conclude with the Gupta dynasty.

SOCIAL STUDIES 6B

Second Semester: Students explore the geographic, political, economic, and cultural development of Ancient Greece, Rome, and China. The course examines the birth and spread of Judaism, Christianity, Taoism, and Confucianism. Students apply historical thinking skills to understand the implications of ancient literature, art, and philosophy on later Western culture.

ENGLISH 7A

Middle school students are able to independently read increasingly complex text, as well as respond in writing to these same texts. Readings include classic short stories and a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections from the Harlem Renaissance, as well as a student- friendly version of Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Students will also have the opportunity to read and study a novel of their choice. Each unit in 7th grade Language Arts includes explicit instruction and practice in writing, grammar, morphology, spelling, and reading.

Grade 7 writing expands in scope and complexity, consisting of a robust series of unit- long writing activities that incorporate language skills and focus on developing craft and structure while incorporating and building upon writing skills learned in the earlier grades. These writing projects are intended to prepare middle school students for the writing they will do in high school, college, and the professional world.

The semester culminates with a project in which students apply the learning from the semester to complete a comprehensive activity. The projects are intended to promote independent learning as students make choices about work products and apply self- management skills to plan activities.

MATH 7A

In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

Students begin the year exploring relationships between figures as they examine scaled copies and scale drawings. This transitions into learning about proportional and nonproportional relationships as well as how to represent proportional relationships with tables, graphs, and equations. Next, students learn about relationships within circles: measuring circles and finding the area and circumference of a circle. Finally, students conclude their study of proportional relationships by studying proportional relationships with fractions, percent increase and decrease, and application of percentages. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

MATH 7B

In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

Students begin this semester with rational number arithmetic, learning how to interpret negative numbers and complete all 4 operations with rational numbers. They are also introduced to solving equations with negative numbers. Next, students apply their skills to solving expressions, equations, and inequalities, as well as writing equivalent expressions. Students then transition to geometry, working with angles, triangles, and prisms. They study relationships between angles and learn how to draw figures with given specifications. The course concludes with a study of probability of single- and multi- step events and sampling. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 7A

In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

This semester begins with an investigation of bath bombs and the chemical reactions that happen when they are placed in water. Students will learn how matter can change forms while total mass remains the same. Next, students continue their study of chemical reactions as they learn about chemical reactions and energy. They investigate how to heat up food and how to create a flameless heater. Finally, they will explore ecosystems and how changing an ecosystem impacts living things. They will study the impact of various products on rainforests and on the plant and animal life within them. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 7B

In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

This semester begins with a study of metabolic reactions. Students will learn about what happens to food molecules as they pass through the digestive system and will study the chemical reactions that happen within the human body. Next, students will investigate how plants get their food and the cycling of matter in the plant life cycle. Finally, students will study the impact of humans on Earth’s resources and will learn strategies to work together to help battle climate change and changes to our atmosphere. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

MS Civics 

From the earliest human societies, principles of civics have influenced the way people live together and interact. Decisions about citizenship, distribution of power, and access to rights helped shape the governments of historical and contemporary societies, including the United States. The middle school civics course recounts important concepts in civics and related events in world and U.S. history, including:
– Citizens have both rights and responsibilities.
– The roots of modern democracy can be traced to the direct democracy of ancient Athens and the republic, or representative democracy, of ancient Rome.
– Medieval European monarchs ruled with absolute authority until the Magna Carta placed the first limits on royal power in England.
– Enlightenment ideas such as natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty influenced events in the centuries that followed and continue to influence events today.
– Governments come in many different forms, but they always serve the same purposes.
– The Articles of Confederation created an ineffective first government of the United States, so they were replaced by the U.S. Constitution.
– The U.S. Constitution built on ideas from American colonial history, British history, and the European Enlightenment.
– The Constitution separated powers among three branches of government and included a system of checks and balances.
– The amendment process has allowed the Constitution to change over time.
– The Bill of Rights explicitly protects individual rights.
– Other amendments expanded the definition of citizenship and the right to vote.

Students will engage in learning and applying skills connected to understanding government structures, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the importance of civic participation, how laws are made and changed, and the role of media in shaping public opinion. These skills will help students become informed and active members of their community.

Projects are provided to allow for a deeper application of skills and to create a personal connection between students and content. The projects are designed to foster independent learning and promote students to take action, use their voices, and get involved as a citizen. As students navigate these decisions, they develop self- management skills that help them organize, plan, and complete their activities effectively.

Economics

From the earliest human societies, principles of economics have influenced the way people live together and interact. Decisions about the production of goods and services, money, and trade helped shape the economies of historical and contemporary societies, including the United States. The middle school economics course recounts important concepts in economics and related events in world and U.S. history, including:

– People use natural resources, human resources, and capital resources to produce goods and services.
– Economies are shaped by interactions between consumers and producers.
– Scarcity, opportunity costs, and incentives all influence economic decision- making.
– Prices are largely influenced by the principles of supply and demand.
– A budget can be a helpful decision- making tool.
– Goods and services can be exchanged by barter, money, or credit.
– Anywhere—real or virtual—where people buy, sell, or trade goods and services is a marketplace.
– Economies are shaped by interactions between consumers and producers.
– Scarcity and opportunity cost influence economic decision- making.
– Prices are largely influenced by the principles of supply and demand.
– Anywhere—real or virtual—where people buy, sell, or trade goods and services is a marketplace.
– A society’s standard of living is influenced by factors such as availability of resources, availability of goods and services, and education.
– Examples of these economic principles can be found throughout world history.

Students explore and develop skills in understanding economic principles, analyzing market behaviors, recognizing the roles of consumers and producers, evaluating economic decisions based on resource allocation, and understanding the impact of government policies on the economy. These skills will equip students to better understand the economic world around them.

Projects are provided to allow for a deeper application of skills and to create a personal connection between students and content. The projects are designed to foster independent learning by empowering students to make their own choices about the types of work products they create, the specific areas they wish to research, and the practical application of concepts. As students navigate these decisions, they develop self- management skills that help them organize, plan, and complete their activities effectively.

ENGLISH 8

Middle school students are able to independently read increasingly complex text, as well as respond in writing to these same texts. Readings include classic short stories and a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections from the Harlem Renaissance, as well as a student- friendly version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Students will also have the opportunity to read and study a novel of their choice. Each unit in 8th grade Language Arts includes explicit instruction and practice in writing, grammar, morphology, and reading.

Grade 8 writing expands in scope and complexity, consisting of a robust series of unit- long writing activities that incorporate language skills and focus on developing craft and structure while incorporating and building upon writing skills learned in the earlier grades. These writing projects are intended to prepare middle school students for the writing they will do in high school, college, and the professional world.

The semester culminates with a project in which students apply the learning from the semester to complete a comprehensive activity. The projects are intended to promote independent learning as students make choices about work products and apply self- management skills to plan activities.

MATH 8A

In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

This semester begins with an in- depth study of transformations. Students first learn about rigid transformations and congruence of shapes and angles in triangles. They then expand this knowledge to work with dilations and similarity of figures. Next, they begin to explore linear relationships as they find slopes and solve and graph linear equations. Finally, students learn more about linear equations in one variable and are introduced to systems of linear equations. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

MATH 8B

In this problem- based curriculum, students will build on their math skills through exploration. Throughout this course, students will use interactives and offline tools to explore math concepts. Students learn by doing math, solving problems in mathematical and real- world contexts, and constructing arguments using precise language. Students hear thoughts and ideas from their “virtual classmates” as they explore mathematical concepts and are encouraged to explain their thinking in writing throughout the course.

This semester begins with an in- depth study of functions as students learn to represent and interpret functions. Students evaluate linear functions and apply them to rates of change. They then shift to geometry skills, working to find the volume of cones, cylinders, and spheres. Next, students analyze data by looking for associations, analyzing patterns, and trends. Students then review previous learning about exponents, learn about rules of exponents, and apply exponents to scientific notation. Finally, students apply computational skills to geometric figures, work with the Pythagorean Theorem and find side lengths and volume of cubes. Additional course elements include real- world applications, discussions, graphic organizers, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 8A

In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

This semester begins with a study of motion and contact forces. Students will investigate how changing the mass or speed of an object can affect forces in a collision, as well as learn ways to protect objects in a collision. Next, students investigate sound and how sounds can make matter move. They study sound waves and frequency and examine the effects of different pitches and volumes of sounds. Finally, students continue their study of forces by investigating magnets and the forces that they can apply on objects. They investigate magnetic fields, energy transfer, and the force pairs in magnetic fields. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

SCIENCE 8B

In this inquiry- based curriculum, students engage with science questions with the goal of explaining a phenomenon and/or solving a problem. Students begin by posing questions, developing models, proposing ideas for investigation, investigating and gathering data, applying data to answer questions and revise models, and then forming new questions to answer. They question, investigate, and build understanding as they read, complete interactive activities and simulations, and engage in virtual labs.

This semester begins with an exploration of patterns in the sky and in space. Students investigate phenomena with the Moon, Sun, and other objects within and beyond our solar system. Next, students explore the world of genetics, as they learn how traits are passed from parents to offspring. They model trait variations and learn about the reproduction of plants and animals. Finally, students explore the connection between living beings of today and those of long ago as they investigate the process of natural selection. They engage in case studies about population changes and the impact of the environment on various living beings. Additional course elements include readings, discussions, and unit projects.

SOCIAL STUDIES 8A

Students will begin by exploring how American Indian societies lived in their environments. Next, they will examine the reasons for European exploration and settlement in North America. From there, students will explore the development of the British colonies and the causes behind the American Revolution. They will learn how the Patriots defeated Great Britain and achieved independence. They will be able to name the documents that define the democratic nature of our American republic. They will learn why the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are so revolutionary. Throughout the course, students study the growth of sectional divisions and conflict.

SOCIAL STUDIES 8B

This course will take students from early Spanish missions in western North America to the end of the 19th century in the United States. Next, students will examine reasons for Western westward exploration and expansion. From there, students explore the causes and effects of the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War. They will also analyze the California gold rush and immigration to the West Coast. The course then explores the sectional causes and effects of the Civil War. After that, students will examine the changes to the lives of African Americans during Reconstruction, followed by the explosive economic growth of the Second Industrial Revolution. The Indian Wars of the 19th century are also a consistent topic of the course.

*Offerings may vary each year.

Physical Education

Health Science: Where do healthcare workers spend their days? What do they really do? From cruise ships to sports arenas, you can find healthcare workers in many places that you might not expect. Explore this field, including what it would be like to work in a medical lab. Learn what it takes to keep you and your patients safe, and begin to learn about the human body and basic first-aid.

2D Art: Get ready to unleash your creativity in the vibrant world of two-dimensional art. In this course, you’ll tell your own story through art as you develop skills in drawing, painting, and more! Get inspired as you investigate artworks and how to use the elements of art and principles of design as you create and reflect on your own art. There are supplies you’ll need to purchase for this class, but don’t worry. You have choices in what you can use.

Journalism: Ready to make the headlines?  Prepare to dive into the exciting world of journalism to develop your reporting skills across various platforms such as print, web, radio, and multimedia. Take a trip through the history of journalism to explore its past, present, and future. Discover different careers in the field and learn how to research and write captivating news stories. Investigate what it means to be an ethical and responsible journalist who creates content that informs and engages an audience.

Photography: 1 of 2: Photographs are all around us, and each helps to tell a story. Now it’s time for you to create your story through photos you learn how to take in this course. Learn the basics of using a camera, lighting, and how to choose great subjects to create magazine-worthy photos and amaze your friends and family with your skills. 2 of 2: Do you have vacation photos or pics of your pet that need a little editing? How about getting ready to add that new selfie you took to your social media platform? Taking photos is an art, and editing photos is a skill that many photographers seek to master. Explore how to manipulate angles and lighting, the purpose for different types of photo files, how to use different software to edit photos, and safe places you can store them. You’ll be well on your way to being an editing guru when you’re done with this course.

Visual Art: Ever wonder about how you can create art? In this course, you’ll connect with art created by other artists as you learn how to plan, create, and reflect on your own art. you’ll discover tools and techniques artists use as you create your own drawings, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and mixed-media works. you’ll need to purchase supplies for this class. But don’t worry, you have choices in what you can use!

Career Explorations: Imagine that it’s 20 years from now. What career do you see yourself in? What do you imagine that you’ll be doing? In this course, you’ll explore more careers and what it takes to succeed in different fields. You’ll learn more about what steps are needed to prepare for your career and how to compare the pros and cons of different career choices to find one that’s best for you.

Fitness: You will explore health and fitness topics with a crew of virtual characters. Among them is Coach Cardio, who will help measure your increasing fitness level as you learn to keep your body physically fit. This course provides middle school elective credit. Please check with your school district regarding middle school physical education requirements.