Middle School
The Middle School program at Pathfinder focuses on providing students many opportunities to explore learning in a variety of ways. Middle school students in all subjects engage in hands-on projects, simulations, as well as reading, writing, and calculating. Small class sizes provide students daily opportunities to dialogue with teachers and mentors and develop social/emotional skills.
Class Sizes
All of our classes Grade 6 through Grade 8 are capped at 17 students.
Sample Schedule
Each of our middle school classes are afforded access to our outstanding co-curricular faculty throughout the week, alongside an academically stimulating environment allowing them to continue to expand their intellectual and emotional learning. At Pathfinder, our middle school curriculum provides children an opportunity to explore their concept of the world through unique projects, performances, field trips, and developing portfolios that demonstrate a growing understanding of their roles as global citizens. Students research and construct knowledge on a wide range of topics, often working in interdisciplinary ways. Our middle school program seeks to help promote a love of learning in all our students.
A typical day could look like:
8:00-9:05am Language Arts/Social Studies
9:10-9:55am French
10:00-10:45am Science
10:50-11:30am Science
11:35am-12:20pm Lunch and Recess
12:25-1:10pm Studio Art
1:15-2:00pm Physical Education
2:05-2:50pm Music
2:50-3:00pm Math
3:00-3:15pm Pick-up
The place
Our middle school students transition from class to class, which we believe provides the opportunity for exercise and a brief brain break. Our middle school students spend the majority of their time learning on our lower-campus in the various middle school and co-curricular classrooms. Even in middle school our students spend time outside as often as possible, exploring all our 22-acres have to offer.
CURRICULUM
Language Arts & Social Studies
As children grow, their awareness of the world expands. The Pathfinder social studies program moves sequentially from exploring the local community to making broad connections with communities around the world. From Global Studies in the early elementary grades, to Renaissance Fairs in middle school, students study anthropology, economics, comparative religions, history and geography. With a commitment to helping students develop social skills, the social studies curriculum focuses on character development and civics -- empowering students to become leaders in their community.
Reading, writing, speaking and listening are at the heart of the entire Pathfinder curriculum. Throughout all grades, students read and discuss literature, exploring the relationship between theme and character, plot and symbol and expanding their understanding of the real world. Students write in every class and in every grade, so writing becomes a natural part of their repertoire. Pathfinder graduates go on to take AP and Honors classes in the many schools they attend.
MATH
The Pathfinder School utilizes InTo Math for Grades 6-8. We also provide a blended learning option for Algebra 1 with high school credit.
SCIENCE
Throughout the semester students participate in experiments using the scientific method, create life-size diagrams of the body to study biology, and often explore programming and 3-D printing. Students have science in double-block periods and learn through a project-based curriculum.
Co-curricular Classes
Along with the core curricular classes, all of our Middle School students also have French, Music, Physical Education, Studio Art, and Library. They also have the opportunity to choose one MIAD per quarter, and one In-Depth per semester.
MIAdS (Multiple Intelligence Art DOMAIN)
The Pathfinder curriculum allows students to investigate subjects in many different ways, i.e. kinesthetically, visually, musically, through literature, or hands-on experimentation. Knowing that intelligence comes in many forms, The MIAD program offers choices, such as eco-literacy, personal finance, current issues, forensics, clay, comparative religions, cooking, fiber arts, yoga, and others. These MIAD classes extend the multi-dimensional curriculum throughout the school where all students take visual arts, music, computer technology, physical education, and foreign language.
IN-DEPTH
During each semester, Middle School students meet once per week during a double-block focusing on an area of their choice. Options often include Drama where students can pursue technical theater, performance, and playwriting, which culminates in a performance for the rest of the Pathfinder students and their families. Recently, other options have ranged from outdoor exploration to creative journaling, and also included building an 8-person paddleboard to use on Cedar Lake.