Middle School Contemporary World delivers instruction, practice, and review designed to build middle school students’ knowledge of contemporary world geography, cultures, civics, and economics. By honing their ability to analyze the physical, social, and political forces that shape our world, students build the depth of knowledge and higher-order thinking skills required to demonstrate their mastery when put to the test.

The two-semester course is arranged in themed units, each with three to six lessons. In each unit, activities make complex ideas about the modern world accessible through focused content, guided analysis, multi-modal representations, and personalized feedback. Each lesson includes a variety of activities such as direct instruction, application of skills, performance tasks, and formative and summative assessments. Students engage with the subject matter in an interactive, feedback-rich environment as they progress through standards-aligned content and demonstrate their learning through computer- and teacher-scored assignments.

Middle School Contemporary World is built to state standards and informed by the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards.

2 semesters

Middle School Grade 8 Science delivers instruction, practice, and review to help students develop scientific literacy, deepen conceptual understanding, and apply scientific practices. Students explore concepts such as waves and electromagnetic radiation, energy and forces on Earth and in space, genetics and natural selection, and engineering design.

The two-semester course is arranged in themed units, each with two to three lessons. In each unit, activities make complex ideas accessible to students as they discover the nature of science through focused content, interactive mini-investigations, multi-modal representations, and personalized feedback. Each lesson includes a variety of activities such as direct instruction, application of skills, performance tasks, and formative and summative assessments. Students engage with the subject matter in an interactive, feedback-rich environment as they progress through standards-aligned content and demonstrate their learning through computer- and teacher-scored assignments.

This course is built to state standards.

2 semesters

Chemistry in the Earth System integrates chemistry with biology and Earth science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental chemistry concepts to better understand how matter and energy interact in the natural and designed world, how human activities impact Earth’s systems, and how science can be used to develop new technologies and engineering solutions.

Course topics include the nature of matter, forces and energy, atomic structure, bonding in matter, chemical reactions, equilibrium and kinetics, thermodynamics, matter and energy in Earth’s physical and living systems, energy and resource consumption, and environmental challenges.

Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.

A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Journal, Checkup, and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.

This course is built to Next Generation Science Standards. Throughout the course, students are evaluated via a variety of assessments designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of state exams.

Physics of the Universe integrates physics with Earth and space science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental physics concepts to better understand the impact of human activities on Earth’s systems and how forces, energy, and matter interact throughout the universe.

Course topics include electricity and magnetism, energy consumption and resources, dynamics, momentum and gravitation, waves, cosmology, and an exploration of Earth’s physical systems.

Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.

A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Checkup and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.

This course is built to Next Generation Science Standards. Throughout the course, students are evaluated via a variety of assessments designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of state exams.

Physics of the Universe integrates physics with Earth and space science. Throughout the course, students apply fundamental physics concepts to better understand the impact of human activities on Earth’s systems and how forces, energy, and matter interact throughout the universe.

Course topics include electricity and magnetism, energy consumption and resources, dynamics, momentum and gravitation, waves, cosmology, and an exploration of Earth’s physical systems.

Students discover new concepts through guided instruction and confirm their understanding in an interactive, feedback-rich environment. Scientific inquiry skills are embedded in the direct instruction, wherein students learn to ask scientific questions, form and test hypotheses, and use logic and evidence to draw conclusions about the concepts.

A variety of activities encourage students to think scientifically. Lab and Project activities reinforce critical thinking, writing, and communication skills and help students develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science and engineering. Virtual Lab activities enable students to engage in investigations that require long periods of observation at remote locations and to explore simulations that allow scientists to test predictions. In Discussions, students compare their lab or project results and exchange ideas about their investigations. Checkup and Practice activities provide additional opportunities for students to apply learned concepts and practice their writing and scientific reasoning skills.

This course is built to Next Generation Science Standards. Throughout the course, students are evaluated via a variety of assessments designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of state exams.