Academic Program
The Hun Middle School provides a small, warm and comfortable environment for students, with a focus on their changing needs as they progress through each grade level. All learners participate in five core academic courses each year, with appropriate challenges to match developing skills and maturity. Disciplines include English, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign language.
The Sixth Grade
Our 6th grade program is designed to help students transition from their elementary school experiences into thinking and working as more independent learners. The overarching concept thread throughout the 6th grade is the understanding of cultures, dealing with conflicts and applying this knowledge to real life situations. Students learn note-taking skills, management of workload, and study strategies, which enable them to organize and process new information. Hands-on learning and interdisciplinary activities are central to the 6th grade experience, which incorporates numerous field trips and guest speakers to reinforce classroom work. Students are encouraged to express themselves and to engage in frequent student-centered discussions.
The Seventh Grade
The 7th grade program is designed to build on skills and experiences acquired in the previous year and to add challenges which are appropriate to a new level of maturity. Throughout the program, focus is on helping students develop the analytical skills necessary for abstract and non-linear thinking. These important critical thinking skills are promoted by opportunities for oral presentations, student-centered discussion, interdisciplinary and collaborative group work, and research. Students encounter problem-solving situations and are encouraged to apply what they learn to the outside world. Hands-on activities, field trips, and guest speakers accentuate experiential learning.
The Eighth Grade
One of the core goals of the eighth grade program is to prepare students for the world beyond the classroom, and in particular for challenging programs at the upper school level. The development of abstract thinking is extended from the seventh grade and many opportunities are provided for students to display their ability to analyze and synthesize information. Critical thinking activities, cooperative learning tasks, and opportunities for risk-taking help to create a program that provides authentic experiences for students in and out of the classroom. The rigor of the eighth grade program requires students to take initiative and ownership of their individual level of academic success.
