Language Arts

Students build reading skills and appreciation for a variety of literary forms as part of the "Reading in Common" program. Students are expected to understand concepts such as character development, author's purpose, and use of imagery and metaphor. Students are reading constantly, at least one book, often two.

Students develop their skills in oral and written expression. Competence is developed in clarity of expression, word choice, coherence, use of standard grammar, and spelling. Various types of sentence structures and paragraph development are taught directly and through literature. Students write fiction, personal essay, poetry, persuasive essay, and drama.

Mathematics

• Data collection, graphing, and probability
• The structure of number systems
• Fractions, decimals, and percents
• Number operations, square roots, exponents, factors, multiples and primes
• Geometric properties, patterns, shapes, and relationships
• Measurement, scale, area, perimeter
• Algebraic thinking
• Directed practice in open response methods and problem-solving strategies
• Integers

Science

• Energy Systems: energy transfer, insulation, variables, solar energy
• Scientific Method
• Civil Engineering/Bridge Building

Social Studies/Geography

American History Part 2: Regional differences and westward expansion with the resulting conflict, the Civil War; commerce and trade: movement of goods; politics: rebellion, activism and decision-making in the formation of government; movement: people and ideas, effects of transportation routes; tolerance: impact of people moving from one place to another

Ancient Civilizations Part 2: In depth studies of Egyptian and Indian cultures; overviews of other contemporaneous cultures

Related Studies

• Human Growth and Development and Health Education with an emphasis on the endocrine system
• DARE, drug and alcohol abuse prevention program given in coordination with the Acton Police Department.
• TCM (Together C.A.S.E. and McCarthy-Towne), student buddy program