Fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Grade
At Manheim Christian Day School, our Middle School students are nurtured in Christ-centered education to pursue academic excellence across a variety of disciplines. In math, students use lectures, small group work and technology to study a variety of necessary or advanced concepts. Our English Language Arts classes continue exploration of foundational concepts in literature, grammar, and spelling. Comprehension, analysis, and writing are integrated into literature units to increase proficiency, readiness for further education and love of reading. Students will learn geography and US history in-depth, and study science with hands-on activities. Additional Bible classes encourage students to grow deeper in their knowledge of Scripture and faith in Jesus Christ with a variety of service opportunities.
Primary
Intermediate
Middle School
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade
Eighth Grade
Specials
Afternoon Club
FIFTH GRADE
Middle school Teachers:
Lori Henry
Middle School Social Studies, 5th Grade Language Arts
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Curriculum:
LANGUAGE ARTS
Reading Street (Pearson Education, Inc.)
Includes: spelling, vocabulary, comprehension, language, and writing
Individualized reading groups and book clubs
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MATH
My Math (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on fractions and decimals
Math fact mastery, daily concept review, problem solving
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SCIENCE
Interactive Science (Pearson Education, Inc.)
Emphasis on life, earth and physical sciences
Experimentation, hands-on learning, and STEM focused projects
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Kids Discover American States and Regions (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Emphasis on USA Geography and Landscapes.
Regions of the U.S – The Northeast, The Southeast, The Midwest, The Southwest, The West
Learning the States and Capitals/State Research Project
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BIBLE
Images of God
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Knowledge fest – state project
Weekly middle school electives
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Special Projects and Events:
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Gettysburg National Military Park and Visitors Center – museum, film, cyclorama, Cemetery Ridge Trail Hike
(combined field trip with 6th grade on alternating years)
Harrisburg – PA State Capitol tour, Whitaker Center (combined field trip with 6th grade on alternating years)
Service Project
Typical Field Trips:
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Natalya "Sasha" Carpenter
Middle School Language Arts
Rodney Zimmerman
Middle School Science, 8th Grade Math
Melissa Nolt
Middle School Math
Jon Sauder
Middle School Bible
SIXTH GRADE
Curriculum:
MATH
My Math (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on ratios and proportions, the number system, expressions and equations, geometry, and statistics and probability
Includes: operations using fractions, decimals and integers, percent, equations, area and volume, and statistics
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SCIENCE
Earth & Space Science (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on Earth Sciences
Includes: rocks and minerals, geological changes, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather and climate, and water resources
Experimentation, hands-on learning, and STEM focused projects
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Discovering World Geography – The Western Hemisphere (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on the Western Hemisphere
Learning about the geography, history, economies, government, people and cultures of North America, South America, and Europe
BIBLE
Life of Christ
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Knowledge Fest – students research a work of literature, write a report, and create a presentation
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Special Projects and Events:
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Gettysburg National Military Park and Visitors Center – museum, film, cyclorama, Cemetery Ridge Trail Hike (combined field trip with 5th grade on alternating years)
Harrisburg – PA State Capitol tour, Whitaker Center (combined field trip with 5th grade on alternating years)
Service Project
Typical Field Trips:
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Knowledge Fest – students research a work of literature, write a report, and create a presentation
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LANGUAGE ARTS
myPerspectives (Savvas Learning Company), Institute for Excellence in Writing (Level B, Year 1)
Emphasis on independent reading and cursive penmanship
Includes: spelling tests, grammar, vocabulary, literary studies, and writing
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SEVENTH GRADE
LANGUAGE ARTS
myPerspectives (Savva Learning Company), Institute for Excellence in Writing (Level B, Year 2)
Emphasis on independent reading and cursive penmanship
Includes: spelling tests, grammar, vocabulary, literary studies, and writing
Curriculum:
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MATH
Course 2 (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on preparation for algebra
Includes: ratios and proportions, percents, integers, rational numbers, algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, geometry, probability and statistics
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SCIENCE
Life Science (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on Biology
Includes: cells, reproduction, genetics, theories of creation, bacteria and viruses, protists and fungi, plants, animals, human body systems, interactions of life
Experimentation, hands-on learning, and STEM focused projects
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Discovering World Geography – The Eastern Hemisphere (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on the Eastern Hemisphere
Includes learning about the geography, history, economies, government, people and cultures of Asia, The Caucasus, Siberian Russia, Africa, New Zealand, Oceania, and Antarctica
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BIBLE
Creative Bible Study
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Knowledge Fest – students research and present a science fair project
Weekly Middle School electives
Special Projects and Events:
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Knowledge Fest – students research and present a science fair project
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Baltimore (combined field trip with 8th grade on alternating years)
Philadelphia (combined field trip with 8th grade on alternating years)
Service project
Typical Field Trips:
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EIGHTH GRADE
LANGUAGE ARTS
myPerspectives (Savvas Learning Company), Institute for Excellence in Writing (Bible-based lessons)
Emphasis on independent reading and cursive penmanship
Includes: grammar, vocabulary, literary studies, and writing
Curriculum:
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MATH
Algebra I (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on solving for variables
Includes: algebraic expressions, equations, linear functions and inequalities, systems of equations, exponential, quadradtic and rational functions, geometry, statistics, probability
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SCIENCE
Physical Science (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on Physics and Chemistry
Includes: motion and forces, simple machines, energy, states of matter, properties of matter, interactions of matter, waves, electricity, and magnetism
Experimentation, hands-on learning, and STEM focused projects
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SOCIAL STUDIES
Discovering Our Past – A History of the United States Early Years (McGraw Hill)
Emphasis on United States History
Includes learning about The First Americans, Exploring the Americas, Colonial America, The American Revolution, The Constitution, The Federalist Era, The Jefferson Era, The Jackson Era, Manifest Destiny and The Civil War
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BIBLE
Christian Apologetics is the course of study we have chosen for the graduating class. Apologetics is the “field of theology which seeks to provide a reasoned defense of the Christian faith”. When our students leave the halls of MCDS, we want them to know what they believe and why they embrace that belief. The subject of Apologetics is massive, so we limit our study to, “Is the Bible the Word of God?” and “Was Jesus Christ the Messiah?” We explore everything from Prophecy, Archaeology, and Science to the Resurrection of our Lord with each subject having 5 points they can remember and stand firm on! We end the year with the “so what?” question: He needs to be the Lord of my life!
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8th Grade Retreat – 2 days away to grow closer as a class spiritually, socially, and emotionally
Speech meet – students perform a prepared monologue in front of an audience
Weekly middle school electives
Special Projects and Events:
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Spelling Bee
Knowledge Fest – students research and present a science fair project
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Baltimore (combined field trip with 7th grade on alternating years)
Philadelphia (combined field trip with 7th grade on alternating years)
Service project
Typical Field Trips:
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