Middle School - Bahamas Virtual School

Middle School Educational Program

A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, YOUR WAY ON DEMAND!

The Middle School program is designed to equip students with the tools to make them capable enough to enter the next step in their journey to high school.

Middle school years develop a student’s academic experience before they enter secondary school. Middle school years are a unique period in one’s lifetime. This is a time of change, from childhood to young adulthood. With this change, comes challenges, opportunities, and a broad range of new experiences. An important aspect of human development that impacts a person’s future is his/her education.

To this end, Bahamas Virtual School (BVS) offers a multitude of academic options and online middle school programs for our students. It is important to carefully consider these options and to become familiar with the requirements. This is important for a successful progression from middle school to high school and postsecondary education.

BVS School administrators, teachers, and counselors are key individuals in helping to guide students in making smart choices. They optimize each student’s academic experience. It is our hope that each student takes advantage of the information available in our program. With the assistance provided at BVS, they have the opportunity to plan an academic path that leads to success during the secondary school years and, ultimately, as a productive member of society.

A Curriculum Designed To Include All Learning Styles.

This approach allows the student to move as fast as they want or as slow as they want to grasp the information presented.

They learn Their Way!

Middle School Grades

The 6th-grade academic experience includes participation in the following courses:

Language Arts 1

Semester 1

Language Arts 1 Semester 1 explores several types of literature. Students will be expected to write essays, including a comparison-contrast essay, a how-to essay, a short story, and a response to literature. Students will read intriguing stories written by famous and influential authors. The course will cover the writing process and effective writing techniques, and students will produce their own pieces of literature in multiple genres. Proper conventions of grammar will be reinforced.

Semester 2

Successful completion of Language Arts 1 Semester 2 or equivalent course work is required before enrolling in Language Arts 6 Semester 2. This course explores several types of literature written by famous, influential authors. In composition, the writing process is emphasized, while students produce their own short stories, comparison-contrast essays, and how-to essays. Proper conventions of grammar are covered. Grammar topics include nouns, pronouns, adjectives, relative and interrogative pronouns, verbs, adverbs, prepositional phrases, adjective phrases, simple sentence structure, punctuating words in a series, and understanding and using clauses.

Math

Semester 1

Students should have a demonstrable understanding of the concepts covered in Math before enrolling in Mathematics 1 Semester 1. This course will provide a solid foundation in mathematics by covering topics such as decimals, fractions, expressions, equations, graphing, measurement, and statistics. This course will introduce students to ratios, percentages, and geometry, and will also teach students how to collect and interpret data and display their findings through graphs. Students will learn to recognize patterns and to work with variables. Prime numbers, factoring, and divisibility rules will be covered as well, and students will add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.

Semester 2

Students must have successfully completed Mathematics 1 Semester 1 or equivalent course work before enrolling in Mathematics 1 Semester 2. This course includes discussions of ratios and solving proportions. Geometry concepts such as triangles, angles, perimeter, and area will also be covered. As the course progresses, students will learn about circles, 3-D figures, surface area, and the volume of different prisms. Finally, students will explore graphing and determine how integers are used in real-world situations.

Science

Sixth-grade science is divided into three fields: life science, physical science, and earth science.

Life Science:

Cells are the fundamental unit of life.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Cells carry on specific functions that sustain life.
Levels of organization in organisms.

Physical Science:

All matter is made of small particles called atoms.
Changes of state.
Types of energy, kinetic and potential.
Motion: Speed and the direction in which it is moving.

Earth Science:

Minerals properties.
Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock identification and classification.
Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks formation.
Weathering.
Rocks, minerals, and soils.

Social Studies

Semester 1

Students should have a demonstrable understanding of the concepts covered in Social Studies in World History Semester 1. This course will focus on world history from the beginnings of human civilization to the present day. Students will learn to evaluate the connections between geography and history. Topics in the first part of this course will include the Stone Age, the Persian Empire, and ancient Egypt and its advances in science and medicine. Students will then move on to study various world religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Lessons will include discussions of early Chinese and Greek societies and cultures and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. The final unit of the course will include studies of the Byzantine Empire, Muslim and Islamic beliefs, the Ottoman Empire, and various regions of Africa. Throughout this course, students will have access to interactive online activities and to compelling Discovery Channel School videos that will explain world history and enhance the course. The textbook for this course provides built-in reading support and helps students build map skills to better understand the world. It also helps students develop reading, writing, and geography skills.

Semester 2

Students must have successfully completed World History Semester 1 or equivalent course work before enrolling in World History Semester 2. This course focuses on the Age of Discovery through the modern day. Students will be introduced to the early civilizations of the Americas and Europe during the Middle Ages. Students will then enter the Renaissance and Reformation periods in Europe and will move on to study the rise of monarchies and English, American, and French revolutions. Finally, students will study World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the world since 1945.

The 7th-grade academic experience includes participation in the following courses:

Language Arts 2

Semester 1 & 2

Language Arts focus on the study of grammar, literature, and composition. Students will learn about elements of grammar such as pronouns, clauses, and subjects and predicates. The literature selections focus mainly on short stories to help students gain knowledge regarding literary elements and devices including foreshadowing, the point of view, and characterization. Reading selections provide students the opportunity to improve reading comprehension skills, to develop vocabulary, and to make inferences. Students will compose formal writing assessments including two compare and contrast essays, a fictional narrative, and a persuasive essay.

Math 2

Semester 1

Students should have a solid understanding of the concepts covered in Mathematics 1 Semester 1 and 2 before enrolling in Mathematics 2, in which students will work with decimals, equations, factors, fractions, integers, proportions, rates, and ratios. In addition, students will add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions, decimals, and integers. They will learn to solve one-step equations and will use proportions to solve real-world problems. Students will also develop an understanding of the coordinate plane by working with ordered pairs, linear and nonlinear functions, and patterns. Students can use videos, games, and practice problems to help emphasize key concepts. The concepts covered in Math 7 Part 1 are critical building blocks for Math 7 Part 2, as well as for future math classes.

Semester 2

Successful completion of Mathematics 2 Semester 1 or an equivalent course is required before students may enroll in Mathematics 2 Semester 2. Students will learn to solve two-step equations and will work with inequalities. This course will offer a solid foundation in mathematics by exploring topics that include geometric concepts and probability. The geometry discussion will include lines, rays, segments, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, irregular figures, prisms, and cylinders. With probability, students will work with experimental and theoretical probability, as well as permutations and combinations. Students will also work with percentages, a concept from Math 7 Part 1. Students can utilize videos, online games, and practice problems to help emphasize key concepts.

Science

The students will continue to build on the 6th-grade curriculum and review the nature of science and learn the scientific method. They will:

Scientific Method:

Practice using the scientific method in order to answer a question about their lives.

Sound and Light Properties:

The students will then learn about sound and light, including why light reflects and why some materials allow light to pass through while others do not.

Laws of Thermodynamics:

They will then learn about energy transformations and the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

Earth History:

The rock cycle and the types of rock, including what they tell us about the Earth’s history, are then discussed. The students will learn how and why the Earth changes through events like earthquakes and volcanoes.

Ecosystems and Food Chains:

They will then learn about ecosystems, how much they can support and why, and how they can be damaged. The students will also learn about how organisms can interact with each other in terms of biodiversity and symbiosis. The flow of energy in ecosystems is explained through the interpreting of food chains and food webs. The students will then learn about how organisms and species evolve over time through natural selection and in response to changes in the environment.

Genetics:

Finally, the students will learn about heredity and reproduction, including how to use a Punnett square to predict the traits of offspring.

Social Studies

Semester 1

United States History will encourage students to think like geographers by teaching them to study the Earth according to the five themes of geography. Students will use these themes to determine where something is located, such as a region, an ethnic group, a landform, or a trade route, and they will determine why these things can be found in particular places. The answers to these basic questions will also equip students to more fully understand the geography, history, culture, regions, and contemporary issues facing the people of the Americas, Europe, and Russia.

Semester 2

Students must have successfully completed United States History Semester 1 or equivalent course work before enrolling in United States History Semester 2. This course invites students to continue using the geographical tools and concepts that they learned in Social Studies 7 Part 1, as they learn about geography, history, culture, religions, and contemporary issues facing the people of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific World. By using an interactive textbook, learners will explore how each of these places has been shaped by history but has also developed a rich, thriving culture that can be seen today.

The 8th-grade academic experience includes participation in the following courses:

Language Arts 3

Semester 1

Before enrolling in this course, students should have a sound understanding of the concepts and ideas covered in Language Arts 2 Semester 1 and 2. In Language Arts 3, students will examine literary concepts by reading, interpreting, and writing about a variety of literature and other cultural texts. Students will survey a broad selection of readings while studying the structures of different literary genres, the elements of narratives and of characterization, literary devices and themes, and the concepts of style and grammar.

Semester 2

Language Arts 3 Semester 2 will build upon concepts covered in Language Arts 3 Semester 1 while exploring new information; therefore, successful completion of Language Arts 3 Semester 1 or equivalent course work is required. This course is comprised of different genres of literature, grammar, writing, and vocabulary. The major topics of this course include elements of nonfiction, reading for life (and real-world documents), theme, elements of drama, and research. The focus is on reading skills and understanding what is read. Students will learn reading strategies appropriate to the different genres of literature and apply these strategies to the readings. Basic skills are emphasized in the context of literary pieces and are reinforced with practice and essay writing. Added to Semester 2 is a research project that introduces students to the concepts of quality research, citations, and formal writing.

Math 3

Semester 1

Students should have a sound understanding of the concepts covered in Mathematics Semester 1 and 2 before enrolling in Mathematics III. This course will explore a variety of concepts such as rational numbers, algebraic equations, graphs and functions, real numbers, exponents, and the coordinate plane. Students will learn to implement real-world applications to the more abstract algebraic concepts found throughout the course. Video tutorials, online math activities, and self-check web quizzes ensure students receive the visual and special instruction necessary to conceptualize these abstract concepts, better preparing them for advanced math courses. This course provides the foundation for Mathematics III.

Semester 2

Successful completion of Mathematics III Semester 1 or equivalent course work is required before enrollment in Mathematics III Semester 2, which is a continuation of Mathematics III Semester 1. Students will focus on concepts that prepare them for Algebra 1, including solving multi-step equations, graphing lines, and interpreting slope. Students will also learn about angles, polygons, and volume of solid figures. In addition, students will learn about elementary statistics. Video tutorials, online math activities, and self-check web quizzes ensure students receive the visual and special instruction necessary to conceptualize these abstract concepts, better preparing them for advanced math courses.

Science

The 8th-grade science course offers a more in-depth look at physical sciences, such as chemistry, physics, and astronomy. The students will review the nature of science and the steps of the scientific method.

Energy:

Forms of Energy
Changing Energy
Classifying Energy

Matter and Energy:

History of Photosynthesis
Anatomy of a Leaf
Photosynthesis Overview
Cellular Respiration
The Carbon Cycle

The Universe:

The Universe
Matter in the Universe
Stars
Types of Stars

Our Solar System:

Modeling Our Solar System
Organization of Our Solar System
The Sun
Relationships of the Earth, Moon, and Sun

Exploring Space:

Distances in Space
Spectroscopy and EM Spectrum
Spectral Signatures
Future of Space Exploration

Social Studies

Semester 1

Students must have successfully completed United States History Semester 1 and 2 or equivalent course work before enrolling in Civics. This course teaches students about American history and society, the first human migrations to the Americas, the European colonization of the Americas, the founding of the United States, and the end of the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. Students will explore the causes and the effects of the French and Indian War, and will study the First Continental Congress, the Declaration of Independence, and the challenges of governing a new nation. The course will move through the growth of the United States, including its political landscape in the early 1800s, slavery, and territorial expansion. These discussions will lead to lessons that cover Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction of post- Civil War America.

Semester 2

Students must have successfully completed Civics Semester 1 or equivalent course work before enrolling in Civics Semester 2, which will continue to take students on a journey through American history. Beginning with the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction, this course will teach students about important historical events through modern day. Students will begin by learning about the Old West, the mining and railroad industries, and the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women voting rights. The course continues by discussing the Spanish- American War, World War I and II, the Great Depression, the Holocaust, the Korean War, and the Cold War. As students progress to contemporary history, they will learn about the Civil Rights Movement and Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Regan. This course will also include a study of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and America’s role in the global economy.

LOCATION: Bahamas

Nassau, New Providence & The Family Islands

Communication

Students can speak to their teachers for assistance

Counselors

Each student will have a school counselor assigned

Middle School Educational Program

A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, YOUR WAY ON DEMAND!

Middle School Grades

LOCATION: Bahamas

Communication

Counselors

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