Academic Offerings
Middle Course Descriptions
Middle School students develop technical skills and aesthetic awareness with classroom experience in drawing, painting, collage, ceramics, and sculpture. As students progress through the three years of Middle School, art projects become less numerous and more challenging. Each year a "culture of the Year" is chosen for intensive study through selected art projects, culminating with an interactive art festival in the Spring Semester. In addition, eighth grade students sometimes take a field trip to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta to view special traveling exhibits.
Students begin exploring drama in sixth grade by developing a repertoire that may include a monologue, poetry, mime, and improvisational skits that they can present in recital at a moment's notice. Students cooperate to arrange their individual pieces into a self-contained show. At quarter's end, students write speeches toasting each other in a formal setting. Seventh graders apply techniques from two thousand years of theatre to direct their own dramatizations of their favorite books, starring their classmates. For another project, they explore characters as professional actors would in scenes by professional playwrights. Thinking like directors, the class collaborates on a final original play with unifying theme and style. The culmination of the drama program in eighth grade is for each quarter's class to produce a single full-scale play, for which students not only learn their parts, but also participate in providing the lights, sound effects, costumes, sets, and props.
General Music
Music notation is taught to the 7th graders through the use of a piano lab and choir chimes. At mid quarter, they actually compose tunes of their own to play on the hammerchord, a unique keyboard/stringed instrument invented by an Atlanta harp-maker, Robert Cunningham. Towards the end of each quarter, the 7th graders invite their parents in for a demonstration recital on both keyboards and chimes, and also perform as a chime choir for visiting pre-school classes. In addition to listening to classical music and studying their historical periods, 7th and 8th graders choose scenes that the music suggests to them to project on the overhead screen and then write a scene or action inspired by that music. This activity is called “You Be the Screen-writer!” Physical movement to music is also one of the more popular activities in both grades, as the students make up ‘football drills’ to help reinforce whole, half, quarter & eighth note durations and then execute them to favorite rock tunes. Tininkling poles and Boomwhackers were added to the mix to encourage more physical activity in learning music.
Advanced piano is open to 8th graders as well as the English Handbells. The students also compose their own tunes for piano and hammerchord and present concerts for the lower school. Occasionally, guitar students will bring their instruments in for a workshop, or visiting musicians from the community, or the Walker Instrumental Music Program will drop by to share their expertise. In addition, the sections taking this course during the first three quarters of the year give community service performances at varied senior centers. The fourth rotation provides handbell music for the Jr. Beta Club Induction and the 8th Grade Graduation/Honors Night Ceremony. Both the 7th and 8th grade general music classes study various styles of music that run from spirituals to symphonic excerpts and their own arrangements using these performance media.
Middle School Chorus
The foundation of choral singing and music theory allows the sixth grade to continue with the musical experience they had in the lower school. Students learn Solfege and usage of the system through major and minor scales, warm-ups, and sight-reading step-wise music. Vocalization and using the voice correctly is another important objective in 6th grade chorus; the entire range of the voice is exercised from the highest to the lowest. Students are engaged through fun warm-ups that achieve specific musical goals; these would include siren sounds, fun tongue twisters that work on diction, hand movements that work on tone and expression, and so forth. Students then use these techniques in the pieces they sing each quarter where they then perform in different venues such as assemblies, community centers, special school days, and an end of the quarter choral concert.
Students advance into more difficult theory and music in the 7th and 8th grade. Building upon their previous experience, students work on music that ranges from 2 to 3-part music with a larger range for the men and women. New warm-ups and scales are introduced, such as the chromatic scale, tonal memory, emphasis on tone in warm-ups, scale in thirds, and sight-reading in 3rds/around the arpeggio. Students are prepared to audition and be a part of opportunities such as All-State Chorus and Honor Choruses. Many styles of music are introduced through their repertoire to broaden not only their musical knowledge, but their cultural awareness as well. Many of their pieces are in different languages such as Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, German, and French. Students will have the same opportunities to perform through venues such as assemblies, community centers, special school days, and an end of the quarter choral concert.
6th Grade Band
6th Grade Band is our beginning instrumental music ensemble at the Walker School. Students choose traditional band and string instruments and learn to play them together in class. Learning goals for the year include reading music notation, rhythms and time signatures, familiarity with appropriate musical terminology for tempo, dynamics, and articulation, as well as specific techniques for competent performance on their instrument. We stress teamwork, problem solving, and self-evaluation while exposing students to classical, jazz, and popular music. Students perform at one Band Concert each quarter as well as additional performances at assemblies and school functions.
Middle School Band
Middle School Band is open to 7th and 8th graders who have completed 6th grade band or have permission from the instructors. At this level we expect greater facility on their instrument(s), increasing skill reading pitch and rhythmic notation, and a basic understanding of musical terminology. Students have the option to play more varied instruments such as the larger saxophones, double reeds, tuba, piccolo, and more percussion instruments. We expose to the students to more challenging music and a wider variety of styles within Classical, Jazz, and Popular music while focusing on individual tone quality, blending with the ensemble, and group musical interpretation. The students perform at one Band Concert each quarter and at several school functions and have the option to participate in the Middle School Jazz Band and small ensembles.
Since students enter Middle School with varying levels of understanding of the functions and operations of computers, our flexible curriculum offers skills, technical knowledge, and applications ranging from basic to advanced. Sixth graders usually begin with fundamentals of keyboarding (many having developed counter-productive habits). This program incorporates the use of a software package called "Type to Learn" and is followed by several speed and accuracy tests to chart progress. Students then learn the basics of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Publisher. These skills are essential for use in all classes throughout their Walker careers. Seventh graders will learn about the parts of a computer and what makes a computer function. After the unit on parts of a computer, they will learn how to effectively search on the internet by completing a scavenger sheet followed by an in depth unit on all components of Microsoft Office. As an 8th grader, all students will learn how to construct a web page using HTML (hyper text mark-up language). The students will create a web page project incorporating javascript, graphics, and multi-media. At the beginning of each quarter of computer, each student will learn file management skills to keep their network drives clean and efficient.
All PE classes are devoted to the development of healthy bodies, practice of aerobic activities, good sportsmanship, and fair play. Sixth graders are introduced to the concept of strength training (identifying and practicing appropriate techniques), performing basic skills in two or more individual sports, and participating in developmental aerobic activities. Seventh graders work on high-level movement skills with a continued emphasis on individual and group fitness activities. Eighth graders work on adapting and varying basic motor skills to different games, sports, dances, and gymnastics. All students are encouraged to practice healthy habits, and to engage in physical activities, which promote health and fitness now and throughout their lives.
Every student participates in our grade-level based advisory program and cross-grade level activities. Advisory sessions offer support and guidance; activities offer opportunities to enjoy sports, hobbies, and personal interests. All are integral parts of our efforts to help develop well-rounded students.
6th Grade Required Courses:
A "Coming of Age" theme in 6th grade begins with summer reading. All rising sixth graders read Theodore Taylor's The Cay,
a moving novel about a boy's struggle with race relations and blindness.
The school year reading odyssey begins with a re-telling of the epic
Beowulf, followed by S.E. Hinton's modern classic The Outsiders. Often, a visiting author sparks titles for a midyear reading choice, and
3 genre projects are completed, typically fantasy-adventure, mystery, and animal stories. 6th graders read Gary Blackwood's The Shakespeare Stealer to set the stage for an introduction and in-class performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Students identify and
discuss differences in writing styles, use of figurative language, plot
structure and characterization. Each student writes and illustrates a
children's book, and these are hard bound and read to younger
children. Reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and
written expression and voice are all emphasized in the literature course.
The sixth grade course in English grammar is devoted to identifying, understanding, and properly using the eight parts of speech. Basic grammar mechanics and sentence patterns are also taught. Students apply this knowledge effectively in their writing. Simple diagramming is begun as a visual tool for analyzing various sentence patterns and for identifying the function of each word. Classical roots vocabulary is integrated in the program, as well.
Earth Science is a conceptually based course introducing chemistry and physics to understand the geological processes affecting the earth. Sixth grade students are also taught to apply the scientific method. In support of this goal, students will complete an experimental project, following guidelines provided by the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair and the Walker Middle School Science Department. Students will have the option to complete pre-selected projects, or to submit their own ideas for approval by the instructor. Individual projects are entered in the annual Walker Science Fair held in late fall. Hands-on laboratory experiments are included throughout the year integrating the many topics studied. Each young scientist also completes a kinesthetic project on rocks and minerals.
Geography is the study of the earth's surface and the processes which shape it, the connections between places, and the complex relationships between people and their environments. This course is designed to help students gain better understanding of the world in which they live, beginning with the local level. It is organized around the five themes of geography: Location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and region. Strong emphasis is given to current events and their relationship to geography. During the course of the year, each student "creates" a country, taking into account location, climate, natural resources, economic considerations, religion, political systems, educational systems, national values, housing, education, and transportation. Students learn valuable research and study skills, map skills, and social skills.
6th Grade Math:
A course designed for students whose basic computational skills are weak and whose thinking skills are at a very concrete level. The class maintains a pace which gives students ample opportunity to practice and be successful.
Advanced 6th Grade Math:
A transitional course for students who are beginning to think abstractly, and whose basic skills are adequate, but who would benefit from practice with skills needed to be successful in Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1. Topics include operations with decimals, fractions and integers, ratios, percents and areas.
Honors 6th Grade Math:
A fast-paced course for students whose basic skills are solid and who have entered the realm of abstract thinking. Topics include solving 1 and 2-step equations and inequalities, percents and graphing linear equations.
All sixth graders take a full year of Earth Science, English (grammar and literature), Geography, and Transition Math. In addition they take exploratory courses in Art, Computer, Drama, Music, and Physical Education.
Seventh graders all take the same subjects, with the exception of math. Seventh graders take either Pre-Algebra or Algebra I, depending on developmental readiness as assessed through their performance on an algebra readiness test and the recommendations of their teachers.
Our approach to teaching seventh grade algebra is highly integrative. Applications, statistics, and geometry are employed to develop and exemplify the algebra of linear equations and inequalities. Models for arithmetic operations are immediately extended to expressions and equations involving variables. Heavy emphasis is given to graphing of lines. (Each student will need a graphing calculator.) Curvilinear functions represented by exponential growth and by parabolas are linked to contemporary applications in science and economics. Seventh graders who have demonstrated sufficient mastery of Algebra I and sufficient maturity of reasoning skills are recommended for the study of Geometry in eighth grade. Algebra I is a Upper School course requiring a final exam.
In studying the history of the American continent from pre-history through World War II, students develop a deeper understanding of universal human nature. Geography, biographies, economics, rhetoric literature and cultures are interwoven throughout the year as we discover how humans function through the events, dilemmas and personages of the past. Study skills, note-taking, conceptualization and verbalization are core components of the process, but the quintessential objective of history in the seventh grade is to foster a deeper understanding of human nature. History is much more than a series of dates, people and events. It enables us to better guide our own actions though a deeper understanding of their implications.
Seventh grade literature focuses on three main areas: reading, writing, and vocabulary. Students become familiar with literary concepts, short story elements, and strategies for appreciating fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama. Readings correspond to eras of American History, from the time of slavery and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, to the 1940s and Jeanne Wakatsuki's memoir Farewell to Manzanar. Writing to learn, to inform, to persuade, and to entertain, students produce rough drafts for weekly practice and several polished drafts for their quarterly portfolios. Students do research for imaginative pieces. Vocabulary focuses on strategies for attacking unfamiliar words while students accumulate words from their readings.
This seventh grade course builds on the foundation established in sixth grade grammar with emphasis on effective use of language. Students distinguish main clauses, phrases, and subordinate clauses; they examine word usage, and discuss writers' strategies for convincing their audiences. The course integrates a strong writing program and emphasizes applications of grammatical and mechanical skills in varied writing assignments. Students delve more deeply into their exploration of the various parts of speech. The course is very analytical as students examine and diagram the more complex sentence forms incorporating verbals and clauses. Emphasis is given to implementation of writing forms including narrative, descriptive, expositive, comparative, and persuasive writing.
In Life Science, the students are introduced to the basics of life on earth at a cellular level, moving up to explore the world of organisms of increasing complexity, encompassing bacteria, protists, plants and animals. They will explore the advent of new life and the way different living organisms relate to each other and their environments. Life characteristics, basic organic chemistry, genetics, development, and evolution are also studied.
This course allows the students to discover how life on earth functions through an inquiry and investigative approach. They will be able to apply the knowledge and skills they've constructed to their own lives and indeed to the "real world". All these concepts are drawn together in a week long residential field trip to Blue Ridge Outdoor Educational Center towards the end of the school year.
Human growth and development is a topic of particular relevance. Parents are strongly encouraged to initiate and maintain an on-going dialogue with their child throughout the year in order to discuss personal and family values, particularly those relating to the study of life science.
Problem-solving strategies learned through grade six are refined and reinforced in Pre-Algebra. Students develop their abilities to read, write, listen, and communicate about problems and their possible solutions as well as practice the strategies they develop. Numerous and varied experiences reinforce and extend logical reasoning skills and the continued study of arithmetic functions. Beginning algebraic concepts including writing and simplifying one and two step equations, complex equations, equalities, ratios, graphing, slope, polynomials, algebraic fractions, probability, and interpretation of data, are included in the Pre-Algebra course. All students who take Pre-Algebra in the seventh grade take Algebra I in the eighth grade.
These one-quarter courses are designed to introduce students to each of the four languages offered at Walker: Latin, French, German, and Spanish. Students study the geography and culture of each language area, and also take part in fun introductory oral and written activities. Above all, we want students to have a positive learning experience, and to be able to make an informed decision about the foreign language they will study in 8th grade.
All seventh graders take full year courses in American History, English Grammar, English Literature, Mathematics, and Science. In addition they take exploratory courses in Art, Computer, Drama, Music, Pre-Languages, and Physical Education.
All eighth graders follow the same curriculum with the exception of math and foreign language classes. Eighth graders may take Algebra I, Honors Algebra I, or Algebra II, depending on developmental readiness and preparation, and they elect to study the first year of French, German, Latin, or Spanish.
Eighth grade Algebra I is essentially the same as seventh grade Algebra. Teachers seek to conduct their classes with regard to the maturity level and learning needs of their students. Students make connections between traditional abstract concepts and their applications to the real world. Emphasis is placed on reading and writing as well as calculating mathematics problems in a wide variety of applications. This course incorporates visual and manipulative aids as well as technology such as graphing calculators and computers. Students who earn a grade of B or higher receive a Upper School credit for the course. (They must take the same final exam as students who take algebra I in Upper School.)
The advanced algebra course is designed for students that have already been introduced to first year algebra. There are two main goals for this class. First, the class serves as a comprehensive background check for all algebra skills and essential concepts. With the varied applications and honors-level skill development, students are required to grow their abilities horizontally, using their complete understanding of algebraic thinking to broaden their scope of problem solving and continue their development to confidently address the abstract ideas in mathematics. Cumulative assessments are taken weekly to ensure skill mastery and proper application. Secondly, the course is designed for students to take the major themes of algebra 1 and carry them forward into geometry and algebra II. Students will experience the natural extensions of their algebra learning in systems, quadratics, rational expressions, exponential functions, etc. into some major areas of higher level mathematics.
Algebra II:
A fast-paced course in which students who have mastered the skills developed in Algebra I use those skills as a springboard in a rigorous setting. Topics include factoring and solving 3rd degree and higher polynomials, matrices, logarithms and trigonometry.
The theme of eighth grade literature is "The Journey". This theme resonates with adolescents who are engrossed in their own journeys, both literal and figurative. Students read about characters who actually travel to another place and/or journey from the world of the adolescent to that of the adult. Euripides' Iphigenia explores the world of the Greeks and an adolescent's role in serving her country. Students also read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens to explore the writing style of the 19th century and to compare that style to the style of the 20th century's A Separate Peace. Reading both of these novels also reminds the students and teachers that the journey to adulthood was difficult in the mid-1800s, in ways at once similar and different from the journey made by adolescents today. Sandra Cisneros' House on Mango Street explores the theme of "fitting in", a theme with which all eighth graders can identify. Students read The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's exploration of young love, which teaches the students how to enjoy his rich language. Short story selections from the Little Worlds textbook acquaint students with first person narrative tales which reflect the difficulties in the task of growing up and learning to live in an imperfect adult world. Poetry selections are rich and varied and cover Shakespeare's sonnets to 20th century free verse. Eighth graders analyze writing styles of many authors and seek their own styles and voices in writing.
Eighth Grade Project: Back to Top
Students need not only to learn how to conduct research, but also effectively communicate those ideas in visual and written forms using traditional and modern media. The Eighth Grade Project will serve as the culminating Project for all of our 8th grade students, affording them the opportunity to acquire and apply skills from a variety of disciplines into a single project. Much more than a traditional research paper, it would not only integrate diverse disciplines, but also introduce students to a wide variety of presentation and collaboration skills and technologies.
Students will participate in a number of hands-on skills workshops over the first quarter, followed by a selection of their final project in which they employ their newly learned skills, some optional and some mandatory, depending on their topic and target audience. By the end of the first quarter, many students will have identified personal strengths which they can then leverage during the final project. While the first quarter was structured around workshops, the second quarter will focus primarily on planning and carrying out the main project by implementing many of the workshop skills.
Five elements are required in the final project: a written component, a video component, a publishing component, a presentation, and a written validation and reflection.
During the first quarter, eighth graders complete their study of U.S. History in the post World War II era, bringing them up to modern day America. The rest of the year is spent studying the United States government including: the foundations, importance, and meaning of our Constitution; the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; political parties and interest groups; the election process; and the functions and powers of the three branches of our national government. Current events and topical issues are addressed during the course of the year, and students participate in simulations including a mock U.S. Congress and a mock trial. In all of this, students work to improve their skills in writing, debating, analyzing, and critical thinking.
Students are introduced to the Francophone language and culture. The skills of listening, reading and writing are integrated by extensive use of visual aids, videos, games, activities, and frequent practice in the language laboratory. During the fist year, students learn to master the basic structure of French grammar. Students are immersed in the language.
The four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are interwoven throughout the German I course. There is great emphasis on oral communication. Through classroom immersion in the language and an integrated video program, students are introduced to the language and culture of the German-speaking world. German grammar is largely learned in context and as German is based on a case system, it can often reinforce the understanding of English grammar also. Students use the language laboratory regularly and are encouraged to participate in State spoken language competitions. By the end of the German 1 course, students are able to communicate effectively in spoken and written German and have a firm foundation on which to base their continued study.
Latin I provides a general introduction to the nature of language and offers study of the Latin language, incorporating listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, Roman culture, word building and English derivatives. The text, Ecce Romani, provides a reading-based approach to Latin language learning. At the heart of the course are graded readings and vocabularies. The story line follows the daily life and adventures of the Cornelii, a typical Roman family in the years A.D. 80-81, and the reading familiarize students with Roman culture, mythology, and history. All Latin I students take the National Latin Exam, join the National Junior Classical League, and have the opportunity to attend two state meetings of the Georgia Junior Classical League.
Spanish I is designed to introduce students to Hispanic culture and to allow them to begin speaking, writing, and understanding the language. Class time involves intense oral and written practice of expression in the classroom and in the language labs. Strong emphasis is given to basic vocabulary, grammatical structure, and nuances of the language. Students develop a firm foundation on which to build their continued study of Spanish.
Physical Science is a broad survey science course covering the general categories of matter and energy. Matter topics introduced and developed include solids, liquids, gases, atomic structure, elements, the periodic table, mixtures, compounds, and chemical reactions. Energy topics introduced and developed include motion, work, power, simple machines, electricity, magnetism, heat, sound, and light. Students will make broad use of the media center, the science lab, and classroom tools in the process of scientific investigations. Laboratory investigations play a primary role in the study of physical science in the eighth grade. Even though the Science Fair is primarily a sixth and seventh grade endeavor, students may plan and develop a science fair project. Those students who have a strong interest in science are encouraged to do so.
All eighth graders take full year courses in American Civics, English, Literature, Mathematics, Science, and a foreign language of their choice. In addition, they take a one semester course in English Grammar and exploratory courses in Art, Computer, Drama, Music, and Physical Education. Algebra I, Algebra II, and first year foreign languages are Upper School courses requiring final exams. Students may earn Upper School credit for these courses.
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