The middle school program in Carroll County Schools is based on the middle school concept for students in grades six through eight. The program addresses the needs and interests of students during transition between elementary school and high school. This student-focused approach to education is achieved through Connections (exploratory) course offerings in a variety of areas, flexible scheduling, and interdisciplinary curriculum. Teams of academic teachers, who share common planning periods, work with groups of students in a 5 hour instructional block.

All middle schools in the system operate following the philosophy and organizational principles of the nationally accepted middle school model. In addition, Crossroads Academy, the alternative school program, includes a middle grades component.

The middle school program in Carroll County emphasizes a rigorous curriculum which includes reading/literature, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, health, and various Connections (exploratory) offerings. A focus on maintaining a school climate which recognizes and encourages academic excellence and high achievement for all students is a key component of the middle school program. Recognizing and respecting the individual worth of each student is among the school system's belief statements, and it is supported in this middle school concept endorsed by Carroll County Schools.

Middle school teachers plan together by team and by subject area to ensure that integration of learning takes place. Middle school teachers are involved in system wide vertical teams for the purpose of aligning and prioritizing curriculum, developing activities, and sharing ideas. Highly effective interdisciplinary units are developed and used at all schools as a result of this vertical planning.

Sixth Grade Learning Goals

Language Arts 

Sixth grade students will receive instruction in reading, writing, and listening, speaking & viewing. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding and control of the rules of the English language in both written and spoken formats
• Use oral and written language, media, and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes
• Determine specific areas of interest and engage in personal reading
• Analyze their own writing in order to revise what they say and how they say it
• Employ distinctive voice and style in writing
• Proof their own writing and edit to conform to basic conventions of Standard English
• Convey opinions through oral communication, role-play, or performances
• Apply specific guidelines to evaluate content and strategies in listening, speaking, and viewing assignments

Mathematics*

Sixth grade students will be actively engaged in developing mathematical understandings in real and relevant contexts. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Understand the four arithmetic operations as they relate to positive rational numbers and apply them to real world situations
• Use the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
• Determine volume and surface area of solid figures
• Understand and use the concepts of ratio, proportion, and scale factor
• Understand and use line and rotational symmetry
• Write and solve proportions and simple one-step equations resulting from problem situations
• Understand experimental and theoretical probability
• Problem solve, develop arguments, use language of mathematics, make connections, and communicate

* High School unit credit is not available for middle school courses

Science

Sixth grade students will study earth science concepts through an inquiry based approach. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Collect, use, and analyze scientific data related to the Earth’s processes 
• Use different models to represent systems such as the solar system and the sun/moon/earth system 
• Record observations about the Earth’s materials and use these observations as the basis for inferences about the formation of the Earth 
• Describe observations and report information in graphical form about the Earth’s processes 
• Replicate investigations related to the Earth’s processes and compare and contrast different results 
• Recognize the effects of human activity on Earth’s processes and conservation of natural resources 
• Explore current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved. 
• Understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather
• Explore current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved

Social Studies

Sixth grade students will study the history, geography, political structures, and economics of Latin America & Canada, Europe, Australia & Oceania. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Explain major historical developments leading to and of 20th/21st century Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Oceania
• Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, natural resources, and population size on these regions of the modern world
• Describe the cultural characteristics of Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia and Oceania
• Describe the impact of governmental policies and individual behaviors on these regions of the modern world
• Describe different economic systems and economic policies as they relate to these regions of the modern world
• Analyze the benefits of and the barriers to voluntary trade in Europe
• Locate selected features of Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and the Caribbean.
• Explain concepts of personal money management

Seventh Grade Learning Goals

Language Arts

Seventh grade students will receive instruction in reading, writing, and listening, speaking, & viewing. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing the conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats
• Use oral and written language, media, and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes
• Discuss and analyze compelling works of literature constructively critique their own writing and the writing of their peers
• Use descriptive words and complex sentences in a variety of writing genres
• Proof their own writing and edit to conform to the basic conventions of Standard English
• Participate in oral presentations and dramatic interpretations for various audiences
• Analyze the effects of media images, text, and sound on viewers

Mathematics* 

Seventh grade students will be actively engaged in developing mathematical understandings in real and relevant contexts. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Understand and use positive and negative rational numbers
• Perform basic geometric constructions
• Understand transformations and apply properties of similarity
• Sketch, model, and describe cross-sections of three-dimensional figures
• Simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions and solve linear equations in one variable
• Describe patterns in the graphs of both direct and inverse proportional relationships
• Analyze the characteristics of linear relationships
• Use measures of central tendency and variation to analyze data, and understand the role of probability in sampling
• Problem solve, develop arguments, use language of mathematics, make connections, and communicate

*High School unit credit is not available for middle school courses.

Science

Seventh grade students will study life science through an inquiry based approach. This course will provide a smooth transition from elementary life science concepts to high school biology. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating equipment and materials in scientific activities
• Collect, use, and analyze scientific data related to the diversity and classification of living organisms
• Use the concepts of natural selection and fossil evidence in explaining the survival of organisms and the survival of successive generations of their offspring
• Recognize the basic characteristics of the major topics in life science such as the diversity of living organisms, the structure and function of cells, heredity, ecosystems, and biological evolution
• Describe the structure and function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
• Examine the dependence of organisms on one another and on their environments
• Recognize how the biological traits are passed on to successive generations
• Examine the evolution of living organisms through inherited characteristics that promote survival of organism’s offspring

Social Studies 

Seventh grade students will study the history, geography, political structures, and economics of Africa and Asia. By the end of the grade, students will be able to: 

• Identify and explain significant historical developments leading to and of 20th/21st century Africa and Asia
• Describe the development of the three major religions that originated in the Middle East
• Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, natural resources, and population size on these regions of the modern world
• Describe the cultural characteristics of Africa and Asia
• Describe the impact of governmental policies and individual behaviors on these regions of the modern world
• Describe different economic systems and economic policies as they relate to these regions of the modern world
• Explain how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Asia and Africa
• Locate selected features in Africa and Asia

Eighth Grade Learning Goals

Language Arts

Eighth grade students will receive instruction in reading, writing, and listening, speaking, & viewing. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Understand and acquire new vocabulary and use it correctly in reading and writing
• Use oral and written language, media, and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes
• Extend appreciation of written and spoken language beyond the school setting
• Produce quality essays and narratives, as well as a writing drawn from research
• Use strong verbs, adjectives, and adverbs as they continue to develop personal writing styles
• Proof their own writing and edit to conform to basic conventions of Standard American English
• Convey a developing interest in discussing and debating social issues
• Apply specific guidelines to evaluate content and strategies in media
• Deepen their study of Georgia history by identifying Georgia authors and examining texts these authors created

Mathematics*

Eighth grade students will be actively engaged in developing mathematical understandings in real and relevant contexts. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Understand the numeric and geometric meaning of square root, exponents, and scientific notation
• Use and apply geometric properties of plane figures, including congruence and Pythagorean Theorem
• Use linear algebra to represent, analyze, and solve problems
• Use equations and inequalities, tables, and graphs to investigate linear relations and functions, paying particular attention to slope as a rate of change
• Use and understand set theory and simple counting techniques
• Determine the theoretical probability of simple events
• Make inferences from statistical data, particularly data that can be modeled by linear functions
• Problem solve, develop arguments, use language of mathematics, make connections, and communicate

* High School unit credit is not available for middle school courses

Science

Eighth grade students will study physical science concepts through an inquiry based approach.

This course will provide a smooth transition from elementary to high school physical science concepts. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating equipment and materials in scientific activities
• Use the ideas of system, model, change, and scale in exploring scientific and technological matters
• Collect, use, and analyze scientific data related to physical science
• Demonstrate a basic conceptual understanding of the laws of physical science related to conservation of matter, conservation of energy, and energy transformation
• Use their observations to explain the difference between physical and chemical changes
• Write instructions, describe observations, and report, in graphical form, information related to physical science
• Investigate relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects
• Replicate investigations related to the laws of physical science and compare and contrast different results
• Recognize characteristics of gravity, electricity, and magnetism as major kinds of forces acting in nature

 Social Studies

Eighth grade students will study the history, geography, political structures, and economics of Georgia. By the end of the grade, students will be able to:

• Explain the benefits of free trade
• Explain, analyze, and evaluate major historical developments leading up to Georgia statehood
• Explain, analyze, and evaluate the political, social, and economic history of Georgia
• Explain, analyze, and evaluate the role Georgia has played in significant historical events affecting the United States, including Georgia’s role before, during, and after major wars
• Explain the impact of location, climate, physical characteristics, natural resources, and modes of transportation on Georgia
• Describe the roles and responsibilities of Georgia citizens, of the three branches of Georgia government, and of local governments in Georgia
• Explain, evaluate, and/or give examples of economic factors affecting Georgia, including factors related to revenue of state and local government
• Explain personal money management choices in terms of income, spending, credit, saving, and investing