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Pre-K to Grade 8

CURRICULUM GUIDE

Nurturing the mind and heart for academic success, confidence, character, and leadership

CONTENTS Welcome....................................................................3 Lower School Overview........................................... 4 Pre-Kindergarten............................................... 5 Kindergarten...................................................... 7 Grade 1................................................................ 9 Grade 2............................................................... 11 Grade 3............................................................... 13 Grade 4............................................................... 15 Middle School Overview.......................................... 17 Grade 5............................................................... 19 Grade 6............................................................... 22 Grade 7............................................................... 24 Grade 8............................................................... 26

WELCOME

Derby's academic curriculum builds from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8, creating confidence, inspiring curiosity, guiding character, and building community through achievement and an emphasis on the strong work ethic needed for long-term success. Our students learn by doing, using Derby's classrooms and facilities for exploring creative problem-solving while improving in all the traits of our “Portrait of a Graduate.” Engaged faculty and cross-disciplinary projects foster the essential skills of innovation, critical thinking, resilience, collaboration and a lifelong passion for learning. Our committed faculty develop and implement a curriculum guided and informed by national and state standards.

Derby's "Portrait of a Graduate" is the ultimate practice in backwards design. All of our educational experiences and opportunities are intentionally planned and evaluated for their ability to support the growth of skills necessary for our students to become:

Confident Critical Thinkers Creative Innovators Empathetic Upstanders Authentic Leaders Resilient Problem Solvers

These five traits are developed in our Lower School and continue to be top of mind in the Middle School, culminating in our Derby Day processional when our eighth graders make their jubilant walk to receive their diplomas. 3

LOWER SCHOOL OVERVIEW (Pre-K – Grade 4) In Derby Academy's Lower School, we embrace the lively minds and imaginative spirits of children ages 4 to 10. At the heart of our program is an intentionally playbased and hands-on curriculum that harnesses a child's natural drive to understand how the world works. Through our unique Projects Curriculum, students engage in cross-curricular investigations becoming historians, scientists, and engineers, while our workshop model for literacy and math ensures that every child receives individualized attention in small, targeted groups.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) Derby Academy weaves social-emotional learning into each day, building kindness, confidence and character. Students receive intentional research-based lessons connecting to the CASEL 5 competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. STUDENT SUPPORT Derby Academy utilizes a multi-tiered approach to support all students’ academic and social-emotional learning. We strive to inspire students to actively embrace who they are as learners and encourage them to advocate for themselves throughout their education.

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING Self-regulation and sustained attention: Students demonstrate increasing independence in managing their behavior, emotions, and attention in order to meet learning and social expectations. Working memory, planning, and task completion: Students use working memory and planning skills to manage multi‑step academic tasks and routines with increasing independence. Organization, time management, and cognitive flexibility: Students organize materials and time and show flexible thinking as they shift between tasks, perspectives, and problem‑solving approaches. 4

PRE-KINDERGARTEN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Our youngest learners will dive into the alphabet by exploring uppercase and lowercase letters, practicing proper letter formation, and discovering the sounds each letter makes. Through songs, stories, and playful games, students will develop phonemic awareness by experimenting with rhyming words and isolating the beginning sounds in words.

MATHEMATICS Young mathematicians will build number sense by instantly recognizing quantities up to 6, counting 10 or more objects with one-to-one correspondence, and identifying and writing numerals from 0–10. Students will explore early addition and subtraction using hands-on objects, and have fun spotting, copying, and creating repeating patterns. They will also learn to recognize and name everyday shapes like circles, triangles, rectangles, and squares all around!

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Our School, Community, and Me: We build connections with our new classmates, teachers, and school community. Through exploring our school, spreading kindness, and celebrating what makes each of us unique, we lay the foundation for a joyful and caring year together. Seasonal Changes in our Environment: Students become scientists as they observe the seasons; learning about trees, exploring pumpkins, tracking our pumpkin decomposition experiment over time, and visiting a local pumpkin patch, the children deepen their understanding of nature's cycles. Gingerbread and Traditions: Students explore and share the special traditions their families celebrate throughout the year, creating posters and inviting family members into class to share meaningful customs and take part in our treasured Derby Gingerbread tradition of baking magical cookies after reading The Gingerbread Man. Filled with storytelling and laughter, the classroom celebrates a sense of community— even when the cookies decide to run away. Winter Investigations: Students observe the changes winter brings to the world around them, making predictions and experimenting with ice and snow, spending time outdoors sledding and playing, and learning how animals adapt, migrate, and hibernate. Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes: Stories are brought to life as students explore beloved fairy tales and nursery rhymes through reading, retelling, and comparing different versions of each tale. The children step into the world of castles, kings, queens, and royalty, culminating in a joyful celebration of learning as we dress in our very best. Spring and Life Cycles: Students explore growth, changes, and new beginnings through hands-on observations and discovery. They study the lifecycles of salamanders, butterflies, and our classroom chicks, as well as take a field trip to Wompatuck State Park.

ARTS Performing: Applied: My Pre-K Voice: Five voices (speaking, whispering, Self Portraits: Frida Kahlo (mixed media) loud, singing, thinking) Still Life: Paul Cezanne (oil pastels) Keeping a steady beat Snowflakes: Winter concert wearable art Exploring mood and tempo Abstract Art: Reggie Laurent (shapes, lines, color) Peter Rabbit musical production Peter Rabbit- Mural backdrop & stage decorations

SPANISH Beginning in Pre-Kindergarten, our youngest students begin their exposure and practice with Spanish using a variety of literature, toys, and songs.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Cooperative activities Locomotor/non-locomotor skills and spatial awareness Manipulative skills Health-related fitness 6

KINDERGARTEN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Students will build essential literacy skills by playing with letters and their sounds, reading and spelling simple words, and exploring books together in shared reading experiences. In writing, students will develop letter and number formation, practice guided and independent writing, and progress from stretching out sounds to writing words toward constructing complete sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation.

MATHEMATICS Students will develop number sense by exploring combinations to 5 and 10 using five frames, ten frames, and number lines to model counting, addition, and subtraction. They will also practice comparing numbers using <, >, and = symbols, solve addition and subtraction story problems, and investigate threedimensional shapes.

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Farming/Agriculture: Students dive into a seasonal exploration of gardening, harvesting, dairy, and pollination with farm to table experiential learning that culminates in an inclusive community experience. Dinosaurs/Paleontology: Students participate in interactive and hands-on work to learn about the jobs of paleontologists and their study of fossils, herbivores, rock formations, extinction theories, carnivores, and excavating techniques. Space/Astronaut Training: Through role-play and multi-media sources, the students become familiar with rocket technology, the ISS, planets, and phases of the moon. Oceans/Salt Water: This integrated thematic unit includes the study of salinity, tides, ocean zones, and bioluminescence.

ARTS Applied: County Fair Unit: Vincent Van Gogh sunflowers Dinosaur Unit: 3D clay work Space Unit: Alma Thomas abstract planets Water Unit: Ocean Celebration art, Hokusai's Great Wave

Performing: Melodic contour and voice control Solo singing practice through ariosos Movement exploration Rhythm reading basics

SPANISH In Kindergarten, our students continue their practice of Spanish using a variety of literature, manipulatives and songs as well as connecting Spanish to their classroom units.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Throwing and rolling Cross-curricular activities Sports-specific skills Traditional PE games Pathways

FIRST GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Students build foundational reading and writing skills through a structured approach that includes phonics, fluency, and comprehension. They develop strong reading habits using both decodable texts and rich literature, while exploring story elements and nonfiction. Writing instruction focuses on personal narratives, opinion/persuasive writing, and informational pieces.

MATHEMATICS Students build numerical understanding and fluency with addition and subtraction within 20. They explore place value, measurement, and geometry through hands-on models and real-world problem solving, building a strong conceptual understanding of mathematical relationships.

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Storm Chasers! Air & Weather: Students explore weather patterns, seasonal changes, and the role air plays in shaping our environment. Through observations and investigations, we develop the skills of young meteorologists. Celebrations Around the World: Traditions & Respect: We learn about celebrations, traditions, and cultures from around the world and in our own classroom communities. Students build understanding, respect, and appreciation for the diverse ways people connect in our world. Making Waves! Sound & Light: Through hands-on exploration, students strengthen their observation and scientific thinking skills while learning how sound and light travel and interact with the world around us. Watch Us Grow: A Study of Plants & Animals: This unit explores the needs, life cycles, and characteristics of plants and animals. Through observation and inquiry, students gain a deeper appreciation for living things and their environments. Roots and Wings: This culmination showcases the cross-curricular learning our students experience throughout the year. Through music, writing, art, public speaking, and performance, students demonstrate their growth, confidence, creativity, and collaboration. Families celebrate both the strong foundations students have built and the wings they are developing as they prepare for new learning adventures ahead.

ARTS Applied: Tricks and Treats of Math- Counting with Wayne Thiebaud Inspired Sweet Treats Welcome to the Decodable Diner- Diner Pop Art Lovely Sound Fair - Art and instruments that

Performing: Rhythm in common time Movement exploration and performance practice Lovely Sound Fair- Boomwhaker Soundscapes: plants and animals collaboration

explore sound Roots and Wings Celebration - Butterflies take flight and Eric Carle Animal Collages

SPANISH In Grade 1, our students continue their practice of Spanish using a variety of literature, manipulatives, toys, songs, flash cards, and matching games. They also regularly make connections between Spanish and their classroom units.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Cooperative games Rolling and bowling Lifetime health, wellness, and fitness Rhythms and dance Sports-specific skills

SECOND GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Students will develop reading skills across a variety of genres, including non-fiction texts, biographies, chapter books, and series book clubs, while building phonics knowledge through glued sounds, bonus letters, syllable patterns, vowel teams, suffixes, and multisyllabic words. In writing, students will explore multiple formats — from personal narratives and how-to guides to letters, fiction, and poetry—culminating in a collaborative newspaper project with Grade 3.

MATHEMATICS Students will deepen their understanding of base-ten notation by building fluency with addition and subtraction within 100 and beyond, using tools such as the number rack and open number line. They will also apply measurement skills using both metric and customary units of linear measure and explore geometry by describing, analyzing, and constructing shapes through quilt block design.

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Uniquely Us: An exploration of family and identity, this unit explores who we are and where we come from and teaches how each of us has the power to make our community a better place. Stepping into STEM: Students will learn how people use the engineering design process to work together, solve problems, and keep improving their ideas to help the world around them. Cheers for Chocolate! This delicious study of chocolate and fair trade follows chocolate from bean to bar and explores how the Fair Trade movement helps make sure farmers are treated with fairness and respect. Water All Around: Students study how water is accessed and used in local communities and around the world, designing projects and simulations to help students explore how people have worked to stop water pollution and to protect animals, plants, and communities that depend on healthy rivers, lakes, and oceans. The History of Derby Academy: From 1784 through our current school year, students learn how Sarah Derby believed all children deserved a great education. A forward thinker and fierce advocate for educational equality, Sarah Derby bravely started one of the first schools in the country where both boys and girls could learn side by side, changing her community forever.

ARTS Applied: Identity Unit - Todd Parr Family Portraits and Name Art Cheers for Chocolate - Design your own Chocolate Facts Board Games Woodshop Hearts- Multimedia Heart art Lets be Architects- Design your own building

Performing: Orchestra Unit- Learning about different types of Instruments Cheers for Chocolate- Spanish collaboration with song and movement Introduction to Solfege (notation/ singing) Musical Genres - History and Composers

Math in Bloom - Art Tessellations that use Math skills Poetry Palooza - Printmaking and poetry

SPANISH In Grade 2, our students continue their practice of Spanish using a variety of literature, manipulatives, toys, songs, flash cards, and matching games. They also regularly make connections between Spanish and their classroom units.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PE games and activities Locomotor and manipulative skills Cooperative games and small equipment Sport-specific skills 12

THIRD GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Students will grow as readers by building independent reading lives, diving into character studies, exploring mysteries, and reading across genres to learn and discover. In phonics, they will strengthen decoding skills through syllable patterns, suffixes, prefixes, roots, and advanced concepts like the schwa, soft c/g, silent letters, and Greek digraphs. As writers, students will craft true stories, informational and persuasive pieces, and fairy tales, while also collaborating with Grade 2 on the "Derby Weekly" newspaper!

MATHEMATICS Students will develop a strong foundation in multiplication and division by building groups of objects, constructing problem-solving strategies, and exploring area through rectangular arrays. They will expand their understanding of fractions beyond the basics, working with a wider range of fractional parts, while also sharpening their geometry skills by describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes. 13

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Health and the Human Body: Students will study parts of the body and systems that collaborate to keep us healthy and functioning. They will research and create presentations, culminating in our Health and Human Body Fair. Civics & Changemakers: Through an exploration of the branches of the U.S. government, history, and influential changemakers, students begin to see the power of active citizenship, study influential changemakers in history, and apply their learning at a mock Town Meeting. Geography & Weather: We will read, interpret, create maps, and use tools such as the compass rose, map keys, legends, scales, and grids. Students will explore how the sun drives weather, the water cycle, and temperature. Through hands-on investigations with clouds, wind, and puddles, they make meaningful connections between their local environment and the wider world. Explorers: After conducting extensive research and preparing both oral and visual presentations, third graders will step into character for their Living History Museum. Motion: We will investigate patterns of movement and magnetic interaction through hands-on activities— such as experimenting with cars and ramps—learning about key concepts like gravity, friction, and energy transfer and how forces affect motion.

ARTS Applied: Hispanic Heritage month collaboration with Spanish-Fernando Llort Small Moments Writing Celebration- Story Covers Fall Landscapes- Wolf Kahn chalk pastels Health and Human Body Fair- Fiber Arts and Soft Sculptures for the Body Systems Living History Museum- Trifolds capturing the

Performing: Family and Friends appreciation musicGrandFriends Day Iconic Musical Notation and Key Signatures Musical Genres and Time Signatures Health and Human Body Fair- Learning how Musicians use their bodies perform Introduction and Recorder Practice

explored spaces using depth

SPANISH In Grade 3, our students continue their practice of Spanish using a variety of literature, manipulatives, toys, songs, flash cards, and matching games. They also regularly make connections between Spanish and their classroom units. This year, students begin writing in Spanish.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Cooperative games Sports-specific training Cross-curricular Health and Human Body unit

FOURTH GRADE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Students will build strong reading lives through selfselected books, character studies, and rich novel explorations spanning folklore, adventure, historical fiction, and poetry, culminating in a fun Book Tasting celebration! As writers, they will craft realistic and historical fiction, develop skills in organizing ideas with supporting details, and sharpen their grammar knowledge through parts of speech, sentence diagramming, and phonics review of spelling and syllabication.

MATHEMATICS Our fourth graders will expand their multiplicative thinking through multi-digit multiplication, early division, and an introduction to decimals, building confidence with increasingly complex numbers. They will also deepen their understanding of fractions, reviewing foundational concepts and extending into new territory while applying skills across measurement, geometry, and data analysis. 15

SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES (PROJECTS) Plants: Students examine the characteristics of seeds, identifying their similarities, differences, and structural parts. They investigate the effects of water on seeds and explore the structural adaptations that enable a seed to grow and survive. Additionally, students track and document the life cycle of a bean plant from seed to maturity. Energy: This unit introduces foundational concepts in electricity, magnetism, and renewable energy. Students investigate how electrical circuits function, identify materials that conduct electricity, and explore how energy is transferred using solar technology. Through hands-on challenges, they also learn how energy and electromagnetism can be applied to build functional communication devices. Egg Drop: Students explore the core principles of force, motion, and energy transfer. The coursework covers how initial positioning affects speed, what occurs when objects collide, and how waves transfer energy to objects. Additionally, students investigate the mechanics of light and sight to understand how objects become visible. Presentation skills: Instruction focuses on developing essential communication and public speaking abilities. Students learn to create clear slideshows, deliver confident oral presentations, and effectively use visual aids to support their ideas. Geography: This study builds foundational map skills and a geographic overview of the United States, including states, capitals, and landforms. Using regional informational texts, students examine the distinct economies, cultures, climates, demographics, and histories that define different areas of the country. Immigration: Students explore the history and causes of human migration. The curriculum focuses on the factors that drive people to move, the cultural and economic impacts of immigration, and the history of labor movements.

STEM/ARTS Applied: Shop: Traditional lighthouse lamp (scroll saw, hand sanding) Sewing: 16-square patchwork pillow Visual Art: Inktober and blind contour, collage and winter animals, pastels Engineering: Adobe Illustrator SVG files for laser cutter, electronics & circuits Performing: Music/Chorus: Vocal skill building, rhythm/hand drumming, music technology Theater: Improvisational skills and "fairytales with a twist" script Band: Introduction to instruments, December and May concerts

SPANISH In Grade 4, our students continue their practice of Spanish using a variety of literature, manipulatives, toys, songs, flash cards, and matching games. They also regularly make connections between Spanish and their classroom units, and continue writing in Spanish.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION Fall: Field hockey, soccer, flag football, fitness testing Winter: Broomball, floor hockey, volleyball, basketball Spring: Badminton, pickleball, lacrosse, baseball/softball, track and field Health: Safety, hygiene & healthy habits, nutrition (level 1)

MIDDLE SCHOOL OVERVIEW (Grade 5-8) With the confidence and skills instilled in our Lower School, Derby students approach their Middle School years with a sense of strength and independence, ready to embrace challenges through studentcentered learning. Students grow as critical thinkers and collaborators who learn the value of strong selfadvocacy and executive functioning skills. In addition to foundational academic skills across the core subjects, Middle School students develop an understanding of a wide range of perspectives and a confidence in collaborative problem solving. Programs such as public speaking, Model UN, Derby Student Ambassadors, student council, and service learning are ingrained in the Derby experience.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) In the Middle School, Derby’s faculty integrate social-emotional learning into their homerooms, greetings, and advisory lessons. Using a variety of research based programs, focused on building community, character, and kindness, the students are also introduced to developmentally-appropriate aspects of online health through The Social Institute.

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES Derby enriches the student experience through a variety of classroom extensions: Continental Math League First Lego League Future City Competition International AMC 8 and AMC 10 Mathematics Examinations 17

ATHLETICS Students in Grades 5-8 (Grade 5 is an intramurals program) participate in our athletics program for three seasons. Our twenty interscholastic teams span ten different sports: Fall: Field hockey, soccer, flag football, cross country, fitness and games Winter: Basketball, hockey, racket sports, yoga, winter drama, sports training Spring: Baseball, softball, lacrosse, rugby, track and field

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING In grades 5-8, we explicitly expand the habits and routines that build the capacity for students to organize and plan their busy lives. Executive functioning lessons are taught directly in advisory and woven into daily expectations such as study skills and using a planner. Specific units include: Organizing and Prioritizing: Materials and Time Strategies: Individual, Systematic, Efficient, and Effective Goal Setting: Understanding the Big Picture and Breaking it Down Cognitive Flexibility: Shifting and Flexible Thinking Remembering: Accessing Working Memory Self-Monitoring and Checking

FIFTH GRADE Theme: Where We’re From & What’s Possible ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Reading: Building a Reading Life: Discovering new authors, genres, and series Diving Deep into Character: Studying motivations, relationships, change Reading Across Genres: Realistic fiction, fantasy book clubs, memoir Understanding Theme: Family, immigration, good vs. evil, civil rights Novel studies through memoir, realistic fiction, and fantasy Oral fluency and expression through poetry and partner reading Writing: Narrative & Fiction Writing: Students master storytelling craft through small-moment narratives and realistic fiction, developing skills in dialogue, pacing, sensory detail, internal thinking, and complex character/conflict/setting construction. Writing About Reading: Students write analytically in response to texts, using evidence to support interpretations, track themes, and examine an author's craft. Informational & Research Writing: Students learn to plan, organize, and integrate credible sources to produce well-structured, research-based writing. Persuasive Writing: Students craft strong thesis statements, build well-reasoned arguments, and support their positions with textual evidence. The Writing Process: Across all genres, students move intentionally through brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, peer conferencing, and publishing. Vocabulary Development: Academic language is built through Wordly Wise with structured practice, application activities, and cumulative review.

MATHEMATICS Expressions, equations, and volume

Multiplying and dividing whole numbers and decimals

Adding and subtracting fractions

Multiplying and dividing fractions

Place value and decimals

Graphing, geometry, and volume

SCIENCE Mixtures and Solutions: This unit has four investigations that engage students with the phenomena of matter and its interactions in our everyday life: mixtures, solutions, solubility, concentration, and chemical reactions. Earth and Sun: Students explore the relationship between the Sun and Earth, focusing on energy transfer, atmospheric science, and planetary systems. Living Systems: This unit focuses on understanding organisms as complex systems, particularly highlighting how multicellular organisms (including humans) transport nutrients and remove waste.

SOCIAL STUDIES Students embark on an exciting exploration of North and South American geography and climate, discovering the diverse countries, provinces, states, and territories that make up the Western Hemisphere. Through hands-on map identification activities, students will sharpen their research and presentation skills as they investigate the varied landscapes and climates across the Americas. A highlight of the year is a deep and meaningful study of Indigenous peoples prior to European contact, brought to life through our capstone, The Americas: An International/Indigenous Peoples Learn and Teach Project, an immersive, collaborative experience that honors Indigenous voices and perspectives while inspiring students to see history through a broader, more inclusive lens.

STEM/ARTS Woodshop: Wooden toy truck, plane, or boat (curved cutting and sanding) Theater: Improvisational skills and "fairytales with a twist" Sewing: 16-square patchwork pillow Visual Arts: Inktober, cities and villages, winter, dragon drawing, Andy Warhol study Band: Introduction to instruments, December and May concerts Engineering: Computer-aided design using TinkerCad and 3D printing Piper Computer Kits: Assembling laptop with Raspberry Pi

WORLD LANGUAGES

GRADE 5 SPORTS INTRODUCTION

Students choose from French, Spanish, or

The primary goal is to prepare students for Grades 6–8

Latin. Each language includes

athletic programs. Students participate in one-hour formal

speaking/grammar/writing and cultural

practices, learn locker room expectations, and select from

components with projects and

various sports including boys & girls soccer, field hockey, flag

presentations throughout the year.

football, ice hockey, basketball, baseball, softball, and lacrosse.

HEALTH First Aid Human growth and development Nutrition (level 2)

SIXTH GRADE Theme: Identity ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Reading: Summer Reading: Moving from surviving to thriving Realistic Fiction: Identity/friendship/coming of age Character types and characterization The Outsiders movie night Writing: Writing: Identity symbol essay (expository), persuasive essay Introduction to analytical writing Poetry writing and more analytical/expository writing Grammar: Variety in sentence structure, clauses, commas Public speaking: Learn and Teach presentations

MATHEMATICS Standard and Honors tracks available Operations, number sense, expressions, patterns Rational numbers, exponents, monomials, scientific notation Algebraic equations, inequalities, ratios, proportions, percentages Introduction to linear functions and probability Volume, surface area, angle relationships, polygons 21

HISTORY Research Skills: Paraphrasing practice, use of Noodle Tools, Libguide research Introduction to sketch notes and citations Multiple Learn and Teach presentations (individual & group) Content Areas: Great Civilizations of Ancient Africa: Cave art, Egypt, Kush, Aksum, Nok, and Amazigh Silk Road: China, Mongolia, 1001 Inventions of Islamic Golden Age, Rome Migrations routes, Vikings, Beringia, Pacific routes, Oceania (Maori & Aborigine)

SCIENCE Land, Water, and Human Interactions: Students investigate the impact of human activities on water systems and examine methods of erosion control used to protect environments and communities. Force and Motion: Students apply Newton’s Three Laws of Motion to real-world contexts, including car and driver safety design, to understand how forces influence motion and how engineering can reduce risk and improve safety. Ecology: Students explore ecosystems, how energy and matter flow through food webs, examine the role of invasive species, and analyze how changes in habitats affect organism survival and environmental balance.

WORLD LANGUAGES Students continue with French, Spanish, or Latin. Each language includes speaking/grammar/writing and cultural components with projects and presentations throughout the year.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN Future City Competition (capstone project—national engineering competition) Coding short course from code.org Block-based coding and microbit controllers for robotics

ARTS ELECTIVES Sewing Studio Woodshop Chorus (Grade 6 Musical) Band Strings Visual/Studio Art (two electives: Seasonal Art and Observational Drawing)

SEVENTH GRADE Theme: Empathy ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Reading: Summer reading focused on belonging/empathy Character development/belonging/empathy focus Close reading skills and analysis taught within book groups Hero's journey Writing: Response to literature (prominent theme) Creative writing: Travel blog/diary from protagonist's point of view Persuasive essay Grammar: Parts of speech, complex sentences, paragraph writing Writing process through Writers' Workshop Public speaking: Two-week unit, reading aloud of children's books Shakespeare Reimagined: Apology letter between characters in Twelfth Night

MATHEMATICS Math 7 and Honors Math 7 Tools of algebra and the coordinate plane Operations with integers and rational numbers Multistep equations and inequalities Ratios, proportions, similar figures, scale drawings Graphing, writing, & interpreting linear functions Winter Term Math Project Geometry: Right triangles, Pythagorean theorem, angles, circles Surface area, volume, probability

HISTORY Citizenship, democracy, and enslavement in ancient Athens & Rome The Middle Ages & The Enlightenment The American Revolution & The Constitution Westward expansion and the crisis of slavery The American Civil War Reconstruction: Expanding democracy & backlash The Women's Suffrage Movement The Civil Rights Movement

SCIENCE Designing experiments: Evaluating data/claims, nuclear energy debate Hearing loss and sonic boom, science of music (collaborative with Band) Wi-Fi & color Human body: Drug approval, vaccines, body systems Learn and Teach: Modern astronomy topic

WORLD LANGUAGES & ARTS Students continue with French, Spanish, or Latin (advanced grammar and cultural studies). Arts electives include Visual Arts, Band, Vocal Ensemble, Sewing, Woodshop, Theater, and Strings.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN Lego Robotics (First Lego League Challenge/Competition) FabLab: Laser cutting, 3D printing Projectile launches (trebuchets, ballista, catapults) App Lab from code.org using JavaScript Model rocket design and launch

GOALS & WINTER TERM Grade 7 students participate in GOALS (Go Out And Learn Something) electives and the immersive Winter Term program, diving deeply into UN Sustainable Development Goals through studio classes, field trips, local expert visits, and culminating student-led creative projects.

EIGHTH GRADE Theme: Moral Courage ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) Reading: Close reading skills with fiction, non-fiction, poetry Independent reading: Dystopian fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels Journals with partner Writing: Short analytical essays Personal essay Speech writing Poetry Portfolio project Grammar: Compound and complex sentences, appositives, participles Public speaking: Skills taught in March, speeches in April/May Vocab projects: 8 projects demonstrating mastery Proactivity credits for executive functioning

MATHEMATICS Three tracks available: Algebra I and Honors Algebra with Quadratics: Tools of algebra, linear equations, systems of equations Quadratic functions, projectile motion Winter Term Small Business Project Honors Geometry with Proofs: Patterns and reasoning, basics of geometry, proofs Transformations, similar polygons, right triangles, and trigonometry

HISTORY Identity and global citizenship map World religions: Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism Cross-disciplinary humanities project African history & colonization Rwanda genocide case study Final project: Intergroup/identity driven-conflict research

SCIENCE From Cells to Organisms: Microscopy, cell model project Chemistry of Materials: Elements, properties, plastics debate Chemical Reactions: Atomic theory, experimental design Atomic Museum for Lower School

WORLD LANGUAGES & ARTS Students continue advanced work in French, Spanish, or Latin with focus on complex grammar and cultural understanding. Arts electives continue with increased sophistication and student choice.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN Lego Robotics (First Lego League Challenge/Competition) FabLab: Laser cutting, 3D printing Projectile launches App Lab using JavaScript Model rocket design and launch

GOALS & WINTER TERM Grade 8 students participate in GOALS (Go Out And Learn Something) electives and the immersive Winter Term program, diving deeply into UN Sustainable Development Goals through studio classes, field trips, local expert visits, and culminating student-led creative projects.

DERBY DAY AND BEYOND The eighth grade year culminates in Derby Day, when our graduates make their jubilant processional walk to receive their diplomas. Our graduates gain admission to top secondary schools and succeed wherever they choose to go after Derby, equipped with the skills, character, and confidence to thrive as engaged citizens and lifelong learners.

Derby Academy 56 Burditt Ave. Hingham, MA 02043 781.749.0746