Middle School Learning Pathways

Grade 6

Learning Pathway for HTS Families Big Ideas: Overarching Concepts That Frame Our Learning As students enter Middle School, our program begins to shift towards helping students cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Dynamic interdisciplinary learning experiences become the backbone of self-exploration, being a positive citizen and taking learning beyond the classroom.

• Self-identity/awareness • Biodiversity • Maintaining diversity is critical to the health of the planet • Number connections • Empathy • Sense of connectedness (local, national, global, etc.)

• • Global issues require global action • Culture and language are interwoven and present in aspects of our everyday lives • Language as power • Risk-taking • Cultivation of personal voice • Development of artistic skill and aesthetic judgement • Innovative design and creation • Being a good digital citizen • Being empowered through the use of my technology

Enduring Understandings: What students will learn and understand in-depth?

• I develop critical thinking literacy empowering me to assess & evaluate perspectives for my sense of global citizenship • I believe in wonder and a sense of curiosity about the world around me • I know the importance of stewardship and sustainability, and how science & technology relate to everyday life • I develop the skills, strategies, and habits required for scientific inquiry and technological problem-solving • I recognize and appreciate the importance of multiple mathematical perspectives • I adapt to changes and synthesize new ideas • I think critically and creatively to see connections to disciplines beyond mathematics • I am part of a changing culture and have the self-awareness to make sound choices • I know It is important to take risks in life to build my confidence • I know what it means for me to have digital well-being • I understand that sharing my experience in another language helps me connect & enriches my experiences

Overarching questions that students will explore • How can writing develop voice and individual expression?

• Why is critical literacy important, especially in relation to modern technology?

• How do our words have the power to be catalysts for change?

• What connections do humans have to interactions between systems in the universe?

• How can we use science to help design to enhance various system interactions?

• How can you use mathematics to contribute to the world?

• How can mathematics be used to promote inclusion?

• and francophone communities in Canada?

• How do I communicate best? How can I be a better communicator?

• What experiences have shaped stories of communities in Canada, and your own?

• What are our responsibilities to Canada and our responsibilities globally?

• • How are your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and ideas represented in your drama works?

• How might the creative process lead you to ask the right questions?

Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences Making connections in students’ lives and the world around them • English & Social Studies: Informational writing unit with a look at activism will connect with social studies

and focus on Canada’s interactions with the global community.

• Mathematics, Science Health & Physical Education: Create a life-sized electrical circuit within a team.

After completing the circuit, become the electron and run through “your wires” through loads to the battery.

• Mathematics, Science & Health: What’s for lunch? Students identify their favourite lunch that is balanced,

nutritious, environmentally friendly and within $10 per serving.

• Mathematics & Physical Education: Group transformations dance. Students create a dance that includes

transformations and described using math conventions and performance.

The Learner Experience • Book Clubs

• Personalized goal setting

• Collaborative groups and group discussions

• Game-based learning (especially vocabulary) -

• Writing Partnerships

Quizlet, Blooket, Duolingo

• Co-constructing rubrics/success criteria

• One-on-one time

• Choice-based learning with Graphic Novels

• Small group work periods

• Personalized feedback loop

• Learning centers

Please note this is a sample of overarching ideas in each grade. In middle school, each course has 3-4 Big Ideas that educators use in the design of the learning experience for learners to

additional learning materials and resources which expand our students’ knowledge beyond the curriculum.

Grade 7

Learning Pathway for HTS Families Big Ideas: Overarching Concepts That Frame Our Learning Several big Ideas and interwoven topics provide students with opportunities to consider how to use learnings to discover innovative and creative ways to solve problems. Utilising a developed sense of empathy, belonging and perspectives, students add new skills to their toolkit to navigate complex ideas in small and big ways.

• Using perspective, knowledge, empathy, belonging together when solving problems • What have I learned about myself and the world around me as I have grown?

• Whose story is being told? Whose story is missing?

• Building confidence and character; willing to take risks and discover new things as French language learners • Fostering a genuine enjoyment of activity to help develop life-long participation in physical activity • Developing/refining greater physical literacy • Being courageous to learn in a dynamic environment, and try things that may not work • Using technology to add value to my learning • Becoming a computational thinker • Becoming a creative communicator • Becoming a global collaborator

Enduring Understandings: What students will learn and understand in-depth?

• I am connected to this world and my decisions and actions matter • I have the skills and knowledge to use the lab equipment correctly and safely • I can adopt healthy habits that can become part of my life • I know that in sports, there is often a successful and unsuccessful participant, I can learn to lose with grace • I am a risk taker; I participate and build my confidence as I become a self-assured French language learner • I make connections inside and outside of the classroom • I understand that learning is a journey and not a destination; mistakes are a part of the learning process • I can develop aesthetic awareness • I understand the creative process • I often innovate and challenge conventional thinking • I use a variety of tools, techniques and technology to express feelings, communicate meaning, voice `or perspective

• I have built empathy for both historical and contemporary perspectives • I express creative and innovative thinking with effective tools and techniques • I know what it means for me to have digital well-being What students will learn and understand in-depth?

• How does exploring the world as a scientist, help us to make good decisions?

• What criteria are we using to make good decisions?

• In what ways will you take care of your mind and body to lead a healthy and active lifestyle?

• How can we distinguish between the facts and fiction displayed through different forms of media?

• What do “winning well” and “losing well” look and feel like?

• How can French language acquisition relate to other disciplines?

• How does your perspective inform and create meaning and understanding?

• How might you articulate your artistic voice and perspective in other disciplines?

• How has your perspective changed to become more creatively and critically literate?

• How can you change the perspective of others through your work?

• How do your artistic voice and perspective reflect a safe and inclusive interpretation?

Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences Making connections in students’ lives and the world around them • Mathematics, Social Studies & Science: The Impact Project is designed to teach students how to build a lab report and conduct proper data collection.

• Physical Health & Education, Music, Drama: In the Dance Project, students are provided with 5 hours of dance instruction by experts before collaborating in small groups to produce a performance that incorporates their choice of genre and theme, combined with an adapted musical piece produced through GarageBand.

• Science, Math, Physical Health & Education: In ‘Willy Wonka’ students explore our relationship with food, changes and choices for health.

The Learning Experience • Performance • Co-constructing curriculum opportunities by selecting “the vehicle” to achieve overall learning intentions • Design challenges • Hands-on experimentation • Labs • Learning in nature • Personalized feedback loop • Collaborative groups and group discussions • Personalized goal setting • Game-based learning (especially vocabulary) Quizlet, Blooket, Duolingo • One-on-one time • Small group work periods • Learning centers Please note this is a sample of overarching ideas in each grade. In middle school, each course has 3-4 Big Ideas that educators use in the design of the learning experience for learners to explore various overarching questions and gain a deeper understanding. HTS follows the Province of Ontario curriculum and enhances our student experience with expert visits, field trips and additional learning materials and resources which expand our students’ knowledge beyond the curriculum.

Grade 8

Learning Pathway for HTS Families Big Ideas: Overarching Concepts That Frame Our Learning Our Grade 8 program presents students with many ways to apply their learnings and who they are becoming. Students directly apply these skills as they co-create much of their Grade 8 year. Teachers personalize a rigorous program in order to connect unique passions and questions about the world around them. Students complete the year with a highly reflective presentation on who they are as a learner.

• Self-discovery and personal growth • Truth, perspective, and voice • Equity and diversity • Continuity and change • Ideas, strategies, and solutions can be represented in multiple ways • Problem-solvers make connections to other problems, disciplines, and the real world • Wondering, questioning, and analyzing lead to perseverance and deeper understanding when solving problems • Growth mindset • Critical analysis • Innovative design and creation • Being a good digital citizen • Being empowered through the use of my technology • Using technology to add value to my learning

Enduring Understandings What students will learn and understand in-depth?

• I know the world is ever-changing; perspective, empathy and critical thinking have never been more important • I have strong skills to be self-aware, critically examine the world around me and take action • I think critically about complex issues, analyze and adapt to new situations, problem-solve and communicate my thinking effectively • I leverage tools to justify conclusions and express ideas clearly to develop a mathematical understanding applied to daily life • I use self-reflection and feedback as tools in the creative cycle to analyze and improve performance • I show courage in taking risks as an artist • I use music as a healthy outlet for self-expression and developing my creativity • I know what it means for me to have digital well-being Overarching questions that students will explore • How can I use what I learn about myself and the world around me to make positive change?

• What influences me? (exploring generational history, nationality, morals and values) • How can I build perspective and learn to listen actively and disagree with respect?

• How can I use my voice to have an impact?

• Whose voices are not heard throughout history and today?

• Where does truth come from?

• How have I grown and changed?

• What makes a problem worth solving? What makes an effective problem-solver?

• How can I apply what I know to make decisions and connections?

• How can I communicate my understanding?

• How can I apply mathematics to new situations?

• Am I an innovative designer and creator?

• Am I a good digital citizen?

• Am I a computational thinker?

• Am I empowered through the use of my technology?

• Am I a creative communicator?

• Am I a global collaborator?

Interdisciplinary Learning Experiences Making connections in students’ lives and the world around them • All Subjects: Inquiry Final Project. In this task students review their ongoing thought book, based on the 6C’s and create a piece directed at a specific audience to share their growth at the end of Grade 8.

• Mathematics and Physical & Health Education: Integer Score Game. Students use knowledge of integer operations to modify a rule system to a known game (e.g. basketball) and create an integer scoring system based on the new rules. Students will participate in these games and apply their scorecards to calculate the winner based on the new scoring system.

• Mathematics, French, English: Trip Fair and Financial Literacy. Students will apply financial literacy skills to plan a trip to a destination of their choosing. They then write a persuasive essay asking an audience to go to their chosen country and present their travel itinerary in French.

• Mathematics & Digital Literacy: Cool in the Pool. Students use measurement skills to design a top (2D) and side (3D) view of a pool, then use their design to calculate the perimeter, areas, surface area and volume/capacity of their pool.

• Drama & Music, Art: Movie project. Students take a silent movie clip, then complete and insert their own sound design including voiceover, sound effects and music scoring.

The Learner Experience

• Relationship building • Personalizing to students’ needs • Feedback loops • Self-assessment • Co-construction • Student-led lessons • Providing student agency • Mixed homerooms • Choice-based learning • Digital portfolio • Competency-based design • Personalized goal setting • Community experts • Guest speakers • Simulations • Leadership opportunities in the classroom

Please note this is a sample of overarching ideas in each grade. In Senior School, each course has 3-4 Big Ideas that educators use in the design of the learning experience for learners to explore various overarching questions and gain a deeper understanding. HTS follows the Province of Ontario curriculum and enhances our student experience with expert visits, field trips and additional learning materials and resources which expand our students’ knowledge beyond the curriculum.