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Purple Room

Middle School Curriculum

Art

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Music

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Movement

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Working Hard, Having Fun

The Purple Room academics blend teacher-designed curriculum with state and national standards. The middle school classes are divided up by grade level (with the exception of mathematics) but all students join together at lunch, snack, and during the elective periods.

 

The language arts, science, and world studies programs are on a three-year rotating schedule of topics that still leaves plenty of time for fun activities and field trips. Students work just as hard preparing a documentary for their History Day Competition as they do building a "little library" in an elective class. 

Language Arts

Depending on the year, you may find students studying 19th century American poetry, Norse mythology, or exploring conflict within society through reading Animal Farm or Red Scarf Girl. And in the spring of each year, students read a play by William Shakespeare and enact scenes from the play for the younger grades.

Mathematics

The math courses use Prentice Hall's math curriculum and supplemental materials to study various levels of Pre-Algebra, high school Algebra 1, and Geometry, depending on each student's current skills.

Science

The science curriculum reflects a three year rotation between life, physical, and earth sciences. Students work in the science lab on hands-on activities. They raise trout and chickens from eggs, develop and solve a self-directed engineering project, and explore the outside campus in depth.

World Studies

The world studies curriculum reflects a three-year rotation between U.S. History: Post-Civil War Reconstruction to Present, Ancient Civilizations, and Civics. Students debate issues at hand and collaborate on group projects. The highlight of the year is a creative research project for the National History Day competition.

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Spanish

The Spanish curriculum covers two years of high school level Spanish, beginning in fifth grade. Each Spanish high school level course is split over two years. Students learn the language and culture, and enjoy cooking recipes and reading Harry Potter in Spanish.

Electives

In addition to core classes, our middle schoolers take Art, Computer Lab, and Life Skills classes. Students new to our middle school program are also required to take Sunshine Spanish if they want High School credit.  

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Field Trips

We try to get out of the classroom, use our local resources, and explore the world around us as much as possible.

 

We hike at the Cascades, see performances at the Moss Arts center, explore science labs at Virginia Tech, and more! We also take middle school students on an overnight field trip to places like Richmond and DC.

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© 2024 Blacksburg New School. 

2500 North Main St, Blacksburg, VA, 24060

(540) 552-6693

Blacksburg New School is an independent K-8 school fostering academic achievement, creative and critical thinking, and thoughtful action. The mission of the Blacksburg New School is to serve its students, teachers, and parents by providing a cooperative educational environment. We are committed to academic and civic excellence, to individual and community responsibility, and to the love of learning

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