John Milledge Academy Middle School | Grades 6‑8 College Prep

John Milledge Academy Middle School | Grades 6‑8 College Prep Skip to content Middle School Middle School students (grades six through eight) are challenged to become independent, critical, and creative thinkers through an engaging curriculum and innovative instructional strategies as they transition from elementary to high school.  In addition to classes in English, social studies, science, and math, students enjoy physical education, art, and music each year.  Additionally, students may choose to participate in a wide range of athletic teams. Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Sixth Grade ELA Literature: Literature engages students through a variety of novels, short stories, and poetry to teach foundational skills. Students will learn how to identify key ideas and details, analyze craft and structure, and integrate cross-curricular knowledge. Students will read, respond to, listen to and discuss various genres of differing complexity and interest. In addition to using Elements of Learning: Introductory Course published by Holt students will read the following, but not limited to, novels: Long Way from Chicago Freak the Mighty Hatchet Refuge A Long Walk to Water Our mission is to meet students where they are in reading and grow them by providing the necessary skills to stretch their reading, responding to literature through speaking and writing, and analyzing text. Grammar: Students will engage in a study of grade appropriate grammar skills through immersion in writing, in the context of reading, and in isolation through units of study in Elements of Language: Introductory Course published by Holt. Units of study include but are not limited to: Parts of Speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection, clauses, direct and indirect objects, and subject complements Agreement Modifiers Punctuation: end marks, commas, semicolons, colons, italics, quotation marks, apostrophes, and hyphens Sentence structure Writing: Students will learn to write the following though the writing process: Functional writing: formal and informal letters, responses to literature, lists, thank you notes, directions, how-to, study guides, etc. Personal narratives Persuasive writing Fictional writing Science Sixth Grade Science will provide all students an overview of common strands in earth science including, but not limited to, meteorology, geology, astronomy, and oceanography. Sixth grade students use records they keep and analyze the data they collect, plan and carry out investigations, describe observations, and show information in different forms. They are able to recognize relationships in simple charts and graphs and find more than one way to interpret their findings. They replicate investigations and compare results to find similarities and differences. Sixth graders study weather patterns and systems by observing and explaining how an aspect of weather can affect a weather system. They are able to construct explanations based on evidence of the role of water in Earth processes, and recognize how the presence of land and water in combination with the energy from the sun affect the climate and weather of a region. They use different models to represent systems such as the solar system and the sun/moon/Earth system. They study uses and conservation of Earth’s natural resources and use what they observe about the Earth’s materials to infer the processes and timelines that formed them. Math Sixth Grade Math builds a strong foundation in mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Students will develop fluency in ratios and proportional reasoning, division of fractions, and operations with decimals. They will explore rational numbers, expressions, equations, and inequalities, as well as area, surface area, and volume of geometric figures. Emphasis is placed on statistical thinking, coordinate plane concepts, and algebraic relationships to prepare students for higher-level math. Instruction incorporates hands-on activities, collaborative learning, and problem-solving strategies to support student understanding and confidence in mathematics. Advanced: This course builds a strong foundation in mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, and real-world applications. Students will develop fluency in ratios and proportional reasoning, division of fractions, and operations with decimals. They will explore rational numbers, expressions, equations, and inequalities, as well as area, surface area, and volume of geometric figures. Emphasis is placed on statistical thinking, coordinate plane concepts, and algebraic relationships to prepare students for higher-level math. Instruction incorporates hands-on activities, collaborative learning, and problem-solving strategies to support student understanding and confidence in mathematics. Advanced students should expect to cover the content more thoroughly as a faster pace. Social Studies 6th Grade World Geography and Cultures is an introduction to four corners of the globe. Following the Georgia Standards of Excellence for 6th grade, students will explore and discover the regions of Europe, Latin America, Canada, and Australia. By using map skills students locate important countries located on these continental regions. Studnets also learn why people live (or don’t live) where they do in these countries, what natural resources are located there, how these two factors influence the type of government and economic systems the citizens have in these countries. There is a reflection on cultural elements such as language, religious beliefs, trade, and production capabilities for each of these areas, as well. The goal of this year’s study is to expose students to other cultures and how they live, providing the opportunity for them to reflect on their own country. Seventh Grade ELA 7th Grade: ELA Literature: Literature engages students through a variety of novels, short stories, and poetry to teach foundational skills. Students will learn how to identify key ideas and details, analyze craft and structure, and integrate cross-curricular knowledge. Students will read, respond to, listen to and discuss various genres of differing complexity and interest. In addition to using Elements of Learning: First Course published by Holt students will read the following, but not limited to, novels: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry The Giver The Outsiders The Wednesday Wars The Hunger Games City of Ember Our mission is to meet students where they are in reading and grow them by providing the necessary skills to stretch their reading, responding to literature through speaking and writing, and analyzing text. Grammar: Students will engage in a study of grade appropriate grammar skills through immersion in writing, in the context of reading, and in isolation through units of study in Elements of Language: First Course published by Holt. Units of study include but are not limited to: Parts of Speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verbal phrases, adverb, prepositional phrases, conjunction, interjection, independent and subordinate clauses, direct and indirect objects, and subject complements Agreement: subject and verb, pronoun and antecedent Modifiers comparison and placement Verbs: regular and irregular, tense, and voice Using Pronouns Correctly: nominative and objective case forms Punctuation: end marks, commas, semicolons, colons, italics, quotation marks, apostrophes, and hyphens Sentence structure Writing: Students will learn to peer edit and write the following though the writing process: Functional and expository writing: formal and informal letters, responses to literature, lists, thank you notes, directions, how-to, study guides, etc. Narratives Persuasive writing Fictional writing Science Seventh Grade Science is designed to equip students with the necessary skills for a smooth transition from elementary life science standards to high school biology standards. The purpose is to give all students an overview of common strands in life science including, but not limited to, diversity of living organisms, structure and function of cells, heredity, ecosystems, and biological evolution. Seventh grade students keep records of their observations, use those records to analyze the data they collect, recognize patterns in the data, use simple charts and graphs to represent the relationships they see, and find more than one way to interpret their findings. They make and use observations to explain the diversity of living organisms and how the organisms are classified, how they reproduce and how genetic information is passed from parents to their offspring. They use different models to represent systems such as cells, tissues, and organs. They use what they know about ecosystems to explain how matter cycles and energy flows through the ecosystem. They use the concepts of natural selection and fossil evidence to construct explanations about the diversity of life that they see. Seventh graders plan and carry out investigations, describe observations, and show information in graphical form. The students replicate investigations and compare results to find similarities and differences. Math This course deepens students’ understanding of mathematical concepts through problem-solving, reasoning, and real-world applications. Students will develop proficiency in ratios and proportional relationships, operations with rational numbers, and solving multi-step equations and inequalities. They will explore expressions, equations, and geometric concepts such as angle relationships, area, surface area, and volume. Additionally, students will analyze probability and statistics to interpret data and make informed decisions. Instruction emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and applying mathematical concepts to real-world situations, preparing students for more advanced algebraic concepts. Social Studies 7th Grade World Geography and Cultures is a continuation from the 6th grade curriculum. Using the Georgia Standards of Excellence, students explore and discover the regions of Africa and Asia. By using map skills students locate important countries within these continents, they learn why people live (or don’t live) where they do in these countries, what natural resources are located there, how these factors influence the type of government and economic systems the citizens have in these countries. Students also learn about the cultural elements such as language, religious beliefs, trade, production capabilities, and trade for each of these countries. The goal is to provide students with a broad observation of how others in our world live, while also lending them to reflect on their own country and how Americans are similar and different to other world citizens. Eighth Grade ELA Literature: Literature engages students through a variety of novels, short stories, and poetry to teach foundational skills. Students will learn how to identify key ideas and details, analyze craft and structure, and integrate cross-curricular knowledge. Students will read, respond to, listen to and discuss various genres of differing complexity and interest. In addition to using Elements of Learning: Second Course published by Holt students will read the following, but not limited to, novels: Milkwee Ground Zero The Hobbit Hunger Games The Boy Who Harnassed the Wind Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myth Our mission is to meet students where they are in reading and grow them by providing the necessary skills to stretch their reading, responding to literature through speaking and writing, and analyzing text. Grammar: Students will engage in a study of grade appropriate grammar skills through immersion in writing, in the context of reading, and in isolation through units of study in Elements of Language: Second Course published by Holt. Units of study include but are not limited to: Parts of Speech: noun, pronoun, adjective, verbal phrases, adverb, prepositional phrases, conjunction, interjection, independent and subordinate clauses, direct and indirect objects, and subject complements Agreement: subject and verb, pronoun and antecedent Modifiers: Comparison and Placement Verbs: regular and irregular, tense, and voice Using Pronouns Correctly: Case Forms of Pronouns; Special Pronoun Problems Punctuation: end marks, commas, semicolons, colons, italics, quotation marks, apostrophes, brackets, and hyphens Sentence structure: The Four Basic Sentence Structures Writing: Students will learn to peer edit and write the following though the writing process: Functional and expository writing: formal and informal letters, responses to literature, lists, thank you notes, directions, how-to, study guides, etc. Narratives Persuasive writing Fictional writing Poetry Science Eighth Grade Science exposes students to the necessary skills for a smooth transition from elementary physical science standards to high school physical science standards. The purpose is to give all students an overview of common strands in physical science including, but not limited to, the nature of matter, conservation of energy, energy transformations, conservation of matter, kinematics, and dynamics. These standards are not intended in any way to take the place of the high school physical science standards. Eighth grade students keep records of their observations, use those records to analyze the data they collect, recognize patterns in the data, use simple charts and graphs to represent the relationships they see, and find more than one way to interpret their findings. They develop conceptual understanding of the laws of conservation of matter and conservation of energy, are able to explain the characteristics of the motion of an object (speed, acceleration) and the way that forces may change the state of motion of an object. They use what they observe to explain the difference between physical and chemical changes and cause and effect relationships between force, mass, and the motion of objects. Students in eighth grade construct explanations based on evidence on the difference and similarities between electromagnetic and mechanical waves. Eighth graders plan and carry out investigations, describe observations, and show information in graphical form. The students replicate investigations and compare results to find similarities and differences. Math COMING SOON Social Studies The Eighth Grade Georgia Studies course for 8th grade is guided by the Georgia Standards of Excellence, specifically the Inspire curriculum from the Georgia Department of Education. This years’ study begins with the Geography of Georgia, and the indigenous Native Americans who lived here originally. The historical timeline study of the people of Georgia and how the introduction of new cultural elements from the East (both Europeans and Africans) changed Georgia. This historical study continues to present day and includes a study in Civic Government and Economics of Georgia. Middle School Cocurricular Courses Visual Arts Our visual arts course is structured into four main categories: Creating, Presenting, Responding, and Connecting. We incorporate Art History into two years of Middle School art.  The first year covers the ancient world to Impressionism; the second year covers Post Impressionism to Contemporary Art.  Through the exploration of Art History the students create a variety of 2D and 3D art pieces using different media (color pencils, chalk pastels, oil pastels, markers, tempera paint, yarn, clay and watercolor). In the third year of middle school, the students have an intensive development of their artistic skills in drawing, painting, and sculpting.  Students connect with different cultures, communities, and history through artwork studied and created.  Students respond to artwork and artists as we learn about using their knowledge of the Elements of Art and the Principles of Art & Design, shown in their presentation at the end of the semester. All students use an assortment of techniques through experimentation, practice, and persistence.  Technology is incorporated especially during the contemporary art time period through the usage of iPads, pencils and apps.  Students keep an ongoing visual record of art pieces in a personal sketchbook; their work is displayed for peers and parents at least once per semester. Students create 2D and 3D art pieces as well as learn about the safe and appropriate use of the materials.   Students’ artwork  is presented at least twice per semester. Music Our music program strives to foster a love for music through active participation, exploring diverse musical styles, and developing fundamental musical skills like singing, playing instruments, and understanding rhythm and melody. Core Components include active music-making, foundational music concepts, music literacy, composing and Improvising, listening and responding, and student performance through concerts, plays, graduation, and school functions. 6th Grade: What happens on and off the stage?  We focus on a play or musical; create set designs; and learn, memorize and prepare a play for student performance. 7th Grade: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’s Music. This course includes the study of music notation, instruments, composers, artists, genres, and dance within various periods in history. 8th Grade: Chrome Music Lab, Garage Band, and Music Literacy. Students actively engage in the use of music technology, the study or the use of any device, mechanism, machine or tool by a musician or composer to make or perform music; to compose, notate, playback or record songs or pieces; or to analyze or edit music. Physical Education Students participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities designed to ensure they have a developmentally appropriate grade-level comprehension and application of the concepts and principles of fitness, motor skills, movement patterns, tactics, and strategies which contribute to a physically literate and active lifestyle. Health-related fitness activities and concepts will be assessed and analyzed. Students will understand, accept, model, and apply personal responsibility in relation to safe and appropriate participation. Tour Middle School with us! Call 478.452.5570 ext. 401