Middle School is a time when students begin to truly understand who they are and how they learn.
A Curriculum That Builds Deep Thinkers
Charting the Course for Academic Confidence
In AFS Middle School, our curriculum is designed to help students become independent, reflective learners. Across subjects, they are encouraged to evaluate their own work, analyze complex ideas, and articulate their thinking clearly, laying a strong foundation for academic success.
Through inquiry-based projects, collaborative assignments, and guided feedback, students learn how to ask meaningful questions, support their ideas with evidence, and connect their studies to real-world relevance. By emphasizing both the “how” and the “why” of learning, our Middle School program prepares students for the intellectual challenges and deeper critical thinking of Upper School and beyond.
The Middle School Art program at AFS engages students in a wide range of creative disciplines while encouraging collaboration, cultural exploration, and personal expression.
Across all grades, the program emphasizes skill-building, creativity, and art as a lens through which students can understand themselves and the world around them.
Grades 5 and 6
In 5th and 6th grade, students build foundational skills through interdisciplinary, hands-on projects. From drawing human proportions and designing shadow puppets to creating large-scale Greek god statues, architectural models with LED circuits, and vibrant tapestries for Poetry Night, students learn to see art as a powerful storytelling and design tool.
Sixth graders dive deeper into character design, stop-motion animation, expressionist self-portraits inspired by Basquiat, and ceramics connected to African history. Mural-making, protest art, and digital media skills like Photoshop introduce students to art as a medium for activism and public engagement.
Grades 7 and 8
In 7th and 8th grade, the curriculum advances into more technical and conceptually rich work. Students tackle perspective drawing, watercolor, ceramic busts, and 3D modeling with TinkerCAD to create action figures and mechanical sculptures. They experiment with digital animation and GIF creation, integrating technology and visual storytelling.
By 8th grade, students focus on portraiture, creating detailed drawings of social justice heroes and designing silkscreened T-shirts and posters that reflect contemporary issues. Their final projects synthesize traditional techniques with digital tools from Adobe Creative Suite, empowering students to use art as both a form of personal expression and a platform for social impact.
The Middle School English program is built on the foundational belief that students will discover their own purposes for reading and writing, develop deep connections with literature, and find their unique voices as writers.
Throughout the Middle School experience, self-assessment and reflection remain integral components, encouraging students to become self-regulating, articulate learners who can evaluate and advance their own progress.
Grade 5 - 7
Beginning in fifth grade with essential reading strategies like making connections and asking questions, the curriculum progresses through sixth and seventh grades with increasingly sophisticated literary analysis and thematic explorations. Students engage with diverse, carefully selected texts—from Rebecca Stead's "When You Reach Me" in fifth grade to Holocaust narratives and studies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in seventh grade—that build empathy, critical thinking, and social awareness. Throughout all grades, students practice writing across multiple genres, including personal narrative, poetry, persuasive writing, and textual analysis, with consistent attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation in service of meaningful written expression.
Grade 8
By eighth grade, students are prepared to engage with complex thematic units examining social justice issues, resistance movements, and the dynamics of power and language in society. The curriculum emphasizes developing sophisticated critical reading skills through thoughtful annotation and close analysis, while writing instruction focuses on crafting complex sentences, structured paragraphs, and persuasive arguments. Students explore literary devices in depth—from figurative language and imagery to symbolism—through diverse texts ranging from contemporary rap lyrics to classic novels like "Animal Farm." The program culminates with media projects addressing real-world issues, where students synthesize their analytical, creative, and technical skills to articulate thoughtful ideas and inspire positive change.
Our Middle School math curriculum is built on the belief that students can become efficient, thoughtful problem-solvers who rely on reasoning, common sense, and effective strategies. Using the comprehensive Math in Focus program, students progress from fundamental numerical operations in 5th grade through advanced algebraic concepts in 8th grade.
Throughout each year, students explore increasingly complex mathematical concepts while developing their ability to explain their thinking through writing and conversation, strengthening both computational skills and mathematical reasoning.
Scope and Sequence
The curriculum follows a carefully designed progression, beginning with number operations, fractions, and geometry in 5th grade, advancing to ratios, statistics, and algebraic foundations in 6th grade, then moving through formal Algebra in 7th and 8th grades.
We intentionally cover Algebra I over the course of both 7th and 8th grade for two key reasons. First, we believe that a strong base in algebraic thinking lays the foundation for success in more complex math. Second, we recognize that the rate of cognitive development varies by student; this approach ensures that a student’s 7th grade placement does not predetermine their math trajectory through Upper School. This reflects our commitment to both rigor and equity in mathematics education.
By 8th grade, students work with polynomial factoring, quadratic equations, and functions, with an enriched option available for highly motivated students. Problem-solving remains central throughout, with regular practice both in class and through meaningful homework assignments that reinforce concepts and extend understanding through application.
All Middle School students can choose from Chorus, Concert Band or Strings. Beyond our instructional music program, students with a particular passion for music have the opportunity to participate in Chamber Singers or Jazz Band, which also perform at our concerts but meet during lunch time.
The Middle School Physical Education program at AFS is designed to help students understand the importance of regular physical activity while building essential motor skills. Across all grade levels, students participate in a variety of engaging activities, including traditional ball sports, racket sports, and other games that promote cardiovascular health and full-body movement. The program begins with skill development and small-sided games, allowing students to build confidence and competence before progressing to full-sided gameplay.
As students move from 5th through 8th grade, the emphasis remains on developing coordination, teamwork, sportsmanship, and a lifelong appreciation for physical wellness. Through consistent exposure to diverse forms of movement and play, students learn how to stay active in fun, meaningful ways. Whether refining technique or learning the rules of a new sport, the PE experience at AFS supports physical development, encourages collaboration, and helps students connect physical activity with overall well-being.
The Middle School science program at AFS is designed to build scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and hands-on problem-solving from the ground up. Across all grades, the curriculum emphasizes experimentation, critical analysis, and real-world application, preparing students to think like scientists and act as informed global citizens.
Grade 5
Students are introduced to the scientific method through immersive, inquiry-based learning. They explore the origins of the universe, Earth’s geologic history, and the mechanics of motion through engaging projects such as building simple machines and programming Lego robots. The year concludes with a unit on food justice, combining scientific knowledge with social responsibility as students study nutrition and propose solutions to food inequity in Philadelphia.
Grade 6
The focus expands to environmental science and Earth systems. Students study water pollution, habitat destruction, renewable energy, and plate tectonics. Emphasis is placed on applying the scientific method to real-world issues, with students collecting and analyzing data, designing experiments, and constructing evidence-based conclusions.
Grade 7
Science becomes increasingly interdisciplinary and project-based. Students delve into forensic science, food chemistry, marine biology, and climate change while honing their skills in measurement, data collection, and independent research. Through laboratory experiments and collaborative investigations, they learn to ask meaningful questions, test hypotheses, and present their findings with clarity.
Grade 8
Students engage in an in-depth study of chemistry in the fall—exploring atomic structure, the periodic table, and chemical reactions through both historical and hands-on approaches. In the spring, students tackle cutting-edge scientific topics, including genetics and modern biotechnology, cognitive science, and climate change. They investigate ethical questions, conduct original experiments, and apply science to global and personal contexts.
The Middle School Social Studies program at AFS builds a strong foundation in historical thinking, cultural awareness, and research skills. I
Grade 5
Students explore geography, early civilizations, and Ancient Greece through interdisciplinary projects that promote reading comprehension, note-taking, research, and analytical writing.
Grade 6
The curriculum moves into world history, focusing on the Middle Ages and the exchange of ideas across civilizations including the Golden Age of Islam, medieval Europe, West African empires, and the Maya. Students develop critical thinking skills through the analysis of primary and secondary sources, building evidence-based historical arguments and exploring global interconnections.
Grade 7
The focus shifts to culture—its transformation, adaptation, and resilience—through studies of the Renaissance, the African diaspora, and early colonial encounters. Students deepen their understanding through independent research and presentations as part of the “Crossing Boundaries” project.
Grade 8
The program centers on resistance, rebellion, and revolution, examining the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions as well as modern justice movements. Across all grades, students strengthen their abilities to analyze sources, construct arguments, and understand how history is shaped by diverse perspectives and powerful ideas.
The Spanish program in Middle School at AFS begins in 5th grade with a fully immersive approach that lays the foundation for language acquisition. Students learn to use Spanish as a communicative tool through contextual, hands-on activities that promote listening, speaking, and reading comprehension.
Grades 5 and 6
Students are introduced to grammatical concepts, sentence structure, and the relationship between Spanish and English, all while developing cultural awareness through research and authentic language use. Emphasis is placed on pronunciation, understanding the function of language, and building confidence in everyday communication.
Grades 7 and 8
Students begin working through the content of a traditional Spanish I course in an immersive, conversational environment. Students read, write, and engage in dialogue using authentic language materials, with grammar taught both explicitly and through use. New and returning Spanish learners are supported with review and differentiated instruction.
By 8th grade, students are increasingly able to engage in unscripted conversations and are prepared for Spanish II in high school. Enriched Spanish students go further, beginning Spanish II concepts to prepare for advanced placement in upper-level language courses.
The Middle School Theatre program serves as the essential link between the foundational, integrated drama experiences of the Lower School and the specialized curriculum of the Upper School. Students begin to formally explore the core disciplines of theatre as an art form where students are engaged in both performance techniques and technical elements.
Students develop essential skills in performance, textual analysis, and effective communication while learning basic stage presence, ensemble building, and the fundamentals of stage design. The program strongly emphasizes the collaborative nature of theatre through hands-on experience.
Additionally, all Middle School students have the opportunity to participate in an annual musical or stageplay Main Stage production. They can choose to be onstage as performers, honing their acting skills, or work behind the scenes on technical production elements, gaining practical stagecraft experience. This balanced approach ensures students are well-prepared for more advanced work as they progress into the Upper School program.
