.jpg)
MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES and DESCRIPTIONS
-
Middle School serves as a bridge between our hands-on elementary program and our high school college/career prep program.
-
Classes are held at our NE Boca Raton location weekly on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 3:00 for 32 weeks.
-
Students build wonderful rapport with teachers and long-lasting friendships with peers.
-
Students are well prepared to succeed in high school math and English.
We encourage every family to have an academic plan for their student. At HEED, this plan or "scope and sequence" for your student will typically follow a traditional high school preparatory plan as seen below. We are here to help you make a customized plan for your children so you can successfully educate them at home. Make an advising appointment with us if you want help in this area.
Suggested Middle School Plan
(See Schedule tab for class days and times)
Middle School Programs include:
Science Fair, Invention Convention, Art Show, International Day, Live Wax Museum, Citizenship Ceremony, Geography Bee and more.
HEED English 6
Materials Fee: $10
Course Description:
This language adventure is the first step in HEED’s middle school language arts program. The course is designed to learn the traditions of a language arts program through teacher-guided, interactive lessons. The class covers these 4 elements:
1. Grammar instruction and fun
2. Vocabulary, introduction and review of words
3. Writing fundamentals
4. Literature adventure projects (3 projects)
The writing curriculum introduces the five steps in the writing process and will focus on expository, persuasive, and personal narrative writing. Our Literature Adventures will include the students completing at least two novel studies, one during the fall and one during the spring. They will then complete a hands on project showcasing the theme and what they learned from the book.
Required Curriculum:
1) Spiral Notebook
2) Easy Grammar Plus Revised ISBN: 978-0936981130 and Test Booklet ISBN: 0936981536
3) Wordly Wise 3000® 3rd Edition Grade 6 SET -
Student Book 6 ISBN: 9780838876060 and
Answer Key 6 ISBN: 978-0936981536
4) From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by - E.L. Konigsburg
5) 180 Days of Writing for Sixth Grade ISBN: 978-1-4258-1529
HEED English 7
Materials Fee $10
Course Description:
This course is the foundation which prepares students for the rigors of a strong high school language arts program. The course contains grammar, writing, literature, and vocabulary. The grammar portion of the course focuses on Analytical Grammar, which provides a systematic approach to learning sentence structure (through diagramming), parts of speech and their functions, usage, and punctuation. The writing portion of the class integrates the highly successful Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) curriculum along with the resources gathered over the instructor’s years of teaching middle school writing. The IEW writing program focuses on two key aspects of writing: structure and style. Students begin learning structural models (note taking, utilizing key word outlines to launch writing, writing paragraphs, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, and essays). The literature portion of the course is designed to help spark and foster a love of reading through student-selected, award-winning novels and enjoying books selected from several in the IEW curriculum. Vocabulary is integrated with the IEW writing curriculum. Parents may choose to oversee a program utilizing the Wordly Wise curriculum.
Required Curriculum:
(1) Analytical Grammar Set by R. Robin Finley, 1996, (Student Workbook & Teacher Book)
(2) IEW U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons by Lori Verstegen, (Student Book and Teacher Book) ISBN: 978-1-62341-325-5
(3) 4 novels: Night Journeys by Avi; Give me Liberty by by L.M. Elliott; Behind Rebel Lines, by Seymour Reit; Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Vocabulary (optional/not part of class) - Wordly Wise Level 8, either 3rd or 4th edition, (Student workbook, answer key, test booklet)
Prerequisites:
Students should have completed a grammar curriculum and understand grammar terminology, know how to identify parts of speech or word jobs within sentences, know the 51 most common prepositions and the 23 helping verbs.
HEED English 8
Materials Fee $10
Course Description:
This course continues building the foundation which prepares students for the rigors of a strong high school language arts program. The course contains grammar, writing, literature, and vocabulary. The grammar portion of the course focuses on Analytical Grammar, which provides a systematic approach to learning sentence structure (through diagramming), parts of speech and their functions, usage, and punctuation. The content continues where English 7 ends. The writing portion of the class integrates the highly successful Essentials in Writing (EIW) Level 8 curriculum along with the resources gathered over the instructor’s years of teaching middle school writing. The Essentials program focuses on the writing process for various types of writing: expository, persuasive, narrative, descriptive, research and more. Step-by-step lessons begin with constructing well-written paragraphs and continue to multi-paragraph essays. Essentials also incorporates grammar concepts that translate to strong writing. In addition, the writing enhancement styles from IEW will be blended into the writing process to create exceptional “word” art. The literature portion of the course is designed to continue the joy of reading through student-selected, award-winning novels; class led classics with varied reading response activities; and short articles and current events through Read Works. Vocabulary intertwines with the class led novel collateral materials. Parents may choose to oversee a program utilizing the Wordly Wise curriculum.
Required Curriculum:
(1) Analytical Grammar Set by R. Robin Finley, 1996, (Student Workbook & Teacher Book)
(2) Essentials in Writing Level 8 - 2nd Edition (print + digital combination as workbook needed for class) - Homeschool Writing Curriculum | Level 8 | Middle School Writing Programs (essentialsinwriting.com)
(3) 3 novels: Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor; The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens / 5 stave format
Vocabulary (optional/not part of class) - Wordly Wise Level 9, either 3rd or 4th edition, (Student workbook, answer key, test booklet)
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of HEED Middle School English 7 or proficiency as demonstrated on placement test. Students entering English 8 who were NOT enrolled in English 7 will need to be sure they have worked through and understand Analytical Grammar Units 1-13 and are ready to begin the second half of the Analytical Grammar book, which begins with a review of Units 11-13.
MATH
HEED Math 6 (Saxon 7/6)
Mrs. Desirae Patterson
Materials Fee: $10
Course Description:
Saxon 7/6 teaches math with a spiral approach, which emphasizes incremental development of new material and continuous review of previously taught concepts. Building upon the principles taught in Saxon Math 6/5, this Saxon 7/6 textbook introduces functions and coordinate graphing, integers, exponential expressions, and prime factorization. Students will specifically learn about the order of operations, number lines, decimal place value, how to find the percent of a number, how to round decimal numbers, attributes of geometric solids, and more. Lessons contain a warm-up (with facts practice, mental math, & problem-solving exercises); introduction to the new concept, lesson practice exercises where the new skill is practiced, and mixed practice exercises, which includes 25-30 old and new problems. In-depth "Investigations" are provided every 10 lessons, and have their own set of questions.
Parental Involvement:
Parents commit to personally proctor all tests. Parents must commit to check homework and tests for proper completion and accuracy at the very least, weekly but preferably, daily. This involves simply circling any question that has an incorrect or unreadable answer. Parents do not need to understand the work; they just need to be involved in the process so they will know immediately if their student is having difficulty. Students are required to complete assigned daily work entailing a minimum of an hour a day. Proper completion of homework and tests involves neatly showing all work - not just answers and not leaving blanks. Students must then correct the mistakes to prevent repetition of the same error on future assignments. Students must remain current with the class assignments and maintain a minimum 75% average or risk being dropped from the class unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students must never be in possession of the answer keys for tests! All work must be the student’s own work, not copied from any answer key or solutions manual or other student. Copying from any source for homework or tests is cheating and grounds for dismissal from HEED.
Required Curriculum:
1) Saxon Math 7/6 Student Textbook (4th Edition)
2) Saxon Math 7/6 Tests & Worksheets (4th Edition)
3) Saxon Math 7/6 Solutions Manual (4th Edition)
HEED Math 7 (Saxon 8/7)
Materials Fee: $10
Course Description:
The Foundations for Pre-Algebra course begins with the concrete concepts of arithmetic processes and then builds the beginning framework for the abstract concepts of algebra. Topics include: various operations with fractions, decimals and percents, order of operations, unit conversions, prime and composite numbers, area, perimeter and positive exponents.
Parental Involvement: Parents commit to personally proctor all tests. Parents must commit to check homework and tests for proper completion and accuracy at the very least, weekly but preferably, daily. This involves simply circling any question that has an incorrect or unreadable answer. Parents do not need to understand the work; they just need to be involved in the process so they will know immediately if their student is having difficulty. Students are required to complete assigned daily work entailing a minimum of an hour a day. Proper completion of homework and tests involves neatly showing all work - not just answers and not leaving blanks. Students must then correct the mistakes to prevent repetition of the same error on future assignments. Students must remain current with the class assignments and maintain a minimum 75% average or risk being dropped from the class unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students must never be in possession of the answer keys for tests! All work must be the student’s own work, not copied from any answer key or solutions manual or other student. Copying from any source for homework or tests is cheating and grounds for dismissal from HEED.
Required Curriculum:
Saxon Math 8/7; 3rd Edition; ISBN-9781591413202, Saxon Math 8/7; Homeschool Packet; Tests & Answers; ISBN-9781591413240 Saxon Math 8/7; Solutions Manual; ISBN-9781591413288.
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of HEED Middle School Math 6 or proficiency as demonstrated on placement test.
HEED Math 8 Pre Algebra (Saxon 1/2)
Materials Fee: $10
Course Description:
This Pre-Algebra course blends concrete arithmetic concepts with increasingly abstract algebraic and geometric topics. Topics include: ratios and proportions, signed numbers, scientific notation, roots, negative exponents, variables, volume and patterns for solving various types of word problems.
Parental Involvement: Parents commit to personally proctor all tests. Parents must commit to check homework and tests for proper completion and accuracy at the very least, weekly but preferably, daily. This involves simply circling any question that has an incorrect or unreadable answer. Parents do not need to understand the work; they just need to be involved in the process so they will know immediately if their student is having difficulty. Students are required to complete assigned daily work entailing a minimum of an hour a day. Proper completion of homework and tests involves neatly showing all work - not just answers and not leaving blanks. Students must then correct the mistakes to prevent repetition of the same error on future assignments. Students must remain current with the class assignments and maintain a minimum 75% average or risk being dropped from the class unless there are extenuating circumstances. Students must never be in possession of the answer keys for tests! All work must be the student’s own work, not copied from any answer key or solutions manual or other student. Copying from any source for homework or tests is cheating and grounds for dismissal from HEED.
Required Curriculum:
Saxon Algebra 1/2; 3rd Edition; ISBN-1565771494 or 156577499X,
Saxon Algebra 1/2; Homeschool Packet; Tests & Answers; ISBN-1591411726,
Saxon Algebra 1/2; Solutions Manual; ISBN-1565771311.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of HEED Middle School Math B or proficiency as demonstrated on placement test.
SCIENCE
Florida Science / Florida History (6,7,8 grade)
Materials and Lab Fee: $60
Course Description:
Florida is the southernmost state in the continental United States. It’s the 22nd largest and 3rd most populous state in the nation. Sunny Florida is best known for its theme parks, beaches, alligators, and—of course—it's where we live! This fun interactive class will have students investigating how our great state of Florida came to be, was discovered, settled, grew, and changed through the centuries. Join us as we learn how Florida impacted the United States as it was forming into our great country. Students will take a trip into the past as they learn the many struggles and triumphs Florida faced in becoming a state. For the Marine Science portion, students will explore the many diverse ecosystems in Florida. Students will explore the freshwater ecosystems, and marine ecosystems, as well as discover the many organisms that choose to live in these ecosystems. Students will participate in hands-on labs that reinforce each application as they dive into Florida’s diverse ecosystems. This Florida history/science class will also include optional family field trips.
Required Curriculum:
ACE PACEs Florida State History books 1037-1041, Marine Science curriculum is provided by instructor.
LIFE SCIENCE (7,8 grade) Animal Kingdom & Anatomy (offered in 2023-2024)
Lab Fee: $50
Course Description:
Students will be fascinated with God’s handiwork on His last two days of creation days. We will study animals from the smallest microbes to the most gargantuan dinosaurs and whales. The second semester will focus on God's grand finale of creation, mankind. We will explore human anatomy and how we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Required Curriculum:
God’s Design for Life (Student Edition) By: Debbie Lawrence, Richard Lawrence https://www.christianbook.com/gods-design-for-life/debbie-lawrence/9781683441274/pd/441275?event=CBCER1 ISBN: 9781683441410
GENERAL SCIENCE (7,8 grade) Planet Earth, Weather & Water, World of Plants (offered in 2024-2025)
Mrs. Mary Jones
Lab Fee: $50
Course Description:
We will focus on the sciences that are included in the first four creation days. Our adventure will include geography, heavenly bodies, oceans and the miracle of plants in the order in which God created them. This course will be taught from an uncompromising Biblical Worldview. We will glorify the "God of wonder beyond our galaxy" as we worship by studying God's creation.
Required Curriculum: God’s Design Heaven & Earth (Student Edition) By: Debbie Lawrence, Richard Lawrence https://tinyurl.com/4k2hhmyk ISBN: 9781683441298
SOCIAL SCIENCE
World Geography (6,7,8 grade)
Mrs. Giovanna Cavaretta
Materials Fee: $60
Course Description:
In our World Geography class we will explore all 7 continents and the unique cultures that live there. Through fun interactive activities students will gain experience with map reading using an atlas, create their own personal geography notebook, or portfolio, develop critical thinking skills, study cultures and peoples, learn countries and capitals, hear missionary stories, and so much more. Students will have the opportunity throughout the semester to present a project on each continent learned, and at the end of the school year, to participate in the World Geography Fair. This class is a great foundation for a future high school world history class.
Required Curriculum:
National Geographic Student World Atlas 5th Edition. (Available on Amazon) Isbn: 978-1426334795 and World Geography Teacher Created Resources, 3rd ed, ISBN 978-0-7439-3799-3
Personal Finance / Entrepreneurship (6 - 8 grade) offered in 2023-2024
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Materials Fee: $50
Course Description:
In the Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship Class students will learn the basics of handling personal finances and how financial decisions will impact their lives, as well as, the basics of creating inventions and being an entrepreneur. We will study finance in the fall and entrepreneurship in the spring. Finance topics include: God’s view on money, how to set up a budget, how to shop for a car, what is car insurance, learning about health insurance, the basics of investing, types of taxes, credit cards and managing credit, checking and savings accounts, and more. To wrap up our Finance portion of the class, we will participate in the Junior Achievement’s Finance Park program (fall semester) in which students engage in a simulation where they are given a persona and are able to make a virtual budget and shop for the basic needs every adult needs to shop for, putting into practice the skills they have learned. Students will also complete a Car Purchase Project (choosing a car, finding out insurance and financing information necessary to purchase the car). During our Entrepreneurship semester, students will be learning about the invention process and designing an invention of their own; students will also learn about entrepreneurship topics such as, what is an entrepreneur, business ideas, having a business plan and funding a new business. At the end of the school year, students will be able to participate in a Shark Tank competition in which they will have the chance to create their own business idea, craft a pitch for their idea, and present their business plan to a panel of "Sharks" to convince them to "invest" in their business!
Curriculum Required:
JA Finance Park Student Book (provided by teacher)
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy 7th. ed. by Richard J. Maybury; ISBN: 0942617649; ISBN-13: 9780942617641
U.S. Civics /Elections; U.S. Geography (7,8 grade) offered in 2024-2025
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Materials Fee: $50
Fall Course Description: In this class, students will learn all about being citizens of our great country! Topics will include: what is a citizen, citizen’s rights and responsibilities, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Our Nation’s foundations, our Federal government, the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch, Elections, Voting, and Patriotic Holidays. As part of our learning, students will participate in engaging, hands-on activities; they will create a bill, they will participate in a Voting simulation and in a Courts Simulation. After completion of this class, students will be able to pass a US Citizenship test (same test that is given to people seeking to become U.S. Citizens). We will culminate our studies in Civics with a “U.S. Citizenship Swearing-in Ceremony”.
Required Curriculum: Whatever Happened to Justice? Revised Edition, by Richard J. Maybury, ISBN 0-942617-46-0
Spring Course Description: We will continue our studies of our great country state by state. Students will be building their own U.S. Atlas complete with maps, historical facts, geographical facts and more. As we make our way around the United States, students will be learning about state histories, state capitals, unique geographical attributes, football teams and of course food! The class will include lots of hands-on activities. We will culminate our year with an “All Around the USA potluck celebration”! These classes are a great foundation for future civics and American history classes.
Required Curriculum: States and Capitals History Student Study Guide, Memoria Press ISBN: 9781615380510 and Desk Atlas of the United States by Geography Matters, ISBN: 978-1-931397-72-8
World History (6,7,8 grade)
Mrs. Michelle Moody
Materials Fee: $50
World History 1 (Ancient History) offered 2024-2025
Course Description:
Have you ever wondered how God’s plan played into the development of early civilizations, or if Christianity changed how some ancient civilizations developed? In this first-year course, students will examine these questions and more as we travel through the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. Our adventure starts at Creation, continuing through Noah’s Flood, the New Testament Jerusalem, Taurus, early Christian missionaries and ending at the Roman Empire. Each chapter focuses on a Christian perspective, with full color pictures, maps and engaging activities that bring ancient history to life. The text is written in a story-based approach, as you meet many biblical figures, visit several major ancient civilizations, and trace the rise and fall of many empires.
Our year will conclude with a Live Wax Museum, where the students will each choose a famous person that they are excited to learn more about! Students will need to make a costume and a script for their character. As “museum visitors” wander throughout the classroom, they will stop before each student and listen to a short speech about the life of the person they represent.
Required Curriculum: The World’s Story Volume 1: The Ancients (by Angela O’Dell)
World History 2 (Medieval / Renaissance) offered in 2023-2024
Course Description: In this second-year course in our world’s story, we continue our journey covering the Fall of Rome through the Renaissance. Beginning at the Fall of the Roman Empire and continuing through the rise of Islam, medieval Chinese history, the rising dynasties in India, the Vikings, the Ottoman Empire and finally ending at the Americas during the Middle Ages. Each chapter has Christianity as its focus and the full-color text brings to life historical figures. Chapters are written in a story-based approach, with each chapter having a “connect” section where students will learn how to connect history to today. The year will conclude with a Live Wax Museum. Each student will pick a historical figure they are excited to learn more about. They will make a costume and script for their character. As “museum visitors” wander through the classroom, they will stop before each student and listen to a short speech about the life of the character they chose.
*Note Ancient History I is not required to take this class*
Required Curriculum: The World’s Story 2 Middle Ages, The Fall of Rome through the Renaissance by Angela O’Dell (ISBN-13: 9781683440949)
:
ELECTIVES
Mixed Media Art / Life Skills (6,7,8 gr)
Mrs. Lori Murphy / Mrs. Desirae Patterson
Materials Fee: $60
This elective will include 20 weeks of mixed media art and 10 weeks of life skills
Mixed Media Art Course Description: In this class students will learn how to express themselves through art. They will explore the basic principles and elements of art including color theory, value, form, and line. This class will help students observe and understand the beauty of God’s creation through a variety of class projects. Students will also study great works of art from master artists. They will gain an understanding of the techniques and media used by the artists and create their own works of art with that influence as a foundation. Life skills days will include study skills and more.
Life/Study Skills Course Description: Life should be 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you deal with issues as they arise. The Bible clearly is a guide on how to deal with life. We have a variety of lessons on everyday life responsibilities. These lessons will include planning, communication/decision-making skills, self-awareness, and empathy. We touch on skills that are often overlooked by other subjects but are important in life. This course is adaptive as we build on what each group of students have already mastered to enrich with new skill sets. There is no additional books or grading for this class. A supply fee will help offset the cost of baking skills.
Critical Thinking Skills and Brain Games
Materials Fee: $60
Course Description:
Critical Thinking is one of our students all-time favorite classes! This is an exciting and entertaining class period of thinking games, activities and even a mystery guest or two. These mind-challenging games will also focus on spatial reasoning and detective strategy. This curriculum, developed by a HEED teacher years ago, has equipped many of our students to think in a whole new way. Teaching critical thinking raises IQ’s and boosts inventiveness, and studies show that kids become better learners when they are forced to explain how they solve problems. "Critical thinking comprises a number of different skills that help us learn to make decisions. It is the ability to evaluate information to determine whether it is right or wrong. To think critically about an issue or a problem means to be open-minded and consider alternative ways of looking at solutions.” Through the use of riddles, puzzles, and hands on group activities students learn to think, analyze, create categories, identify relevant information, reason and construct arguments, test hypotheses, recognize fallacies, and analyze evidence all while having fun. In fact, research suggests that explicit instruction in critical thinking may make kids smarter, more independent, and more creative. This hands-on learning experience will help students build critical thinking skills in preparation for high school logic while having loads of fun. Students taking the critical thinking class must be in pre-algebra math or higher to handle the math work in this class.
Parental Involvement: There is very little work required at home. Weekly homework worksheets are done online at home, and students are required to practice their mental math skills at home with a parent 5 minutes a day. Parents are invited to assist in the class any week and to compete against their students at two different class periods during the year to solve mysteries! This class is so valuable for helping students master high school logic and geometry in later years.
Required Curriculum:
Curriculum is provided to the students.
Prerequisites: Students must be enrolled in Pre-Algebra or higher.
GRAPHIC DESIGN COURSE
Graphic Design (Grades 8-12)
Mr. Ron Noel
Course Description:
In this course students will be introduced to the fundamentals of graphic design and the graphic design industry. They will learn what designers do, and what graphic design is (it’s more than just creating pretty pictures). Students will learn to create thumbnail sketches, rough sketches, and comprehensive design, the building blocks of the design process. Students will discover the fundamentals of 2D design, the foundation of visual communication: points, lines, planes, shape, balance, rhythm, unity, and color. Students will learn and practice the design process—the process designers use to find solutions to visual problems. Students will be introduced to basic typography and learn how type is a powerful communication tool. Students will create designs based on what they learn in class. The class will be fun and enjoyable and will be a great starting point for all creative students and especially those interested in pursuing graphic design as a career.
Curriculum will be provided by the instructor. Students will be responsible for miscellaneous art supplies.
