Middle School Curriculum
Black River Approach to Academics
English
The English Department at Black River is a collaborative study to encompass the humanities to cultivate a connection between language and life. Students explore all elements of English and are immersed in the language. The curriculum is designed to allow for collaborative content and focus with other humanities courses. Each English course provides students with opportunities to study a broad range of classic and contemporary literature. Students will write in a variety of modes that ask them to consider purpose, audience, and voice. Throughout each course, students will be encouraged to make meaningful connections between language and life as they develop skills to analyze these texts and effectively articulate ideas in a variety of written work, collaborative discussions, and presentations. The goal of the department is to prepare students to develop critical thinking skills, utilize language functions, develop engaging speaking and communication skills, and learn the importance of analytical writing.
History
The History Department at Black River is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for critical thinking and creating an environment conducive for collaborative learning. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a global worldview, encouraging them to explore the interconnectedness of historical events and civilizations. An emphasis is placed on developing the ability to critically analyze and interpret historical sources, and to equip students with the skills to construct well-supported arguments and positions. The department places a strong emphasis on historical literacy guiding students to navigate the complexities of the past while instilling a sense of curiosity and inquiry. The goal of the department is to empower students not only with a comprehensive understanding of historical events, but also provide the tools and perspectives necessary for active and informed engagement with the world.
Mathematics
The math department uses a constructivist approach to create a foundation of explorations and learning. Constructivism is a type of learning that emphasizes solving challenging, open-ended word problems that can be solved using a variety of methods. It is the foundation of exploration and learning. Students must reason mathematically and explain their thinking to others to construct a personally meaningful understanding of mathematical concepts. The curriculum emphasizes mathematics as an active science of patterns involving counting and algorithms, quantity and change, shape and motion, while using supportive data and analysis. Students learn to be critical thinkers who possess the ability to reason logically and to develop conclusions that have a deeper meaning and application beyond mathematics. The goal of the Math Department at Black River is to provide students with a curriculum that develops mathematics in context with an emphasis on mathematical modeling and applications. Students will develop reasoning and problem solving capabilities to make them better investigators, problem solvers, and better learners.
Musical Arts
The Music Department is dedicated to developing a lifelong appreciation and love of music. Students are challenged to become proficient performers. Performing ensembles at Black River work very hard to learn both as individual musicians and as members of a group. The curriculum presented by the department is considered a college preparatory atmosphere in which students are learning basic music theory along with the history of music. Performance based learning is enhanced through concert and festival performances. The varying levels of band, orchestra, choir are offered to meet the performance levels of each student’s ability. Those students immersed in the music program will gain knowledge that will enable them to appreciate great music throughout their lives.
Physical Education
Physical education class at Black River is an integral component of a well-rounded education, focusing on the development of physical fitness, motor skills, and overall health. Through a variety of activities such as team sports, individual exercises, and recreational games, students not only improve their physical well-being but also learn essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. Beyond the physical benefits, PE classes at Black River promote mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety through physical activity. Moreover, they instill lifelong habits of regular exercise and healthy living, helping students maintain a balanced lifestyle into adulthood. By fostering a positive attitude towards physical activity and health, physical education at Black River equips students with the tools they need to lead active, fulfilling lives.
Science
The Science Department at Black River creates a professional and forward thinking model that is active and collaborative placing an emphasis on learning skills necessary for success. Hands on and minds - on models of researching, problem solving, calculating, speculating and inferring are rooted in the growing foundation of science. The curriculum of the science department includes the different branches of science including earth, life, and physical. Students will discover science skills through observation, experiments, analyzing data, and synthesizing information. The foundation of learning continues with biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, and physiology. Geoscience and optional Advanced Placement classes allow students to explore and discover college level courses. The goal of the science department is for students to spend time discovering and to recognize that science continues to provide explorations and phenomena.
Spanish
The Spanish program at Black River allows students to acquire language through comprehension-based methods and strategies. Focusing on comprehensible input strategies, students will gain proficiency in fluency and challenge and deepen cultural understanding. The curriculum is designed to teach proficiency through reading and storytelling, which includes skill-reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Students will be placed into the program based on their individual proficiency, and students will need to meet a three year proficiency level. The goal of the department is to take full advantage of the course offerings to have the opportunity to earn the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy by successfully completing the College Board Advanced Placement exam.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Department provides a comprehensive and challenging visual art curriculum for students. Students immerse themselves in the academic study of art and broaden their understanding of cultures. Various art mediums are explored and students develop artwork to communicate ideas and concepts. The art curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop a deeper understanding of the elements and principles of art. The principles of art are used to create stronger and more developed artwork. Ceramics, sculpture, drawing, art history, digital media and photography are elements of art techniques to help enhance artistic abilities. The goal of the department is to encourage students to develop a strong personal, artistic voice, to broaden their understanding of dimensional art, and evaluate traditional conceptual artists.