Middle School

Middle School (6th, 7th and 8th grades) at Good Shepherd School is a time when rational inquiry takes center stage in students’ development. Students are taught to deduce conclusions, to establish relationships between subjects, to detect the assumptions of a statement, and to challenge fallacious arguments.

Accordingly, it is in Middle School when algebraic concepts and equations are introduced in mathematics, when writing moves from clear and accurate expression to convincing argument, and when formal logic is studied.

In addition, it is a time for students to move from catechesis (being taught about the Faith) to theology (understanding why Catholicism is true, good and beautiful).

Language Arts

Language Arts in the Middle School begins with a focus on the mechanics of writing (i.e., grammar, spelling and syntax) and transitions to cohesive argument and thesis-driven papers. Students are trained to use the elements of good grammar and style in order to argue a coherent claim.

Sixth Grade

Grammar Voyage by Michael Clay Thompson
Caesar’s English II by Michael Clay Thompson
A World of Poetry by Michael Clay Thompson
Sequential Spelling
Pentime Cursive 6, by Pentime Publishers

Seventh Grade

Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer and Audrey Anderson
Writing with Skill, Student Workbook Level 2, by Susan Wise Bauer
Vocabulary from Classical Roots, Book A by Educators Publishing Service
Pentime Cursive 7, by Pentime Publishers

Eighth Grade

Sentence Diagramming, by Glencoe Language Arts
Classical Composition, by Memoria Press
Vocabulary from Classical Roots, Book B by Educators Publishing Service
Pentime Cursive 8, by Pentime Publishers

Literature

Students read perennial literature from the ancient world as well as more recent works of fiction. Books rotate between accessible, enjoyable stories and challenging classics - all which have the potential to transform the moral imagination of the reader. More is asked of Middle School students, as they are expected to read carefully, prepare questions for discussions, compare and contrast authors’ styles, and write analytical essays. Literature is selected to broaden students’ understanding of the world and instill the transcendental qualities of truth, goodness and beauty.

Sixth Grade

*In 2026-2027, sixth grade students study Ancient literature and history, as they studied Medieval history in the prior year. Beginning with 2027-2028, Sixth Grade students will study Medieval literature and history.

Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire
Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick
Gilgamesh the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff
Victory on the Walls by Frieda Clark Hyman
City of the Golden House by Madeleine Polland
Black Ships Before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff

Seventh Grade

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Eighth Grade

Declaration of Independence
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
The Gettysburg Address
Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Pearl by John Steinbeck

History

As an overview of Western civilization, history in the Middle School serves both to understand the world as it is, where it came from, and finally one’s place in such an inheritance. Students are taught to understand people, events and movements in their own terms rather than in modern categories. Moral realities of good and evil, virtue and vice, and wisdom and folly are explored in the context of historical events.

Sixth Grade: The Ancient Year*

The Ancient Year traces the development of civilization through the decline of the Roman Empire. One of the themes of this year is finding common themes among the many civilizations in the Ancient World. Another theme is identifying the similarities and differences between those civilizations with the Jewish and Christian people.

The Story of Civilization I: The Ancient World by Philip Campbell

Seventh Grade: The Modern Year

The Modern Year traces Western Civilization from the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment through World War II. One of the themes of this year is understanding how humanism, Enlightenment thinking, and all that came after it contributed to the relativism of today’s society

A Light to the Nations, Volume II: The Making of the Modern World, Catholic Textbook Project
A History of Christendom, vol. 4: The Cleaving of Christendom by Warren H. Carroll
A History of Christendom, vol. 5: The Revolution Against Christendom by Warren H. Carroll

Eighth Grade: The American Year

The American Year explores the American pursuit of ordered liberty by examining the nation's founding principles and the enduring tension between its ideals and their realization in history.

The American Venture: A History of the United States, Catholic Textbook Project

Math

Before progressing to more advanced mathematics in high school, it is important that earlier concepts are mastered and practiced. In each class, algebraic concepts are introduced alongside traditional mathematics, as they move from what is either self-evident or mechanical (e.g., addition, long-division) to what must be logically deduced (e.g., solving an equation).

Middle School at Good Shepherd School offers two math tracks per grade.

Sixth Grade
Students take either Math 6, or a Pre-Algebra course designed to combine core competencies in Math 6 and Math 7.

Seventh Grade
Students take either Math 7, or Algebra. (Prerequisite for Algebra is Pre-Algebra.)

Eighth Grade
Students take either Algebra or Geometry. (Prerequisite for Geometry is Algebra.)

Math Mammoth 6 by Maria Miller
Math Mammoth 7 by Maria Miller
Elementary Algebra by Harold R. Jacobs
Geometry by Harold R. Jacobs

Latin

When learning our native tongue, we never learn what a noun is before we learn our first nouns: “Mama,” “Dada,” “bottle”, etc. In 7th and 8th grades, we study Latin in the same way – by putting the experience of the language before a discussion of grammar. Our Latin program challenges students to speak simple Latin from the first day of class, with grammar introduced as experience is built. A study of the culture of ancient Pompeii accompanies the course, allowing the students to consider day-to-day life in the Roman Empire. Ecclesiastical Latin also is studied, with each class beginning with a recitation of the Pater Noster, Ave Maria and Gloria Patri.

Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 1, Fifth Edition, Cambridge University Press
Cambridge Latin Course, Unit 2, Fifth Edition, Cambridge University Press

Theology

In Sixth Grade, students visit the Atrium each week for their work with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in Level III. This level emphasizes the unfolding mystery of God’s redeeming work in the universe as they ask the question “What is the kingdom of God and my place in it?” They will also continue their studies of saints and virtues.

By Seventh Grade, students have “graduated” from their years of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Seventh Grade commences the two-year preparation period for students to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Drawing on the Sacred Scriptures, tradition, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and writings from Church Fathers and theologians, students are challenged to ponder the “faith and reason” aspect of our knowledge of God.

These are years where students tend to gain a more mature grasp of their faith. With that newfound interest come many questions. Relying on the teachings of the Magisterium as well as other publications such as Council documents and papal encyclicals, a considerable amount of time in theology class is spent exploring what the Church teaches vis a vis the questions posed by the students.

In addition to preparing students to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, we also study the founding of the Church, the divine and human natures of Christ, and divine revelation. Considerable time is spent on studying the Church Fathers, and students complete research papers related to a Church Father, and the significance of the Fathers to the Faith and the development of doctrine.

The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Libreria Editrice Vaticana
www.vatican.va for Papal source documents

Seventh Grade

Spirit of Truth: Living as a Disciple of Christ, Sophia Institute

Eighth Grade

Spirit of Truth: The Communion of the Faithful, Sophia Institute
Sealed in Fire: The Sacrament of Confirmation, Sophia Institute

Apologetics

As students prepare to matriculate from Good Shepherd School, an Apologetics course is taken in Eighth Grade. Apologetics is the study of how to confidently defend the Catholic Faith, and is focused on common objections to Christianity today. This course explores the scientific evidence for God as well as philosophical proofs of His existence, the historicity of Jesus’ miracles and Resurrection, reasons to be Catholic, why an all-loving God would allow suffering, and medical evidence for our transphysical soul. A component of this class is public speaking, which encourages the student to verbalize their learning in impromptu, extemporaneous and manuscript speeches. Public speaking on topics of faith, science and reason occurs within the class and among the broader Lower and Upper Elementary students.

Speak the Faith: A Public Speaking Course on Faith, Science and Reason by Robert Spitzer S.J., Ph.D., Sophia Institute

Science

Sixth Grade

Sixth grade science is an Earth science class where students learn how to develop a procedure for testing an idea such as comparing soil permeability scientifically. The process of scientific inquiry is applied to solving scientific questions and variables are identified as factors that influence outcomes. Students learn about water on the Earth as well as how it permeates underground, with a special unit on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed with which we live. Earth’s place in our solar system, the sun, the moon and the planets are all explored, along with how gravity and their motion affect our view of the universe. Conserving Earth’s resources is a theme throughout the year as well as taking a personal responsibility to care for God’s creations.

Seventh Grade

Seventh grade science is a biology class that examines the characteristics and needs of all living things, how cells operate and are the basic unit of structure and function in all organisms, as well as how to effectively communicate the meaning of the data collected in a lab. Yeast is used to demonstrate cellular respiration as well as the activity of a unicellular fungus, and the basic compounds needed by cells are identified and applied to eating nutritious meals. Processes such as diffusion come to life with the egg lab, and DNA becomes a three-dimensional lab molecule that demonstrates how cells are reproduced. The human circulatory and digestive systems are the focus of the human anatomy studied, and then a deer heart and frog are dissected in lab to demonstrate the amazing form to function relationship.

Eighth Grade

Eighth grade science is a physical science class, introducing both physics and chemistry concepts. Invention and technology are featured by studying the Wright Brothers and the development of flight. Matter is a primary theme, and students learn to describe, classify, measure, separate and change matter. Separating a mixture based on physical properties is a lab that challenges the students to develop a lab procedure and then explain how and why each material was able to be separated. Students study energy and the changes in the states of matter. Chemistry begins with atoms, the Periodic Table of Elements and the chlorine lab. Radioactivity of certain elements is explored using play dough, and Newton’s Laws of Motion are tested with toy cars and stopwatches.

Logic

Every school seeks to impart “critical thinking” to its students, especially at the Middle School level. At Good Shepherd School, in 7th and 8th Grades, informal logic and the study of fallacies allows students to recognize illogical arguments they encounter all the time. More importantly, it helps them to avoid such fallacies in their own thinking. On the other hand, formal logic studies the art of the syllogism. These studies train the mind to draw valid conclusions from premises, to identify the premises of an argument, and to carefully find the point of disagreement should we differ from the conclusion.

The Art of Argument, Classical Academic Press
Traditional Logic I, Memoria Press
Traditional Logic II, Memoria Press

Art

Fine Arts: During the Middle School years, the visual arts projects are tied to the history and theology curricula. In 6th Grade, they are re-creating prehistoric cave art with pastels and charcoals; Egyptian hieroglyphs, and mosaics. In 7th and 8th Grades, time is spent learning about and re-creating illuminated manuscripts, and stained glass paintings.

Music: Students participate in the music program, as they learn musical notation and scales, and practice their voices on classical, folk and liturgical songs.

Nature Study

In Sixth Grade, students continue their weekly trips to a nearby to observe the natural world. The focused theme is earth and stream study. The nature journal will be more focused on collecting data this year, but there will also be time to reflect and record things they find as they are observing and enjoying the environment so as to develop the important habit of quiet, careful, and close observation.

Woodworking

We know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts. - Charlotte Mason

Taken in Seventh Grade, the Woodworking Program at Good Shepherd School offers students a unique opportunity to build wood-based projects in a safe, structured environment at a local woodworking shop. Students learn to use a variety of tools, design projects and execute that plan to completion. Students build basic cabinetry and projects that support the school's needs, such as Christmas tree ornaments for each child, and tables and cabinets for school use.