Middle School (6th-8th grade)
Epiphany Lutheran Middle School curriculum is designed to give all middle school students a firm foundation in the fundamental areas of Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science (including labs), Social Studies (including Texas History), Spanish, and Physical Education with Band, Choir and Yearbook woven into the core curriculum.  Our students’ academic performance often places our graduates into accelerated classes when they enter high school. 

Spiritual Emphasis
Epiphany Lutheran School is a Christ-centered school. We believe God loves us so much that He wants us one day to be with Him in heaven. Because of His great love for us, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rise from the dead.  Because Christ did this for us, we have the promise of eternal life is heaven. We daily exhibit this in our classrooms and in our curriculum with weekly chapel services, daily religion classes, and weekly memory verses.

Middle School Religion

At Epiphany we use curriculum published by Concordia Publishing House.  Our religion curriculum is enriched through memory verses, learning the Catechism, and through weekly Chapel services.  Students also get the chance to help lead Chapel services with their class during the year.  

Books: Living in Christ Textbook and Living in Christ Workbook

The 6th Grade religion curriculum is made up of nine units.  Each unit focuses on a different theme and stories found in the Bible.  The first four units go over the Old Testament and the last five units work through the New Testament.  Within each lesson students and teacher will discuss the story in the Bible and how it applies to their lives. 

The 8th Grade religion curriculum is designed to help teach Luther’s Small Catechism.  We work through a lesson a week on average.  We also supplement the material with other Bible studies throughout the school year.  Memory will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the year.  Grades will be based on completion of the workbook, memory, participation, short essays, and tests and quizzes.

Middle School Literature

In Middle School, we use the Hold, Rinehart, and Winston's Elements of Literature text books.  Each series is broken up into eight sections focusing on a central theme.  These sections include selections to read, mini-lessons on reading skills and strategies, writer's workshops, and sentence workshops. 

Middle School English

Our students study the Houghton Mifflin English text Grade 6, 7, and 8.  This series will help students develop the ability to use formal language.  The book is divided into three parts.  Part one focuses on grammar, usage, and mechanics.  Part two focuses on writing, listening, speaking, and viewing.  Part three contains a variety of useful tools and tips for students to use throughout the year.

Middle School Science

Earth Science
Books: Holt Science and Technology

The 6th-8th grade students are all going to be taking Earth Science.  In order to do this, we will be using three different text books in the classroom.  Each chapter will be made available online in Edmodo.  Topics will include maps, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes, rocks, weather, climate, movements of salt and fresh water, and astronomy.  Grades will be given for completing various assignments throughout the year, including worksheets, short papers, projects, chapter reviews, quizzes, and tests.  Tests will account for about 50% of the science grade.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for Top 8th Grader at the 2018 Academic Quest held at Lutheran High North.

Middle School Math

6th Grade Math

Book: McDougall Littell Course 1

This series helps students to connect math concepts to real-world problem solving, as well as preparing the students for Pre-Algebra the following year.  The chapters include, but are not limited to:  number sense and algebraic thinking, measurement and statistics, decimal addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, number patterns, fractions, integers, and equations and functions.  At the end of the year students receive a placement test.  Students will then go on to either Pre-Algebra or 7th Grade Math the following school year.

Our 7th and 8th Grade students are divided into two different classes based on which class they will most excel in.  7th Grade students will take either 7th Grade Math or Pre-Algebra, while 8th Grade students will take either Pre-Algebra or Algebra.

7th Grade Math

Book: McDougal Littell Course 2 

This series helps students to connect math concepts to real-world problem solving, as well as preparing the students for Pre-Algebra the following year.  The chapters include, but are not limited to number sense, decimal operations, data and statistics, fractions and their operations, integers, equations and inequalities, ratios, percents, geometric figures, measurements and area, and probability.  Students in 7th Grade Math will take Pre-Algebra during their 8th Grade year.

Pre-Algebra

Book: McDougal Littell Pre-Algebra 

This series helps build the foundation needed to succeed in higher level math class, such as Algebra and Geometry, by focusing on problem-solving skills and concepts.  The focus this year includes variables and integers, solving equations, inequalities, fractions, exponents, rational numbers, proportions, probabilities, linear functions, real numbers, volume, data analysis, and polynomials.  Students that complete Pre-Algebra will be enrolled in Algebra the following year.

Algebra

Book: McDougal Littell Algebra 1

The Algebra curriculum is designed to connect math with real life applications.  We will be working through about a lesson a day, but will on occasion spend two or three days on certain topics.  Daily homework assignments will be given.  Grades will be based on homework, quizzes, and tests.  Tests and quizzes make up for about 60% of the total grade.  There will be a final at the end of each semester that will account for 10% of the semester grade.

Middle School History
In 6th grade, our students study the Holt, Rinehart and Winston textbook, People, Places, and Changes: An Introduction to World Studies. The students study people, places, and societies of the contemporary world. Societies for study are from the following regions of the world: Europe, Russia and the Eurasian republics, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Southwest Asia-North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific realm. The students will gain an understanding of the institutions common to all societies, such as government, economics, education, and religious institutions.

In 7th Grade, our students study the Glencoe McGraw-Hill textbook, Texas & Texans. Our students examine the history of Texas, including Native Texans, Spanish Colonial, Mexican National, Revolution and Republic, Early Statehood, Texas in the Civil War, Early 20th Texas, and Civil Rights and Contemporary Texas eras. The students examine the impact of key individuals, events, and issues through the use of primary and secondary sources.

In 8th Grade, our students study the Glencoe McGraw-Hill textbook, American History: The Early Years to 1877. Our students gain an understanding of the political, social, economic, and religious events and issues related to the colonial and revolutionary eras, the creation of the U.S. Constitution, challenges of the early republic, the Age of Jackson, westward expansion, sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction. Our students use critical-thinking skills, including the identification of bias in written, oral, and visual material.

Middle School students attend Outdoor Education at Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas for two nights and three days. This gives our students a chance to learn new skills, build relationships, and have fun in a different environment.