Overview
The Lower Dauphin Middle School program is an exploratory one where students, as young adolescents, are introduced to many unique programs and opportunities. LDMS offers a comprehensive education that includes a balance of academic and co-curricular offerings.
Comprised of both “core” and “encore” courses, the middle school curriculum is intended to provide the foundation students will need for more specific study in senior high school.
Core courses for all students include English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Core courses also include foreign language level one classes for eighth graders and reading classes for seventh graders.
Encore courses for all students include art, family and consumer science, music, and technology education.
All students are required to take physical education every year. Sixth and eighth grade students also take health. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students may elect Band, Chorus, and/or Orchestra.
Encore courses for all students include art, family and consumer science, music, and technology education.
All students are required to take physical education every year. Sixth and eighth grade students also take health. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students may elect Band, Chorus, and/or Orchestra.
Specific courses by grade follow:
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
English and Language Arts
The seventh- and eighth-grade English curriculum is designed to provide a basic program for all students on their level. Students are taught the fundamentals of grammar, composition, speech, and literature. Sixth-grade language arts integrates the fundamentals of reading, composition, literature, grammar, and speech.
Foreign Language
An exploratory approach to foreign language is utilized to familiarize students with languages prior to their electing a language for further study.
Health
With a focus on daily living, the sixth grade course of study includes the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. Taught by an officer of the Hummelstown Borough Police Department, DARE helps students to recognize and resist the pressures to experiment with drugs, gangs, or violent activity. The eighth grade curriculum emphasizes wellness and the development of a healthy life style. A co-educational approach is taken with both sixth and eighth grade health courses.
Mathematics
In sixth grade, students take either Sixth Grade Mathematics or Pre-Algebra. Math placements are determined by administration after a thorough review of data related to the students performance in math. In seventh grade, students take either Seventh Grade Mathematics, Pre-Algebra or Algebra. In eighth grade, students take either Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Geometry.
Physical Education
Sixth-grade physical education is designed to develop a healthy, physically fit student population. Seventh- and eighth-grade physical education opens in the fall with physical fitness tests, followed by instruction in seasonal sports as well as rhythmics, tumbling, aerobics, and dancing.
Practical and Fine Arts
Students are provided with nine weeks of instruction in Art, Family and Consumer Science (FACS), Industrial Technology, and Music during their sixth-grade year. Students will have one semester of each class during their seventh- and eighth-grade years. Emphasis in all fine and practical arts courses is on hands-on activities and creativity.
Reading
Reading in sixth grade is an integral part of the Language Arts Program.
Reading in seventh grade concentrates on developing basic reading skills using a content area approach. Additionally, students are encouraged to read for pleasure.
Science
The sixth-grade science curriculum is comprised of four units: energy, chemistry, geology, and oceanography. In seventh grade, Life Science is taught. Emphasis in life science is on helping students to understand their relationship to the environment. Physical Science, a study of chemistry and physics, is the course offered in eighth grade.
Emphasis in all science courses is on hands-on activities including labs to reinforce scientific concepts.
Social Studies
Sixth-grade social studies cover aspects of geography and the study of the Americas. Seventh-grade social studies is the study of World Cultures. The curriculum travels through history and culminates during the Renaissance time period. Eighth-grade social studies continue after the Renaissance with expansion into the New World. Emphasis is on American history up through the Civil War.
Honors
In mathematics, students are accelerated based on criteria.
Grade 6
Math 6
Science
Social Studies
Language Arts
Physical Education
Health/DARE
Music
Technology Education
Family and Consumer Science
Art
Grade 7
Pre-Algebra
Life Science/Honors Life Science
Geography
English/Honors English
Reading or Foreign Language Survey
Physical Education
Study Skills
*Music
*Art
*Technology Education
*Family and Consumer Science
(*Two of the four subjects will be taught
in the Grade 7)
Grade 8
Pre-Algebra or AlgebraThe following is a synopsis of curriculum offerings by discipline:
Physical Science/ Honors Physical Science
American History
English/Honors English
Foreign Language Survey
Level I Foreign Language or Reading
Physical Education
*Music
*Art
*Technology Education
*Family and Consumer Science
Health
(*Remaining two of the four subjects will be taught in Grade 8)
English and Language Arts
The seventh- and eighth-grade English curriculum is designed to provide a basic program for all students on their level. Students are taught the fundamentals of grammar, composition, speech, and literature. Sixth-grade language arts integrates the fundamentals of reading, composition, literature, grammar, and speech.
Foreign Language
An exploratory approach to foreign language is utilized to familiarize students with languages prior to their electing a language for further study.
Health
With a focus on daily living, the sixth grade course of study includes the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. Taught by an officer of the Hummelstown Borough Police Department, DARE helps students to recognize and resist the pressures to experiment with drugs, gangs, or violent activity. The eighth grade curriculum emphasizes wellness and the development of a healthy life style. A co-educational approach is taken with both sixth and eighth grade health courses.
Mathematics
In sixth grade, students take either Sixth Grade Mathematics or Pre-Algebra. Math placements are determined by administration after a thorough review of data related to the students performance in math. In seventh grade, students take either Seventh Grade Mathematics, Pre-Algebra or Algebra. In eighth grade, students take either Pre-Algebra, Algebra, or Geometry.
Physical Education
Sixth-grade physical education is designed to develop a healthy, physically fit student population. Seventh- and eighth-grade physical education opens in the fall with physical fitness tests, followed by instruction in seasonal sports as well as rhythmics, tumbling, aerobics, and dancing.
Practical and Fine Arts
Students are provided with nine weeks of instruction in Art, Family and Consumer Science (FACS), Industrial Technology, and Music during their sixth-grade year. Students will have one semester of each class during their seventh- and eighth-grade years. Emphasis in all fine and practical arts courses is on hands-on activities and creativity.
Reading
Reading in sixth grade is an integral part of the Language Arts Program.
Reading in seventh grade concentrates on developing basic reading skills using a content area approach. Additionally, students are encouraged to read for pleasure.
Science
The sixth-grade science curriculum is comprised of four units: energy, chemistry, geology, and oceanography. In seventh grade, Life Science is taught. Emphasis in life science is on helping students to understand their relationship to the environment. Physical Science, a study of chemistry and physics, is the course offered in eighth grade.
Emphasis in all science courses is on hands-on activities including labs to reinforce scientific concepts.
Social Studies
Sixth-grade social studies cover aspects of geography and the study of the Americas. Seventh-grade social studies is the study of World Cultures. The curriculum travels through history and culminates during the Renaissance time period. Eighth-grade social studies continue after the Renaissance with expansion into the New World. Emphasis is on American history up through the Civil War.
Honors
In mathematics, students are accelerated based on criteria.
Seventh- and eighth-grade students in English may be invited to pursue an honors level course based upon set criteria.
Seventh- and eighth-grade students in science may be invited to pursue an honors level course based upon set criteria.