Math

In grades five through eight, students regularly engage in thoughtful activities tied to their emerging capability to find and impose structure, question and verify, comprehend cause and effect, generalize, and synthesize abstract ideas. Emphasizing problem-solving skills at each grade level, the middle school math program supports students’ individual development as they grow into abstract thinkers.

With two levels of math offered per grade, students follow their own developmental timetable based on their readiness for abstract mathematical concepts.

Math placement is determined by Mathematics and Diagnostic Testing Project, teacher observation/recommendation, and student interest.

Humanities

Humanities courses are comprised of Social Studies (American History, Ancient Civilizations, and Current Events) and English Language Arts (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Combining disciplines allows students to explore topics deeply and engage in investigations and projects. Reading and writing skills are taught in Language Arts and applied to Social Studies content, allowing for a richer, more relevant and interdisciplinary experience.

Students will look at historical events through the lens of politics, economics, art, religion and social life in order to gain a deep understanding of circumstances and events that can then be reflected in a connection to current events. Students are expected to work individually, in pairs, cooperative groups, and in whole group activities.

The Language Arts component integrates reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, organized into thematic units.

Science

Science at Woodland School asks students to think like scientists while learning skills and content to perform like scientists too!

The curricula is inspired and developed with research-based techniques published by the National Science Teaching Association in mind, and caters to the many interests of our diverse student population. Woodland School understands that responsible global citizens need the skills not only to explain and explore scientific phenomena, but also to critically think and evaluate large amounts of data and information that can be applied to everyday life.

At Woodland school, teachers are no longer the keepers of knowledge but instead facilitate student-centered learning by engaging them in authentic scientific scholarship through fun and engaging real-world situations. Both inside and outside the classroom, our students explore their thinking and the world around them, develop their own experiments and procedures, present their findings to panels of Bay Area scientists, participate in Citizen Science projects, and continue to foster their love of learning through a range of ever-evolving lessons and activities.

Science students at Woodland recognize that their ideas are integral to class learning and are expected to challenge their own understandings together!

SCI-CON

Woodland SCI-CON is a celebration showcasing science work of students in grades Kindergarten through Grade 8. Students will present work that is linked to investigating phenomenon, engineering solutions to real-world problems, and using technology to solve problems.

Woodland SCI-CON showcases scientists, engineers, and technophiles from the community.

Advisory

The middle school advisory program is designed to equip students with the self-knowledge necessary to develop their strengths, focus on goals, and be responsible decision-makers. Concepts of metacognition, decision-making, executive function, self-management, and personal advocacy are explored in a small group environment that is rooted in compassion, empathy, and awareness—both of one’s self and of others.

Below, a seventh and eighth grade advisory has produced a human table, a self-led team building activity.

Social-Emotional Learning

Social-emotional learning recognizes that emotional health is at the heart of our children’s well being and that emotional intelligence (EQ), the ability to understand and handle feelings, profoundly affects our happiness and success in life. At Woodland, the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program is designed to teach students the skills they need to handle themselves, their relationships and their work effectively and ethically. At the Middle School level, SEL focuses largely on students’ social, relational, and leadership skills along with stress reduction techniques and team building. Students discuss current issues and proactively learn how to deal with new issues that may arise. Woodland faculty is actively involved in the social and emotional growth of the students while allowing them to use the skills they have been taught to resolve their issues autonomously.

Strong mentorship and leadership abilities are the backbone of the program as students are inspired to continually strive to be the best versions of themselves they can possibly be.

Music

Music theory, music history, and vocal or instrumental application play a critical role in music education. Students are expected to read music notation, grasp fundamental theoretical musical concepts and develop an understanding of the historical importance of music as a social tool.

Choral singing is woven into the middle school curriculum, where students strive to develop their aural skills, as well as their vocal abilities. Middle School students perform in choral concerts that feature a varied repertoire of music ranging from jazz standards, to classical pieces to world music selections. The aim is to emphasize the importance of music as a regular part of a well-rounded education.

Clubs and Electives

The goal of Woodland's clubs and electives program is to provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills by pursuing an area of interest or passion. Clubs and electives help students develop friendships throughout middle school and ensure that the diverse voices of all students are represented. 

During clubs and electives, students brainstorm ideas and activities that could benefit not just middle school, but the entire school.  Our middle school leaders from Service Club and the Associated Student Body (ASB) collaboratively organize a food drive and a toy drive, manage food preparation for the middle school dances, donating their profits to organizations in need, and lead a beach clean-up in Half Moon Bay.

Examples of Woodland's electives are:

• Wild for Watercolor
• Sports Statistics
• Fabric Arts and Design
• Musical
• Introduction to Athletic Coaching
• Number Theory
• Personal Wellness
• Plant Biology
• Leaders in Learning
• Latin American Culture: Cocina latinoamericana
• Personal Finance
• Introduction to Environmental Science
• Me, Myself, and I: Introduction to Identity Studies
• Mathemagic: Strategies the Make Problems Disappear

Examples of Woodland's clubs are:

• Associated Student Body
• SWAG - Student Woodland Activist Group
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Yearbook
• Trading Cards
• Taylor Swift Club
• Mathcounts
• Chill Club

Innovation Lab

The principles of design thinking are intentionally woven into the technology curriculum at Woodland School. Students go through the iterative process of identifying a problem to designing, executing, and refining a solution.

Students expand their technology aptitude to include:

• Robotics
• Programming
• 3-D CAD modeling and design

Woodland School is equipped with an Innovation Lab that includes a 3-D printer, laser printer, software, and materials to expand hands-on learning opportunities.

Spanish

The Middle School Spanish program builds enthusiasm and courage for language learning with joyful and developmentally-appropriate activities. Spanish in California remains a key theme as well as student focus on pertinent culture and artifacts from Chile, Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico and the greater Spanish-speaking world. The program draws upon the standards of the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the California Language Teachers Association (CLTA) which focus on communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities, and emphasize 21st-century skills, global competency, emotional literacy, and California’s diverse population. The program helps students understand the many shared values and norms between the United States and many Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish instruction focuses on geography, history, customs, traditions, and cooking. Grammar and vocabulary are approached through song, dance, acting, role-playing, storytelling, videos, and integration of social studies, math, science, and art history. Furthermore, older students read both fictional and non-fictional pieces. Kinesthetic learning is valued through Total Physical Response strategies, communicative games and collaborative activities. The classes are taught in Spanish, and students are provided the tools to succeed in the target language.

Students are encouraged to continue with their study of foreign language and pursue Advanced Placement level courses in high school.

Art

Woodland’s Middle School Art program integrates artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing, connections, relationships, and applications. Through a wide variety of materiality, environment, and collaborations, students build their creative confidence by blending life, memory, and imagination to formulate themselves. With the teacher as a guide, the art studio becomes a space for students to be open without judgement and learn appreciation for their accomplishments and the accomplishments of their classmates. The personal and social impact of art is discussed alongside historical movements. Curiosity and wonder grow within students as they build visual and motor skills through their artwork. Art includes a written component providing an avenue for students to verbalize their creation.

Capstone

At the start of eighth grade, students identify an issue of global or local significance that they are curious or passionate about and create an interdisciplinary project to make a difference or have impact at some level. These “Capstone” projects mark the culmination of middle school and prepare students for more in-depth research in high school and beyond. Guided by a faculty advisor, they conduct research, interview experts in the field, write an expository paper and design an action piece, and present their work by year’s end. View recent Capstone Projects on our Capstone page.

Physical Education

Physical education in the Middle School focuses on mastery of sports skills and strategies and provides opportunity for students to apply these skills in authentic game situations. Emphasis is placed on developing sportsmanship and personal goal setting. Every student is expected to cultivate and implement leadership skills in the physical education context. Students develop an understanding of how physical activities and good nutrition enhance emotional and social growth, academic achievement, and intellectual development. Each of these elements is taught in a progression that allows students to achieve success at each step. The goal of Middle School physical education is to instill an appreciation of the vital role physical activity has on one’s overall existence and to cultivate healthy fitness and exercise habits in each student.