Getting a "Taste" of Middle School Life

Fifth graders spent a morning experiencing what life will be like next year when they become IDS-CC middle schoolers.

Dec. 6, 2011 (TAMPA, Fla.) – Relaxed and confident, Independent Day School-Corbett Campus fifth graders strolled into the IDS-CC middle school building, glanced at their schedules, easily located their classrooms, and with poise and self-assurance, plunged right into lessons designed to give them a glimpse into middle school academics.

It was clear that while the fifth-grade classroom on the east side of campus was still their home, these Intermediate Division students already were looking forward to moving across the street and assuming both the privileges and responsibilities of middle school students.

Middle school teachers created lessons for fifth graders to help them understand what sixth-grade academics will be like. Science teacher Maria Cardona showed students how to create a model of a hydrogen molecule. Social studies teacher Dave Freeman conducted a simulation activity to illustrate global issues such as population density and resource distribution.

"Since our middle schoolers are the most senior students at IDS, they are the school's student leaders," said Middle School Division Leader Betty George. "IDS middle schoolers have an abundance of opportunities to develop important leadership skills in preparation for high school."

Like slipping into a new pair of shoes and walking around in them for a while, the "Taste of Middle School" tradition enabled fifth graders to "try on" middle school life, to see how it felt for a few hours. It was also a chance for them to learn about the numerous academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities available in middle school, including high school and honors-level courses, the fine arts wheel, a wide variety of electives and clubs, and advisory group community service activities.

"Our middle school is a unique place," said Mrs. George. "It's a rich environment with lots of choices and options for academic and personal growth. The best way for our fifth graders to understand what that means is to come and experience it – to spend some time with our incredible teachers who create wonderful "mini" classroom experiences so students can sample each of the core subject areas."

In science, for example, students constructed models of molecules found in the atmosphere. Mrs. George and her sixth-grade teaching partner, Maria Cardona, explained that working with microscopes, making slides, and conducting lots of experiments are activities students could look forward to as they study life
and earth science in sixth grade.

In Dave Freeman's social studies class, fifth graders participated in a simulation activity that illustrated global issues such as population density and inequalities in the control over global resources: topics they would study in depth next year.

Sixth-grade English teachers, Kat Quin and Amy Ragg, taught students a rap about the parts of speech, shared some new vocabulary words, and then read from a novel popular with middle schoolers called The Revealers. Fifth graders also read letters current sixth graders had written just for them providing "words of wisdom" for success in middle school.

"Your agenda is your new best friend," wrote Taylor Wooldridge. "Try to remember all of your materials for class, outside reading book included." She suggested keeping one's locker neat and organized, "because you have to grab your materials in three minutes," but also noted that "You get to walk (to classes) with your friends, which gives you super, stupendous socializing time!"

"I love all the after-school activities that Middle School has to offer such as dance, volleyball, cheerleading, math teams, thespians and more. (All of which I do!)," wrote Serena Jonas. "Middle School can be like an intricate knot, but once you figure it out, you're golden."