Junior High Curriculum
Great River School’s Junior
High consists of 7th and 8th grades. Each year of the two year cycle
includes specific work, study, and educational experiences.
Montessori for the Early Adolescent
Great River’s Junior High Montessori
program is connected to an urban garden and a rural farm-nature
center. The program reflects Maria Montessori’s vision of
the proper learning environment for the adolescent. The rural
and urban farm environments provide opportunities for real,
hands-on, purposeful work. Students spend the majority of their
time on the urban campus and have day trips and overnight
experiences at the farm-nature center.
Program Highlights
Odyssey Trip
The year begins with a
multiple day adventure learning trip where students and staff camp and
cook together while traveling across the country. These trips are truly
odysseys that depend upon student leadership, community building, overcoming
challenges, and intense academic studies.
Interim
During January the Junior High community
becomes a theater troupe. Students work in crews to create
sets, props, programs, and costumes. This is a serious theater
program, led by an experienced actor and director.
Bike Trip
The year ends with a 5 day bike and camping
trip through rural Minnesota. The trip challenges students
physically while providing opportunities for leadership and
community building.
Core Curriculum
The Junior High curriculum is structured
around two types of interdisciplinary projects, Field Studies
and Humanities. The Field Studies Projects focus on using math
and science in meaningful, hands-on situations and
environmental studies. Humanities Projects are rooted in social
studies and Language Arts. They focus on the study of humanity
and the development of civilization. Students will be able to
choose their Field Studies and Humanities projects throughout
the year.
Besides the Field Studies and Humanities
Projects students take courses in Spanish, philosophy,
woodworking, music, health and wellness, life and team sports,
American Sign Language, and studio arts.
In the fall, the curriculum centers on the
Odyssey Trip. Each year of the three year cycle the Odyssey
Trip takes the Junior High to different parts of the country
for an adventure learning experience:
• Odyssey East – Colonial America
• Odyssey South – Civil War and Civil Rights America
• Odyssey West – Native America
• Odyssey East – Colonial America
• Odyssey South – Civil War and Civil Rights America
• Odyssey West – Native America
Education should... include two forms of work, manual and intellectual... these two kinds complete each other and are equally essential to a civilized society.
- Maria Montessori
Junior High Weekly Calendar (see
below)
*Please note this is an example of a possible weekly schedule; it will likely change before Great River opens in August.
*Please note this is an example of a possible weekly schedule; it will likely change before Great River opens in August.
|
Time
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|
8:30
|
Gathering
|
Gathering
|
Gathering
|
Gathering
|
Gathering
|
|
8:45
|
Field Studies & Humanities
|
Field Studies & Humanities
|
Independent Work
|
Field Studies & Humanities
|
Independent Work &
Mathematics
|
|
11:00
|
Mathematics
|
Mathematics
|
Seminar
|
Philosophy &
Literature
|
Philosophy & Literature
|
|
11:45
|
Lunch
|
Lunch
|
Lunch
|
Lunch
|
Lunch
|
|
12:30
|
Break Out Session I
|
Advisory
|
American Sign Language
|
Break Out Sessions III
|
Community Work
|
|
1:00
|
Spanish
Music |
Philosophy I
Literature II |
Art & Wood working
|
Spanish
Music |
Art & Wood working
|
|
2:30
|
Physical Ed
|
Break Out Session II
|
Class Meeting
|
Physical Ed
|
American Sign Language
|
|
3:15
|
Cleaning
|
Cleaning
|
Cleaning
|
Cleaning
|
Cleaning
|