Curriculum

Our Middle School curriculum consists of a carefully structured, classical Christian course of study which advances the “intentionality or logic of learning.” Central to the curricula are courses in Christian studies, English, fine arts, history, Latin, math, physical education, and science. In grade 7, logic is taught consecutively with Latin. In addition to the required courses, the curriculum is enhanced with electives. Students in grades 7 and 8 enroll in up to two semester-long elective classes each year, and students in grades 5 and 6 participate in seven or eight specialist classes, providing additional curricular breadth and exploration. Each subject at Bear Creek is taught from a Christian worldview and teachers work together to augment and develop cross-disciplinary connections in the curriculum to make it challenging and interesting for students.

Language Arts

Language Arts skills play a foundational role in a liberal arts education. Students progress from the grammar stage (knowledge such as spelling and parts of speech) through dialectic (the ability to analyze and synthesize information) and into rhetoric (sharing original ideas through oral or written communication). The curriculum spirals through each stage, increasing in depth while building on previous skills.

Reading

Grade 5: Notetaking, summarizing, predicting, literary evidence, pacing, metacognition, and literature including The Phantom Tollbooth, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Banner in the Sky.

Grade 6: Decoding, vocabulary, main ideas, summarizing, identifying theme, connecting, predicting, identifying the author’s craft, and literature including The Golden Goblet, The Bronze Bow, The Trumpeter of Krakow, and Red Scarf Girl.

Spelling

In grades 5 – 6, we use a multi-sensory approach through which students learn to spell by saying, hearing, writing, and seeing, thereby using all avenues to the brain. The words that students learn to spell are taken from the vocabulary used in the literature they are reading.

Grammar

Grade 5: Eight parts of speech nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjective adverbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Grade 6: Eight parts of speech nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjective adverbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.

Writing

Grade 5: Daily journaling, research writing, creative writing, perspective writing, editing, and publishing

Grade 6: Writing notebook, five-paragraph essay, expository writing, creative writing, research writing, poetry writing, editing, and publishing

Innovation and Technology

Devices and Apps

1:1 Dedicated Laptops

Bear Creek provides each student in grades 5 – 8 with a dedicated laptop device for use during the school day. Each student has a specific device assigned for the entire school year. Devices do not go home with students but stay at school to be charged overnight so students can begin each school day with fully charged laptops.

This program provides consistency and predictability to our students as they conduct research, participate in science labs, work through math lessons, write papers, and so much more. A big part of Middle School is growing in independence, responsibility, and accountability, and we support students as they navigate the management of all their school materials. Students grow in their technology skills while developing their executive function skills.

EdTech Resources

In Middle School, devices are used for projects, assignments, and access to tech tools such as Star Reading, Gizmos, and digital math resources. Teachers use Microsoft Teams and Class Notebook to communicate with students and provide access to class resources and materials.

Interactive Projectors

For the 2026 – 2027 school year, each Middle School classroom will be equipped with an interactive projector or a Promethean board (a touchscreen whiteboard that provides interactive, creative ways to present content to students).

Go Guardian

Middle School teachers use Go Guardian to monitor student online activity and to filter and control the content students can access from school devices.

Digital Citizenship

Middle School students participate in lessons on digital citizenship. The topics covered include media balance and well-being, privacy and security, digital footprint and identity, relationships and communication, and news and media literacy.

QUEST Research Model

The QUEST research model is the framework that we use at The Bear Creek School to ensure that our students are equipped to find, evaluate, and communicate the information that they will need in our increasingly digital age, and learn how to think about such knowledge from a Christian worldview. The model is broken into five major categories of information and research skills:

1. Question Formulation
2. Uncover Information
3. Evaluate Information
4. Share Findings
5. Tie to Worldview

At each grade level, students are given age-appropriate tools for each category, building upon what they have learned in previous years. They learn essential digital literacy skills such as word processing, outlining, credential management, and note-taking skills; how to navigate print sources, digital databases and online search engines, primary sources, and personal interviews; how to determine the reliability and bias of digital information; how to manage intellectual property through citations; how to write academic papers as well as present information to non-academic audiences; and how that knowledge helps them understand God and their role in His creation better. By the end of grade 8, our students will be equipped with the research skills they need to be successful in the Upper School and beyond.

Field Trips

Field trips play an important role in extending the curriculum beyond the walls of campus and are eagerly anticipated by our students.

Grades 5 and 6 students participate in regular field trips tied to the curriculum. In the spring, grade 5 students enjoy an all-day Outdoor Education experience while grade 6 students discover creation, fall, and redemption on an excursion in the local area.

Grades 7 and 8 take three field trips each year focusing on community service, team building, science, and Washington State history. Recent field trips have included working and playing at SAMBICA in Bellevue and Camp Gilead in Carnation, taking a civic tour of the Capitol building in Olympia, journeying through an earlier historical era at Tacoma's Ft. Nisqually Living History Museum, travelling to Bell Harbor Marina for a marine biology experience, taking Boeing's Future of Flight tour, visiting DigiPen for robotics and digital gaming classes.

Executive Function

During Middle School, students transition from much of their life being managed by adults and begin to employ more self-management. However, most Middle School students need tools and strategies to successfully self-manage. Our executive functioning program is integrated into all subjects and designed to teach students important keys to success in both school and life while modeling and providing support as skills are applied and practiced. Students learn organization, self-advocacy, note-taking, study strategies, exam preparation, and dealing with stress and anxiety.

Students in grades 5 and 6 begin learning these important skills in their office hours block with their homeroom teachers. Grades 7 and 8 also have the opportunity to attend office hours during their flexible lunch block and/or after school when they can get help from teachers, make up missed work or exams, study, and complete homework. Students are taught important study skills needed for success now and in the future.

Specialists

In grades 5 and 6, all classes meet regularly with specialist teachers:

• Art
• Band (grades 5 and/or 6*)
• Choir (grade 6)
• Computer Programming: Students explore programming fundamentals, digital citizenship, and computer literacy through platforms such as Scratch and Code.org
• Drama/Speech
• General Music (grade 5)
• Lab Science
• P.E.

* All grade 5 students learn an instrument in Beginning Band. In grade 6, students may choose between Band or Choir.