Grades 7-8 | All Boys Private Middle School

During boys’ transition into adolescence, Middle School teachers are role models whom the boys respect and admire.

Through close teacher-student relationships, we focus on increasing boys’ aptitude for challenge in all areas, broadening their interests, and fostering their social-emotional growth.

Teachers collaborate across disciplines to present an integrated academic experience that mimics learning in the real world.

Lessons are active, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. As boys progress through the Middle School, they hone the skills that make them deep thinkers, proficient writers, and strong public speakers.

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Curriculum

English

The Form I English program balances the cultivation of classroom and study skills with the investigation and interpretation of several genres (drama, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) and the development of creative and analytical writing techniques.

In Form II English, students review, analyze, and interpret literature, including a variety of contemporary and classic fiction, a biographical graphic novel, and Shakespeare.

History

Mathematics

Form I and Form II use the Illustrative Mathematics (IM) curriculum, which emphasizes problem-based learning, responsive teaching, and alignment with college and career-ready standards. IM encourages deep mathematical thinking and explorations beyond the curriculum, and is able to benefit students with targeted support and enrichment as needed.

Our teachers engage Middle School students in their math learning through dynamic, hands-on activities. Just one example: Algebra students demonstrated their knowledge of quadratic equations by designing their own mini-golf courses.

All students will have completed Algebra I by the end of Middle School, while some advanced students progress through Geometry before they transition to the Upper School.

Science

Form I Earth Science allows boys to pursue a greater understanding of their place in the universe through hands-on exploration of topics such as meteorology, oceanography, geology. and astronomy.

In Form II Physical Science, students employ and improve quantitative and laboratory skills with an in-depth study of the atom and chemical reactions, followed by essential concepts in physics.

Computer science education is emphasized and integrated in both Form I and Form II science courses.

World Languages

Middle School students take two years of either Chinese, French, Latin, or Spanish.

Form I classes continue to emphasize pronunciation, the fundamentals of grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension, as well as the cultures of the countries where the language is spoken.

Form II courses offer increasing emphasis on reading, more complex grammatical constructions, deeper vocabulary, and free oral expression. The Chinese, French, and Spanish classes are conducted largely in the language studied. Students in our active Latin program continue to read, write, and speak in an increasingly immersive environment.

Ethics, Service, and Leadership Program

The Middle School Ethics, Service, and Leadership program provides boys with a foundation for exploring what it means to be an ethical person who grounds his decisions and attitudes in Landon’s mission, philosophy and core values.

Students take an Ethics course in Form I and Form II. In this class, boys use critical thinking skills to examine ethical theories and build vocabulary that informs decision making, such as the difference between an ethical dilemma and a moral temptation, and the approach needed for each.

Outside of the classroom, the program engages students in small-group advisory sessions, opportunities to lead the Middle School and represent Landon, and hands-on experience addressing community needs.

Ethics, Service, and Leadership at Landon

Arts

Middle School students take courses in studio art or performing arts every year.

While we continue to introduce a range of arts offerings to Middle School boys, we also encourage them to identify their talents for specific disciplines and instruments. In the performing arts, boys can choose between theater, band, chorus, handbells, or strings. In the studio arts, students can take a survey course in Form I and in Form II. In Form II, students may choose woodworking as their arts elective.

Explore the Arts at Landon

Athletics

Because athletics represent a great way to develop invaluable skills like resilience, teamwork, and leadership, every boy in Landon’s Middle School participates in an interscholastic or intramural sport every season.

As boys begin to compete against other schools, our Teacher-Coach-Mentors guide boys in their development as athletes and as young men of high character.

All students also take health and wellness classes. We know that boys who learn physical wellness in Middle School are more likely to carry their healthy habits throughout their life.

Explore Landon Athletics

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Our Middle School curriculum equips boys with the tools to thrive in our challenging Upper School courses.

Student works on coding skills in a new computer science class

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A new Middle School computer science class introduces students to the fundamentals of computing and coding. Find out what tools they’re picking up to prepare for classes in the Upper School and beyond.

DFB
Nicole Favret
coding
computer science
middle school

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Building new skills with woodworking

A new studio art class introduces students to essential woodworking tools and techniques. Middle and Upper School boys learn the importance of precision as they use their creativity to build projects they can be proud of.

DFB
Mike Cooke
middle school
upper school
woodworking

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Grade 8 boys set up their obstacle course for their final exam

Grade 8 final exam goes full speed ahead

Grade 8 students capped off their school year with a final exam unlike any other. It combined physics, engineering, and a glimpse into their future in the Upper School.

DFB
middle school

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Exploring Beyond Landon

Our location in Bethesda, close to Washington, D.C., provides many field trip and project opportunities to bring learning to life. All Middle School boys take both day trips and overnight trips to extend classroom learning and have fun with Bear brothers and Teacher-Coach-Mentors.

Bear Necessities

The first week of school – Bear Necessities – is an opportunity to build a foundation for success in Middle School. In addition to workshops on day-to-day organization, study, and communication skills, students will engage in off-campus service-learning opportunities and field trips.

A group of young boys in light-colored shirts sit in a circle on a grassy lawn in front of a modern brick building.

Mini-Mester Program

Each spring boys participate in our two-day Mini-Mester program, selecting a course of study that interests them and traveling to locations around the D.C. area – including the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Mall, the Spy Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, and Great Falls – to learn outside the classroom.

World Language Day

World language faculty carefully craft excursions in which every student practice reading, listening, and speaking in the target language. During off-campus field trips, students hear from and converse with staff in the target language at museums, cultural centers, markets, restaurants, embassies, and neighborhoods across Washington, D.C.

Two young boys in aprons work with dough at a table in the foreground, while other students and an instructor are visible in the blurred background of a classroom.

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