SOUTHWICK – The School Committee this week approved curriculum changes for the middle school.
Teacher Rachel Pearsons proposed swapping classes in sixth and seventh grades.
“Right now, the sixth grade studies western civilizations and seventh grade is world geography,” Pearsons said. “We’re proposing to swap those. This would give them the basis for history.”
Pearsons said there would be no effect on MCAS and it could actually help students better prepare for the test.
Science teachers Beth Grady and Chris Kennedy proposed a change in the science curriculum this week as well, a change Kennedy said would also likely result in aiding students with MCAS.
Instead of including lessons in earth science every year, Grady and Kennedy made the request to teach earth science, including space science, in grade six, earth science in grade seven, and physical science in grade eight.
“One of the reasons is so we can get more in-depth and really dive-in,” said Grady.
Now, science classes include smaller sessions on each topic, with reviews of earth science at every grade. Focusing on physical science in grade eight makes sense, they argued, because students will have taken math courses that will help them understand it better.
“This gives the chance for a lot of cross-curriculum studies,” Grady said.
Kennedy said it will also allow for data intake to assess students, giving more time to reinforce concepts for students who fall behind.
“We can re-teach it in a different way,” Kennedy said.
The committee approved starting the switch this September in grades six and seven.
