6th through 8th Grade
Our Middle School program emphasizes organization and transition, preparing young learners for the faster pace and more demanding academics that await them in High School. Executive functioning becomes an even greater priority as Middle School students assume more structure in their daily routine and more responsibility for their course work.
Small class sizes, 6:1 average student/teacher ratio
In Middle School, the number of opportunities to apply classroom learning to real world situations expands. Regular field trips, outdoor adventures, and off-campus community service projects help students make valuable academic and social connections beyond the Baltimore Lab School campus.
Environmental Literacy instruction meets National and Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core ELA Standards and Common Core Math Standards.
Our Middle School program emphasizes organization and transition, preparing young learners for the faster pace and more demanding academics that await them in High School. Executive functioning becomes an even greater priority as Middle School students assume more structure in their daily routine and more responsibility for their course work.
Small class sizes, 6:1 average student/teacher ratio
In Middle School, the number of opportunities to apply classroom learning to real world situations expands. Regular field trips, outdoor adventures, and off-campus community service projects help students make valuable academic and social connections beyond the Baltimore Lab School campus.
Environmental Literacy instruction meets National and Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core ELA Standards and Common Core Math Standards.
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Annual Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences
Middle School experiences focus on team and class projects and investigations. Research skills requiring use and analysis of print and electronic resources are reinforced. Activities such as water quality testing reinforce science, mathematics, and technology skills. Actual experiences lead to student generated ideas for longer term restoration, monitoring and investigative projects.
Annual 8th Grade Meaningful Watershed Experience
Dates:
September 29, 2017. 11 students
September 23, 2016. 25 students
October 5, 2015. 14 students
October 13, 2014. 13 students
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Subject Area: Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies and Fitness.
Annual 8th grade Trip to Arthur Sherwood Center, Merideth Creek, Annapolis, Maryland.
8th grade students learned outside using the resources of a fully equipped research vessel. At the Arthur Sherwood program students gained a more complete understanding and appreciation of the ecosystem.
Activity: On Whitehall Bay and Merideth Creek, students aboard the Marguerite conduct biological sampling, test water quality, and dredge for oysters. By comparing these different habitats, participants made connections and gained a much greater understanding of the Chesapeake ecosystem, including the human impact on the health of the Bay. Students also explored the tidal salt marshes of the creek by canoe. We identified some of the resident animal life, specifically oysters. Students participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning and are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Location: Arthur Sherwood Center, Merideth Creek, Annapolis, Maryland
Teachers: Kara Huggins, Ruth Goodlaxson, Darlene White, Karen Yeoman, John Morgal, March Klein, Susan Rome, Special Education Teachers and staff.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Tiffany Granberg, Marc Porter, Adam Wickline, Sam Eckert, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Educators.
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Annual 7th Grade Meaningful Watershed Experience
Dates:
October 2, 2017. 11 students.
September 18, 2015. 20 students
October 3, 2014. 12 students
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Subject Area: Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies and Fitness.
Activity: Exploration of the Stanley Norman
The Stanley Norman, one of the last of the Chesapeake’s famous fleet of skip jacks, providing an authentic setting to study the Bay’s resources. Originally built in 1902, the Stanley Norman is an unforgettable venue for participants to dredge for oysters, test water quality, and imagine what it was like to work on a 65-foot wooden sailing vessel. Students become crew members and explore as if they were back in the time period of the skip jack, in 1902.
Special Educator's: Patti Child, March Klein, Weston P. Kulvete, Kara Huggins, Ruth Goodlaxon
Date: September 30, 2016. 11 students
Location: Arthur Sherwood Center on Whitehall Bay and Merideth Creek.
Grade Level: 7th Grade
Subject Area: Science, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies and Fitness.
Activity: Students board the Marguerite and conducted biological sampling.
7th grade students are actively engaged in thinking and learning about keystone species and the Bay.
After these trips, students become Baltimore Lab Watershed Stewards and participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning. Students are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Baltimore Lab School Special Educator's: Weston P. Kulvete, 7th grade Social Studies, Audrey Hildebrand, 7th grade Science, Kara Huggins, 7th grade Science, March Klein, MS Fitness.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Molly Watt, School Nurse, Foster Nost, Dave Gelenter, Tiffany Granberg, Marc Porter, Adam Wickline, Richard (Add names from 2017 trip)Chesapeake Bay Foundation Educators.
Location: Arthur Sherwood Center/ Annapolis
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Annual 6th Grade Meaningful Watershed Experience
Date: September 19, 2017. 24 students
Date: October 28, 2016. 8 students.
Date: October 27, 2015. 9 students
Date: September 12 2014. 18 students
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject Area: Science, Math, Social Studies, Fitness.
Location: Snow Goose,Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland.
Activity: Students boarded the workboat Snow Goose to learn about the dynamic relationship between the Port of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay’s Patapsco River.
Students investigated environmental issues and trends, within the context of urban ecology. The rock fish were running in the harbor and we helped Captain Foster catch some with a rod and reel! The Baltimore Harbor program is an excellent venue for students to learn about the fragility and the resiliency of ecosystems under the pressure of a modern working river. Baltimore Lab School students explore the watershed through catching fish and dredging for oysters. Students discuss different ideas for action projects with the CBF staff. On board they tested water, trawled for oysters and fish, and learned about the ecology of the Inner Harbor. Baltimore Lab Watershed Stewards participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning and are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Finally, students turned their attention toward the Inner Harbor Water Wheel to analyze data on the various quantities of trash and debris the wheel has collected since its initiation. Given a list of monthly statistics breaking down the amount and type of trash collected, students created ratio's between the different types of trash to analyze which type of litter is most prevalent in the Inner Harbor.
After these trips, students become Baltimore Lab Watershed Stewards and participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning. Students are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Special Educator's: Audrey Hildebrand, 6th grade Science. Karen Yeoman, 6th grade Social Studies. Susan Rome, 6th grade Science, Joel Banotai, 6th grade Math. March Klein, MS Fitness.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Steve Buettner, Head of Baltimore Lab School, Molly Watt, School Nurse, Annette Fallon, Admissions Director, Jocylyn Tuttle, John Tapscot, Ian Robbins and Foster Nost, Claire Cambardella, Ben Carver, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Educators.
Date: October 28, 2016. 8 students.
Date: October 27, 2015. 9 students
Date: September 12 2014. 18 students
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject Area: Science, Math, Social Studies, Fitness.
Location: Snow Goose,Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland.
Activity: Students boarded the workboat Snow Goose to learn about the dynamic relationship between the Port of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay’s Patapsco River.
Students investigated environmental issues and trends, within the context of urban ecology. The rock fish were running in the harbor and we helped Captain Foster catch some with a rod and reel! The Baltimore Harbor program is an excellent venue for students to learn about the fragility and the resiliency of ecosystems under the pressure of a modern working river. Baltimore Lab School students explore the watershed through catching fish and dredging for oysters. Students discuss different ideas for action projects with the CBF staff. On board they tested water, trawled for oysters and fish, and learned about the ecology of the Inner Harbor. Baltimore Lab Watershed Stewards participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning and are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Finally, students turned their attention toward the Inner Harbor Water Wheel to analyze data on the various quantities of trash and debris the wheel has collected since its initiation. Given a list of monthly statistics breaking down the amount and type of trash collected, students created ratio's between the different types of trash to analyze which type of litter is most prevalent in the Inner Harbor.
After these trips, students become Baltimore Lab Watershed Stewards and participate in relevant and rigorous pre and post trip academic learning. Students are required to complete an action project to promote stewardship of the Bay by the end of each year.
Special Educator's: Audrey Hildebrand, 6th grade Science. Karen Yeoman, 6th grade Social Studies. Susan Rome, 6th grade Science, Joel Banotai, 6th grade Math. March Klein, MS Fitness.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Steve Buettner, Head of Baltimore Lab School, Molly Watt, School Nurse, Annette Fallon, Admissions Director, Jocylyn Tuttle, John Tapscot, Ian Robbins and Foster Nost, Claire Cambardella, Ben Carver, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Educators.
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Trout in the Classroom
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Date: December 2016- present.
Grade Level: 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Subject Area: Math, Science, Language Arts, Art, Social Studies. # of students: 45 students. Activity: Trout in the Classroom. Middle school students learned how to measure and maintain water quality in their Math and Science classes. Humanities teachers used the trout and the students’ knowledge of ecosystems as a novel and relevant source of inspiration for reading, writing, and artistic expression. At the end of the school year, the mature trout were released into Stony Run in Baltimore, a tributary of the Back River, located three miles from the school. Students visit Stony Run Park to observe and study the trout’s new environment. Special Educators: Kara Huggins,Science, STEAM Coordinator for Wednesday Middle School Activities. Ruth Goodlaxson,Math. Audrey Hildebrand, Science and Math. Joel Bonatai, Math. Darlene White, MS Language Arts. |
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Date: Fall of 2016-present.
Grade Level: 6th grade. Subject Area: Math and Science # of students: 7 students. Activity: Blue Gill Sunfish in the classroom. Middle school students learned how to measure and maintain water quality in their Math and Science classes. Special Educator: Audrey Hildebrand, Science and Math, Donna Natterman, Classroom assistant. |
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Date: April 18, 2017
Grade Level: 8th Grade Subject Area: Science/Project Based Learning # of students: 6 Names of Students: Alex M, Callan, Eddie, Halie, Jack, Mitchell Activity: Wild Peace Organic Farm Trip Special Educator: Kara Huggins, Science/Project Based Learning |
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Date: October 25, 2016
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Subject Area: Science and Project Based Learning
# of students: 10
Names of Students: Natalie, Taylor, Justin, Nicholas, Avi, Alexander, Skylyr, Natasha, Nosson, George
Activity: Tour and Lesson about Johns Hopkins Food Systems Lab
Special Educator: Kara Huggins, Class/Subject: Science/Project Based Learning
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Food Lab Educators.
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Subject Area: Science and Project Based Learning
# of students: 10
Names of Students: Natalie, Taylor, Justin, Nicholas, Avi, Alexander, Skylyr, Natasha, Nosson, George
Activity: Tour and Lesson about Johns Hopkins Food Systems Lab
Special Educator: Kara Huggins, Class/Subject: Science/Project Based Learning
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Food Lab Educators.
Student Gardening Projects
Date:
September 22, 2017
September 25, 2016
September 19, 2016
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Names of students: Jack, Mitchell, Caroline, Alexa, Drew, Sam, Miles, Frankie, Jake, Rodney, Kristen, Ethan, Taylor, Justin, Nicholas, Avi, Alexander,Natasha, Nosson, George
Subject Area: Science and Project Based Learning
# of students: 20
Activity: Student Gardening
Ms. Huggins' 8th grade science students plant starter plants and seeds for a fall crop. Plants include kale, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, and spinach. Students research the plants, test soil pH, and pay close attention to how much space each plant requires. The raised bed and aquaponics system continue to provide opportunities for students to hands on science experience and make direct connections with local food systems. The 8th grade use the garden in their studies of applied chemistry, by focusing on soil pH and its effect on plant growth.
Special Educator: Kara Huggins
September 22, 2017
September 25, 2016
September 19, 2016
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Names of students: Jack, Mitchell, Caroline, Alexa, Drew, Sam, Miles, Frankie, Jake, Rodney, Kristen, Ethan, Taylor, Justin, Nicholas, Avi, Alexander,Natasha, Nosson, George
Subject Area: Science and Project Based Learning
# of students: 20
Activity: Student Gardening
Ms. Huggins' 8th grade science students plant starter plants and seeds for a fall crop. Plants include kale, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, and spinach. Students research the plants, test soil pH, and pay close attention to how much space each plant requires. The raised bed and aquaponics system continue to provide opportunities for students to hands on science experience and make direct connections with local food systems. The 8th grade use the garden in their studies of applied chemistry, by focusing on soil pH and its effect on plant growth.
Special Educator: Kara Huggins
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Date: October 14, 2015: 14 students
October 23, 2017: 14 students October 24, 2017: 14 students Names of students: Kristen,Eddie,Alexa, Taylor, Rodney, Mitchell, Ethan, ALex K, ALex M, Jake, Avi. Dana, Lucas, Sheva, Olivia, Andrei, Leah, Cuyler, Cian, Will,Josie, Will, Judy, Kendall, Shea, Amelia, Joshua, Jack, Joe, Cameron, Brett, Torben Subject Area: 6th and 7th grade Science and Social Studies Location: Irvine Nature Center Activity: Students discovered hands on the vocabulary words biotic and abiotic. They made connections between systems and investigated the health of the ecosystem they were in. In 2017, students participated in the Plant- tastic Lessons. Students also explored the woods, fields and streams at Irvine Nature Center. Special Educator: Audrey Hildebrand, Karen Huggins, 7th grade Science and Social Studies. Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator and the Irvine Nature Center Educators. |
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Date: September 26, 2016
Grade Level: 6th Grade Subject Area: Math, Science and Social Studies # of students: 12 Names of students: Josie, Will, Judy, Kendall, Amelia, Joshua, Jack, Joe, Cameron, Torben, Miles, Jordan. Activity: Indian Echo Caverns Hummelstown, PA. Science and Social Studies students in grade 6 studied the physical and chemical weathering inside a cave. Discussion focused on the implications of pollution and erosion in the water cycle and the connection of this area in Pennsylvania to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Special Educator: Audrey Hildebrand, 6th grade science and math, Donna Natterman, classroom assistant, Kristin Britcher, 6th grade science and Karen Yeoman, 6th grade social studies. |
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Date: September- March 2016
Grade Level: 7th and 8th grade Subject Area: Photography # of students: 15 Names of students: Philip, Gracie, James, Morgan, Natalie, Ricky, Will G, Jaelen, Max, William J, Julian, Zane, Stefan, Matt, Iman, Faajah, Ariel Activity: Disappearing Island lessons and videos. Loss and Desire was a unit that explored the ideas of erosion, subsidence, and sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay-- particularly, how these forces would affect the residents of Smith Island in the future. Students were asked to consider what it would be like to look at losing their own homes and livelihood, and use the forces of erosion, subsidence and water level rise to erode a sculpture on the subject on video. At the end, students brainstormed some solutions for how to deal with this problem in island communities, and realized that serious modifications to the islands would be needed to preserve their way of life with the climate changing like it is. Special Educator: Zac Lawhon, Art. |
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Date: Friday January 27, 2017
Grade level: 6th grade
Subject Area: Science and Math.
7 students.
Activity: Caring for Gecko's.
In the fall of 2014, Ms. Meredith's class received a grant from Petco, to fund a class pet. They got two Leopard Gecko's and and took great care of them as class pets! In 2015, these pets moved to Audrey Hildebrand's 6th grade science and math class.
Special Educator: Audrey Hildebrand, 6th grade Science and Math, Donna Natterman, Classroom Assistant.
Grade level: 6th grade
Subject Area: Science and Math.
7 students.
Activity: Caring for Gecko's.
In the fall of 2014, Ms. Meredith's class received a grant from Petco, to fund a class pet. They got two Leopard Gecko's and and took great care of them as class pets! In 2015, these pets moved to Audrey Hildebrand's 6th grade science and math class.
Special Educator: Audrey Hildebrand, 6th grade Science and Math, Donna Natterman, Classroom Assistant.
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Date: December 5, 2017
Grade Level: 6th grade Subject: Art # of students: 8 Activity: Mixed Media Designs We created Mixed Media Designs using Gelli Prints, Actual Leaves & Crayon Rubbings of Leaves. Students looked at the artwork of Andy Goldsworthy as inspiration and used compositional choices to create a Radial Design. The journey of their leaves they chose outside, started with their portrait in the center with their leaves from our school yard. Baltimore Lab School Special Educators: Laura Earley |
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Date: March 30th, 2015.
Grade Level: 6th grade Subject Area: Science # of students: 8 Activity: Ms. Huggins' 6th grade science students are excited to share everything they have learned about runoff and the watershed at this year's science fair! Students are analyzing the data they collected from their Erosion Bottle Experiment and their study of a model watershed. Special Educator: Ms. Higgins, MS Science Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator Activity: Erosion Bottle Experiment, Exploring Erosion Models and Materials from the Watershed Academy in Anne Arundel County. |
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Date: January 21, 2015
Grade Level: 6th, 7th and 8th grade Subject: Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science. # of students: 43 Activity: Baltimore Lab School Outdoor Education Film Festival. The middle school saw two different films followed by a speaker. One of the films was called Marshland Dreams, in which followed Azzam Alwash who discovered that the wet land that he remembered as a child is no longer there. He has tried to restore the land that was a memory of his childhood. The next film that they watched was called, Who Owns Water? In this film we follow two brothers who try to understand who own the water of the the Appalachiacola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin. This was followed by a speaker Kevin Schabow, NOAA, who presented a murder mystery to educate the middle school about dying oysters in the Patapsco River. Other Staff: Wade Boarman- SustainaFest, Telluride Mountainfilm, Kevin Schabow, NOAA, Lisa DeGuire,Blue Water Baltimore, Jim Thompson, MD DNR., Patti Child, BLS Outdoor Education Coordinator. |
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Date: November 6, 2014
Grade Level: Subject Area: Math # of students: 15 Activity: Rates, Ratios, and Proportions in Real Life. Students applied their understanding of rates, ratios, and proportions to analyze the environmental impacts of various global and local heroes. Students learned about Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and environmentalist and social activist from Kenya who believe she could improve her community and the world by planting trees and restoring forests. After researching the affects that one tree could have on a community (cleaner air, habitats, food, etc.) students calculated the proportional effect that Wangari's organization (who planted 4 million trees throughout Africa) had on their community. Students continued exploring proportions by learning about the work of the Baltimore Tree Trust in the Station North Arts District and created calculations to analyze the rate at which the newly planted trees in their neighborhood would provide pro-environmental impacts. Special Educator: Joel Banotai, Math |
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September 17, 2014
Grade Level: 6, 7 and 8 Subject Area: Science, Math, Language Arts, Art. # of students: 40 students Activity: Balance and Sustainability. All middle school students watched selected clips of the film “Mission Blue”. After the film was done the students drew or wrote their reaction to the film on wooden blocks. Then students were then split into small groups and had to problem solve to make a balanced mobile of their reaction to the film on a large stick, connecting the blocks, or their reactions with fiber strings. Then the students came together into larger groups to problem solve making a balanced mobile with larger sticks. Finally the whole middle school came together and crated a balanced mobile from all their mobiles combined. Special Educator: Kara Huggins, Zac Lawhon Other Staff: Patti Child |
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Dates: Every Wednesday
Grade Level: 6, 7 and 8th grade Subject Area: Cross Curricular # of students: 43 students Names of students: Blair, Erin, Jacob, Erika, Matthew, Eliza, Phillip, Ethan, Charlotte, Dylan, Grant, Baila, Marguerite, Connor, Pascale, Logan, Jesse, Thomas, Jordan, Max, Joseph, Josie, Will, Judy, Kendall, Shea, Amelia, Joshua, Jack, Joe, Cameron, Brett, Torben, Dana, Lucas, Sheva, Olivia, Andrei, Leah, Cuyler, Cian, Will, Samuel. Activity: Innovator's Workshops. 6th , 7th and 8th grade Wednesday STEAM Activities. Special Educators: Darlene White, Marianne Angelella, Caitlin Gnann, Kara Huggins, Zac Lawhon, Jackie Lesh, Amy Weishaar, Karen Yeoman, Ruth Goodlaxson, Weston Kuelvette, Joel Bonatai, KC O'Connor, Margaret Fabian, March Klien, Brenna Blount, Donna Natterman, Audrey Hildebrand. Other Staff: John Morgal |
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