Four-Year Curriculum Cycle

Mission Hill School offers a thematic education to using habits of mind for scientific thinking and exploration. Students study topics over a four-year rotation. They experience all topics in Kindergarten through third grade then again in fourth grade through seventh grade. Eighth grade students study the effects of media in society and prepare for their portfolio requirements necessary for graduation.

We believe that students learn best when they are engaged in meaningful topics and when they can focus on depth instead of breadth. We want our students to learn some things well rather than lots of things with little understanding. All instruction is integrated so that reading, writing and math are taught each day within the thematic structure.

The Trimesters:

Each year one trimester is dedicated to science and technology and the impact it has on our lives. We alternate yearly between life and physical sciences and emphasize scientific method and inquiry. A second trimester focuses on the study of Ancient Civilizations. During this trimester, students investigate questions such as how did people live long ago and what legacy do we owe to the past? The third trimester is the Struggle for Justice in America. How do people address issues of justice and freedom? How do we gain equal rights? How does the political system work? It is through this lens that we learn the history of America.

A Look Ahead:

2008 - 2009 and 2012 - 2013

Struggle for Justice: Who Counts?

Long Ago, Far Away: Ancient Greece

Science: Physical Science

2009 - 2010 and 2013 - 2014

Struggle for Justice: Peopling of America

Long Ago, Far Away: The Taino

Life Science

2010 - 2011 and 2014 - 2015

Science: Physical Science

Struggle for Justice:African-American Experience

Long Ago, Far Away: Ancient Egypt

2011 - 2012 and 2015 - 2016

Science: Life Science

Struggle for Justice: World of Work

Long Ago, Far Away: Ancient China

All of the above topics will be addressed in ways that encourage the use of the MH Five Habits of Mind. This in turn requires depth over breadth–learning some things well rather than lots of things with little understanding. These topics also call for the integration of academic subjects: the arts, history, literature, mathematics, and science. In addition, there is time set aside for reading, writing and mathematics–which may or may not relate to the thematic work.