Denman MS 8th Grade - Humanities

Our Middle School Humanities program inspires a love of history, geography, culture, literature, poetry, and drama while cultivating independent thinkers and writers. Classes focus on the interrelated experiences of reading and responding to literature, composing creative and expository pieces, thinking critically and finding one's passion for advocacy.

8th grade ELA and Social Studies classes provide voice and choice for students. Centered in the principals of Deeper Learning, teaching and learning in ELA and Social Studies classes support the acquisition of 6 Essential 21st Century Skills:

Mastery of core content
Thinking critically and solving complex problems
Communicating effectively
Working collaboratively
Learning how to learn and
Developing a growth mindset.

Our English Language Arts classrooms provide high quality instruction for all our students in alignment with our SFUSD E/LA PK-12 Core Curriculum with embedded Common Core State Standards for Literacy. In addition, we believe that all our students must receive rich literacy experiences every year in every setting with every teacher, not merely in some years in some settings with some teachers.

In our Social Studies Classrooms

Students will have the opportunity to critically examine current issues facing the U.S. and the world around us.
Since it is impossible to understand the present without studying the past, we explore the historical background of current issues to better grasp the complexity of our own time.
Students will delve deeply into both the history of social movements for change and present-day issues affecting all of our lives. We will examine how race, ethnicity, class, immigration status and gender impact social institutions, policies, and individual experiences.
Students will be encouraged to connect their own lives with broader questions facing society – and asked to bring their own thoughts and experiences into the classroom.