Middle School

GSB’s Middle School offers a rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving. With increased independence and self-management expectations, we support students’ social-emotional needs while helping them explore their interests through a well-rounded academic program, enrichment opportunities, and overnight field trips.

Students choose either our German Immersion program (full fluency required) or Spanish Immersion program (beginners welcome).

Interested in our upcoming Spanish program? Sign up here for updates on curriculum highlights and admissions timelines.

Language Arts & Humanities

The Middle School English program at GSB fosters a love for language and literature while developing critical thinking and communication skills for high school and beyond. Using an inquiry-based approach, students engage with texts, exploring challenging questions for thoughtful analysis. The curriculum features various writing styles—narrative, informational, argumentative, and creative—enabling clear expression, compelling arguments, and impactful storytelling. Students read diverse texts, exposing them to various voices and cultures. Targeted grammar instruction enhances their foundational skills and writing mechanics. By Middle School's end, GSB students become skilled readers and writers, prepared for high school English and future academic challenges.
By Middle School, GSB students have a strong foundation in German and start preparing for the Deutsches Sprachdiplom I (DSDI), an internationally recognized German language certification. In Grade 8, students take this exam, which tests reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, giving them a valuable credential for global opportunities.
Our German program uses literature, media, and cultural texts to enhance understanding. Students read various works, participate in debates, and create their own projects, gaining fluency and confidence in German for real-life situations.
By the end of Middle School, students achieve language skills and a deep appreciation for German and its culture, setting them up for success in bilingual education and beyond.
Students in our Spanish immersion program engage with Spanish language every day. The program culminates in the DELE exam at the A2/B1 level.
For beginners, the focus is mainly on language acquisition, while for advanced students, language and literature are fully integrated, allowing for a deeper, more comprehensive exploration of both linguistic skills and literary analysis.
Students in the German track attend Spanish classes twice weekly. The program culminates in the DELE exam at the A1 level.
In both tracks, the curriculum emphasizes communication through engaging listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities connected to real-life situations. Students practice conversational skills and participate in project-based learning, boosting their confidence in expressing themselves. Cultural studies introduce them to the traditions, history, and art of Spanish-speaking countries. The program integrates vocabulary, grammar, and interactive activities, ensuring students are well-prepared for continued Spanish studies in high school and beyond.
Students explore the dynamic relationships between people, systems, and environments across time and place. The course integrates history, geography, economics, and civics to develop students’ understanding of how societies evolve and how individuals and groups make decisions that shape the world.
Through inquiry-based units, students investigate significant historical and contemporary issues using key concepts such as change, systems, and global interactions. They engage with a range of global contexts, connecting their learning to real-world challenges and perspectives.

Movement & the Arts

Our physical-education curriculum highlights body awareness, coordination, and teamwork. Students are introduced to movement patterns and techniques in our running, yoga, gymnastics, and fitness units.
Team-building and hand-eye coordination get a boost during our soccer and sport-games units. Games such as team handball and brennball (a bat-and-ball game) develop students’ game comprehension and strategy. Our main ingredients are having fun and giving one’s best effort.
Physical education is taught indoors and outdoors, depending on the season and weather.
The music curriculum exposes students to compositions from various cultures, languages, and styles. Students listen to and analyze music from different genres and learn about instruments along with musical elements, such as dynamics, form, and tempo. Students acquire a range of vocal skills, including solfege, posture, and breathing. They also perform, read, and write their own rhythms and melodies, and they play a variety of instruments over the years.
Our art program encourages students to be imaginative while learning artmaking skills. Students are challenged to develop endurance in the making process, to become critical thinkers, to appreciate various forms of art, and to understand art as a process of exploration and discovery. Through print-making, drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and applied design, students learn principles of visual art and how to complete an art piece from start to finish. At the same time, students develop essential habits of mind that influence their classroom learning.
Design engages students in creative, purposeful problem-solving through the design cycle, encouraging them to identify real-world needs, develop and test ideas, and reflect on their learning. Students learn to think like designers - researching problems, generating innovative solutions, and creating products or systems that respond to authentic challenges.
Past projects have included editorial design / school yearbook, creating a mural for GSB’s preschool playspace, original logo design, and designing a “home of the future”.

Students using different tools to create three dimensional objects

Mathematics & Science

The Middle School Mathematics program at GSB is designed to develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and mathematical fluency. We use the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum, a research-based program that emphasizes conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and real-world application.
Students engage in collaborative, inquiry-based learning, exploring mathematical concepts through rich tasks, hands-on activities, and meaningful discussions. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including ratios and proportions, geometry, linear equations, and statistics, ensuring a strong foundation in middle school math.
Our program nurtures a growth mindset, encouraging all students to see themselves as capable mathematicians ready to tackle the complexities of high school mathematics and beyond.
Successfully completing Algebra I in 8th grade allows students to begin with more advanced math in high school or opt for an elective once they’ve completed their high school math requirement.
The Middle School Science program empowers students to think like scientists. We use the Amplify Science curriculum, which combines engaging, inquiry-based instruction with hands-on activities and experiments to deepen students’ understanding of scientific concepts.
Students explore topics across the physical, life, and earth sciences through real-world phenomena and problem-solving challenges. Whether designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, or engaging in collaborative projects, students take an active role in their learning, developing critical thinking and investigative skills.
Our hands-on approach ensures that students not only build a strong foundation in scientific principles but also experience the excitement of discovery. By the end of middle school, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel in high school science and to continue exploring the wonders of the natural world.
Successfully completing Living Environment in 8th grade allows students to begin with more advanced science in high school or opt for an elective once they’ve completed their high school science requirement.
Biology lessons taught in German explore fundamental principles and laws, spanning from the microscopic world of cells and tissues to the vast ecosystems and biosphere. Students begin with precise observations of specific phenomena, followed by hypothesis-driven experiments to deepen their understanding. They then develop and utilize models to present and articulate their insights, fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry.

Three middle school students presenting a project

Social-Emotional Learning

Advisory class is led by a trusted GSB teacher for the entire academic year. During Advisory, students focus on executive functioning skills such as planning, organization, and time management, helping them to manage their growing responsibilities. It’s also a time for students to prepare for student-led parent-teacher conferences, where they take ownership of their learning by reflecting on their progress and setting goals. Advisory sessions allow time for discussions on class-wide issues, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
Additionally, students work together to plan class events, service projects, and engage in the student government election process. For Grade 8 students, the fall Advisory program dedicates time to the high school application process, offering guidance on how to research schools and find a school that is a good fit.
Field trips are an integral part of the Middle School experience, bringing classroom learning to life and fostering personal growth, independence, and community. Each grade participates in at least four field trips per year, offering opportunities to explore local landmarks, museums, and cultural institutions.
Education at GSB doesn’t stop at the doors of our school. Our travel program is a three-year journey designed to build confidence, deepen cultural empathy, and transform classmates into a lifelong community.
Grade 6: The Great Outdoors & Team Foundations
Destination: Frost Valley in Claryville, NY (3 Days, 2 Nights) During the academic year, 6th graders head into the heart of the Catskills. This isn’t just a "camping trip" - it’s a rite of passage. Through high-ropes courses, forest ecology labs, and s’mores over the campfire, students step out of their comfort zones and build the trust and teamwork that will define their middle school years.
Grade 7: Living History on the Freedom Trail
Destination: Boston, MA (5 Days, 4 Nights) History leaps off the page as 7th graders take a deep dive into the American Revolution. By walking the Freedom Trail, boarding the Tea Party ship, and exploring the Boston Common, students connect their classroom inquiry to the physical sites of their history studies. This cross-curricular expedition blends social studies, civics, and the responsibility of traveling together as a young cohort.
Grade 8: The Global Capstone
Destination: The International Exchange (2 Full Weeks) The "GSB Experience" culminates in a world-expanding immersion program. This is a moment where our students’ language fluency meets the real world.
- German Track: Students travel to Germany, living with host families and attending classes at our partner school, JSS Erlenbach. It’s a transformative two weeks of authentic cultural exchange.
- Spanish Track: Students head to a Spanish-speaking country for a high-intensity immersion. From local history to daily life, students navigate a new culture in their target language.
The GSB Advantage: Unlike standard "tourist" trips, our exchanges are built on deep institutional partnerships and faculty-led supervision, ensuring students don’t just see a country—they live in it.
Special events are an important part of Middle School life at GSB, offering students opportunities to showcase their talents, celebrate milestones, and connect with peers.
Two anticipated events each year are the Winter and Spring Celebrations, where Middle School students take the stage to sing, play musical instruments, and perform for the school community.
Middle Schoolers also look forward to the Middle School Dance, a lively evening where students can socialize and dance with friends. They also have a big say in the playlist!
In Grade 8, students complete the MYP Community Project, a student-driven inquiry that challenges them to identify a need within a community and take meaningful action. Through this project, students apply research, planning, and reflection skills to create a project that promotes positive change.
The Community Project emphasizes service as action, critical thinking, and communication, empowering students to connect their learning to the real world and to reflect on their growth as responsible community members.
Community projects have included:
- Volunteering at an animal shelter
- Raising awareness about local food insecurity and donating to CHIPS Gowanus
- Raising awareness about the downsides of factory farming
- Efforts to project endangered birds through the Audubon Society

Take a peek into our Middle School classrooms

Middle school students participate in a series of hands-on science experiments throughout the school year, and look forward to the annual science expo in the spring.
Art and design is integrated into the middle school curriculum, and students have the option to work independently and in collaboration with their peers.
Middle school student government led the initiative to create a school-wide mural about celebrating diversity, which now hangs proudly in our lobby.
Middle schoolers celebrate their writing at the culmination of each unit. Over time, they explore how to write narrative, informational, argumentative, and creative texts. How to write an essay? Yep. We’ve got that covered, too.
GSB aims to combine multiple academic disciplines into one activity. This approach supports critical thinking skills by encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information from various subjects. It challenges them to ask unconventional questions, consider different perspectives, and make connections between diverse concepts. In this project. math integrates with art and design to better understand graphing linear functions.

Read what some families say about our program

Small school in a new custom designed building, great community and teachers, small classes. Our child integrated well into the class right after joining, and enjoys going to GSB every day.

Parent
Niche.com

GSB creates a wonderful environment for the kids. Education and community awareness go hand-in-hand, and the teachers and staff put real effort into involving parents and the entire families into school and community events. The bilingual education platform is fantastic, with academics and breadth of subjects outstanding. GSB is flexible, very receptive to parent feedback, and just an incredible experience for the kids. If you're on the fence, I would highly recommend attending an open house event to learn more.

Parent
Niche.com

We love GSB! Our son is so happy there. The curriculum is strong and well-rounded, and there are so many arts and extracurricular activities. The staff and administration are very knowledgeable and caring. It really is one big family. A real lifesaver as far as education.

Jeffrey L.
Google.com