Please note, not all courses will be offered every year. Course offerings each semester are determined by a student Survey of Interest and staffing considerations. This is a list of electives that may be offered over a three-year period.
Creative and Performing Arts Electives
- Art: Drawing and Painting
- Drama
- Music Exploration
- Beginning Band
- Advanced Band
Humanities
- Storytellers
- Myths, Legends, and Folklore
- World Explorations
- Laughing Matter
Opportunity Classes (selection-based)
- Leading for Change
- Academic Support - Language Arts
- Academic Support - Math
- English Language Development
Science and Engineering (CTE)
- Environmental Science
- Creative Science: Scientific Inquiry
- Creative Science: Engineering Design
- Coding
- Think Design Build
Health & Lifestyle
- Fitness/Yoga
- Recreation Games
- Sports Center/Fantasy Sports
- Money, Money, Money/ That’s Life!
- Game Theory
Elective Courses: Creative and Performing Arts
ART (DRAWING AND PAINTING)
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
In this class, students will explore a range of visual arts in a fun and relaxed setting. Students will be supported to develop a basic understanding of art forms and structure, including shape and color. They will have a chance to grow their own skills in drawing, painting and design.
DRAMA
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th & 8th grade students
Learn basic elements of acting and theatre, including improvisation, skits, and scripted plays. Students will have the opportunity to direct and perform a one-act play at the end of the semester.
MUSIC EXPLORATION
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2
Open to: 6th, 7th & 8th grade students
If you’re curious about making music, this is a great class for you! You will explore different ways of making music - with instruments, drumming, ukulele and singing. Play all the different instruments, including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute and percussion. Learn about creative percussion options, like bucket drumming or drumlines. Students will also sing and learn the basics of reading music.
BEGINNING BAND
Course Length: Semester
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students with no prior instrument experience
Beginning Band is a fun and creative way to build skills in playing instruments. This is a great class for students who are interested in reading & making music using instruments. For students who enjoyed playing the recorder in elementary school, this course is a wonderful option to build on their skills. Instrument choices are: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and percussion (drums and mallets). If you would like to start on a different woodwind or brass instrument, such as oboe, French horn, tenor saxophone, please check with the teacher first.
ADVANCED BAND
Course Length: Year
Open to: 7th and 8th grade students with previous band/music experience
This course is for students who were in Beginning Band last year, or who have prior instrumental experience. It will be a continuation of students’ understanding of instrumental music, reading music and making music using a variety of instruments. This course is primarily open for 7th & 8th grade students, and will give a variety of ways for students to continue their music development. This is a yearlong course.
Elective Courses: Humanities
STORYTELLERS
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
An exploration of great novels, films, and short stories (classics and popular fiction). Students will immerse themselves with the characters, storylines, setting, and time period. Students will interact with these stories by reading, watching films, creating arts and crafts that relate to the story, as well as developing their own writing style and skills. Students will also have an opportunity to dive into the realm of theater production by reading, performing, and analyzing theater productions.
MYTH, LEGENDS, AND FOLKLORE
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will delve into the realm of myths, legends, and folklore through this elective class. Students will learn to identify differences between Myths and Legends while learning about the fascinating stories that have been shared throughout the centuries. Students will have an opportunity to read, create art, write creatively, and conduct trial case studies on fairytale characters when we burrow into the land of folklore.
WORLD EXPLORATIONS
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will get to travel around the world in this course. With the use of interactive websites, articles and videos, students will learn about geography, current events, culture, civics, and government. This elective will also incorporate elements of speech and debate.
LAUGHING MATTER
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will express their creativity by developing their own comic world, including making their own characters, illustrations and story lines. They will then create their own comic book. This course incorporates art, humor and storytelling.
Elective Courses: Opportunity
Enrollment for these courses are based on adult selection of students. Students either apply, request or are placed in these courses based on academic requirements.
LEADING FOR CHANGE
Course Length: Year
Open to: 7th, and 8th grade students - Application process required
This course is available for 7th & 8th graders ONLY, and an application must be completed. Students will be selected based on responsible behavior and good academic standing. When students are selected for this course, they participate as Teacher Assistants, help with School Spirit activities, or build the Yearbook & Announcements. Students also collect recycling from classrooms, fundraise by redeeming bottles and cans, and lead community service projects throughout the year. These students become the leaders of our school, and act as peer mentors and positive role models in and out of the classroom.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT - LANGUAGE ARTS
Course Length: Semester or Year
Open to: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
This class provides specially designed instruction and academic help for students needing support in Language Arts. It will serve students on an IEP, 504 or at parent request to receive additional help to succeed in Language Arts. Students may be placed in this course at the quarter or semester breaks based on need. This class focuses on reading fluency, accuracy, and comprehension skills. We also help students with organization skills.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT - MATH
Course Length: Semester or Year
Open to: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
This class provides specially-designed instruction and academic help for students needing support in math. It will serve students on an IEP, 504 or at parent request to have additional help to succeed in math. Students may be placed in this course at the quarter or semester breaks based on need. This class focuses on a review of math concepts as well as grade level concepts. We also help students with organization skills.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
Course Length: Year
Open to: English Language Learners in 6th, 7th and 8th grades
In this course, students in the English Language Learners program will work on mastering Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing in English. They will stay in this required course for the full year.
Elective Courses: Science and Engineering
(Career and Technical Education - CTE)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will learn about the great outdoors. Units will cover Botany (plants), Zoology (animals), Ecology, Agriculture, Wildlife management (Forest, Rivers, Fire), Natural Resources, Orienteering and Survival Skills. This class involves hands-on activity, projects and going outside.
CREATIVE SCIENCE - SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on science experiments (Chemical Reactions, Plant Experiments, Thermal Energy). Students will work collaboratively as a team as they learn the scientific inquiry process. This course will also integrate technology and math with the use of computers, coding, and data analysis.
CREATIVE SCIENCE - ENGINEERING DESIGN
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on engineering projects (Bridges, Catapults, Ramps, Boats). This course will focus on students working collaboratively with a team as they learn the steps of the engineering design process. This course will also introduce students to basic engineering principles, documentation, teamwork, data collection and analysis, basic programming and problem solving strategies.
CODING
Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
Students will learn the basics of digital language through coding. They will explore technology through basic coding practices with instruction while using the Code Monkey program.
THINK DESIGN BUILD
Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
Make designs that you can live in. Students will use their math, art, measurement and design skills to create plans that they will use to build 2D and 3D architectural models. Structures may include theme parks, escape rooms, homes and tree houses.
Elective Courses: Health & Lifestyle
FITNESS/YOGA
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
This class will focus on cardiovascular fitness and flexibility. On yoga days, students will report to our yoga studio to practice gentle movement sequences, yoga postures, and breathing techniques to promote flexibility and relaxation. On running days, students will train indoors and outdoors by participating in running, jogging, and walking activities to improve and condition their physical fitness.
RECREATION GAMES
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
This class will be active. Students will learn and play a variety of creative, physical games. They will try new strategies, compete with teams, utilize a range of sports equipment and use their body to stay fit and have fun.
SPORTS CENTER/ FANTASY SPORTS
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Students will learn about the dynamic world of sports. Units will cover sports history, legends, stats and world records. They will look at sports marketing, broadcasting, sponsorships and endorsements. Students will apply the principles of branding, merchandising, promotion, concessions, and human relations. Make your own fantasy sports teams. Learn about the players and statistics for different sports, and the strategy involved in fantasy sports leagues.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY/ THAT’S LIFE
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
This class provides foundations of economics for middle school. This class will dive into the nuts and bolts of personal finance, like saving & budgeting your money and understanding credit & debt. It will also review advertising, investing, taxes, insurance and identity theft. Students will learn about the skills needed to be able to survive on their own. They will choose a job based on their interests, find a place to live, research who they will be working for, and explore how they will get back and forth from work. They will also make a plan on how they will spend their paycheck each month.
GAME THEORY
Course Length: Quarters 1 & 2 OR Quarters 3 & 4
Open to: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Learn a wide variety of strategic games, including board, tabletop and roleplaying. Learn how to play new games, and how to use strategic thinking & collaboration to have fun. Students will develop, design and create their own games, then have a chance to play!
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