7th and 8th Grade Elective Course Descriptions
Symphonic Band
The focus is to develop skills and knowledge that will enhance one’s understanding and enjoyment of music, and to prepare students for playing in a band at the high school level. The class focuses on the fundamentals of playing a band instrument and making music as an ensemble, as well as more advanced creative musicianship projects through music composition and improvisation.
Philharmonic Orchestra
The focus is to develop skills and knowledge that will enhance one’s understanding and enjoyment of music, and to prepare students for playing in high school orchestras. The class focuses on the fundamentals of playing an orchestra instrument and making music as an ensemble
Choir Ensemble (Year Long)
The focus is to develop skills and knowledge that will enhance one’s understanding and enjoyment of choral music and to prepare students for singing in a choir at the high school level. The class focuses on the fundamentals of developing the voice as an instrument and making music as an ensemble, as well as more advanced creative opportunities through improvisation and harmony creation and multivoice arrangement.
Spanish 1 (8th grade only)
This course is a full year course which introduces the student to the language, culture, and geography of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will develop the ability to speak, read, and write Spanish, as well as understand spoken Spanish. Daily lessons and assignments will reinforce the language. Upon successful completion of this course, students will advance to the second year of Spanish study. This is a high school level course.
Video Production (FSA Express)
This course will be a study of the principles of writing and recording news and information for TV. Basics of television news and broadcast style will be discussed and practiced. Students will learn how to capture video and audio, how to use green screen technology, how to edit videos, and how to plan and design a news program. Students will gain practical experience in media news gathering, working as part of a team to produce news reports and complete newscasts. This class is responsible for creating the FSA Express.
Horticulture
This introductory course will engage all aspects of the STEAM learning experience, all while learning about, interacting with, and growing plants! Students will learn the science behind plants and apply that knowledge while working in the greenhouse to experiment with plants. We will also be able to sell their creations to the community! Through this experience they will be able to interact with different art techniques for creating pots, as well as learning the business side behind a successful greenhouse.
World Peace Games
In this course, students will be change agents as part of a global simulation. Students will serve in realistic roles across multiple nations and world organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization. Students will aim to attain world peace while being thrown into various crises such as economic, militaristic or environmental problems. Students will have to solve these issues using critical and creative thinking. But beware...There is a secret saboteur whose aim is to ensure nobody achieves world peace.
Physical Education
This course is designed to be fun and active! We will explore a variety of sports as we develop specific skills and strategies through: badminton, basketball, flag football, soccer, tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball and more. There will be many opportunities to learn about and improve personal fitness, including the use of resistance training equipment. We will also engage in team building activities to encourage self-challenge and teamwork. Throughout the course, students will recognize the value of physical activity for its health, enjoyment, challenge, and social benefits.
Art
This art class is designed to help improve students’ basic art skills. Students will engage in developing skills in problem solving, drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, ceramics, metals, and more. Students will design artwork using a variety of media and techniques. Students will develop their creativity and self-expression. They will recognize and use the elements of art and design principles when creating artwork. They will develop an understanding of ways art fits into our lives through exploration, presentation of art history, and career information.
Intro to Psychology
This course is a study of theory and research in introductory psychology including basic concepts, techniques of measurement, and relevant findings. This course surveys the major themes in social psychology.
Computer Applications: Coding
In the Interactive Animations and Games unit, students create programmatic images, animations, interactive art, and games in Game Lab. Along the way, they practice design, testing, and iteration, as they come to see that failure and debugging are an expected and valuable part of the programming process.
World Cultures
The World Cultures class is an introductory course designed to provide students with an understanding of how society is structured, as well as providing world-readiness through a general study of diverse cultures from around the world. Topics include cultural practices, social structures, religions, arts, and languages. A holistic approach will be utilized to explore ideas of aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human experience across cultures.
Medical Skills
This course will engage students in making their communities safer and more prepared when an emergency arises. We will look at the emergency medical system, educate our peers and learn how to respond in a life-threatening situation. By exploring some of medicine’s “tools of the trade,” case studies and educating others we will work to save more lives.