Reading 6 focuses on reading and analyzing a variety of literature, both fiction and non-fiction including novels, poetry and historical fiction. Students may read books about Greek myths, Shakespeare, pyramids, biographies and mysteries.

Spanish I and Spanish I, Part 1 have an emphasis on becoming more proficient in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students will communicate about time, date, weather, school, home, shopping, sports, vacations, etc. Grammar is presented to help students communicate effectively.

6^th Grade Elective Rotation – The elective wheel consists of four nine-week rotations of the courses listed below:

Art 6 is a concept-centered course integrating the four art disciplines: art history, criticism, aesthetics and art production. The student is introduced to various drawing and painting media: graphite, charcoal, coloring pencil, tempera, acrylics, pen and ink and computer art. Clay work gives the student the opportunity to experience 3-D concepts. Famous artists are studied each week and every student’s artwork is displayed in various parts of the school.

Family and Consumer Sciences 6 gives students a basic orientation to various Family and Consumer Science skills. The units covered are Understanding Self and Others, Developing Skills in Crafts, Using Money Wisely, Preparing Snacks, and Babysitting Skills.

Music 6 teaches students about harmony, melody, rhythm, dance, instrumentation, musicals, conducting, voice styles, form dynamics, composers and other musical activities.

Technology Education 6 is an introduction to basic electricity and recycling by making a lamp; basic woodworking and mechanical drawing by building a coat rack; transportation by learning about gears, motors and LEGOS; Introduction to Desk Top Publishing using the Print Shop III program

All 7^th grade students will take PE/Life Skills/Health as one of their 3 electives.

Concert Band is an advanced band class for third year band students. Students should have their current band teacher initial their registration form if selecting this elective.

Chorus is an advanced chorus class and students should have their current chorus teacher initial their registration form if selecting this elective. Students can take band and chorus as electives. Students in eighth grade chorus will continue to learn more advanced singing and acting skills. They will perform three concerts, a musical and may also audition to be in girls and guys ensemble.

French 1 is a high-school credit course that uses the same material as the first year classes at the high school. The course consists of oral and written practice while studying vocabulary, grammar, and culture. The mid-term and final exams are the same as those given at the high school. Students must meet the prerequisites of having at least a solid B average in Language Arts, receive a teacher recommendation from the current Language Arts teacher, and exhibit good study skills in order to sign up for this course.

Spanish 1 is a high-school credit course that uses the same material as the first year classes at the high school. The course consists of oral and written practice while studying vocabulary, grammar, and culture. The mid-term and final exams are the same as those given at the high school. Students must meet the prerequisites of having at least a solid B average in Language Arts, receive a teacher recommendation from the current Language Arts teacher, and exhibit good study skills in order to sign up for this course.

Introduction to Foreign Language provides an overview of the three languages offered at the high school – French, Spanish, and German. Students study culture and vocabulary by using oral and written practice. At the end of the semester, the students choose one language to study more in depth in small group projects in class. Students who took this class in grade 7 may not repeat it in grade 8.

Art 8 teaches the skills of drawing, painting, printing, sculpting and fine art crafts using a variety of media including copper, clay, scratchboard, etching and computers. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation, perceptual awareness and communication of thought through the visual process.

World of Foods gives the student a basic orientation to various foods around the world. Students will research information and prepare foods from different cultures.

Life Management Skills teaches consumer resources, privileges and responsibilities in the family, communication skills, foods and nutrition, planning and preparing simple meals, and problem solving and decision-making. Basic sewing and lab work are done using management skills. Students are eligible for membership in FCCLA, a national student organization.

Newspaper 8 will introduce students to the methods and procedures necessary to successfully publish a newspaper. This class will be responsible for publishing the monthly school newspaper.

Technology Education 8 introduces students to Aerodynamics and how a plane flies. They build a portion of a wing called an airfoil and test it in the wind tunnel. Students will learn to fly on the computer using the Flight Simulator program. The second project is the design of individual Solar Powered Race Cars. They will build them in class and then race them outside.

Photojournalism is a class that teachers photography, journalism, and desktop publishing using Microsoft Publisher. The students will learn how to use the 35 mm camera, digital camera, scanner, and Microsoft Publisher to produce a magazine.**(This class may not be offered due to availability of teaching staff. However, if you are interested, please go ahead and rank with your selections).

Drama 8 is an introduction to drama and requires no prior acting experience. Students will have the
opportunity to experience acting, improvisation, drama games, scenery, costuming, lighting, and more. The class will perform one production each semester.

* Because some of the teachers for elective classes teach part-time, not all semester classes are taught each period. Students who select only semester classes must rank all of them so that alternates can be used, if needed. We attempt to schedule students with their first two choices, but it is not always possible to provide students with all four (1 – 4) "first choices" due to availability of the class and when the student needs other classes.