Elective Course Titles and Descriptions

Teachers

Offered in

Grade 6

Offered in

Grade 7

Offered in Grade 8

ART 6 – Art 6 is a required general studio art class for 6th graders.  Students will develop their observation skills and hand-eye coordination.  Students will also explore the technical aspects of art through proportion and perspective.  Original art work using a variety of media such as clay, colored pencils, paint, pen and ink will be explored.  Get ready to tap into your creative side!

X

ART 7  (Required Course) – Seventh grade art is a general studio art class.  Students will continue to develop their art skills through a variety of projects including drawings, paintings, mixed media projects, and clay.  Materials will include charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, pen and ink, different types of paint, and clay.  Challenge yourself to create something fantastic!

Mr. Deines

Ms. Starkey

308 & 312

X

ART MATERIALS AND PRINTMAKING - Are you looking for another great studio art opportunity in 7th or 8th grade?  Create art projects using a wide variety of materials.  Explore relief printmaking, painting, clay, metal tooling, photograms, and more.

Mr. Deines

Ms. Starkey

308 & 312

X

X

BAND AND ORCHESTRA – Band and Orchestra are curricular subjects with  unique schedules. Students rehearse once or twice per week before school, and meet once per week during the school day on a rotating schedule to learn technique and musicianship. New students are welcome to join the band and orchestra.

    (Orchestra)

Mr. Hellerman

Mrs. Ballinger

315

(Band)

Mrs. Hutter

Mr. Yoon

317

X

X

X

BROADCASTING  (LA Required Course - 7th or 8th) - Students are investigative reporters.  They will use their research skills to explore a wide variety of high-interest topics from multiple sources to present newscasts, podcasts, morning announcements, talk shows...just to name a few. As part of the broadcasts, student audience members are required to become active listeners and participants.

Mr. Taglia

DEN/010
Lower Level

X

X

CRACK THE CODE – Coding is the language of our digital world. In this class, you will explore coding languages and apply your knowledge to design projects which can lead to interactive websites. 

Mr. Taglia

DEN/010
Lower Level

X

X

DIGITAL MUSIC LAB - Do you like electronic music or ever wonder how it’s created? DML is for you! Collaborate in small groups on electronic pianos and Mac computers to create your own compositions. This project based class includes composing a rap, an electronic song, and many more! No prior experience required!

Mr. Kabat

Ms. LaTragna

319

X

X

ELECTRONIC KEYBOARDING  -Learn how to read music and play the piano in this course! Students work independently and in small groups to collaborate on the piano. Students will have the opportunity to learn classical and popular songs. No prior experience required! (1 of 3 required music choices for 7th grade. Only 1 is required to take!)

Mr. Kabat

Ms. LaTragna

319

X

X

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS) -6th grade FACS    This course gives 6th grade students a sampling of the FACS Department.  It’s a 6 week course;  3 weeks in the foods room and 3 weeks in the sewing room. The major focus of the class is cooking and sewing.  Students will prepare simple cooking projects incorporating sanitation, safety, teamwork, etiquette, and proper cooking methods.  The sewing portion of the class emphasizes hand sewing with an introduction to the sewing machine and serger.  This course will also review nutrition, personal hygiene/grooming and lastly, parents’ favorite homework assignment, the home laundry assignment.

 X

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS) - FACS on the GO -Are you always on the go?  This class will combine cooking and sewing for your “on the go” adventures! You will learn to make quick and easy “on the go” recipes, incorporating unique cooking/food preparation methods.  You will also construct sewing projects to use for your activities (i.e. gym bags, aprons, drawstring totes, and locker caddies).                                     

Mrs. Venn

Mrs. Schmidt

311 & 313

X

X

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS)- FOODS - Eating is encouraged! In teams, students will prepare main dishes, snacks, sides and desserts, while practicing proper, safe and sanitary food preparation skills. Proper use of kitchen tools and equipment, time management, manners, nutrition and meal presentation are incorporated throughout. As seen on the Food Network Channel – a culinary competition will finish off the trimester!                                            

Mrs. Venn

311

X

X

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS) - FUN WITH FACS - Are you interested in cooking, decorating, and shopping?   This unique course combines all three. As food scientists, students will prepare recipes  (such as soft pretzels, baked Alaska, chicken stir fry, caramel, baked mac and cheese, apple squares and more) along with edible kitchen/food experiments. Students will also learn to decorate on a budget and create accessories of their choice  (i.e. - body pillows, bean bag chairs, blankets, ottomans and more).        

Mrs. Venn

Mrs. Schmidt

311 & 313

X

X

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE (FACS) - SEWING- Stuffed Animals!  Novelty Pillows!  Seasonal Crafts!  Shorts!  Pajama Pants! T-shirts! Slippers! Upcycled projects!  These and many other projects can be made once you learn the use and care of the sewing machine and hand tools, and understand how to read and use patterns for basic construction techniques.         

Mrs. Schmidt

313

X

X

FRENCH/SPANISH 6 - The sixth grade Foreign Language program meets every day for forty minutes for an 18-week semester.  The students are currently using a scope and sequence of units that the Foreign Language Department created to bridge the students into preliminary grammar, which will help prepare them for 7th/8th grade French/Spanish.

X

FRENCH/SPANISH 7 & 8 – The 7th and 8th grade French  and Spanish program is equivalent to French and Spanish 1 at Maine South.  The class meets every day for forty minutes and is  similar to a core class for the two year period.

Sra. Rodriguez

Sra. Fozailoff

Mme. Antonucci

Sra. Levitt

213 (Spanish)

301 (French)

X

X

GUITAR - No prior experience is required for this class, because we’ll teach you all you need to know to play your favorite songs on the guitar! Students have the opportunity to work with classmates to play and sing songs together. (1 of 3 required music choices for 7th grade. Only 1 is required to take!)

Ms. LaTragna

319

X

X

HEALTH 6 (Required Course) – Understanding total health, including a person’s physical, mental and social growth, development and well being.  Learn accident prevention and basic first aid procedures.        

X

HEALTH 7  (Required Course) – Identify how positive health practices, such as proper diet, can help reduce health risks.  Understand the health risks of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and learn the benefits of staying drug free.

Mrs. Skidmore

220

X

HEALTH 8  (Required Course) – Discover how the various body systems interact.  Learn about communicable and non-communicable diseases.  Also, how many health problems can be prevented through positive health behaviors.        

Mrs. Skidmore

220

X

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY - (7th Grade Course; also offered 1st Trimester for 8th Graders who did not take course in 7th grade). A basic course designed to provide six weeks of mechanical drawing followed by six weeks of woodworking.  Correct use of mechanical drawing instruments is stressed while working on various types of drawings.  Major emphasis in woodworking is the safe and correct use of hand woodworking tools through project approach.  Prerequisite for 8th GRADE WOODS OR PLASTICS.

Mr. McDunn

Mr. Quint

304

X

X

(Tri. 1 only)

INTE 6 – The Industrial Technology Department  offers a six week exploratory class.  Every sixth grade student is given the chance to experience and explore mechanical drawing, woods, and plastics.

X

IT’S DEBATABLE – Do you like to argue?  Are you opinionated?  In It’s Debatable you will have the opportunity to learn the formal art of debate and learn techniques to convince others of your opinion.  Each trimester students will research and debate hotly contested issues of their choice, some of which might be considered controversial.

Mrs. Sebo

Mrs. DeLaPasqua

X

X

MARINE BIOLOGY  - You will "dive" into this course with an overview of the fascinating world below the ocean waves. Through research, multi-media, discussions and dissections we will examine marine invertebrates and vertebrates ranging from sea stars to sharks. Historically, this class has included a culminating field trip to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. Come explore under the sea with us!

Ms. Yazdani
Mrs. Corlett

Ms.Egan

102

X

X

MULTIMEDIA MAGIC– Students will author, direct, and edit a multimedia project starting from concept to storyboard and culminating with the completion of a short digitally produced movie.  Students will reflect on all aspects of their work including technique and the ethical and legal use of media content.  Students will also create PowerPoint presentations emphasizing the creative side where they will animate slides, create transitions and enter pictures of themselves into the presentation.   

Mr. Taglia

DEN/010
Lower Level

X

X

MUSIC 6 (General Music) – Students in 6th grade are assigned to General Music. In General Music, we will explore the 5 elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and style. We will play different instruments including percussion instruments, glockenspiels (bells), and guitars/ukuleles. Students will learn about musical theater, opera, classical, and popular music.

X

MUSIC THEATER WORKSHOP- Do you love musical theater and want to explore your options? Take MTW! Students will learn about musical theater history and perform scenes or an abridged version of a musical at the end of the trimester! No prior experience required!

Ms. LaTragna

319

X

X

PAINTING AND DRAWING  - 8th graders will develop new painting and drawing techniques.  Improve your art skills and advance your knowledge of shading, perspective, proportion, and figure drawing.  Draw things you never thought you could with pen & ink, colored pencils, pastels, charcoal and more.  Build your confidence in brush techniques and color.  Paint using acrylics, tempra and watercolors to create fantastic paintings.

Mr. Deines

Ms. Starkey

308 & 312

X

PHOTOGRAPHY  - 8th grade students will learn the basics of black and white photography.  Understand how a camera works, how to discover and select subject matter, use a real darkroom, develop your own film, and create amazing and beautiful enlargements.  A 35mm camera is provided, or you can use your own 35mm camera.  All film, photo paper, and chemicals will be supplied.

Mr. Deines

Ms. Starkey

308 & 312

X

PHYSICAL EDUCATION - (Required course)- Students set and reach goals to improve strength, endurance, flexibility, and teamwork through team sports and more.

Ms. Pater,

Mrs. Bomely,

Mr. Pankau,

Mr. Cacini,

Mr. Kriss

GYM

X

X

X

PLASTICS  - This course emphasizes how various polymers can be worked safely with hand tools, machine tools, computer numerical control and 3D printing. Through hands on project base method, students have the opportunity to design, saw, laminate, heat form, weld, mold and decorate several products. PREREQUISITE:  Industrial Technology

Mr. McDunn

Mr. Quint

302

X

PUZZLER’S PARADISE  -Topics such as topology, logic, number theory, plane geometry, and solid geometry will be explored through active involvement with individual labs.  Small and large group math games will also be used to help improve basic math facts and logic.

Mrs. Thielen

Mr. Pancini

Mrs. Porrello

105

X

X

SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS -  8th grade students will be able to construct artworks using a variety of hand-building techniques. Try throwing clay pottery on the pottery wheel. Create several 3 dimensional artworks using materials such as clay, plaster, stone, wood, wire, and more.  Experiment with a variety of different glaze effects.  Students will construct sculptures that express their relationship with the world around them.

Mr. Deines

Ms. Starkey

308 & 312

X

SHOW ME THE MONEY - This class has everything to do with what may be one of your favorite subjects - earning, investing, saving and spending money.  Are you on the right track?  This class is about you, your money, and the “Real World.”  Start thinking about what it takes to be successful out there on your own.        

Mrs. Sebo

Mrs. Wandell

Mrs. Cichy

Mrs. DeLaPasqua

217

X

X

SO THE STORY GOES… (LA Required Course 7th or 8th) – Life is a “...Never Ending Story.”  In this class, students will explore the many ways a story can be told.  You, the student, will become part of the story. Through movies, makerspace multimedia, animation, improvisation, poetry, research, high-interest reading selections, and other mediums, you will learn to tell a story that’s important to YOU!

Mrs. Santelli

Ms. Brady

Mr. Jonas

Ms. Levin

104

X

X

SOLVE IT WITH SCIENCE - Robotics, prosthetic limbs, levitating trains, and space shuttle missions. What do all of these have in common? They were all designed by engineers. In this STEM-inspired class, you will use the engineering design process, creativity, and collaboration in a hands-on environment to come up with new solutions to these challenges and so much more! Roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity and start designing!

Mrs. Nobiling

Ms. Rhyan

218

X

X

SPEAK UP (LA Required Course 7th or  8th) - Feel the power that comes with the ability to communicate. Students will learn about topics of interest, utilize research skills, listen critically, and captivate an audience. The focus of this class is getting students comfortable with public speaking. It includes a variety of formats, both planned and spontaneous, and offers experiences such as improv, skits, presentations, and opportunities for humor.                                       

Mrs. Santelli

Ms. Brady

Mr. Jonas

Ms. Levin

104

X

X

STRATEGY GAMES  If you enjoy playing Strategy Games, this class is the right class for you! It gives you the opportunity to investigate a variety of online games and activities that will enhance your math and reasoning skills.  Some of the areas you will explore include logic games, problem solving strategies, and geometric concepts.

Mrs. Thielen

Mr. Pancini

Mrs. Porrello

105

X

X

TECHNOLOGY - The main focus of this class is to improve keyboarding skills using desktop computers and Chromebooks.  In addition, students will have the opportunity to work on Google documents, such as docs, sheets, drawings, etc.  

X

VOCAL POWER - Students will learn to sing different genres—from jazz to country—and sing solos or in small groups! Learn about vocal health and how to be a healthy singer! No prior experience required! (1 of 3  required music choices for 7th grade. Only 1 is required to take!)

Ms. LaTragna

319

X

X

WOODS -Safe and correct use of power tools will be incorporated with previous knowledge of hand tools in creating a project of the student's choice.  Lumber selections and finishes will be stressed at this level.

PREREQUISITE:  Industrial Technology 

Mr. McDunn

Mr. Quint

304

X