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Getting Ready for 8th Grade

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Lockers

You will be assigned an academic locker & combination this summer. Check Infinite Campus in early August to learn where you locker is assigned.

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Year Long REQUIRED Courses

Language Arts 8 (daily)

Mathematics 8 OR Integrated Math I* (daily)

Science 8 OR Biology* (daily)

US History (daily)

Physical Education (semester equivalent): Physical Education or Lifetime Wellness

Advisory

*Integrated Math I & Biology are by Teacher Recommendation

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BIOLOGY

WHAT is it?

High School course where you can earn credit for graduation
Allows you to take more AP science classes in High School
Taught at the same level as high school with the same rubrics, expectations, exams, etc.
NOT just an “honors” class; this is meant for very serious science students
Will need to take three ADDITIONAL Science classes in high school

WHO should take it?

8th graders in Integrated Math I or Integrated Math II
Students who LOVE science and want a career in the field
Students who are consistently advanced in science learning targets

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ELECTIVE Choices

In 8th grade - you have MORE choices:

Art

Business & Marketing

Family & Consumer Science

World Languages

Music

Information Technology

Technology & Engineering

Physical Education

Study Hall

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How do you decide on ELECTIVES

Consider strengths and interests �
Consider skills you may need to develop for your

future goals

Consider what you enjoy doing�
Consider opinions that your parents, teachers �and others may have

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ART

Drawing & Painting: Use media which may include but not be limited to:

Charcoal, pencil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic paint.
Learn about famous artists, art history, and create unique personal images.

Art Metal & Jewelry: Work with different types of metal, hand tools, and power tools to create products.

May create bracelets, necklaces, rings, keychains, pins, etc.
This is a introductory level Art Metal & Jewelry technique based art class.

Ceramics & Sculpture: This is 3-Dimensional art class.

Learn different handbuilding techniques with clay
Create unique sculptures with a variety of materials

Intro to Digital Arts: The emphasis of this course is to foster creativity and self expression.

Explore a variety of creative digital art activities
These may include the creation of photographs, videos, animations, graphic designs, illustrations, and designing a website

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BUSINESS & MARKETING

Keyboarding (semester equivalent): Keyboarding will help you to improve your speed & accuracy while using proper technique and give you the skills to produce quality work.

BIZTech - (semester equivalent): Do you have a passion for trying new things? Are you imaginative? Check out the new and exciting world of technology! Bring out your innovative and creative side with coding, graphic and website design, video creation, and many other top technology trends! Prepare yourself for the computerized workplace.

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FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES

The Art & Science of Food: This is a course to offer insight into fundamentals and principles of cooking, including trends in cuisine, diet, food science, and food art. Travel around the world by cooking and baking foods from different countries. Explore what your food is made of, where it comes from, and the science behind it. Gain more insight on diet fads, trends, and how to dress up your plate!

Cook, Eat, Live: Enjoy learning the basics of cooking, baking, reading recipes, and food safety in a vibrant, collaborative, and interactive environment. Analyze nutritional information and improve eating habits by preparing healthful snacks and recipes. Learn where your food comes from and how technology has changed the way we eat. Enjoy cooking and baking foods from around the world! Use your new skills to dazzle your friends and family with your creations!

REALife: Prepare for your roles within the family, community, and world of work. Focus on communication and problem solving skills vital for successful

relationships throughout life. Learn about child development

and the guidance of young children, and apply knowledge

through hands-on experiences. Explore related career

pathways based on 21st century skills in child care, teaching,

fashion and interior design, and healthcare.

You have three options for electives within the Family & Consumer Sciences Department. These courses are all semester equivalent classes.

The first option is: The Art & Science of Food. This is a course to offer insight into fundamentals and principles of cooking, including trends in cuisine, diet, food science, and food art. Travel around the world by cooking and baking foods from different countries. Explore what your food is made of, where it comes from, and the science behind it. Gain more insight on diet fads, trends, and how to dress up your plate!

The second option is: Cook, Eat, Live. Enjoy learning the basics of cooking, baking, reading recipes, and food safety in a vibrant, collaborative, and interactive environment. Analyze nutritional information and improve eating habits by preparing healthful snacks and recipes. Learn where your food comes from and how technology has changed the way we eat. Enjoy cooking and baking foods from around the world! Use your new skills to dazzle your friends and family with your creations!

The thirds option is: REALife. Prepare for your roles within the family, community, and world of work. Focus on communication and problem solving skills vital for successful relationships throughout life. Learn about child development and the guidance of young children, and apply knowledge through hands-on experiences. Explore related career pathways based on 21st century skills in child care, teaching, fashion and interior design, and healthcare.

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Intro to Computer Science: Designed to be the first computer science course for students who have never programmed before, this course is an optional starting point for the PLTW Computer Science program. This is primarily a coding class!

Work in teams to create apps for mobile devices using MIT App Inventor®.
Learn logical step-by-step thinking skills.
Learn using a drag and drop coding platform.

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TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Technology Mechanisms -(semester equivalent): Cutting-edge and exciting, filled with energy for every middle school student. Discover, design and build engaging hands on projects in this class. Experience how technology and engineering are used to create innovative design solutions to everyday problems. We will:

Design and create CO2 cars
Mag Lev vehicles
Mass produced project
Create games
Room defense burglar alarm

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TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Invention and Innovation -(semester equivalent): Discover how to make projects from the design process through to creation, utilizing manual and automated tool systems. You can:

Design, create, and enhance a shut box game and an iPad

amplifier using woodworking tools

Use CNC mills and LASER engravers
Learn screen printing
Explore the possibilities of the 3D printer
Challenge yourself to design, build and program

robots that will follow your commands!

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WORLD LANGUAGES

French I (year long/daily)

Spanish I (year long/daily)

These courses are designed to develop the students’ communication skills through reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students will learn the vocabulary and grammar necessary to communicate effectively about themselves and their basic needs in the target language. These courses are high school courses with high school level expectations. You will receive credit towards graduation if you pass.

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WORLD LANGUAGES

French Global Perspectives [semester] Spanish Global Perspectives [semester]

These courses are designed to develop the students’ communication skills through reading, writing, speaking and listening through inquiry into global issues. Students will learn the vocabulary and grammar necessary to communicate effectively about themselves and their basic needs in the target language while investigating issues that impact us here and around the world.

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MUSIC

The focus of Band, Choir, and Orchestra in 8th Grade is to help students improve and enhance their own music performance skills (singing or playing your instrument). �
Students will focus on the expressive qualities within the music and practice sight-reading, ear-training, and note-reading. Emphasis is on improving performance technique, technical accuracy, and expressive musicianship.�
Students will perform in public performances throughout the year.

Each music course is a year long course and meets every day.

In 8th grade you have the option for three music courses: Band, Choir, or Orchestra. These are year long courses that meet every day.

The purpose of Band 8 is to further develop the students’ musical understanding through the performance of a wide variety of musical literature. Music fundamentals, listening skills, instrumental techniques and sight reading are emphasized. Students are required to perform in concerts outside of the regular school day schedule during the school year. Some costs to the students might be incurred for materials.

Choir is offered to all middle school students who are interested in performing in a vocal music ensemble. A wide variety of musical styles will be studied and performed, encouraging students to continue their singing experiences. Continued study of music fundamentals, voice study, sight reading, listening techniques, along with opportunities for solo and ensemble work will be offered in full rehearsal and small group instruction. Students will perform in public concerts throughout the year.

In Orchestra emphasis in this class is on teaching musical understanding through performance. Students in orchestra study and perform a wide variety of music, including world music and alternative styles. Basic music fundamentals, listening skills, string techniques and sight reading skills are further developed. Additionally, preparing students for life-long appreciation and participation in music-making is considered an important part of the education students receive through their performance ensembles. Students will perform in public concerts throughout the year. Students may also perform at the W.S.M.A. solo and ensemble festival at the discretion of the instructor. Out of class participation in concerts is required.

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Study Hall

Study Hall: Study Hall is offered for 8th grade students only and would replace an elective course. During study hall, it is expected that students come with daily work to complete and that students manage their time to complete this work independently. Students will remain in the study hall classroom location throughout the duration of the class period. This is not a time of the day when students are able to travel to see their classroom teachers or seek extra help. While staff might be able to assist a student on his or her coursework, there will not be individualized or whole group instruction provided during this time.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical Education: Students will develop a better understanding of the effects of exercise on their bodies and demonstrate skills, health related fitness assessment and goal setting, and appropriate personal/social behaviors associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. The students will understand how physical assessment technologies can be used to effectively improve physical fitness and continue to add to a personal wellness program that will become a part of a healthy lifestyle plan. This course can be taken as an elective or as the required physical education course for 7th and/or 8th grade.

Lifetime Wellness: Students will be introduced to the planning and implementation of personalized fitness programs while engaging in a variety of lifetime activities and learning such as nontraditional games, strength and cardiovascular fitness development, outdoor pursuits, nutrition and stress management. Students will develop a better understanding of the effects of exercise on their bodies while improving individual skills to enhance overall performance. Students will recognize the value of, and engage in, physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. This course can be taken as an elective or as the required physical education course for 7th and/or 8th grade.

There are two options to choose from for your required Physical Education Course. Physical Education 8 or Lifetime Wellness.

In Physical Education 8, you will develop a better understanding of the effects of exercise on their bodies and demonstrate skills, health related fitness assessment and goal setting, and appropriate personal/social behaviors associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. You will understand how physical assessment technologies can be used to effectively improve physical fitness and continue to add to a personal wellness program that will become a part of a healthy lifestyle plan. This course can be taken as an elective or as the required physical education course for 8th grade.

In Lifetime Wellness, students will be introduced to the planning and implementation of personalized fitness programs while engaging in a variety of lifetime activities and learning such as nontraditional games, strength and cardiovascular fitness development, outdoor pursuits, nutrition and stress management. You will develop a better understanding of the effects of exercise on their bodies while improving individual skills to enhance overall performance. You will recognize the value of, and engage in, physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and/or social interaction. This course can be taken as an elective or as the required physical education course for 8th grade.

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Decision Making

If the decisions you make in choosing your electives for 8th grade are purposeful, it will make your 8th grade year more meaningful and enjoyable.

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What’s Next

All students take Course Request Sheet home tonight and show to parent/guardian

Students must complete and return their sheet to their teacher by February 7th.

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STEP ONE:

Please make sure to mark down which PHYSICAL EDUCATION Course you wish to take in 8th grade (Physical Education or Lifetime Wellness)

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STEP TWO:

You MUST rank order your Elective Choices

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ELECTIVE Choices

You may receive:

2 year long course & 1 semester equivalent OR
1 year long course & 3 semester equivalents OR
5 semester equivalent courses

Please consider this when you are rank ordering your Electives

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Can I change my schedule?

I want to be in classes with my friends

�There is a class on my schedule 2x

��I should be in a different level

I have taken a class already

I want a different teacher

Yes

Change the class period

No

I have 2 PE classes

I changed my mind about an elective

I have an empty period

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LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR!