Elective Selection 24-25

	B	D	H	I	N
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2	Electives 2024-25
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4	Please circle the credits for the courses you are interested in taking next school year. Your credits must equal 8 total.			Elgin Math and Science Academy
5	Please note there are some categories where a course selection is required.			Name:
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7	Elective	Course Description	Grade Level Offered	Prerequisites	Credits
8	Elective	Course Description	Grade Level Offered	Prerequisites	Credits
9	FINE ARTS
10	Acting	Why do we call a play a play? A super smart French guy once said an actor is an athlete of the heart. Like any athlete, an actor has to practice practice practice. You have to practice using your heart to feel what your character feels so you can act like them. It's all just playing around, but, just like in sports, it takes courage and discipline to be great. This elective is for anyone wanting to learn more about the acting process and maybe audition for something in the future. (Assuming auditions for the fall play happen before electives are chosen, those with acting roles in the play might be required to take this elective first semester.)	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
11	Advanced Art	This course will be for artists who enjoy creating art and want to explore their own art style. Students will create their own artwork, come up with an artist statement, and learn how to display their artwork. Students will showcase their artwork in an art show at the end of the course.	6th - 8th Grades	APPLICATION REQUIRED ALONG WITH THREE PIECES OF ARTWORK	2
12	Drawing 1	Students will learn various drawing techniques such as value, blending, grid art, and perspective drawing	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
13	Jewelry Making	Students will explore different ways to create jewerlry using different materials.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
14	Photography	This course will cover only one elective credit. The first will focus on using and taking photos using a digital camera, and the second will focus on using applications on their phones to take pictures. Both will focus on how to line up a shot, use artificial and natural lighting, zoom vs not, parts of the camera, ISO, modes, shutter speeds, etc. If time, we will also focus on editing or layering digital pictures. We will be taking pictures of nature, people, and still-life.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	2
15	Design	Design is all about your imagination. What "looks good" to you and why? How and why do styles change? Architecture and fashion will be the focus of this elective. You would start by putting together a "lookbook" (collection of designs you like) then begin creating your own unqiue "look." Possible projects include designing a house, room, furniture, playground/park, car, logo/brand, font style, hair style, clothing, shoes, album art, book cover... whatever you dream up. Basic drawing skills would be helpful, but not required. Experience with Canva would also be helpful, but again not required. Just bring your imagination and an open mind.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
16	School of Rock	This class is for scholars who want to learn how to start/play in a rock band. We will work on technique, musicality, stage presence, song writing, gig booking and promotions, while building confidence as performers. Open to VOICE and INSTRUMENTS (incuding guitar, piano, electric bass and drumset). (Limit 10)	6th - 8th Grades	Own instrument is required. Previous experiences is recommended.	1
17	Vocal Development	This class is for scholars who love to sing and want to grow their skills as a soloist. We will work on technique, musicality and stage presence while building confidence performing for each other. (Limit 15)	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
18	Symphony Orchestra	Scholars will continue developing skills in tone production, intonation, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, note reading (rhythmic and melodic) through a variety of repetoire. Habits of Character reinforced in this course: initiative, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration, empathy, integrity, respect, compassion, citizenship, service, courage, creativity	6th - 8th Grades	1 year of experience recommended	2
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20	LANGUAGE
21	Spanish 1	This course will help acquire the fundamentals of pronunciation and grammar, practical vocabulary, useful phrases and the ability to understand, read, write and speak simple Spanish. Basic relevant information covered includes: geography, customs, culture of Spain and Latin America.	6th - 8th Grades	N /A	1
22	Spanish 2	Spanish II is a course designed to build on vocabulary, grammar and culture learned in Spanish I. The course objective is to further develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in Spanish in order to communicate in the target language.	6th - 8th Grades	Spanish 1	1
23	Native Spanish	Native Spanish is an intermediate course for students who wish to gain better fluency and understanding of a foreign language. The course is intended to further develop facility in each of the major communication skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.	6th - 8th Grades	Spanish Speaker	1
24	Arabic 1	Learn the Arabic alphabet, how to read, basic grammar, and some conversation.	7th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
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26	STEM / TECHNOLOGY - You must select one course from this category.
27	Robotics	Students will build junkbots; junkbots are robots that you can make using a simple circuit and some recyclable materials. In this course, students will learn about engineering design as they compete to build the fastest robot. No previous robotics experience is required!	7th Grade	N / A	1
28	Computer Science 1	Problem Solving and Computing: You’ll practice using a problem-solving process to address a series of puzzles, challenges, and real-world scenarios. Next, you’ll learn how computers input, output, store, and process information to help humans solve problems.	6th - 7th Grades	N / A	1
29	Computer Science 2	In Web Development, students are empowered to create and share content on their own web pages. They begin by thinking about the role of the web and how it can be used as a medium for creative expression. As students develop their pages and begin to see themselves as programmers, they are encouraged to think critically about the impact of sharing information online and how to be more critical consumers of content.	8th Grade	Computer Science 1	1
30	Chemistry Lab	Students will learn how to conduct scientific experiments. They will also enjoy physical and chemical reaction labs.	6th - 8th Grades	Must maintain 5 or less behavior referrals all semester due to safety concerns	1
31	Engineering (Design & Modeling)	Design and Modeling (DM) provides students opportunities to apply the design process to creatively solve problems. Students learn and utilize methods for communicating design ideas through sketches, solid models, and mathematical models. Students will understand how models can be simulated to represent an authentic situation and generate data for further analysis and observations.	8th Grade	N / A	1
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33	PHYSICAL EDUCATION - You must select one course from this category.
34	Outdoor Adventure Ed	Team Building, Outdoor Safety, Outdoor Survival	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
35	Team Sports	Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Handball, ect.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
36	Field Studies	Learn the unique qualities of our forrrested fen and its anthropological history.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
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38	TRADES
39	Home Economics	Students learn basic cooking and sewing/crocheting skills.	6th - 8th Grades	Must maintain 5 or less behavior referrals all semester due to safety concerns	1
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41	STRATEGY - You must select one course from this category.
42	Board Games	Students will use critical thinking to learn and compete with peers in a variety of challenging board games.	7th - 8th Grades	N / A	2
43	Reading Strategies	This class will work with scholars on reading [comprehension] strategies that the student can use in class or when reading for enjoyment. Some of these strategies will include: learning how to make predictions, using and building background knowledge, making inferencing and using context clues, text structure, understanding and using vocabulary, and making visualizations.	6th - 8th Grades	Teacher Referral	2
44	Math Strategies	Students will practice foundational math skills and problem-solving strategies. Students will benefit from small group instruction, hands-on learning, and math games.	6th - 8th Grades	Teacher Referral	2
45	Math Exentsion	This is an accelerated math course designed to cover additional standards that will not be taught in the Gen Ed math class. Second semester will be focused on consumer math and financial literacy, such as simple interest, taxes, credit, and budgeting.	7th - 8th Grades	Teacher Referral	2
46	Mindfulness	Students will learn to be both self-aware and socially-aware of their own behaviors and actions. Students will develop strategies to help manage their emotions, learn coping skills to keep them focused on the present moment, and work on self reflection with goal setting.	6th - 8th Grades	N / A	1
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48	TOTAL NUMBER OF CREDITS:
49	List 3 back up classes to be considered if your course selections are full. If you leave this section blank, you will be entered into any remaining open classes.
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