2024-2025 Middle School Elective Catalog
Students will choose 4 electives each semester! Be sure to choose from a variety of categories and include a PE choice every year.
Middle School Electives Worksheet 2024-2025
Middle School Electives Calendar 2024-2025
Category – ART (24/25)
Intro to Art – Grades: 6th-8th
Visual Arts – This course is for students at an introductory level who are interested in a variety of art experiences and media. For example: drawing and painting, sculpture, printmaking, and mixed-media. (Parents required to purchase Sketchbook for this class – costs approximately $16)
Drawing and Painting – Grades: 6th-8th
Visual Arts—Drawing/Painting courses provide a foundation in drawing and painting using a variety of media and techniques, emphasizing observation and interpretation of the visual environment. These courses typically include applying the elements of art and principles of design, along with a study of art and artists from a worldwide perspective, and instruction in the critique process. (Parents required to purchase Sketchbook for this class – costs approximately $16)
Sculpture – Grades: 6th- 8th
The course will follow these state standards for each project. Using sketching to share forward thinking scaffolding, playing and developing skills by using the same material and learning new techniques, observing and discovering a curiosity for previous artists skills and styles to influence personal work, as well as learning to properly critique and break down artists skills in open conversations and projects. (Parents required to purchase Sketchbook for this class – costs approximately $16)
Mixed Media – Grades: 6th-8th
Artists will learn how to mix multiple media by combining more than one medium or material to create projects. This is a problem solving course in which artists are to draft concepts before manipulating materials to create their pieces. This can take many forms, but the three most common are collages, assemblages, and sculptures. Many mixed media artworks feature different materials such as paint, fabric, paper, and found objects. This is a specialized art course in which you will be using a multitude of art mediums and supplies, maybe get a little messy, create new art, but most of all, you will be challenged. (Parents required to purchase two 8×11 canvases for this class – costs approximately $17)
Category – PERFORMING ARTS
(24/25)
Band – (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) – Grades: 6th-8th
Band includes the basic elements of music playing skills, and introduction to band literature. It is designed to offer students performance skills in preparation for concerts and competitions with emphasis on music theory, interpretation, ensemble experience, and improved technical proficiency. Students in band perform in at least two concerts a year. Although the curriculum is designed for students with one year of playing experience, students with no prior experience are welcome to participate. Instrument choices are: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Percussion, and Keyboard. Band is a year long course. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase, although the school does have some to provide on a limited first come first serve basis.
Orchestra – (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) – Grades: 6th-8th
String Orchestra includes the basic elements of music playing skills, and introduction to orchestra literature. It is designed to offer students performance skills in preparation for concerts and competitions with emphasis on music theory, interpretation, ensemble experience, and improved technical proficiency. Students in orchestra perform in at least two concerts a year. Although the curriculum is designed for students with one year of playing experience, students with no prior experience are welcome to participate. Instrument choices are: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Keyboard. Orchestra is a year long course. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase, although the school does have some to provide on a limited first come first serve basis.
Choir – (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) – Grades: 6th-8th
Singers will develop their musical potential and artistic expression through singing in a choral ensemble. Study includes the ability to read music using the Kodaly technique (solfege). The core curriculum emphasizes the basics of vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory, and music history. A wide variety of songs will be studied. Students perform in a concert at the end of the semester, and learn the importance of artistic expression through performance.
Drama – Grades: 6th-8th
The drama elective enables students to express themselves through dramatic play and storytelling. Course content typically includes the use of movement, language, character, plot, and spectacle to portray imaginary or real experiences. As appropriate, students may focus on acting techniques and traditions, other aspects of drama staging, lighting, costuming, or both. Specific course content conforms to any existing state standards for grades 6-8.
C2E Tech Theater – Grades: 6th-8th
Technical Theater teaches students the basics of lighting, sound, makeup, costuming, stage management, and other aspects of theater production. These courses may also include the practical application of skills including set building.
Creative Writing – Grades: 6th – 8th
Creative Writing courses offer students the opportunity to develop and improve their technique and individual style in poetry, short story, and other forms of creative prose across a variety of genres. The emphasis of the courses is on writing; however, students may study exemplary representations and authors to obtain a fuller appreciation of the form and craft. This course will cover a variety of expressive forms of writing, including, but not limited to Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writing, Fractured Fairy Tales, Poetry, and more.
Category – SOCIAL STUDIES AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP
(24/25)
Sports History – Grades: 6th-8th
In this class, students will learn about the history of sports including American Football, basketball, hockey, baseball and so much more! In the fall semester, students will have the opportunity to analyze NFL statistics, matchups, injuries, and bye weeks to prepare and draft a fantasy football team. Students will learn about football and the NFL by calculating points based on number of passing, rushing, and receiving yards, touchdowns, as well as individual and team defensive sacks, interceptions, and defensive touchdowns. In the spring semester, students will study and research different men’s and women’s NCAA basketball programs to fill out a bracket and select a “final four” before March Madness. GAME ON!!!
Civics (Current Events) – Grades: 6th-8th
Our Civics course takes on the aspects of Current Events, enabling students to study political, economic, and social issues facing the world. These courses may focus on current issues, examine selected issues throughout the 20th century, and look at historical causes or possible solutions. This includes analyzing sources such as Junior Scholastic Magazine, other major newspapers, and watching CNN 10. This class has daily discussions centered around current events and societal issues.
World War II – Grades: 6th-8th
This elective will examine all parts of WWII including: causes, events that occurred within the war, battles, the people involved in the conflict, and the lasting impact. Students will learn about and analyze the time period through games, discussions, and video clips.
Leadership – Grade 8 (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE)
Leadership is a staff-recommended course. Leadership class is designed to strengthen students’ personal and group leadership skills. These courses may cover such topics as public speaking, effective communication, human relations, community service, school culture, organization and management, and group dynamics.
Category – MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECH
(24/25)
Personal Finance – Grades: 6th-8th
Students will learn the practical side of money management to prepare them for the day when they will have to be responsible for their own finances. Topics covered will include how to earn income, how to budget, managing checking accounts, the use and abuse of credit cards, the effect of compound interest on wealth production, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, bank investments, running their own business, real estate, taxes, basic economics, and the effect of current events on a pocketbook.
Math Masters – (Year Long Elective) Grades: 6th-8th
This math elective is designed for middle school students who wish to analyze and solve challenging mathematics problems. Through this course you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into math topics not often covered in most middle and/or high school courses. The overall goal is to build an appreciation of mathematics by exploring high-level math topics while solving and analyzing national level mathematical competition problems. The open-ended curriculum allows for a student-centered approach. The only requirement is that you must love math! This goal is for this class to participate in at least one math competition per semester.
Concepts in Action – Grades: 6th-8th
In Concepts in Action you will use the engineering design process to complete several classic high school physics challenges. During the first quarter student engineers are challenged to construct Spaghetti Bridges, Solar Powered Cars, Catapults, and Egg Drop Contraptions. If you like hands-on, project-based learning that allows you to design and develop a solution to a challenge then this is the class for you.
TSA – Technology Student Association – Grades:(YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) 6th-8th
The Technology Student Association fosters personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); members apply and integrate these concepts through co-curricular activities, competitions, and related programs.
Anatomy and Physiology – Grades: 6th-8th
Human Anatomy and Physiology explores the inner workings of the human body and focuses on anatomical and medical terminology. This course is the perfect foundation for students wanting to expand their vocabulary and learn about the body and its levels of organization, as well as the cooperation required between those levels. Students will utilize online resources to study the muscular system, the cardiovascular system, the skeletal system, the digestive system, and the reproductive system.
STEM 6 – 6th grade only (REQUIRED FOR 6TH GRADE)
This Level 1 introductory course follows the ISTE Student Standards. STEM is a required semester-long class that allows students to work with computer technology, engineering design, and robotics by allowing active learning and purposeful application through real-life challenges and projects. Sixth Grade Middle School STEM will expand on the application of the engineering design process through a variety of required and student-chosen engineering design challenges. These challenges will continue to encourage the development of skills such as collaboration, creation, analysis, synthesis, problem-solving, and critical thinking. This course will include digital citizenship, basic tools used in middle school classrooms, occupations related to computer technology hardware and software industries, and project creations. Demonstration of a class project will include the engineering design process.
STEM 7 – 7th grade only (REQUIRED FOR 7TH GRADE)
This Level 2 introductory course follows the ISTE Student Standards. STEM is a required semester-long class that allows students to work with computer technology, engineering design, and robotics by allowing active learning and purposeful application through real-life challenges and projects. Seventh Grade Middle School STEM will build upon what they learned in Level 1 introductory class and now expand on the application of the engineering design process. This class will include continuing education on digital citizenship skills and knowledge. They will take a deeper look into the principles of design that they will apply to their class projects that are created throughout the semester.
STEM 8 – 8th grade only (REQUIRED FOR 8TH GRADE)
This Level 3 introductory course follows the ISTE Student Standards. STEM is a required semester-long class that allows students to work with computer technology, engineering design, and robotics by allowing active learning and purposeful application through real-life challenges and projects. Eighth Grade Middle School STEM will continue to apply digital citizenship skills and knowledge in the final middle school phase of being a safe user in the digital world as they prepare for high school and beyond. Students will create a capstone project where they will be working with a client and be required to identify, develop, and produce a product for the sole purpose of their client. This could include, but not limited to, creating a public service announcement, a How-To video, or an animation creation commercial.
Engineering – Career Technical – Grades 6th-8th
Students will be introduced to the National Academy of Engineering’s 14 Grand Challenges. They will learn how engineers are focusing on some of the big problems facing our world today. Students will use the CAD program FabMaker Studio to design and fabricate solutions that will be shared and iterated on by classmates.
Programming and Coding – Grades 6th – 8th
In this elective students will be exposed to many different ways to perform some basic programming. Students will explore a variety of programming and coding options to create their own programs. They will learn about different scripts that can be added to Google sites and even write some of their own. They will also use multiple online sources for tutorials in a variety of programming languages and their applications.
Category – PHYSICAL EDUCATION
(24/25)
Middle School Physical Education – Grades: 6th-8th
Physical Education courses provide students with knowledge, experience, and an opportunity to develop skills in more than one of the following sports or activities: team sports, individual/dual sports, recreational sports, and fitness/conditioning activities.
Team Sports – Grades: 6th-8th
Team Sports courses provide the student the opportunity to compete in a wide range of team sports. They will be given direction and strategies important to these sports. They will also have the opportunity to develop teamwork, problem solving, and leadership skills important in becoming young adults. We will play a variety of sports as well as the common football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. This will be a high energy, action packed activity class.
Strength and Conditioning – Grades: 6th-8th
In this course we will be focusing on the development of athletes as pertains to strength and conditioning. We will be working with Kettlebells, Battle ropes, Med-balls, and body weight to workout with. We will discuss and implement the principles of training, like overload, progression, specificity, regularity, and individuality. We will be using the physical best activities and apply the FITT guidelines to improve health and overall fitness. This class is intended for students that compete in sport activities to help them improve their overall athletic ability.
Category – SPANISH
(24/25)
Spanish 1A – (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) – Grades: 6th-8th
Designed to introduce students to the Spanish language and culture. This course emphasizes (comprehension of the language and learning about the Hispanisc culture).Students will be exposed to reading, story-telling, songs, videos, etc. to attain novice performance in all modes of communication -interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational.
Spanish 1B – (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) (prerequisite=Spanish 1A) – Grades: 7th-8th
Designed to continue to develop student’s proficiency, Spanish 1B continues to develop their comprehension and communicative skills. Students will be exposed to reading, story-telling, songs, videos, etc. to attain novice performance in all modes of communication -interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Students who have taken Spanish continuously for 2-3 years should have developed enough understanding to be recommended to take Spanish 2 when entering high school. To get a recommendation for Spanish 2 in HS students will need to have Spanish in their 8th grade year.
Spanish 2/3/4- (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE) (prerequisite=Spanish 1B/2/3) – Grades: 6th-8th
Spanish 2/3/4 are staff recommended courses. These 3 courses are consecutive classes that build on each other.
Category – ACADEMIC SUPPORT
(24/25)
The following electives support the Colorado requirements of M.T.S.S. Students requiring additional support in Reading, Math, or in their Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be appointed to these electives by teachers.
Study Skills: 6th-8th
Study Skills is a staff-recommended course. This course will prepare students for success in high school and/or for postsecondary education. Course topics may vary according to the students involved, but typically include reading improvement skills, such as scanning, note-taking, and outlining; library and research skills; listening and note-taking; vocabulary skills; and test-taking skills. The courses may also include exercises designed to generate organized, logical thinking and writing.
Gifted Resource: 6th-8th
Gifted Resource is a staff-recommended course. Students will select an area of interest that they are not currently pursuing or not at the depth they would like in their classes at C2E. They will develop a project whose scope and sequence will span approximately one semester. After the project is proposed to and accepted by the instructor, the instructor will attempt to partner the student with a mentor who currently works in the student’s chosen area of study. Correspondence between mentor and student will be closely monitored. Students will be evaluated on how they work towards their goal, not the success of their product.
Math Enrichment (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE)
Math Enrichment is a staff-recommended course for students needing instructional reinforcement in math concepts. Students receive small group instruction or individual web-based instruction.
English Enrichment (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE)
English Enrichment is a staff-recommended course for students needing instructional reinforcement in Language Arts/fluency concepts. Students receive small group instruction or individual web-based instruction.
