2022-2023 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.
Category – ART
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.
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.
Ceramics 1 – Grades: 6th-8th
Learn the basic skills of Clay Building while creating unique pieces of art. These basic ceramic skills will give an understanding of how to construct clay and how the material responds. These skills can later be applied in Hand-Building Ceramics 2. These pieces are yours to keep! We will not make functional pieces, meaning no mugs or dishware.
Ceramics 2 – Prerequisite = Sculpture or Ceramics 1 – Grades: 6th-8th
Time to get messy! We will only work with clay in this class, as well as sketch before project making. These clay projects will be solely artistic and non-functional (meaning we will not make usable mugs or dishware). We will observe many great artists’ styles to incorporate and influence our works of art. We will use Elements and Principles of Art to create our designs and understanding of how to cultivate an idea and make it reality. These projects tend to be bigger as well as decorative.
Category – PERFORMING ARTS
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 – (SEMESTER 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.
Introduction to Guitar – Grades: 6th-8th
Learn how to play the guitar! This class will teach beginners all the concepts and techniques needed to become a proficient guitarist. These will include posture, string names and notes, tuning, chords, chord progressions, strum patterns, flat/finger picking, understanding tablatures (tabs) and more. We will explore various genres including pop, rock, folk, classical, country, bluegrass, and blues. Students can borrow a school guitar, but are encouraged to bring their own instrument if they have one.
Category – FINE ARTS
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.
Mammoth News (Newcasting/Journalism) – Grades: 6th-8th
This course will provide our future journalists an opportunity to stage a weekly school wide Newspaper/Newscast. Students will write and report news stories at the school and will broadcast stories for students and families to know what is going on at the school as well as upcoming events.
TED Talks for Teens – Grades: 6th-8th
Great communicators can change the world! TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The challenge of each TED talk speaker is to present their ideas in the most innovative and engaging way they can. In this class we’ll not only view and discuss TED Talks (beginning with selections from TED Under 20, created by innovators under the age of 20), but we’ll also create and film some TED Talks of our own. Come explore how others, and how we can, change the world through spreading ideas!
Storytelling/Creative Writing – Grades: 6th-8th
Come learn the ancient art of oral storytelling! Feel the thrill of mesmerizing others with fabulous folktales, fairy tales, fables, myths and legends. Learn the power of gesture, vocal control and some secrets for quelling forever those annoying nervous butterflies. Discover your own storytelling style and how to maximize your talents. Experience the power of holding an audience in the palm of your hand.
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.
Pursuing the Pennant – Grades: 6th-8th
You will be the Owner, General Manager, and Manager of a franchise consisting of All-Time Major League Baseball greats. Do you want Babe Ruth to hit clean up in your batting order? How about Willie Mays roaming your center field and smashing homers against the opposition, or maybe have Ty Cobb terrorize the opposition on the bath paths? You will name a franchise, construct a stadium, design a team logo and uniforms, and draft a 25-player roster under the restriction of a 55 million-dollar salary cap. You will play a season against your fellow owners, keep track of stats, and make the managerial moves so your team can Pursue the Pennant.
History Hunters – Grades: 6th-8th
Come take a journey back in United States history at some of the major historical and cultural events from the late 1800’s, all the way to recent times in American History. Could you have devised a better strategy to prevent the massacre at Little Big Horn? Why was the space race considered vital to our nation’s security? Why was Elvis an important cultural icon, and what role did Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King play in the Civil Rights movement of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Put your creative problem solving and critical thinking to the test as you dive into these fascinating and important events in US History.
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 daily discussions centered around current events and societal issues.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writing – Grades: 6th-8th
Students will read, watch, and listen to old-time radio mysteries on a wide variety of science fiction, mystery, and suspense works, including classic science fiction and more modern science fiction. Students will be asked to expand their thinking about science and its connection to humanity, social structures, and its role in our past and future.
Sources of Strength – Grades: 6th-8th
Sources of Strength is one of the nation’s most rigorously researched peer leader programs and is presently on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices – the nation’s highest level of prevention programs. Through this course, students will be trained to be Sources of Strength Peer Leaders. Students will gain knowledge in the areas of: social/emotional health, peer leadership, mentoring, activity/event planning and budgeting, and identifying warning signs of emotional crisis including risk of suicide. Students will plan and implement school-wide campaigns to bring awareness to positive support systems available to students at home, in their school, and in the community.
Category – MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECH
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.
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. In the second quarter, your objective will be to design and construct a Magnetic Levitation (MAGLEV) Vehicle that will travel down a track in 2 seconds or less. 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.
Inquiry and Investigation – Grades: 6th-8th
In this course, students will have the opportunity to ask science related questions and then research the answers or conduct practical labs to test a hypothesis. Students will learn about and use engineering design as they make working models in the inquiry and investigation process. Students will have the opportunity to present their work through written summaries and presentations. Students will work individually, in small groups, or with the teacher to find answers to their inquiries. Students will also learn about STEM related careers. Students will learn how to use technology appropriately and take responsibility for their own learning.
Animal Advocates – Grades: 6th-8th
This elective is designed for the civic-minded animal enthusiast. In this elective we will focus on issues that animals face in our community, in our country, and around the globe. We will learn about subjects such as community cats and TNR programs, humane education and encouraging the adoption of pets from shelters, endangered species conservation efforts, wildlife rehabilitation and sanctuaries, and much more. We will then design and implement an animal-related service project to benefit a local animal welfare organization.
Web Development, Interactive Animations, and Games – Grades 6th-8th
The course starts off with Problem Solving and Computer Concepts. The course progresses into developing personalized web pages. Content will be focused on how to share safe content while learning to structure the webpages with HTMLstructure and CSS style. Students will also practice valuable programming skills such as debugging, and teamwork through paired programming. The second quarter Problem Solving and Computer Concepts. The course progresses into developing interactive games through simple shapes and then sophisticated sprite-based games.
AI and Machine Learning – Grades: 6th-8th
The course is a hands-on opportunity to explore machine learning. Students will learn how computers collect data to make decisions and solve problems. Students design a machine learning app.
Physical Computing – Grades 6th-8th
The course explores different hardware platforms for computing such as Adafruit’s Circuit Playground, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino boards. Students will engage in using a variety of microprocessors for experimentation of inputs and outputs. The final project will involve a design challenge to innovate a design of choice.
App Lab Design Process / Data and Society – Grades 6th-8th
The course starts off with Design Process and Problem Solving Concepts. The course introduces the broader social impacts of computing. Students will engage in design challenges involved with solving problems through the use of Apps. The second part of the course introduces the importance of data in solving problems and how it relates to computers’ collection of data and information. The capstone project will reflect how computers use big data to solve a problem of choice.
Category – PHYSICAL EDUCATION
6th Grade Physical Education – required for 6th grade students
6th grade PE provides 6th grade students with knowledge, experience, and an age appropriate opportunity to develop physical education skills. This course is required for 6th grade students.
Middle School Physical Education – 7th and 8th grade only
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
Health and Wellness – Grades: 6th-8th
Topics covered within Health Education courses may vary widely, but typically include personal health (nutrition, mental health, stress management, anxiety management, and organizational skills) and consumer health issues. The courses may also include brief studies of environmental health, personal development, and/or community resources. This class will include meditation, yoga, daily affirmations, journaling, and calendar or planner preparation.
Category – SPANISH – Category – World Languages
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.
Category – ACADEMIC SUPPORT
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.
Gifted Resource
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
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
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.
Resource – required for all middle school students with an IEP
Resource is a time and place for students to work on goals and skills from their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students will work with learning specialists in small group or individual settings.
