Central Middle School

Course

Course Description

Art: Explore! Imagine! Discover!  

Grade 6  

Course Number:  ELA600

This course is designed for Middle School students to become familiar with the many aspects of Art.   This course offers a rigorous investigation into art and design materials, techniques, and ideas. Interests in drawing, painting, fashion, digital design, animation, architecture and sculpture will be addressed in this course as well as the basic elements of art and design.  

Art and Design Crafters 7  

Grade 7

Course Number:  ELA700

This course introduces students to using computer technology to produce an artistic image. Students will learn computer illustration techniques, image manipulation, digital camera use, graphic design visual literacy, and the principles and elements of art in composition. Art historical movements will also be studied as they relate to student projects. From the study of fine arts (painting, drawing, etc.) to 21st century technology, i.e., the computer, the ways in which art is created is ever changing, dynamic and a living, breathing thing.

Art Palooza: PAST, PRESENT

AND FUTURE

Grade 8  

Course Number:  ELA810

Art Palooza is a fusion of Art History and Art Making. In this course, students will study and create art inspired by different movements, the artists who helped create these movements, and their work. Art history, art appreciation, problem solving, and critical thinking are integrated throughout this course, allowing students to develop increasingly sophisticated creative strategies, skills, and habits of mind.  

Course

Course Description

Intro to Engineering  

Grade 6

Course Number: ELS600

In this sixth grade applied technology course, students will practice critical and creative thinking skills related to solving problems.  Students will learn and become familiar with simple machines, forces and CAD programs and will be able to do basic calculations to calculate mechanical advantage.

Robotic Engineering I

Grades 7/8

No prerequisite

Course Number: ELS700

Robotics I will afforded students the opportunity to make real-world, hands-on connections to robotic devices that are currently being utilized in society today. Each individual will experiment with a variety of configurations while writing programs that allow the robot to navigate autonomously, with an emphasis on moving, turning, lifting, sensing the environment in terms of light, contact and proximity, monitoring interval states; and most importantly, solving problems that occur in everyday life. The entire program and lab experience is both kinesthetic and computer-based, to maximize student learning and understanding.

Robotic Engineering II

Grade 8

Prerequisite: Robotics I  

Course Number: ELS800

Robotics II is designed for students at the Middle School level who have previously taken Robotics I. The students will focus on hands-on methods for the design and development of robotic devices whose function is to accomplish prescribed tasks. Students will consistently be afforded the opportunity to make real-world connections to robotic devices that are currently being utilized in society today. The entire program and lab experience is both kinesthetic and computer-based, to maximize student learning and understanding.

Woods & Metals -7  

Grade 7

Course Number: ELS710

This program emphasizes design, problem-solving and hands-on experiences to develop STEM related skills. Activities focus on the proper and safe use of hand tools, careful measuring, power tools, stationary power tools, technology and the skills associated with each. The students will also demonstrate their ability to use mechanical drawing techniques to design innovative solutions, and select the proper tools to construct a project (solution) for a given problem. All projects have a problem-solving component.

Design and Problem

Solving

Grade 7  

Course Number:  ELS720

In this technology course, students will be challenged to think 'outside of the box' to come up with different solutions to real-world design problems.  The application of math and science concepts to real life situations is a core aspect to this cycle. Students will become familiar with the design engineering loop during this course of study.

Woods & Metals 8

Grade 8  

Course Number: ELS810

This course provides students with a hands-on experience closely resembling industry practice. Emphasis is placed on power tool safety and how each tool is used in relation to a particular problem or project.   Solutions are then constructed utilizing appropriate woodworking or metalworking tools and techniques. These hands-on skills are then used to produce projects where emphasis is placed on craftsmanship.

Course

Course Description

Intro to Foods

Grade 6  

Course Number: ELA610

The Intro to Foods course explores healthy food choices and proper food preparation skills through practical student application in the kitchen. In this course, the emphasis will be on safe kitchen work habits, recipe terminology, measurements and abbreviations, kitchen equipment, nutritious food choices, and the practice of healthy food preparation.  This course will alter the use of certain ingredients to accommodate dietary allergies, intolerances and religious food restrictions

7th Grade Cooking Explorations

Grade 7

Course Number: ELA710

      The purpose of 7th grade Cooking Explorations is to introduce students to food

      preparation and its related applications, as well as the cooperative group process.

      Emphasis will be on food preparation, kitchen equipment, recipe terminology and

      safe work habits.  Food related theories are discussed in class and reinforced through

      practical student application in the laboratory.  Understanding why and what we

      eat will promote an awareness of the implications of a healthy diet.

Creative Cooking

Grade 8

Course Number: ELA840

This course will explore culinary field areas of study including nutrition, safety and sanitation, proper tool and equipment use, culinary terminology, food preparation and presentation. This course allows students to have hands-on cooking experiences that develop practical life skills, a foundation for healthy eating and a passion for nourishing food.  This course will alter the use of certain ingredients to accommodate dietary allergies, intolerances and religious food restriction.

Course

Course Description

Sports and Literature

Grade 8

Course Number: ELH800

Students in this class will study the people and events that have shaped sports around the globe. Whether studying heroes such as Arthur Ashe and Billy Jean King, or delving into the fallen such as Shoeless Joe Jackson and Tiger Woods, students will explore how writers can’t stop writing about sports and why we can’t stop reading about it.

Course

Course Description

Band   

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 6  

Course Number:

ELA620

ELA625 Semester

Grade 6 Band acquaints students with the middle school instrumental program. Balance, blend, and specific stylistic skills are incorporated into the curriculum, along with more complex time signatures and rhythmic values. Proper playing procedures and proper band etiquette will be established. Time will be spent working with method books, hand-outs, band literature, and various other materials chosen by the band director.  

Grade 6 Band can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Band   

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 7  

Course Number:

ELA720

ELA725 Semester

Grade 7 Band will refine tone awareness, intonation, and blending skills with the primary goal being a mature performance. Emphasis is placed on utilization of each instrument’s full range and each student’s ability to control the instrument throughout the range. Time will be spent on ensemble playing, method books, scales in various keys, and use of additional materials chosen by the band director in order to achieve the goals of this level.  

Grade 7 Band can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Band   

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 8  

Course Number:

ELA820

ELA825 Semester

Grade 8 Band will perfect skills covered in previous levels of Band. Further challenges will include more advanced rhythmic variations, more intricate key and time signatures, and the introduction of ornamentations.  Time will be spent on solos and ensemble performance in order to bring each student to his/her maximum individual performance level. Students will receive regular band rehearsals, as well as additional rehearsals for groups outside the concert band in which the student is a member.  

Grade 8 Band can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Chorus  

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 6

Course Number:

ELA630

ELA635 Semester

Grade 6 Chorus acquaints students with the vocal music program at the Middle School. Emphasis will be placed on group awareness and participation. Students will continue adding to their knowledge of basic vocal skills through various technique building exercises and a repertoire of music literature appropriate to their level (folk tunes, patriotic songs, spirituals, songs from the musical theater, classical, popular songs, etc.)  

Grade 6 Chorus can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Chorus  

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 7

Course Number:

ELA730

ELA735 Semester

Grade 7 Chorus refines tone awareness, intonation and blending skills. Emphasis will be placed on the utilization of each singer’s full range and each singer’s ability to control the voice quality, pitch accuracy, and harmonic blending. The vocal students will continue adding to their vocal repertoire the study of specific choral literature appropriate to the level in unison, two-part, and simple three-part singing.  

Grade 7 Chorus can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Chorus  

Full Year or

Half Year/ Semester  

Grade 8

Course Number:

ELA830

ELA835 Semester

Grade 8 Chorus further refines all skills covered in all previous levels. This course will include more advanced choral arrangements appropriate to the level in unison, complex two-part and three-part singing. Special ensemble work with small groups will also be incorporated. Students will receive homogeneously grouped lessons.  

Grade 8 Chorus can be selected as a full year or a one-semester course.  

Course

Course Description

Multi-Media Production

and Design

Grade 7  

Course Number: ELS740

This course is designed to move students from multimedia consumers to multimedia producers and creators. Students will create podcasts, digital slideshows and movies using a project-based curriculum that reinforces primary subject areas as well. Students will analyze and critique media, comparing and contrasting various media sources.  This course allows each student to create his or her own production, determine the production’s target audience and choose appropriate delivery mechanisms and creation tools.

Young Makers  

Grade 7  

Course Number: ELS750

Students will be using Makey-Makeys, Littlebits, 3D Printers and more to create original projects. The only limit to what you create is your own imagination.

Coding and Game Design

Grade 8

Course Number: ELS830

This​ ​middle school elective offers an exploration to coding. Beyond the programming offered in Scratch, this course will explore coding in mods and JAVA. Computational thinking will be explored through core computer science concepts, including problem-solving, design, and programming. Students will explore concepts such as: data-statements, expressions, variables, values & errors, control structures - conditionals, texture packs, and schematics.

Course

Course Description

French, Italian, and Spanish Grade 6  

Course Number:   WLA611, WLA631, WLA641

In these full year courses, students explore basic skills that provide the foundation for advanced language learning. Students will be introduced to listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language.

French, Italian, and Spanish  

Grade 7

Course Number:   WLA712, WLA732, WLA742  

In these full year courses, the emphasis is on understanding, communicating, listening and speaking, reading and writing.  A variety of materials are used to introduce the student to the second levels of language study.

Level I - French, Italian, and Spanish

Grade 8

Course Number:  WLA810, WLA830, WLA840

In these full year courses, students will continue to practice and apply language skills. There is a comprehensive approach to develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking in a target language.