Middle School Electives Catalog

In Advanced Drawing, students will be reviewing basic drawing skills and the elements and principles of design, while exploring deeper how they are used in art. Students will also explore in-depth several different types of media and artistic styles in order to define their personal aesthetic and design their own compositions. In each section, students will observe and analyze various artworks to expand their knowledge of art history and develop their personal aesthetic.

All projects in this course will be an original composition by the student. After instruction and research, students will be given prompts and guidelines on how to create each project, but the final outcome will be unique to each person. At the end of the last four modules, students will participate in either a self- or peer-critique. This is to help students learn to analyze their work and grow as an artist from the input of others.

What makes an artwork a masterpiece? Why do artists create art? What is the difference between Rococo and Art Nouveau? In this course, students will discover the answers to these questions and more. Students examine the elements of art and principles of design and explore how artists have used these elements and principles in the creation of art for centuries.

In Drawing, students will experiment with several different art materials and tools to see what each tool can do best. Students will explore ordinary things around them to become more observant of the structures and meanings of things which can be seen in their home and community. Student work will be their own study of the forms, textures, movements, and patterns of the things that are seen every day.

Each project and each lesson is based on the one before it; so lessons should be completed in the order they are given. Directions should be followed exactly regarding which materials, sizes, and subject matter to use for each project. Each lesson will be a study of a new way of drawing. The examples given will show only the method and materials to be used, never the same subject or size as the project assigned. The examples are never to be copied. An example will only show one way of using the technique described.

By becoming more observant, experimenting with new materials, and exploring a variety of methods, students will continue to grow in artistic skill and enjoyment. Beyond fundamental skills built are various levels of creativity. Each lesson provides room for expressing the technical skill learned in a unique, creative way.

In  this course, students will learn how to design a beautiful and functional website. Students will learn how to take their design and translate it into a live website using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) programing languages. HTML5 and CSS3 will be the standard versions used in the class. Students will understand design components of websites, including the use of color, layout and when to use different techniques, typography rules, and the importance of imagery. At the conclusion of the course, students will present a website to the class. Upon completion of this course, each student will have hands-on experience creating a fully functioning website.

Students do not need to have a previous technical background with HTML or CSS prior to taking this course.

This course introduces students to classical and contemporary painting, techniques, and concepts, with emphasis on the understanding of its formal language and the fundamentals of artistic expression. Painting from still life, landscape, and life models from observation will be geared towards realism. At the same time, various other painting styles could be explored. Color theory, linear perspective, compositional structure, figure/ground relationships, visual perception, spatial concepts, and critical thinking skills will all be emphasized. Students will study and research major painting styles and movements in historical context. The hope is that students will use this global approach to develop a “critical eye” in evaluation of contemporary painting. Acrylic and watercolors are the mediums used in this class. The main emphasis of this course is to encourage and nourish individuality and creativity.

Students learn about the American legal system. They examine ethics, court systems, criminal law, and law of torts. They examine how the court systems work together, and what misconduct results in going to court. It is important for students to also understand consumer rights. As they progress through the online Business Law course, they will also gain an understanding from a business perspective what is right and wrong business actions and employment laws. As an employee or employer, it is important to understand the laws that protect the employee and employer. The study will focus on the formation of a business and the basic legal issues associated with each type of business.

The online Career Planning course guides students through the essential elements of the career planning process and the development of a defined career plan. Students will consider the many factors that impact career success and satisfaction. Using a process of investigation, research, and self-discovery, students will acquire the understandings critical to the career planning process. Upon completion of the course, students will have created a practical and comprehensive college or career transition portfolio that reflects their skills and abilities, as well as their interests, values, and goals.

Have you ever imagined where you'll be in 10 years? Picture the exciting journey ahead as you discover your unique skills and talents and see how they can shape your future career. In this course, you'll identify potential careers that align with your passions and strengths. But that's just the beginning. You'll learn how to set goals that pave the way to financial success, regardless of your chosen career path. You will also master the art of making smart decisions and solving problems effectively. Additionally, this course equips you with the skills needed to navigate the process of preparing, applying, and acing interviews for your dream job. Get ready to embark on an adventure toward your future success!

This course teaches students practical skills for understanding and managing their emotions, setting goals and getting organized, understanding and getting along with others in our diverse world, and making good decisions. Research shows that people who practice these skills have greater academic achievement as students and experience more success and satisfaction as adults.

In this online Computer Basics course, students will learn how to use productivity and collaboration tools, including G Suite by Google Cloud to create word processing documents, spreadsheets, surveys and forms, such as personal budgets and invitations.

Digital Media is a project-based survey of different forms of digital media, such as digital audio, imaging and illustration, movie editing, and animation. It’s oriented toward teaching broad, flexible tools and concepts that are not tied to any one platform or program. Each module of the digital media online course ends with a culminating task (like a podcast or short film), and students will be able to draft and develop their projects as they build their skills over each lesson.

Graphic Design is an introduction to elements of design, spatial relationships, typography, and imagery as they apply to practical visual solutions for self-promotion, resumes, logo design, Web design, and sequential systems. In this course, the student explores the basic foundations of design through a series of visual projects that explore the principles and elements of design. Students will work both with analog and digital media as they explore two-dimensional and three-dimensional design along with color theory. This course will help develop and explore a student’s ability to communicate visually.

In each lesson, students acquire new skills, which take some effort. Beyond fundamental skills, students will develop various levels of creativity. Each lesson provides room for a student to express the technical skill learned in his or her own creative way.

This course introduces students to the basic business concepts that will help them understand how a business survives in today’s economy and the role that consumers play in the same economy. Students will learn how to balance a checkbook, save for the future, and use credit wisely. Students will also learn how to create a resume and how to participate in a job interview.

In this course, students will learn how to start programming with JavaScript. Students will learn the basics of JavaScript including testing, functions, objects, arrays, loops, conditional code, operators, and syntax basics. Students will learn timing, animations, and how to debug. The class will conclude with a robust project that incorporates everything they learned in the semester.

This course is designed to prepare students for a career in journalism and media. The work in this course will equip students with the critical skills necessary to succeed in high school media, college media, and beyond. Students will read a variety of journalistic material and do a great deal of news writing. Students will also look at journalism from legal, ethical, and historic vantage points. Students can expect to complete numerous writing activities in a variety of styles including editorial, hard news, feature, review, and more. If students participate actively, they will gain tremendous skills that will serve them for the rest of their life. Individual and group project will also be a part of this class. This course is a project-based course and does not include traditional tests. Unit level understanding is assessed through unit projects.

From banner ads to billboards, newspaper articles, and Facebook feeds, people are constantly sharing ideas. This course looks at the many facets of mass media. Students will learn how the media shapes every aspect of our lives. Students examine the role of newspapers, books, magazines, radio, movies, television, and the growing influence of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Using a special in-house typing software, Simply Type, you will gain typing speed while learning the proper technique to become a keyboarding master. You will learn introductory word processing and electronic presentation skills as well as learn about computer hardware, the internet, and business application skills to prepare for your future career. This course provides middle school elective credit.

Learn the basic building blocks of coding using HTML to create a web page and use the in-course Python Guided Activity to try your hand at programming with Python. You’ll learn how to use functions and loops to write small programs and create basic graphics. In addition, you will learn about career opportunities in the coding field. This course will give you the experience you need to begin coding on your own, and it will get you ready to take more advanced coding courses in the future! This course provides middle school elective credit. 

Time to get your head in the game for this course! Join the team as you make big strides in continuing to learn about physical education through staying safe and responsible and reviewing the principles of training. Keep up the pace with developing your fitness and staying in the game with the health-related components of fitness (cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength, and body composition). Ready to show your team spirit? Learn all about teamwork, from what makes a good team to the actual skills of a team, like offensive and defensive strategy! Finally, we’ll take it solo as you explore things like wellness, movement concepts, and how to find opportunities in your own community! It’s game time!

Computer Science Discoveries 1 will take students on a journey into one of the fastest-growing and most exciting fields of the century. The course explores how computer science exists all around us, even when we’re not aware. It gives students the opportunity to fine-tune their computer knowledge and coding skills, learn binary, and create innovative projects. No previous coding experience is needed to succeed in this course.

Computer Science Discoveries 2 takes students on a journey into the world of technology. The course takes an in-depth look into how humans and computers interact, with an emphasis on thinking outside of the box. Students will tap into their creative side using a variety of technological tools to dream up and create their very own designs. The creation of these computational artifacts prepares students for careers in just about every field.

The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop learning strategies, critical-thinking skills, and problem-solving skills to enhance their performance in academic and nonacademic endeavors.

You see digital art every day, and in M/J Digital Art & Design 1, you not only will investigate digital art, but you’ll learn how to create it yourself! In this course, you will explore the tools, basic concepts, and techniques artists use to create digital art. You'll learn how to use computers, digital cameras, editing software, and more to create digital artworks and grow artistically as you evaluate and respond to your own work.

Get ready to unleash your creativity in the vibrant world of two-dimensional art. In this course, you’ll tell your own story through art as you develop skills in drawing, painting, and more! Get inspired as you investigate artworks and how to use the elements of art and principles of design as you create and reflect on your own art. There are supplies you’ll need to purchase for this class, but don’t worry. You have choices in what you can use

Get ready to move and learn what makes you move! You’re ready to take some big steps from the playgrounds of elementary school to embarking on your own personal fitness journey in this course. As you discover ways to stay physically fit—and why that’s so important—you’ll learn that fitness has different health and skill components and how those work. Take a deep dive into matters of the heart when you learn about target heart rate and zones and how those help you stay fit, too. As you progress, get ready for some big goals—how to set them, meet them, and keep reaching past them! You’ll also discover that fitness is more than muscle when we all follow the rules and treat each other fairly. All set? Let’s get moving!

Time to get your head in the game for this course! Join the team as you make big strides in continuing to learn about physical education through staying safe and responsible and reviewing the principles of training. Keep up the pace with developing your fitness and staying in the game with the health-related components of fitness (cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength, and body composition). Ready to show your team spirit? Learn all about teamwork, from what makes a good team to the actual skills of a team, like offensive and defensive strategy!

Ready to make the headlines? Prepare to dive into the exciting world of journalism to develop your reporting skills across various platforms such as print, web, radio, and multimedia. Take a trip through the history of journalism to explore its past, present, and future. Discover different careers in the field and learn how to research and write captivating news stories. Investigate what it means to be an ethical and responsible journalist who creates content that informs and engages an audience.

Dive into the mysteries of the mind, where you'll explore your basic needs, ways to effectively communicate your emotions, and skills to sharpen your decision-making ability. Discover ways to connect with others through effective listening techniques, conflict resolution strategies, and leading with empathy. By the time you're done, you’ll understand why you and your peers uniquely respond the way you do and develop approaches to help yourself and others navigate life’s ups and downs.

Time to take it to the extreme! Up your fitness game by exploring a variety of individual, dual, and extreme sports and learning about different intensity levels of physical activity. Dive deep into the principles of biomechanics and elevate your game by evaluating and making necessary corrections to your skill performance. Gear up to develop offensive and defensive strategies and explore sports from other cultures. You’ll also score big when you learn about sportsmanship and show respect for individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Are you ready to get in the game?!

cImmerse yourself in the beauty of the Spanish language and the richness of its diverse cultures. In the MJ Spanish Beginning course, you will learn beginning grammar and vocabulary skills to help build basic fluency and language proficiency. You will explore the culture of Spanish-speaking countries through engaging interactive games, videos, and audio recordings and apply what you learn through written practice, listening, and speaking exercises.Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Spanish language and the richness of its diverse cultures. In the MJ Spanish Beginning course, you will learn beginning grammar and vocabulary skills to help build basic fluency and language proficiency. You will explore the culture of Spanish-speaking countries through engaging interactive games, videos, and audio recordings and apply what you learn through written practice, listening, and speaking exercises.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Spanish language and the richness of the diverse cultures of the people who speak it. In the MJ Spanish Intermediate course, you continue learning grammar and vocabulary skills to help build basic fluency and language proficiency. You explore more of  the culture of Spanish-speaking countries through engaging interactive games, videos, and audio recordings and apply what you learn through written practice, listening, and speaking exercises.

The purpose of this course is to develop grade 6 students' beginning awareness, understanding, and application of language arts as it applies to oral communication concepts and strategies in a variety of given settings

Ever wonder about how you can create art? In MJ Visual Art I, you’ll connect with art created by other artists as you learn how to plan, create, and reflect on your own art. You’ll discover tools and techniques artists use as you create your own drawings, sculptures, paintings, photographs, and mixed-media works. You’ll need to purchase supplies for this class. But don’t worry, you have choices in what you can use!

Inspiration comes from anywhere. In MJ Visual Art II, you will explore artistic themes as you create your own portrait, earth, paper, Pop, and globally inspired art. Whether this is your first art course or one of many in your artistic journey, it will help grow your skills and techniques, as you experiment with mediums like drawing, painting, sculpting, mixed media, and even digital art. You’ll need to purchase supplies for this class. But don’t worry, you have choices in what you can use!

The Study Skills and Strategies course equips students with skills and understandings critical to effective learning. Using a unique approach to the traditional topic of study skills, this course weaves understanding regarding the role of the brain in learning into the instruction of discrete learning skills and strategies. Moving beyond a list of good tips and ideas, the Study Skills and Strategies course will challenge students to develop intentional approaches to learning. They will be required to make connections between the strategies and skills they learn in this course and the implementation of those strategies and skills in their other coursework. Upon completion of the course, students will have learned a variety of specific learning skills and strategies, gained greater understanding of their own learning preferences, and become prepared to develop and implement specific learning and study plans for any academic course or other learning needs.