7-Week Elective Rotations
Electives Staff
6th Grade Band
Prerequisite
Successful completion of 5th grade band
Description
The middle school band is the middle rung of the instrumental music program. This course consists of a daily concert band rehearsal. Basic musical performance skills acquired in 6th grade band are reinforced and expanded upon in preparation for entering the high school band. Daily ensemble playing of scales, rhythm patterns, and concert arrangements are designed to expose students to light classics, contemporary literature, and popular music. Music skills, discipline, personal responsibility, pride and self-confidence are emphasized. Successful completion or skill set equal to completion of 5th grade band is required.
6th Grade Chorus
Prerequisite
N/A
Description
This course consists of daily choral singing. Basic music skills will be introduced: intonation, tone quality, expression, pitch, note accuracy, and blend. Daily ensemble singing of physical and vocal warm-ups prepare the students for a vocal rehearsal. They will be exposed to a wide variety of music styles and artists.
Skills for Life
Description
Students in grades 6th thru 8th grade will have an opportunity to take a course called LifeSkills. The LifeSkills Training program consists of 12 units that are designed to be taught in sequence; there are three additional violence prevention units, which are optional. Each of the units contain measurable student objectives, classroom activities and content.
Introduction to Performing Arts
Prerequisite
N/A
Description
Through the study of “The Lion King Experience”, students will be introduced to musical theater terms. These consist of: design elements, theater professions, characters development, rhythm, rehearsal process, ensemble, rehearsal Do’s and Don’ts, cues, foundations, parts of a story, vision, image and transitions. These terms apply to all musicals, but are exemplified by the stars of “The Lion King” that went on tour.
Physical Education
Description
The course is designed around activities focused on the development of team sports, individual sports, and personal fitness. The content is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills in order to maintain a physically active lifestyle. All activities included will help develop the student’s physical, emotional, and social well being.
Wellness
Description
The course offers the students an active and personal approach to learning skills, attitudes, and behavior needed to make wellness a lifelong habit. Topics included in this course are drugs, alcohol, and tobacco awareness, fitness, nutrition, physical, mental, and social health.
Media Center
Robotics
Description
Students will take the course Computer Science for Innovators and Makers through Project Lead the Way. This course teaches students that programming goes beyond the virtual world into the physical world. Students are challenged to creatively use sensors and actuators to develop systems that interact with their environment. While designing algorithms and using computational thinking practices, students code and upload programs to microcontrollers that perform a variety of authentic tasks. The unit broadens students’ understanding of computer science concepts through meaningful applications. Teams select and solve a personally relevant problem related to wearable technology, interactive art, or mechanical devices.
Digital Citizenship
Description
This 7-week class addresses critical issues facing children in a fast-changing world of media and technology. The innovative lessons teach students to think critically and develop the habits of mind to navigate digital dilemmas in their everyday lives.
7th Grade Band
Prerequisite
Successful completion of 6th grade band.
Description
The middle school band is the middle rung of the instrumental music program. This course consists of a daily concert band rehearsal. Basic musical performance skills acquired in 6th grade band are reinforced and expanded upon in preparation for entering the high school band. Daily ensemble playing of scales, rhythm patterns, and concert arrangements are designed to expose students to light classics, contemporary literature, and popular music. Music skills, discipline, personal responsibility, pride and self-confidence are emphasized. Successful completion or skill set equal to completion of 6th grade band is required.
7th Grade Chorus
Prerequisite
Successful completion of 6th grade chorus.
Description
This course consists of daily choral singing. Basic music skills reinforced are: intonation, tone quality, expression, pitch, note accuracy, and blend. Daily ensemble singing of vocal and physical warm-ups prepare the students for a vocal rehearsal. They will be exposed to a wide variety of music styles and artists.
7th Grade Art
Description
The course is designed to focus on using the Design Process to develop critical thinking, creativity and communication skills. Seventh grade art will build on the prior knowledge of the Elements of Art. Students will apply visual organization strategies to design and produce a work of art that clearly communicates information or ideas when given a prompt. The content will focus on developing specific techniques: facial proportions and perspective.
Physical Education
Description
The course is designed around activities focused on the development of team sports, individual sports, and personal fitness. The content is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills in order to maintain a physically active lifestyle. All activities included will help develop the student’s physical, emotional, and social well being.
Wellness
Description
The course offers the students an active and personal approach to learning skills, attitudes, and behavior needed to make wellness a lifelong habit. Topics included in this course are drugs, alcohol, and tobacco awareness, fitness, nutrition, physical, mental, and social health.
Skills for Life
Description
Students in grades 6th thru 8th grade will have an opportunity to take a course called LifeSkills. The LifeSkills Training program consists of 12 units that are designed to be taught in sequence; there are three additional violence prevention units, which are optional. Each of the units contain measurable student objectives, classroom activities and content.
Cybersecurity
Creativity & Design
Description
This course combines theory and problem-solving assignments to introduce students to the main concepts of creativity and design. Throughout this course students will examine the principles of design and critical thinking skills that lead to creative solutions. Within this collaborative learning environment students will complete hands-on activities that stimulate innovation and promote lifelong learning. Principles of physics and coding will be explored through design of a roller coaster. In Dream Home design, students will familiarize themselves with architectural symbols, scale, area and perimeter calculations.
App Creators
Description
App Creators (AC) introduces students to the field of computer science and the concepts of computational thinking, through the creation of mobile apps. Students are challenged to be creative and innovative, as they collaboratively design and develop mobile solutions to engaging, authentic problems. Students experience the positive impact of the application of computer science to society as well as to other disciplines, particularly biomedical science.
The unit provides students opportunities for self-expression. Teams identify a personal or community problem of interest to them that can be solved with a mobile app solution. The problem can address issues such as health and wellness, the environment, school culture, emergency preparedness, education, community service—the options are endless!
8th Grade Band
Prerequisite
Successful completion of 7th grade band.
Description
The middle school band is the middle rung of the instrumental music program. This course consists of a daily concert band rehearsal. Basic musical performance skills acquired in 7th grade band are reinforced and expanded upon in preparation for entering the high school band. Daily ensemble playing of scales, rhythm patterns, and concert arrangements are designed to expose students to light classics, contemporary literature, and popular music. Music skills, discipline, personal responsibility, pride and self-confidence are emphasized. Successful completion or skill set equal to completion of 7th grade band is required.
8th Grade Chorus
Prerequisite
Successful completion of 7th grade chorus.
Description
This course consists of daily choral singing. Basic music skills reinforced are: intonation, tone quality, expression, pitch, note accuracy, and blend. Daily ensemble singing of vocal and physical warm-ups prepare the students for a vocal rehearsal. They will be exposed to a wide variety of music styles and artists.
8th Grade Art
Description
The course is designed to introduce students to Art History. Students will study various artists and styles of Art. They will use critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration to develop various art projects based on famous works of Art. Students will combine technology, coding and robotics with Art to create a Moving Masterpiece.
Physical Education
Description
The course is designed around activities focused on the development of team sports, individual sports, and personal fitness. The content is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills in order to maintain a physically active lifestyle. All activities included will help develop the student’s physical, emotional, and social well being.
Health
Description
The course offers the students an active and personal approach to learning skills, attitudes, and behavior needed to make wellness a lifelong habit. Topics included in this course are drugs, alcohol, and tobacco awareness, fitness, nutrition, physical, mental, and social health.
Skills for Life
Description
Students in grades 6th thru 8th grade will have an opportunity to take a course called LifeSkills. The LifeSkills Training program consists of 12 units that are designed to be taught in sequence; there are three additional violence prevention units, which are optional. Each of the units contain measurable student objectives, classroom activities and content.
Intro to Python
Description
Students in 8th grade will participate in a 7-week course that is an Introduction to Python Programming. South Allegheny has a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s CS Academy which presents Python programming through a graphics-based platform. The CS Academy curriculum includes basic shape creation, usage of interactive notes, auto-graded exercises, creative tasks, and projects during those weeks. Auto-graded exercises help students practice concepts learned directly from the notes. Creative and collaborative tasks help students apply what they have learned to create something of their own.
Innovative Technologies
Description
This exploratory course introduces 8th grade students to a multitude of innovative technologies. Students will learn the basics of Autodesk Inventor for creating 3D designs (which will be printed using a 3D printer) and laser engraving for a portion of the class. Students will also explore the video production studio where they will create a stop motion animation production, create original music using Logic Pro X software, and record morning announcements using the TriCaster video creation system.
Cybersecurity