To
complete registration all parents and students will pick a Core Elective
and/or Second Elective. Two Core Electives: If you prefer two Core Electives, check the box Two Core Electives. (You
still have to fill out part B below.) Remember: A parent needs to sign the registration form. Deadline for
Registration: Registration forms are due
to your teacher by April 28, 2006. Deadline for Activating
Registration: Schedules are activated
by picking up your schedule on Wednesday,
August
9th at 8-11a.m. or noon-3 p.m. (Make-Up is August 10th 8:00 AM-11:00 AM or Noon-3:00
PM.)
7th Grade
Required Courses
1- LANGUAGE
ARTS 7* Emphasizes
the four areas of language arts:
writing, reading, speaking and listening. In writing, the primary skill areas are
simple sentences, developing paragraphs, identifying and understanding parts of
speech, basic punctuation, and usage. In
reading, literary analysis introduces types of literature and encourages
appreciation, comprehension, and vocabulary development. Speaking consists of
effective oral communications. Listening skills are developed as a vital part
of all learning. A multicultural
perspective is included in this course.
2- MATHEMATICS*
Math 7 A
thorough review of basic skills in whole numbers, decimals, and fractions will
be presented early in the year. The
concepts of proportion, percent, basic geometry and introduction to variable
operations will follow. This course is
designed for students that have average basic math skills.
Pre-Algebra An advanced course for students having attained
proficiency in the basic skills at the elementary levels, and who have the
motivation to excel in a course having a more demanding pace and more difficult
concepts. A short review of basic
skills will be followed by work with geometry, integers, rational numbers and
variable concepts.
3 - Science 7* This is an integrated
thematic program that teaches science as an interdisciplinary study of nature
in which common principles operate in relationship to one another. Students
explore areas of life science, earth science, chemistry, physics and
technology. Emphasis is placed on
scientific thought and reasoning as well as laboratory experiences.
4 - Social Studies 7 This course provides a survey
of world physical and political geography.
It introduces students to various cultures and focuses attention upon
people and their relationship to their environment. Nine to twelve weeks will be devoted to
5 - Physical Education This course includes activities
which encourage life-long skills. Units
include soccer, basketball, volleyball, tumbling, strength training, table
tennis, dance, orienteering, and aerobic fitness. Physical education classes
also study basic sports physiology, anatomy, training programs, sports
nutrition, and lifetime fitness. These
are areas not covered in any other area of the 7th grade curriculum. PE is an "academics in action"
program that confers upon students the knowledge and skills to remain fit using
the principles of modern sports science.
*Special Classes: There are specialized courses available to those
students who qualify for Special Ed. or Gifted Ed. services. You will be automatically registered for
these courses if you are currently in one of these programs.
Elective Classes: These descriptions are found in the Second Elective
Descriptions.
Intermediate
Band: For students
with one or two years experience in elementary school. This class helps students to continue to
improve basic skills of tone production, posture, music notation reading,
intonation, and ensemble playing. Two
public performances will be given. Home
practice is required.
String Ensemble
(Intermediate Orchestra): This class is for those
students who have had one or more years of experience but are not yet ready for
the more advanced orchestra. Primary focus is on developing better tone
production, good intonation, rhythmic accuracy, whole note reading, refinement
of muscular coordination, and development of good practice habits. Elemental music theory is introduced. Public performance includes two evening
school concerts and an area festival.
Students should provide their own violins and violas. Cellos will be available for school use
only. (Another cello must be obtained
for home practice.) Private lessons are
highly desirable and strongly recommended.
Intermediate
Choir: This
class is designed for students who wish to explore the art of singing or
continue membership in a vocal performance ensemble. Emphasis will be the basics of proper singing
technique: posture, breathing,
pronunciation, quality tone production, and projection. Basic music theory and history will be
introduced as well as song in multiple languages. Two major performances will be presented in
this yearlong course. Students may
participate in solo/ensemble with permission of instructor.
Spanish IA: Students are active participants in learning experiences which assist
in developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing of
Spanish. Vocabulary is presented in thematic topics such as greetings and
health, body, classroom, calendar, weather, alphabet, colors, numbers, food,
clothing, telling time, sports, leisure activities and family. Units of study introduce the Spanish language
and culture and integrate basic grammatical structures to support linguistic
competency in both Spanish as well as English.
This course will help prepare students to live in our increasingly
diverse world by developing an appreciation for cultural and linguistic
differences.
French IA: Students are active participants in language learning experiences which
assist in developing proficiency in listening comprehension, speaking, reading
and writing of French. Vocabulary is
presented in thematic topics such as greetings and health, body, classroom,
calendar, weather, alphabet, colors, numbers, food, clothing, telling time,
sports, leisure activities and family.
Units of study introduce the culture of
Art: This fun-filled class will
utilize simple drawings, ceramics, painting, printmaking, sculpture and various
art methods. Students will be using new
techniques and their own interpretations to produce a variety of products from
the art of various cultures of the world.
Come and join the fun.
Book Club: Students who love to read for
fun but are just too busy should sign up for this alternative elective. Book Club membership includes: being surrounded by a variety of exciting
books, spending time in the library, seeing what’s new in the publishing world
via the Internet, talking about good books with others who love to read,
writing a weekly journal entry, and participating in special literacy
events. There is no outside homework in
this class which makes it a relaxing way to end the day!
Computers
(Business Ed.): For all levels of ability. All students will utilize the internet as
part of the class.
Conflict Resolution: Students will explore new skills to manage and
resolve interpersonal conflicts in positive ways. The course will emphasize communication (both
listening and speaking), cooperation, developing an understanding of self and
others, learning assertive behaviors, and appreciating cultural similarities
and differences. In this class, concepts
such as power, injustice, prejudice, and violence will be discussed. This is an active class where participation
is important. Whole group, small group,
partner, and individual activities and role playing will be incorporated into
daily lessons to practice and model the skills being taught.
Drama:
Drama will focus on three of those forms:
narrative, expository, and improvisation. The course will survey the history of drama
and its forms. Students are expected to
participate on a daily basis as developing actors. Students will be expected to write and work
cooperatively, as the semester project ultimately leads to a movie that small
teams write and produce.
Expanded Art (Semester course): This
class will expand upon simple drawings, ceramics, painting, printmaking,
sculpture, and various art methods. Art
History lessons are part of this broad exposure which this course provides.
Students use existing techniques and develop their own interpretations to
produce a variety of products from the art of various cultures of the
world. For the serious art student.
Family Consumer
Science: This
course is designed for students to learn the basics of the kitchen including
safety, nutrition, recipes, and the use of a variety of kitchen tools. A lab fee of $10 is requested to cover the
cost of food purchased.
Journalism: (Semester course) Students
with well-developed writing skills can enhance and enrich their abilities
through this elective. Students will
write articles, learn layout strategies and study journalism career
possibilities. The school or team
newspaper may be published from this class. Students will be selected for the
class through an interview process.
Live
Announcements (Semester
course): This course will introduce
students to a variety of broadcast technologies as well as communication
skills. Students will be producing and
anchoring not only daily school-wide announcements, but also video clips
including interviews and human interest stories, and short documentaries. Skills being emphasized include: public speaking, interviewing, storyboard
organization, video technology, and basic communication skills. Students will be selected for the class
through an interview process.
Math Art: Study of visual patterns in
math through art. Topics: 3-D geometric solids with unit origami,
string art, rotational designs, kaleidoscopes, and spirals.
Math Tips: Problems and concepts that you encounter in your
daily math classes will be explored further in this elective to improve
achievement and understanding. You will be able to choose each day to work in
small learning groups or alone on the math assigned in your core math class.
Multi-Media
Technology: Students will have fun
creating their own multimedia computer project using video clips, photos, graphics,
animations and more. The projects will
increase their research skills in many content areas as well as develop their
computer/technological fluency using a variety of software and equipment which
will include computer graphics, digital and video cameras, photos, scanners,
and cd’s.
Remedial
Rules of the
Road: In this
class students will explore road and driving safety for various vehicles; the
skills/knowledge will support learner permit basics.
School Business
Partnership: Suns Café (Semester course) based on
Service
Learning: This is a community and school project
oriented elective designed to integrate learning experiences from the general
school curriculum. The purpose is to
make learning and education experiences more immediately relevant and meaningful
to learners as well as increase good citizenship for all students.
Stock
Market: This elective affords the
student the opportunity to get his or her feet wet in the exciting world of
stocks and investment. Students pore
over daily stock quotes in the newspaper or check the prices and trends on the
Internet to build their portfolio.
Strategies of
Success: This elective presents and practices very specific
study skills as well as more complex group skills that can help establish
positive ways of interacting at school, at home, in a job, and in our
community. This class is enjoyable and
productive for all students.
Video
Production
(Semester course): This elective provides the opportunity for students to
become familiar with the process of taping, formatting, editing, sound, and
text overlay. Students will be selected for the class through an interview
process.
Wilderness
Safety (Hunter Education): This course is the Official Hunter Education Program sanctioned by the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The
Hunter Education course is divided into three main categories. These categories include: gun safety, wildlife management, and hunting
ethics. Successful completion of this
course will result in a life-long certification for Hunter Education that is
honored in all 50 states and
Writing to
Publish (Creative Writing): This elective will provide
opportunities for students to write in a variety of forms including: poems,
essays, stories, letters, and magazine/newspaper articles. This class will periodically publish
anthologies.
Youth Court (Semester course): This course is patterned after the Anchorage
Youth Court. Students will be trained in
court procedure and specific positions.
Enrichment field trips are scheduled for the crime lab and
courthouse. With teacher approval this
course may be taken for two semesters.