THESE ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT THE ENCORE CLASSES WILL FOCUS ON NEXT YEAR
ART
Students are exploring their creativity through visual arts! In this class students experiment with a variety of art materials and techniques to expand their skills and knowledge. All of the students will learn about a variety of contemporary and historical artists, and learn about the importance of art to develop problem solving skills, teamwork skills, self-expression, and visual literacy. Lastly, students will learn about exciting career opportunities in the visual arts field.
Students in 7th grade are learning and practice challenging techniques with perspective drawing, and will also be introduced to printmaking. Students will learn how to create depth in their artwork with tints and shades. If time permits, students will also learn the art of quilling.
Students in 8th grade will learn how to draw portraits using correct proportion. Eighth grade students will also be introduced to sculpture, developing figures and form and working on balance. Time permitting, students will further their knowledge in painting through the study of silhouettes and color theory.
MUSIC
The goal of Music classes at Stevenson Middle School is to introduce students to reading music notation, understand basic music theory, while exposing students to a wide array of music. All students will then apply those skills to compose their own music using Noteflight, an online music notation software program.
7th Grade: In Music class students will build upon their knowledge and focus on composing music. You will create several unique multi-part musical compositions. The class begins with review of concepts from 6th grade and then quickly transitions to creating simple single line melodies. As the class progresses we learn to use various scales and chords to create more complex compositions with various textures and parts. The final project is a composition that you create with 4 or more independent parts.
8th Grade: In Music class students will build upon their knowledge and focus on composing music on a larger scale. Lessons begin with a basic music theory review, how to read notes, basic rhythms, scales. The class begins with creating simple single line melodies. As the class progresses we learn to use various scales and chords to create more complex compositions. Projects will include how to make a hit pop song, create a hip-hop inspired piece of music. Students will work up creating a unique multi-part musical composition as part of their final project in a musical style of their choosing.
GLOBAL AWARENESS
7th grade: In Global Awareness class, students will review the difference between local, national, and global current events. Students will use these geographic terms and combine them with 10 Global Awareness topics (water, food, health, transportation, economy, energy, education, shelter, war, and waste) to analyze current events. Students will then learn the differences between a liberals and conservatives and figure out where they stand. Students will learn how to analyze political cartoons while exploring hot topics like social media use, transportation innovation, global warming, immigration and more! The project may include making a collage around one topic, a brochure focused on an issue around a topic, and a visual representation of culture and government around us.
8th grade: In Global Awareness class, students will review the difference between local, national, and global current events. Students will use these geographic terms and combine them with 10 Global Awareness topics (water, food, health, transportation, economy, energy, education, shelter, war, and waste) to analyze current events. Students will then review the differences between a liberals and conservatives and figure out where they stand. From there, students will have get to choose the topics we explore in class both visually and with text. Topics may include gun violence, terrorism, nuclear weapons, antibiotics in our food, gender equality, race relations, and more. Students will have the say in most of the topics we cover! Final projects may include creating a political cartoon that takes a pro, con or neutral stance on the topic it represents. If a semester option occurs, the final project may include either service learning or writing a letter to the mayor and/or governor about successes and areas of growth in our community.
DRAMA
In drama class, all students are given the opportunity to express their creativity in a comfortable and safe environment. Sixth graders learn about improvisation and the ways performers use their minds, bodies and voices. Through a series of projects, students learn about the origins of plays and musical theatre. These projects include writing/performing short scenes and presenting choral readings.
Seventh graders work together on a series of projects that explore the performing arts. In our miming unit, students plan and perform mimed scenes. We will write song parodies and create music videos. The class will put the characters from Jack and the Beanstalk on trial. Each student will have a role to play. These are just some of the projects we will do this year.
Eighth graders begin the class learning about comedy. We will write comedy sketches and present them to the class. You will will learn about set design and create model sets. We will study costuming and design costumes for each other. These are just some of the projects we will do this year.
JOURNALISM
Students will learn about media and explore current events. Using technology, students will learn to analyze a story and discover the key components of well written work. Students will also be given the opportunity to write news articles as well as learn about different news mediums. Seventh and eighth grade students will work collaboratively to produce an on-line newspaper.
STEM
7th Grade STEM:
In 7th Grade STEM students will solve problems centering around helping patients with Cerebral Palsy to live better and more fulfilling lives. Projects may include constructing a specialized ankle brace, modifying a puzzle cube to be more accessible to children with CP, and designing a therapeutic toy of your choice. Students will also learn how to draw 3D and 2D engineering drawings and model their designs using computer software.
8th Grade STEM:
In 8th Grade STEM students will learn the physics surrounding building robotic mechanisms and how to use computer programming software to make their robots run. Projects may include windmills, pull toys, race cars, and a variety of other robotic projects.
Students are exploring their creativity through visual arts! In this class students experiment with a variety of art materials and techniques to expand their skills and knowledge. All of the students will learn about a variety of contemporary and historical artists, and learn about the importance of art to develop problem solving skills, teamwork skills, self-expression, and visual literacy. Lastly, students will learn about exciting career opportunities in the visual arts field.
Students in 7th grade are learning and practice challenging techniques with perspective drawing, and will also be introduced to printmaking. Students will learn how to create depth in their artwork with tints and shades. If time permits, students will also learn the art of quilling.
Students in 8th grade will learn how to draw portraits using correct proportion. Eighth grade students will also be introduced to sculpture, developing figures and form and working on balance. Time permitting, students will further their knowledge in painting through the study of silhouettes and color theory.
MUSIC
The goal of Music classes at Stevenson Middle School is to introduce students to reading music notation, understand basic music theory, while exposing students to a wide array of music. All students will then apply those skills to compose their own music using Noteflight, an online music notation software program.
7th Grade: In Music class students will build upon their knowledge and focus on composing music. You will create several unique multi-part musical compositions. The class begins with review of concepts from 6th grade and then quickly transitions to creating simple single line melodies. As the class progresses we learn to use various scales and chords to create more complex compositions with various textures and parts. The final project is a composition that you create with 4 or more independent parts.
8th Grade: In Music class students will build upon their knowledge and focus on composing music on a larger scale. Lessons begin with a basic music theory review, how to read notes, basic rhythms, scales. The class begins with creating simple single line melodies. As the class progresses we learn to use various scales and chords to create more complex compositions. Projects will include how to make a hit pop song, create a hip-hop inspired piece of music. Students will work up creating a unique multi-part musical composition as part of their final project in a musical style of their choosing.
GLOBAL AWARENESS
7th grade: In Global Awareness class, students will review the difference between local, national, and global current events. Students will use these geographic terms and combine them with 10 Global Awareness topics (water, food, health, transportation, economy, energy, education, shelter, war, and waste) to analyze current events. Students will then learn the differences between a liberals and conservatives and figure out where they stand. Students will learn how to analyze political cartoons while exploring hot topics like social media use, transportation innovation, global warming, immigration and more! The project may include making a collage around one topic, a brochure focused on an issue around a topic, and a visual representation of culture and government around us.
8th grade: In Global Awareness class, students will review the difference between local, national, and global current events. Students will use these geographic terms and combine them with 10 Global Awareness topics (water, food, health, transportation, economy, energy, education, shelter, war, and waste) to analyze current events. Students will then review the differences between a liberals and conservatives and figure out where they stand. From there, students will have get to choose the topics we explore in class both visually and with text. Topics may include gun violence, terrorism, nuclear weapons, antibiotics in our food, gender equality, race relations, and more. Students will have the say in most of the topics we cover! Final projects may include creating a political cartoon that takes a pro, con or neutral stance on the topic it represents. If a semester option occurs, the final project may include either service learning or writing a letter to the mayor and/or governor about successes and areas of growth in our community.
DRAMA
In drama class, all students are given the opportunity to express their creativity in a comfortable and safe environment. Sixth graders learn about improvisation and the ways performers use their minds, bodies and voices. Through a series of projects, students learn about the origins of plays and musical theatre. These projects include writing/performing short scenes and presenting choral readings.
Seventh graders work together on a series of projects that explore the performing arts. In our miming unit, students plan and perform mimed scenes. We will write song parodies and create music videos. The class will put the characters from Jack and the Beanstalk on trial. Each student will have a role to play. These are just some of the projects we will do this year.
Eighth graders begin the class learning about comedy. We will write comedy sketches and present them to the class. You will will learn about set design and create model sets. We will study costuming and design costumes for each other. These are just some of the projects we will do this year.
JOURNALISM
Students will learn about media and explore current events. Using technology, students will learn to analyze a story and discover the key components of well written work. Students will also be given the opportunity to write news articles as well as learn about different news mediums. Seventh and eighth grade students will work collaboratively to produce an on-line newspaper.
STEM
7th Grade STEM:
In 7th Grade STEM students will solve problems centering around helping patients with Cerebral Palsy to live better and more fulfilling lives. Projects may include constructing a specialized ankle brace, modifying a puzzle cube to be more accessible to children with CP, and designing a therapeutic toy of your choice. Students will also learn how to draw 3D and 2D engineering drawings and model their designs using computer software.
8th Grade STEM:
In 8th Grade STEM students will learn the physics surrounding building robotic mechanisms and how to use computer programming software to make their robots run. Projects may include windmills, pull toys, race cars, and a variety of other robotic projects.