Elective Courses

Counseling

Possible electives available at Spring View Middle School are:

Intro to Music
Concert Band (year long)
String Orchestra (year long)
Choir (year long--offered in place of plus period)
Exploratory Spanish (one semester)
Spanish I (8th Grade only--year long)
Family and Consumer Science (formerly known as Home Economics) (one semester)
Exploratory Computer Science XCS (one semester)
Foundations in Technology FIT (one semester)
Computer Science Projects CSP 8th grade only (one semester)
Other possible electives may be assigned to support students in their academics or offer students opportunities for service within the school day.

Here is an introductory video about our music program.

Intro to Music

Introduction to Music is an entry-level course designed to expose 7-8th grade students to music. In this course students will learn how to read and write musical notation, explore various genres of music, learn about the history of famous musicians and composers, and learn basic drumming techniques. No previous musical experience is required and this is not a performance based course.

CONCERT BAND

This course is designed for the intermediate middle school student with 1-2 years experience. The class will continue to develop musicianship skills through the study of chosen literature in all genres of music. This group will have many performances during the year including concerts, fundraisers, and festivals. (No Guitar)

STRING ORCHESTRA

This course is open to all violin, viola, cello, and bass students. This class will develop musicianship through the study of string music from all genres of music. This group will have many performances including concerts, fundraisers, and festivals. (No Guitar)

CHOIR

This course is designed for the student that likes to sing. The class will develop the skills necessary for ensemble singing of music appropriate for middle school voices and in reading music notation. The group will have many performances during the year including concerts, fundraisers, and festivals. No prior singing experience is necessary. (year long plus period)

EXPLORATORY SPANISH

Grade Level: 7-8

Prerequisite: None

This is an entry-level course. Students will learn basic Spanish vocabulary and grammar rules. Students will learn to use conversational Spanish through classroom activities that include paired and group work, games, videos, presentations and projects. This class will flow easily into Spanish I so students electing to continue with Spanish 1 in 8th grade or high school will benefit from this introductory class.

SPANISH I

Grade Level: 8

Prerequisite: Grade 8 and GPA of 3.0 or higher in 7th grade.

Spanish 1 is a year-long course designed so that students learn vocabulary as well as the rules that govern Spanish grammar. Students will use conversational Spanish skills through immersion and TPR activities. Classroom activities will include paired and group work, games, videos, and presentations.

Students will be exposed to the different cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.

Emphasis will be on the acquisition of four skills: listening, speaking, reading and limited writing. Each unit will end with a culminating activity or project.

NOTE: Students who take Spanish I will earn high school credit for the course and the grade earned will count toward the student’s high school GPA.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE

This introductory course aims to enrich students’ lives through a variety of project-based learning experiences. It acquaints students with the career pathways connected to Clothing and Textiles, as well as Foods and Nutrition. In-class learning activities allow students to develop life-enriching skills, while showcasing their creativity and individuality. Our curriculum also provides a basis to pursue culinary courses in high school. Students will use classroom sewing equipment to design and construct their own unique products. During their study of food science and nutrition, students will prepare and taste test an assortment of foods. Students are requested to provide their own sewing supplies as well as a $20.00 donation toward consumable lab materials.

EXPLORATORY COMPUTER SCIENCE (XCS), Foundation in Technology, and Computer Science Projects

EXPLORATORY COMPUTER SCIENCE (XCS), Foundation in Technology, and Computer Science Projects

Exploratory Computer Science XCS (semester)

In XCS, students will practice foundational skills in both computer science content and computational practices, using a variety of tools to get there. The focus is a highly interactive and collaborative introduction to the field of computer science. Students will learn valuable skills such as exposure to markup and coding languages including Scratch and JavaScript. Problem solving and Human-Computer interactions will be explored along with physical computing elements including Edison robots.

Foundations in Technology FIT (semester)

In FIT, students will practice foundational skills in both computer science content and explore Python. Featuring physical computing with tools such as micro bits, students further develop their programming skills, while exploring more deeply the role of hardware platforms in computing. We will explore different systems used to represent information in a computer and the challenges and tradeoffs posed by using them. We will explore number systems and the connections between data and software and hardware.

Computer Science Projects CSP (semester)

(Prerequisite: 8th graders only; Completion of XCS & FIT with a B or better is recommended, Completion of XCS & FIT and Teacher Approval)

This class is designed for the student that has a strong interest in pursuing computer science classes in high school and a passion for the field. This class will consist of extended activities and projects, including 3D printing & design and/or physical computing. An introduction to the CMU CS Academy from Carnegie-Mellon University will upgrade the Python skills introduced in CS FiT. Further exploration into number systems (among other concepts) and their connection to the world will prepare students for further study in High School and beyond.