Seventh Grade Middle Core
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
2017-2018
Band 7 (Three (3) trimesters)
To participate in seventh grade band, the student should have at least two (2) years prior experience in band, or at least two (2) years of private music lessons on the instrument to be played in the band. Students new to seventh grade band will have to successfully pass an audition by the band director to be placed in the band.
The seventh grade band meets five (5) days per week for the entire year. Emphasis is placed on developing and refining the student's performance skills in a large ensemble. The students are exposed to the total band "sound" including blend, articulation, intonation, phrasing, rhythm and dynamics. An additional period from the middle core every seven (7) school days is given to section rehearsals. The band performs in a Fall pep rally, a holiday concert, Winter pep rally and a Spring concert. As a reward, those students who have been in Band every year while in Middle School will be taking a day trip to an exciting destination.
Chorus 7(Three (3) trimesters)
Sing and dance your way to stardom. Participants in Chorus will learn how to sing, dance and perform in a large vocal ensemble. Do you like pop music, songs from musicals? If so, then you will really enjoy this class. . Experience improv, theory, and techniques, all taught in a fun way on selected days. Two major evening performances are required, one in December and one in May. You could also be a member of a Select Group and travel to an amusement park for a competition and then enjoy a day at the park! No previous experience in a vocal ensemble is required. As a reward, you will enjoy a pizza/bowling party. Those students who have been in Chorus every year while in the Middle School or 7th and 8th grade, will be taking a day trip to an exciting destination in 8th grade.
Chorus/Band 7 (Three (3) trimesters)
Students who would like to schedule both Chorus and Band may schedule this course. The Middle School schedule is set up in a six-day rotation. Students will report to Band on Days 1, 2, 3 and to Chorus on Days 4, 5, 6. This course meets each day for the entire year. As a reward, those students who have been in Chorus/Band every year while in Middle School will be taking a day trip to an exciting destination.
Taking Charge(One (1) trimester)
Taking Charge helps students take responsibility for their basic needs. Kitchen safety, cooking skills and sanitary food handing will be discussed while students learn to make and taste a variety of foods. Students will explore the food pyramid guidelines through an activity with the ChooseMyPlate.gov website (formerly MyPyramid.gov) to help make healthy food choices.
Additionally, students will demonstrate an understanding of basic sewing skills by completing hand sewing projects as well as projects using the sewing machines. Students will have a choice as to which main sewing project they want to purchase for the machine-sewing project. Additional topics may include doing the laundry, setting the table and using proper social etiquette skills.
Keyboarding 7 (One (1) trimester)
The students will learn to key all letters of the alphabet on the keyboard. Emphasis is placed on maintaining eye contact with the book and not on the student’s fingers (known as touch keying). Students will develop accuracy and speed while performing the work on computers with various software applications. This class is a prerequisite for Keyboarding Applications 7 or 8. If you took Keyboarding in Grade 6, you should take Keyboarding Applications in Grade 7.
Keyboarding Applications 7 (One (1) trimester)
The student’s keyboarding foundation will be utilized to learn the numbers, symbols and the ten-key number strokes. Emphasis will be placed upon improving accuracy and speed techniques. Students will learn to format letters, memos and reports. All work is performed on computers with various software applications (Keyboarding is a prerequisite). Both courses may be taken in the same school year.
Money Management 7 (One (1) trimester)
This course was developed to explain how money functions in today’s society. Students are exposed to various money concepts including: needs/wants, goods/services, types of resources, decision making, global trade, checking accounts and economic roles within our capitalistic society.
Multimedia 7 (One (1) trimester)
Seventh grade Multimedia students meet five (5) days per week for one trimester. This course provides a variety of opportunities for students to explore the areas of digital photography, video production, music composition and computer animation. Students will utilize technological resources such as digital cameras, video camcorders, computers as well as various artistic and musical tools and equipment. They will create their own short productions, which involve individual, as well as collaborative group work. Student projects and computer software will be selected based on grade level.
Music 7(One (1) trimester)
You will enjoy this all "Hands-On" musical experience. The three basic units of instruction are: "You Can't Stop the Beat" --This is a World Drumming adventure that you won't want to miss. Learn to play African drums along with other instruments from around the world. You will also be learning African dances. "Rock and Roll is Here to Stay" -- Six weeks of guitar instruction will enable students to learn the basics of playing the guitar. You will study note reading and how to play familiar rock songs as well as some of the classics. "Roll Over Beethoven and Tell Tchaikovsky the News" -- This is a Piano Keyboard adventure. Learn to play compositions from well-known composers. A keyboard is provided for each student.
Physical Education/Health 7 (One (1) trimester, Required for all students)
The Middle School physical education program provides our students with the opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and behaviors that lead toward overall wellness and participation in lifelong activity. By making a shift away from team sports, the emphasis of the physical education course will be placed on wellness and fitness which allows students to focus on individual improvement in these areas. To assist students in the achievement of personal goals, the physical education program implements many innovative activities such as outdoor activities, creative movement activities, self-guided fitness and cooperative activities. These types of physical activities are just a few examples of how students will be able to explore their interests in the Middle School physical education course.
Students will spend twenty (20) days during their Physical Education class in the Health classroom. The focus of this course is on overall health and wellness. Topics covered include a variety of health skills which include refusal skills, decision-making, goal-setting, stress management and relationship building.
Principles of Technology 7 (One (1) trimester)
Students will use provided materials (and occasionally computer software/peripherals) to discover how basic engineering relies upon the use of simple machines, most notably the wheel and axle. This hands-on, minds-on STEM course gives students an opportunity to experiment with and design solutions to real-world scenarios using scientific knowledge and applicable timeless processes/practices.
Students will be exploring some or all of the following:
Simple Machines (wheel & axle, gear systems)Work, Force and Energy Transformation
Creating Designs/Constructing ModelsDevelopment/Presentation of Solutions
Motion (rotational{torque} & linear)Testing/Evaluation of Hypotheses
Characteristics of a Technological SystemPrototyping/Modeling (including. 3-D printing)
Strings 7 (Three (3) trimesters)
To participate in seventh grade orchestra, the student should have at least two (2) years prior experience in strings or at least two (2) years of private music lessons on the instrument to be played in the orchestra. Students new to seventh grade string orchestra will have to successfully pass an audition by the orchestra director to be placed in the orchestra.
The seventh grade string orchestra meets five (5) days per week for the entire year. Students have the option of joining both Band/Strings or Chous/Strings with an even 3 day per rotation in each group. Emphasis is placed on developing and refining the student's performance skills in a large ensemble. The students are exposed to the total orchestra "sound" including blend, articulation, intonation, phrasing, rhythm and dynamics. The String Orchestra performs a Winter concert and a Spring concert.
Visual Arts 7 - Sculpture, Printmaking, Drawing and Painting (One (1) trimester)
The goals of the seventh grade visual arts program are: to develop and expand aesthetic perception (art criticism), to develop and expand knowledge and skills in order to express ideas imaginatively (art production), to acquire knowledge of historical and cultural developments which occur as a result of varying needs and aesthetic points of view (art history) and to develop a base for making informed aesthetic judgments (aesthetics) in the areas of Sculpture, Printmaking, Drawing and Painting.
Grade 7 Middle CorePage 12017-2018