6th Grade–Exploration

During the 9 week art rotation, students will work with several art media. We begin with still-life drawing to build confidence and observational skills. Color theory and painting follow with a project that connects to art history. A favorite of all 6th graders is the clay project related to one of their social studies units to help them make deeper connections in content (interdisciplinary connections.) Students follow up their works with written reflections.

7th Grade–Methods & Techniques

As students grow older, they have a greater desire to learn how to make something look “real” in art. Students walk away from this 9 weeks rotation with a greater understanding of these skills with value & shading in drawing, 1 point perspective, as well as the major color concept that nothing is ever one color but rather made up of many colors. Students put individual expression to their work as they paint and sculpt with clay. Students follow up their works with written reflections.

8th Grade–Personal Style

Students begin to understand what it means to develop a style as they spend a semester in this art rotation. Skilled drawing is explored with a thoughtful connection to self, pen & ink methods are developed, Pop Art is experienced through sculpting, and realistic drawing skills are developed with portraits. A mixed-media art piece is created with an interdisciplinary connection to English/ language arts and history. Students follow up their works with written reflections, artist statements and participate in art critiques.

6th Grade Band

Students who are interested in learning a band instrument should join this class their sixth grade year. It is a year-long course that begins with choosing one instrument (with the help of the instructor) to focus on through their band career. Students will learn how to read treble and bass clef, as well as basic rhythms and musical notations. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. The 6th grade band will perform three times throughout the course of the year.

7th Grade Band

This course if offered to 7th grade students who were in 6th grade band the previous year or transferred from another band. Students will learn more advanced rhythms, notes, and musical concepts. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. 7th grade band will perform at sporting events, at three concerts throughout the year, and in the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association’s Concert Performance Assessment in the spring.

8th Grade Band

This course is offered to 8th grade students who have two previous years of band instruction. Students will learn the most advanced rhythms, notes, and musical concepts for the middle school level. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. Students will also learn the fundamentals of marching in preparation for high school band. 8th grade band will perform at sporting events, at three concerts throughout the year, and in the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association’s Concert Performance Assessment in the spring.

***Any student wishing to join band without the requirements listed must get permission from the instructor before signing up for the course. If a student wishes to change instruments, that must be recommended from the instructor.***

Theatre I

The goal of 6th Grade Theatre I is to prepare students for the next level of theatre and help them gain confidence for 7th grade Theatre II and 8th Grade Advanced Acting. The skills students will have an opportunity to learn include: building confidence through performance, memorization, collaboration, reading comprehension and written expression. This semester long class will focus on the following specific areas:

• Develop character through games, performances and activities.
• Describe the relationship between theatre and society within a given time period.
• Creating character by replicating dialogue, movements and facial expressions of another person/object.
• Improvisation
• Develop memorization skills and further extend their reading comprehension.
• Write original scripts for in-class puppet performances.
• Creating hand props/puppets.
• Perform memorized monologues for in-class performances.
• Demonstrate proper audience etiquette.

Theatre II

The goal of 7th Grade Theatre II is to prepare students for the next level of theatre and help them gain confidence for 8th grade Advanced Acting and beyond. The skills students will have an opportunity to learn include: building confidence through performance, memorization, collaboration, reading comprehension and written expression. This semester long class will focus on the following specific areas:

• Develop character through games, performances and activities.
• Describe ways in which a selected art form is used in theatre.
• Demonstrate improvisation skills.
• Develop memorization skills and further extend their reading comprehension.
• Showing a character's emotion through the use of facial expressions.
• Demonstrate proper audience etiquette.

Advanced Acting

The goal of 8th Grade Advanced Acting is to prepare students for the next level of theatre and help them gain confidence for high school courses and beyond. The skills students will have an opportunity to learn include: building confidence through performance, memorization, collaboration, reading comprehension and written expression. This semester long class will focus on the following specific areas:

• Develop character through games, performances and activities.
• Write original scripts for in-class performances.
• Determine the needs and design the technical elements of scene.
• Collaborate with others to create a scripted scene.
• Develop memorization skills and further extend their reading comprehension.
• Learn the importance of set, make-up and costume design.
• Examine various art forms used in theatre (dance, music, stage combat)
• Demonstrate proper audience etiquette.

General Music 6

General Music is a quarter-long class for 6th graders. In this class, students will gain a basic understanding of musical notes and rhythms, musical styles and time periods, singing, and playing instruments. Students will sing every day, as well as analyze, evaluate, and create music. Students will learn to play West African drums during this quarter and learn about the study of multicultural music. Students will study a specific historical music era and learn about the cultural significance of Opera music. Students will also create “found music” with everyday objects, in the style of STOMP. Students should expect to participate fully each day in order to improve musical skills.

General Music 7

General Music is a quarter-long class for 7th graders. In this class, students will improve their understanding of musical notes and rhythms, musical styles and time periods, singing, and playing instruments. Students will sing or play instruments every day, as well as analyze, evaluate, and create music. Students will learn about identification of musical pitches and use of solfege for sight reading music. Students will learn to play acoustic guitars during this quarter, focusing on strumming chords. Students will study a specific historical music era and learn about the cultural significance of Broadway musicals. Students should expect to participate fully each day in order to improve musical skills.

Guitar and Songwriting 8

Guitar and Songwriting is a semester-long course offered to 8th grade students. In this class, students will learn to play the acoustic guitar, both with chords and with individual notes, and learn to create their own unique songs. Students will begin with basic understanding of how to play the acoustic guitar but will quickly begin working on their own replication assignments, based on their own musical interests. Students will do an individual chord accompaniment project and a guitar solo project. Students will also learn about songwriting by analyzing other artists’ work, then create their own individual songwriting projects with lyrics, a unique melody line, and guitar chords that the student can perform. This class relies heavily on project-based learning. Students will primarily be working at their own pace, learning to create and reach challenging goals for themselves, based on their own musical interests. Students do not need to own a guitar to take this class: students will be borrowing guitars for use during class time.

7th and 8th Grade Choir

Choir is a year-long course offered to 7th and 8th graders. Taking this course in both 7th and 8th grade years is encouraged, but not required. Students will sing every day in class, as well as to participate in class activities and assignments. Students will learn about rhythmic and melodic notation, tempo, dynamics, and vocal production. Students should expect to participate fully each day to improve musical skills and to complete the ensemble sound. There will be several concerts during the year, at which student attendance is expected. There may be field trips during the year, and students may also choose to audition for Honor Choir opportunities.

Sixth Grade Orchestra

Students who are interested in learning an orchestra instrument should join this class their sixth grade year. It is a year-long course that begins with choosing one instrument (with the help of the instructor) to focus on through their orchestra career. Students will learn how to read treble, alto, and bass clefs, as well as basic rhythms and musical notations. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. The 6th grade orchestra will perform several times throughout the course of the year.

Seventh Grade Orchestra

This course if offered to 7th grade students who were in 6th grade orchestra the previous year, have had private instruction, or transferred from another orchestra. Students will learn more advanced rhythms, notes, and musical concepts. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. 7th grade orchestra will perform several times throughout the course of the year. Students in 7th grade also have the opportunity to audition for state and regional ensembles.

Eighth Grade Orchestra

This course is offered to 8th grade students who have two previous years of orchestra instruction. Students will learn the most advanced rhythms, notes, and musical concepts for the middle school level. Students will play instruments every day in class and are expected to take instruments home to practice for best results. 8th grade orchestra will perform several times throughout the course of the year.  Students in 8th grade also have the opportunity to audition for state and regional ensembles.

***Any student wishing to join orchestra without the requirements listed must get permission from the instructor before signing up for the course. If a student wishes to change instruments, that must be recommended from the instructor.***

Physical Education

In Physical Education class students will participate in individual and team sports and lifetime wellness activities such as tiger ball, flag football, disc golf, ultimate frisbee, soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, pickle ball, and others. Students will learn team and individual strategies/skills for these sports.

Students will also participate in daily fitness activities designed to prepare them for success on the state mandated Fitnessgram pacer test as well as other components of the Fitnessgram fitness test.

STEM

In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), we will work to have classroom and real world experiences to help bridge the gap between the middle school and high school programs of study within WCS CCTE (College, Career, and Technical Education). STEM helps prepare students going into the CCTE courses at the high school with prior knowledge in order for them to be prepared. This will be a course to explore “What is STEM?” and will provide links between these areas of study with the students' core subjects.  

A student proficient in this course will understand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a collection of interrelated disciplines, rather than a series of isolated fields. Students will come away from this course with a thorough understanding of how the STEM disciplines work together to investigate the world, define problems, and create optimal solutions to benefit society. In this course, students will explore the history of engineering and technology; they will be introduced to the practices of science and engineering and technology; and they will explore various STEM fields to empower them to make an informed decision when selecting a career pathway into high school.