Descriptions of electives classes, listed in alphabetical order by course name.
All courses are a single trimester unless otherwise noted; students may take
the same course more than one time per school year.
Table of Contents
ALP Elective
Art 6
Art 7
Art 8
Choir 6
Choir 7/8
Composition (7)
Computer Applications (6)
Computer Graphics (8)
Creative Art – Sculpture/Jewelry (7/8)
Digital Design I (7/8)
Drama (6 and 7/8)
Instrumental Music – Beginner Band (6)
Instrumental Music – Concert Band (7)
Instrumental Music – Symphonic Band (8)
Instrumental Music – Orchestra 6
Instrumental Music – Orchestra (7/8)
Intro to STEM
Literature in Film (7/8)
Mentorship (7/8)
Music 6
Musical Theatre (7/8)
Physical Education (6 and 7/8)
Pre-Engineering 6
Pre-Engineering 7
Pre-Engineering 8
Publication Production: Yearbook (8)
Robotics (7/8)
Tech Theatre
Video Game Design (8)
ALP Elective
Required once during the year for students with an Advanced Learning Plan (ALP), the class has three major strands: social emotional learning, personal financial literacy, and individual passion projects. Part of the class time will be dedicated to supporting students in setting meaningful ALP goals and communicating their goals to their core teachers and their families.
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Art 6
Students will learn to connect, reflect, understand, and create through art. Students will create their own artwork, refine their techniques and strengthen their critical abilities using clay, paint, and pen and ink.
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Art 7
Students that wish to continue from sixth grade exploratory art will cover art history, design, drawing, painting, printmaking, clay, and careers in art.
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Art 8
Students will continue to explore art history, drawing, painting, printmaking, clay and potter’s wheel.
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Choir 6
Students will have the opportunity to sing a variety of choral styles and develop vocal techniques for both male and female voices. There will be a required evening performance at the end of the trimester.
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Choir 7/8
Students will have the opportunity to participate fully in all the aspects of vocal ensemble. Students will develop skills in vocal production, choral singing, care of the voice, reading rhythms, and pitches. In addition, they will learn solfège, sight-singing, ear-training, posture, choreography, and prepare for performances on stage. There will be a required evening performance at the end of the trimester.
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Composition (7)
Required once during 7th grade, students will work on writing skills and different types of writing for a range of purposes and audiences. Although there may be some opportunities for creative writing, the focus will primarily be on nonfiction, persuasive, informative, or technical writing.
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Computer Applications (6)
Required once during 6th grade, students will explore a wide range of applications, including (but not limited to) word-processing, spreadsheet, graphics, and database programs, and they may also cover the use of electronic mail and desktop publishing. Students acquire knowledge of and experience in the proper and efficient use
of previously written software packages. This course also includes keyboarding skills.
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Computer Graphics (8)
Computer Graphics courses provide the opportunity for students to explore the capability of the computer to produce visual imagery and to apply graphic techniques to various fields, such as advertising, TV/video, and architecture. Typical course topics may include modeling, simulation, animation, and image retouching.
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Creative Art – Sculpture/Jewelry (7/8)
Students will have the opportunity to focus on creating three dimensional works. Students typically work with multiple media, such as clay, ceramics, wood, metals, and textiles, but some courses focus only on one medium.
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Digital Design I (7/8)
In Digital Design I students make projects and solve problems in web design, game programming, 3D modeling, photo manipulation, and audio production. Students will learn about professional practices and explore college and career paths in these areas, which might include class visits from current professionals. This course can also include a student portfolio of digital work showing their creativity and problem-solving skill.
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Drama (6 and 7/8)
Students will study theater arts, which includes pantomime, monologue, using the voice, stage presence, lighting and sound, and theater history. Students will:
- Develop skills in pantomime and body control.
- Improve voice control in reading projection, articulation and inflection.
- Memorize and perform a monologue and a scene.
- Participate in production of a play as actor or technician.
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Instrumental Music – Beginner Band (6)
Students in this year-long course will have the opportunity to improve their technique for playing brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments for the purpose of concert performances. There will be required evening performances at the school.
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Instrumental Music – Concert Band (7)
Students with at least one year of experience on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument will continue in this year-long course to improve their technique for performance. Emphasis will be on literature, standards, and growth in technical skill. There will be required evening performances at the school.
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Instrumental Music – Symphonic Band (8)
Students with at least one year of experience on a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument will continue in this year-long course to improve their technique for performance. Emphasis will be on literature and growth in technical skill. There will be required evening performances the school.
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Instrumental Music – Orchestra 6
Students in this year-long course will develop their technique with string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments for the purpose of concert performances. There will be required evening performances at the school.
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Instrumental Music – Orchestra (7/8)
Students with at least one year of experience on their string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument will continue in this year-long course to develop their technique. Emphasis will be on literature, standards, and growth in technical skill. There will be required evening performances at the school.
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Intro to STEM
Seventh and eighth grade students in Technology Student Association take this second-trimester course to have structured time during the school day to work on the design problems and products they will be taking to state competitive events in February and and national competitive events over the summer. There will be a required overnight trip to the Colorado TSA State Conference in late February.
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Literature in Film (7/8)
Students will be challenged to look at a film as a literary piece of work by analyzing and connecting the visual elements of a film to the elements of a novel. Students will understand how visual effects translate into
the written word by analyzing both film and novel.
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Mentorship (7/8)
Students will develop group problem-solving skills and strategies for helping make lasting connections between students with and without disabilities in the school community. It may also be used as a class that focuses on developing leadership skills, organizing school-wide activities, and activities which model positive, respectful and extraordinary behavior.
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Music 6
Students will be exposed to a wide range of musical concepts: basic theory, history and appreciation through audio and video examples, hands-on activities and small presentations learning how to answer the question, “What is music?'.
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Musical Theatre (7/8)
Students will learn about the history of musical theater, watch portions of musicals from different eras and critique and discuss them. Students will have the opportunity to create their own musical idea at the end of the trimester.
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Physical Education (6 and 7/8)
Students will develop and enhance a wide variety of physical skills and activities, along with increasing overall fitness levels including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular
endurance, agility, flexibility, and motor coordination. Students will have opportunities to develop a positive attitude toward physical activity, build a positive self-image, increase cognitive knowledge of health-related fitness, promote teamwork, and encourage good sportsmanship. Students are expected to dress out in activity-appropriate clothing (a PE t-shirt is part of school fees) and participate to the best of their ability on a daily basis.
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Pre-Engineering 6
Students will be introduced to the engineering design process. In this project-based format, students will build computer apps, design and build CO2 cars for competition, and apply engineering principles to build bridges.
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Pre-Engineering 7
Students will explore technology-oriented applications of mathematics and science their study of design and the production process. Students will also use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and investigate future careers in technology and engineering.
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Pre-Engineering 8
Students will explore technology-oriented applications of mathematics and science to their study of design and the production process. Students will also use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research,
manage projects, solve problems and investigate future careers in technology and engineering.
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Publication Production: Yearbook (8)
Students will develop the knowledge and skills in this year-long course to produce the school yearbook. Students may gain experience in several components (writing, editing, layout, production) or may focus on a single aspect while producing the publication.
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Robotics (7/8)
Students will develop and expand their skills and knowledge so that they can design and develop robotic devices. Topics covered in the course may include mechanics, electrical and motor controls, pneumatics, computer basics, and programmable logic controllers.
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Tech Theatre
Students will learn about aspects of theater production that take place off the stage: sound, lighting, basic set design and costume design. Guest speakers that work in the field will visit the class. Field trips may be offered during the course.
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Video Game Design (8)
Students learn how to design, write, and test software using object-oriented software development environments. Students are introduced to the concept of humane game design and explore how computer programs and games can be used to communicate values, ideas, and thoughts. Students explore the idea of game and how this transfers to computers. Students learn how to convert their ideas into visual, audio, and story assets for their game software. Topics covered include fundamental design processes, use of variables in programming, program control and flow features, iterative statements, and incorporating files and graphics into software.
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West Jefferson Middle School reserves the right to change course offerings
based on enrollment and staffing.