MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Mixed Media Art (Grades 6-8)
Materials Fee: $35
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Mixed Media Art Course Description: In this class students will learn how to express themselves through art. They will explore the basic principles and elements of art including color theory, value, form, and line. This class will help students observe and understand the beauty of God’s creation through a variety of class projects. Students will also study great works of art from master artists. They will gain an understanding of the techniques and media used by the artists and create their own works of art with that influence as a foundation.
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Graphic Design (Grades 8-12) Not offered in 2024-2025
Mr. Ron Noel
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Course Description:
In this course students will be introduced to the fundamentals of graphic design and the graphic design industry. They will learn what designers do, and what graphic design is (it’s more than just creating pretty pictures). Students will learn to create thumbnail sketches, rough sketches, and comprehensive design, the building blocks of the design process. Students will discover the fundamentals of 2D design, the foundation of visual communication: points, lines, planes, shape, balance, rhythm, unity, and color. Students will learn and practice the design process—the process designers use to find solutions to visual problems. Students will be introduced to basic typography and learn how type is a powerful communication tool. Students will create designs based on what they learn in class. The class will be fun and enjoyable and will be a great starting point for all creative students and especially those interested in pursuing graphic design as a career.
Curriculum will be provided by the instructor. Students will be responsible for miscellaneous art supplies.
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Introduction to Spanish (Grades 7-8)
Instructor TBA
Course Description: This class is perfect for the student who wants to get a feel for the Spanish language and have a strong foundation for High School Spanish 1. Students will build foundations in vocabulary, verb conjugation,
pronunciation, syntax, and grammar usage, and they will have fun while doing it! After completing this class, students will be able to:
• Meet and greet someone, talk about themselves, and ask others about themselves.
• Say, write, and understand full sentences using vocabulary, verbs, and grammar concepts within the context of themes
• Ask and answer questions in full sentences
• Have short conversations about various topics
• Write or tell short stories with a theme
• Conjugate and use verbs in context as well as figure out how to conjugate new verbs based on what they know
• Give and follow instructions and participate in games and activities using only Spanish
• Pronounce with skill
Students will also get to work at home on learning correct pronunciation as they listen to audios of the vocabulary being pronounced by a native speaker. This class is designed to be highly interactive; therefore, grading will be based on class participation (repeating after the teacher, completing oral exercises, participating in the in-class activities) and completion of assigned weekly homework.
Parental Involvement: Parents will need to hold students accountable for completing the weekly homework assignments. Parents (or the student, if parent chooses so) will also need to grade the homework every week (answer key will be provided). Students will need to come to class prepared to show the graded homework and to discuss any questions they may have.
Required Curriculum: Spanish for You! Mi Vida Student Textbook for Grades 7-8
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Critical Thinking Skills and Brain Games (grades 7-8 )
Materials Fee: $20
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Course Description:
Critical Thinking is one of our students all-time favorite classes! This is an exciting and entertaining class period of thinking games, activities and even a mystery guest or two. These mind-challenging games will also focus on spatial reasoning and detective strategy. This curriculum, developed by a HEED teacher years ago, has equipped many of our students to think in a whole new way. Teaching critical thinking raises IQ’s and boosts inventiveness, and studies show that kids become better learners when they are forced to explain how they solve problems. "Critical thinking comprises a number of different skills that help us learn to make decisions. It is the ability to evaluate information to determine whether it is right or wrong. To think critically about an issue or a problem means to be open-minded and consider alternative ways of looking at solutions.” Through the use of riddles, puzzles, and hands on group activities students learn to think, analyze, create categories, identify relevant information, reason and construct arguments, test hypotheses, recognize fallacies, and analyze evidence all while having fun. In fact, research suggests that explicit instruction in critical thinking may make kids smarter, more independent, and more creative. This hands-on learning experience will help students build critical thinking skills in preparation for high school logic while having loads of fun. Students taking the critical thinking class must be in pre-algebra math or higher to handle the math work in this class.
Parental Involvement: There is very little work required at home. Weekly homework worksheets are done online at home, and students are required to practice their mental math skills at home with a parent 5 minutes a day. Parents are invited to assist in the class any week and to compete against their students at two different class periods during the year to solve mysteries! This class is so valuable for helping students master high school logic and geometry in later years.
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Required Curriculum:
Although most of the curriculum is provided to the students. There is one required book to purchase.
The Basics of Critical Thinking Workbook – Lessons and Activities (Grades 4-9); Written by Michael Baker; ISBN 978-1601445070
Prerequisites: Students must be enrolled in Pre-Algebra or higher.
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BIBLE: (FaithQuest: Unleashing Epic Adventures in Faith Fundamentals)
Mrs. Giovana Cavarretta
Supply fee $25
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Course Description: 
Prepare yourself for an exhilarating journey with "FaithQuest where we will unleash epic adventures in faith fundamentals.
This interactive Bible class for middle school students goes beyond the traditional sit-and-listen Bible study. Rather, students will delve into the foundations of their Christian faith, discover how it applies to their lives today, and develop habits and practices that will nurture their faith. All of this will be accomplished alongside their peers, fostering an environment where they can sharpen one another, just as iron sharpens iron. These 30 weeks will bring about life-changing experiences, reinforcing truths, and instilling habits that will compel our students to seek everything that God has in store for them, rather than seeking validation from our culture.

Join us as we embark on thrilling quests to unveil the Word of God, understand who He is, and discover our own identities and destinies.


FaithQuest will:
- Empower students with practical skills for a fulfilling daily quiet time with God.
- Engage students in dynamic group discussions, exhilarating challenges, and captivating games.
- Unleash creativity through interactive activities that make learning about the Bible enjoyable.
- Uncover hidden gems of wisdom and applying them to real-life situations.
- Team up peers to create an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and faith.
- Help students form deep bonds that will extend beyond the course, turning classmates into friends on their faith journeys together.
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Curriculum: Kingdom Quest Ages 11-13 by Tony Evans ISBN 978-1-58997-808-9
Developing a Quiet Time Youth level by Not Consumed Ministries
https://store.notconsumed.com/products/developing-a-quiet-time?_pos=1&_sid=1374664c5&_ss=r&variant=32755040485472
A journal (any notebook would do), Markers and/or coloring pencils, Bible (NIRV, NIV, ESV OR NASB
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