COLORADO EARLY COLLEGES MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSE DESCRIPTION HANDBOOK 2018-2019
INDEX INTRODUCTION.3 ADVISING...... 3 THE ARTS BAND........ 3 CHOIR......... 3 DRAMA........ 3 ORCHESTRA......... 4 VISUAL ARTS..... 4 COMPUTER SCIENCE..4 EARLY RELEASE....4 ELEVATE....4 ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS.5 MATHEMATICS.. 6 PHYSICAL EDUCATION.. 6 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY... 7 SOCIAL SCIENCE.. 7 YEARBOOK..8 WORLD LANGUAGES 8 INTRODUCTION This course description handbook is intended to provide information about the course offerings at Colorado Early Colleges Fort Collins Middle School. Please contact the teachers for more specific information regarding the curricula. ADVISING: Middle school students do not meet with an advisor. They meet with the Middle School Director (Mrs. Hockman) or the MS Administrative Assistant (Mrs. Jager), after taking the initial ACCUPLACER test. Students are advised within Elevate classes. Any schedule changes or course requests are handled by Mrs. Jager.
THE ARTS 2018-2019 COURSES Advanced Band Students in this elective will learn music reading & theory skills. Students must attend two mandatory evening performances, one per semester. Students are required to provide their own instrument. Instruments for band: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and percussion instruments. Band members must attend four mandatory evening performances (two each semester). Beginning Band Students in this elective class are required to provide their own instrument. Students will learn music reading & theory skills. Students must attend two mandatory evening performances, one per semester. Instruments for band: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and percussion instruments. Band members must attend four mandatory evening performances (two each semester). Choir This class is for students who want to sing all styles of music. Participants will be singing two-, three-, and four-part harmony. Students will learn the foundations of music notation, sight reading, chord structure, and music composition. Chorus members must attend four mandatory evening performances (two each semester). Drama Drama is an elective course open to all grades which will explore the creativity, imagination, and self-expression that make up the art of acting. We will discuss many aspects of theater, but will focus on group games, memorized scene work, monologues, improvisation, and class plays. This class will contribute to the development of 21st Century Learning Skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration. There will be an evening performance in the spring. Orchestra This is an elective class for middle school students who know how to play their instrument and read music well. We will play Grade 2 3+ music. Students must attend two mandatory evening performances, one per semester. Instruments for Orchestra: violin, viola, cello, upright bass. Orchestra members must attend four mandatory evening performances (two each semester). 6 th Grade Visual Arts Students in this elective class will study the fundamentals of visual arts. Skills such as perspective, shading, and color use will be taught. Students will create using a wide variety of media, including printmaking, watercolor, watercolor, markers, acrylic, pastels, and pen and ink.
7 th /8 th Grade Visual Arts This elective visual arts course builds upon the fundamental artistic skills of two and three-dimensional art. The first semester we will review techniques on drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. During the second semester, students will be given greater opportunities to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop their own personal identity through art. Students will also study cultural and historical events through visual arts during the school year. This course encourages personal meaning and expression through every piece of art. COMPUTER SCIENCE This elective course introduces students to the computer. It teaches internet safety and netiquette. Students will learn the Microsoft Suite of Products including Word, Excel, Power Point, and Access through the use of ageappropriate and engaging projects. Students in advanced classes will also learn coding. 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade classes will present different content. EARLY RELEASE Students who need to leave school before 3:00 pm due to sports have two options. They can leave after 7 th period and only choose one elective, or they can opt for study hall last period. Study hall students do not earn a grade. ELEVATE Elevate is a unique course designed specifically to teach middle schoolers executive functioning skills, as well as supplement and support the core curriculum. 6 th Grade Elevate Elevate will instruct students in organizational skills (organizing materials, managing time, task initiation), and introduce higher-order learning skills (goal setting, decision making and self-monitoring), while incorporating character and social issues. Elevate will also help with basic skills in math, reading, and writing, as needed, to help students be successful in other classes. 7 th Grade Elevate Elevate will instruct students in note-taking skills, organizational skills (organizing materials, time management, task initiation, prioritizing, etc.) and high-order learning skills (goal setting, decision making and self-monitoring). 8 th Grade Elevate Elevate will instruct students in organizational skills (organizing materials, time management, prioritization, task initiation, etc.) and high-order learning skills (goal setting, decision making and self-monitoring). Keyboarding and note-taking skills will be taught.
ENGLISH / LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSES 6 th Grade English Literature This course will explore the English language and literature. Content units will explore different genres, including: nonfiction, mythology and short stories, choice novels, grammar, drama, and finally, a poetry unit which are taught in accordance with Colorado State Academic Standards for reading, writing, and communicating. The class will incorporate hands on activities, reading strategies, writing opportunities, and group work to promote understanding and engage students. 7 th Grade English Literature This course seeks to promote reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will practice these inter-related skills with the help of their instructor, their peers, and on their own. This course will follow Colorado Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, and Communicating as we read a range of novels, short stories, poems, plays, and nonfiction texts and as we write fiction and research papers. Throughout the year, 7th graders will reflect on the theme of bravery and how our perceptions change with each text we read. 8 th Grade English Literature This course seeks to promote and develop reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This class will emphasize learning how to think in new and creative ways, how to effectively communicate our ideas both spoken and written, and how to gather relevant information from various text types. This course will follow Colorado Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, and Communicating. Students will pursue answering the question, "What does it mean to be human?" as we navigate through short stories, novels, poems, plays, and nonfiction texts. MATH CLASSES Basic Math 030 In this course, students will be learning, practicing, applying, and mastering foundational mathematics skills and understandings. Students will explore the connections between math and other disciplines while honing their abilities through individualized practice, hands on activities, and group collaboration. Math 8 This pre-algebra course is designed for 8 th grade students who need more support than a typical pre-algebra class would provide. Students will learn prealgebra skills as well as review and reinforce the foundational math skills learned in Math 030. Pre-algebra/Math 060 This course will examine the foundations of mathematical practices of real numbers, including the vocabulary, basic operations, and application of fractions, signed numbers, algebraic expressions, and the solution of basic first-degree equations, and word problems. The units covered in this course
will include: algebraic reasoning, integers, ratios, proportions, graphs, percent, geometry, and probability. Advanced Pre-algebra/Math 075 This course will examine the foundations of mathematical practices of real numbers, and is a bridge from pre-algebra into algebra. The units covered in this course will include: algebraic reasoning, integers, ratios, proportions, graphs, percent, geometry, and probability. Algebra I/Math 090 This course will examine the foundations of mathematical practices of real numbers. The units covered in this course will include: expressions, equations, inequalities, number operations, graphs, functions, systems of functions, exponents, roots, area, volume, statistics, probability, polynomials. Geometry This course will examine the foundations of mathematical practices of real numbers. The units covered in this course will include: reasoning, proofs, lines, congruent triangles, relationships within triangles, polygons, quadrilaterals, similarity, right triangles, trigonometry, transformations, area, surface area, volume, and circles. PHYSICAL EDUCATION This elective course will include teaching skills in each sport to create lifelong fitness. Content units will include soccer, volleyball, football, archery, disc golf, yoga, softball, dance, running and fitness, taught in accordance with Colorado State Academic Standards for Physical Education. The class will incorporate hands on activities, fitness, and group work to promote understanding and engage students in physical education. Students who are leaving early for sports should not plan on leaving from this class. SCIENCE 6 th Grade Science (Earth and Space Science) This course will cover all Colorado State middle school Earth systems standards including natural resources, geology, weather, and space concepts. Students will investigate and evaluate the workings of our Earth and its place in the universe through research, laboratory experimentation, and technology and career exploration. Students will develop their innate science skills of observation, questioning, and testing while building 21 st century skills in critical thinking and reasoning, innovation, collaboration, information literacy, and self-direction. 7 th Grade Science (Life Science) This course is largely based on life science that will include the fundamentals of biology. We will investigate, explore and discover various ideas using the scientific method throughout the year. The class will incorporate hands on
activities, experiments, group work along with reading and writing for content and understanding. 7 th or 8 th Grade Honors Science This is an invitation only class which will move at a faster pace than the regular science classes. Instructor approval is needed to enroll in this course. 8 th Grade Science (Physical Science) This course is largely based on physical science that will include the fundamentals of physics and chemistry. We will investigate, explore and discover various ideas using the scientific process throughout the year. The class will incorporate hands on activities, experiments, groups work along with reading and writing for content and understanding Animal Science This is an elective class intended for students interested in exploring veterinary medicine, wildlife biology, zoology, or other natural sciences. Students will learn about the animal kingdom including physiology, natural history, behavior, epidemiology, and environmental interactions. The course delivery will be based on student driven research, group projects, and hands on activities. STEM 7: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics This is a project based and hands on class. Students will learn how to utilize the Engineering Design Process, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to design, build and present projects. This class is designed to support and apply Math and Science content. Students will learn to document their projects and solutions in an Engineering Notebook, and produce presentations for each project. Projects may include, but are not limited to: Arduinos, solar cars, 3-D printing, forensics, electricity. Students enrolled in higher level math classes get priority enrollment consideration for this class. STEM 8: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Students must have taken STEM 7/iNNOlab before registering for this class. This is a project based and hands on class. Students will learn how to utilize the Engineering Design Process, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to design, build and present projects. This class is designed to support and apply Math and Science content. Students will learn to document their projects and solutions in an Engineering Notebook, and produce a presentation for each project. Projects may include, but are not limited to: Advanced Arduinos, CO2 cars, 3-D printing, roller coaster physics and soldering. SOCIAL SCIENCES 6 th Grade World History 6th Grade Ancient World History This course will explore world history from the dawn of man through the middle ages. Content units will be taught in accordance with the Colorado State Academic Standards for Social Studies and
will include the fundamentals of history, geography, economics, and civics. The class will incorporate investigative and critical thinking skills, inquiry activities, hands-on opportunities, reading and writing, and group work to promote understanding of all cultures and engage students. 7th Grade Modern World History This course will explore Modern World History from the Renaissance through World War II. Content units will be taught in accordance with Colorado State Academics Standards for Social Studies and will include an analysis of history, geography, economics, and civics at an intermediate level. The class will incorporate investigative and critical thinking skills, inquiry activities, handson opportunities, reading and writing, and group work to promote understanding of all cultures and engage students. 8 th Grade US History This course examines the origins, key events, and themes of the United States. Content units will be taught in accordance with Colorado State Academics Standards for Social Studies and will include an analysis of history, geography, economics, and civics at an advanced level. Themes explored in this class include: regional issues, continuity and change, rule of law, diffusion, and trade. STUDY HALL Study hall is offered as an elective 7 th period for students who need to leave school before 3:00 pm due to sports. These students may choose study hall or early release (no class last period). Study hall students do not earn a grade. YEARBOOK Students in this elective course will create the yearbook. In the process, they will hone their writing skills, as well as learn the basics of layout and photography. Instructor approval is needed to enroll in this course. WORLD LANGUAGES Spanish An introductory elective Spanish language course for 7 th and 8 th graders. Students who are successful in this course should be able to be successful in Spanish II at the high school. Students must have earned a B or better in English the previous semester to be enrolled in Spanish.