7th grade students will have choices from fine arts and personal wellness classes.
Note: Successfully completing two semesters of fine arts classes during grades 7-8 can fulfill the high school fine arts graduation requirement though it does not earn high school credit.
This is a one semester class offered in the fall.
In Art 7, students transition from exploratory art discovery to a more discipline-based approach. This new approach focuses on developing students’ skills and techniques as well as content knowledge, while still allowing for exploration and individuality. Students have the opportunity to act as real artists through repeated sketching, concept development, and continued research and observation activities while they work with a variety of media. Art 7 includes a strong focus on independent, creative thinking and problem solving through project-based learning. This course is designed to cover a half year of instruction, but it can be completed at each student's own pace. The project-based activities have dedicated, multi-day lessons to allow students time to sufficiently and successfully develop their ideas and artwork.
This is a one semester class offered in the spring.
In Music 7, students explore the history, development, and attributes of American music. They will learn music theory and music reading skills, which are presented and reinforced within the context of historical musical works. Students will examine various genres of popular American music and will also perform music vocally and with a pitched instrument.
This is a one semester class offered in the fall.
Middle School Health introduces students to the dimensions of health and explains how students' decisions, along with various influences, affect their health and well-being. Students will learn about positive and negative peer pressure and how to apply the decision-making process to help them make safe, informed choices. They will have the opportunity to develop and apply their refusal skills when faced with questionable circumstances, such as pressure to use drugs or partake in other risky behaviors. Self-evaluation and goal-setting techniques are introduced to help a student achieve success, whether it be intellectually or physically. Students will learn about healthy eating habits, safe exercise routines, and ways to prevent disease. In addition, students will learn the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to handle conflicts by demonstrating effective communication skills. They will also study the body and how to care for each system, especially as their body matures and grows. Finally, students are introduced to basic first aid care and procedures to help keep themselves and others safe inside and outside the home.
This is a one semester class offered in the spring.
In Middle School Nutrition and Personal Fitness, students explore nutrition, dietary needs, and physical fitness. With a foundation in nutrition principles and practices, students read food labels and identify food safety concerns. With regard to physical fitness, students analyze exercise guidelines that promote healthy lifestyles.