8th Grade Electives

Crafts (AE)

Outcomes:

• Develop students' basic crafts skills and knowledge of different materials and processes

• Learning to make woodwork joints and furniture making.

• Understanding sustainable values and incorporating and maintaining it in everyday life

In this elective students will get a chance to try out their creativity in a practical way. We will use different materials and techniques to make unique pieces of functional work.

Students will use different planning programs and methods to come up with a project that they are excited to execute.

PE (AE)

Outcomes:

• Have fun while learning!

• Promote students' physical, social and mental well-being

• Supporting the pursuit of an active and healthy lifestyle

Students will be involved in various physical games and activities promoting physical fitness and healthy body & mind. Students will also be introduced to new games & activities during the course and they will have a chance to coach and prepare games & activities.

Music (AE)

Outcomes:

• Learn to play and sing in a band

• Learn to sing and play cover songs

• Learn to write your own songs

In this elective you can choose what sort of music you would like to make. We can write your own songs, record with professional equipment and even make a video to go with it.

You might want to make a rap or electronic music, or simply a ballad with voice, piano and / or ukulele, or just play in a band. Bring your ideas and we can help make it a reality!

Outcomes:

• To be able to tell about yourself, your family and your interests in Spanish

• To be able to talk with others about daily life in Spanish and to order food in a cafeteria or a restaurant in Spanish

• To know the basics about Spanish-speaking countries and their culture - and survive in the Spanish-speaking world!

No prior knowledge of Spanish required! You will learn the basics of Spanish so that you are able to tell about yourself, order in a cafe or restaurant, talk about daily life and learn about Spanish and Latin American culture. 

Outcomes:

• Learn to tell about yourself in German

• Learn to use everyday key phrases in German

• Learn about the German culture

Guten Tag! Wie geht es Dir? Come and learn German. We start from the beginning so no pressure. If you already know English and Swedish is German a relatively easy language for you to learn. We will also get to know the German culture.

Outcomes:

• Introduce/talk about yourself in French

• Learn to use everyday key phrases in French

• Talk about the topic of your own interest in French

Bonjour! Ça va? Learn the basics of French by speaking, through drama, playing games etc. This course will focus on the communication skills and how to get by in everyday life situations in French. We will also get to know the French culture, such as the cuisine, the customs, the music etc. Bienvenue!

Outcomes:

• Critical thinking and learning to learn

• Cultural competence, interaction and expression

• Multi-literacy and comparative analysis

Students! Are you interested in watching movies? Film History elective is for you then! We will study movies from the early days of silent movies to the modern times of superhero blockbusters. We will look at how movies shape the world and how the world shapes movies. We will watch movies during our lessons and they will be our primary sources to understanding history and society. 

Outcomes:

• Have fun with your peers.

• Practice the emotions and body language needed to become a character and memorizing a script.

• Speak in front of a small trusted audience

During this elective we will be having fun while practicing various acting and speaking activities. Students will gain confidence to speak and perform in front of an audience. Speeches will be given in front of a small group of our class or the whole class if the student feels confident to try, and a drama performance will be given to the student audience we decide on together.

Outcomes:

• Understanding the principles of economics

• Understand how the economics cycle works

• Foster our entrepreneurship skills

In this course we want to understand the principles of economics. How the society  are build and how the spending of one is the earning of the other one. 

Which skills do we need to enter in the economic cycle? How can I foster my entrepreneurship skills in order to earn money in the future.

Outcomes:

• To understand the core concepts and areas of sustainable development.

• To explore human activity and its impact on natural resources, ecosystems and climate

• To develop problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking skills to address real-world environmental challenges.

Are you interested in nature, the welfare of our planet and civic activism? Do you want to learn how to save our planet? Do you want to make a difference in your school and the global community? Join the Agents of Change! In this elective, we will learn about the different areas of sustainable development, such as biodiversity, climate change and cultural diversity. We will also try to implement more sustainable practices in our school and the surrounding areas. From renewable energy to waste reduction, from climate change to eco-friendly inventions, we will explore exciting topics through hands-on activities and team projects. Join us and let’s make a difference!

Outcomes:

• Logical thinking & problem solving skills

• Learn the basics of electronics using Arduino

• Develop Python programming skills

This course prepares you to challenge your thinking, examine your current instruction and stretch your knowledge of what it means to be in the world of Robotics & Coding. 

This course is about building your own robots with Lego Mindstorms kit along with Micro Bits & Arduino

You would learn the real life application of Robots and how important they are in our lives and in the present highly digital world.

You would get an opportunity to participate in a Regional level Robotic Competition.

You will be learning problem solving and reasoning skills as you advance in your studies. 

It’s a project based study where you would get a chance to work on many different projects.

You would also develop your team working skills which would be quite useful later in your working life.

We would use Chromebooks and Mindstorm applications to write the program and pseudocode. We would start with Visual coding; once you have grasped the basics of programming, we would move on to Text programming.

Outcomes:

• Learn to communicate and express yourself visually using different artistic mediums

• Develop visual literacy, media literacy and critical thinking

• Explore different artistic mediums and their possibilities

Students learn about visual culture in our society beyond the traditional fine arts. Assignments may focus on photography, graphic design, illustration, advertisements, memes, cartoons, digital art and media, product design etc. We will work with traditional mediums such as drawing and painting, but also digitally when suitable. Each medium is approached from an environmental perspective to help the students learn sustainable and sensible ways to use materials and care for tools.

When possible, we visit exhibitions and participate in the production of the school's digital and printed publications.

The grade is affected by both the working process and the finished projects.

Outcomes:

• Learn Finnish faster

• Support Finnish studies

• Learn to communicate in Finnish

Do you want to learn Finnish faster? Do you need support with your Finnish studies? If you answered yes then this is an elective for you.

Outcomes:

• Creative Design Skills: Students learn to plan and sketch their own knitting project, choosing materials, colors, patterns, and techniques that match their personal style and skill level.

• Technical Knitting Competence: Students develop practical knitting skills—casting on, shaping, pattern reading, finishing techniques—and apply them independently to complete a self‑designed product.

• Project Management & Reflection

Design & Knit Your Own Project!

Do you want to create something warm, stylish, and completely your own? In this elective, you get to design and knit a personal project from start to finish. Whether you dream of a cozy hat, colorful socks, soft mittens, a long scarf, or something totally unique, this course gives you the skills and freedom to make it happen.

You’ll learn essential knitting techniques, explore different yarns and patterns, and bring your own ideas to life with guidance and support in a warm, chill atmosphere. No previous experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

Join us and craft something you’ll be proud to wear all winter long. 

Your creativity, your design, your project.

Outcomes:

• Learn how the brain affects learning, memory, and decision-making

• Learn to think critically about ethical questions related to AI, emotions, and behavior

• Learn how science impacts everyday life

In this elective, you will explore how your brain works and how understanding it can help you make better decisions. We will discuss questions such as: Should schools use AI to track learning? How do emotions influence our choices? Can we “train” our brains ethically?

You will take part in fun activities, experiments, and debates that help you think critically about the connection between science, learning, and ethics. You’ll also learn how to apply these ideas to your own life, schoolwork, and well-being.