The 6th Grade Exploratory Wheel is designed to introduce students to a variety of Elective subjects, teachers and to create class community for our newest Jaguars. This year, students will spend eight weeks in each of seven subjects: Chorus, Drama, Environmental Science, French, Spanish, Study Skills, and Technology

While the subjects and teachers will rotate, classes will remain together throughout their journey through Wheel.

6th grade Drama is designed to be introductory, play-based, low anxiety and collaborative. Students will learn pantomime, stage terminology and theatrical conventions,  character study, vocal techniques, and improvisation. As this class is exploratory in nature and lasts only six weeks, there will not be any performances outside of class time. This class is aligned with the National Arts Standards as well as the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards for 6th grade.

6th Grade Exploratory Wheel Learning Targets

Students will be able to: 

•  Explore and discover new interests, courses and talents

• Be exposed to new forms of creativity, innovation and expression.

• Expand comfort zones and take risks

• Have an accepting and welcoming introduction to IHMS and Elective programs.

Drama Learning Targets

Students will be able to: 

• show confidence on stage

• speak loudly, distinctly and communicate meaning.

• create characters using voice, body and imagination

• devise original characters and storylines

• partner with others effectively onstage and in rehearsal

• exchange ideas, insights and feedback with stage partners, classmates, and instructors

•  understand  how to meaningfully contribute their part to the overall effect

• work creatively as an ensemble

• take risks onstage

• add their own voice/ interpretation to theatrical work

Essential Standards

We will be using Schoology as the information hub to for class communication, assignment tracking and grading. 

Creating—Anchor Standard 1: Generate and Conceptualize Artistic Ideas and Work                      Explore a scripted or improvised character by imagining the given circumstances in a drama/theatre work.

Creating—Anchor Standard 2: Organize and Develop Artistic Ideas and Work                               Contribute ideas and accept and incorporate the ideas of others in preparing or devising drama/theatre work.

Creating—Anchor Standard 3: Refine and Complete Artistic Work                                                                    Identify effective physical and vocal traits of characters in a drama/theatre work.

Performing—Anchor Standard 4: Select, Analyze, and Interpret Artistic Work for Presentation Experiment with various physical choices to communicate character in a drama/theatre work.

Responding—Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and Analyze Artistic Work

  Describe and record personal reactions to artistic choices in a drama/theatre work.

Grades

Wheel classes are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. Grades will be calculated based solely on participation and effort.

P= 59.5%- 100%

NP= below 59.5%

Assignment Tracking

We will be using Google Classroom as the information hub to for class communication, assignment tracking and grading. Grades will be updated every two weeks.

Performances

There are no performances outside of in class work required for 6th grade Wheel.

Attendance and Absence Policy

Students who miss school due to excused absences will be given the opportunity to make up all missed work. Upon returning to school, the student should check Google Classroom and/or  Infinite Campus to see what what missed. Absent students should utilize tutorial sessions as needed to go over missed work.  Late work will be accepted for full credit up until the last week of the semester. If a dress rehearsal or performance is missed due to a legitimate illness or family emergency, students will be assigned an alternate project of equal weight.

Tardy Policy

Students are expected to be in the classroom at the start of the class.  Students or in their seats by the bell can be marked tardy and receive classroom and schoolwide consequences. 

Consequences for unexcused tardies (per quarter):

• 1-3 tardies: Attendance office/teacher will document and attempt to resolve a student’s tardy problem by discussing the situation with student and parents, an optional assignment will be given reinforcing the importance of being on time.

• 4 tardies: Attendance office/teacher will document the tardies and advise an administrator. An administrator will conference  with the student and assign detention.

• 6  tardies: If tardies continue, additional detention will be assigned and an attendance contract will be put in place

• 9  tardies: If tardies continue and the  attendance contract as is not adhered to, consequences may include additional detention

• 12 tardies: Students and guardians will be recommended for Student Attendance Review Team (SART) and School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process referral. Students may also be advised to spend one or more days of a weekend at the school site. 

Homework

There will be little to no homework in Exploratory Wheel Drama.  

SRVUSD Homework Policy

Late/Missing Work

Almost all of our wheel work will be in person and performance based. Students absent during in class performances will be given time to make up the performance in class or during student support time. All late written work will be accepted until the last week of the wheel cycle.

Artificial Intelligence/ AI

All usage of AI programs in this class requires prior approval from the teacher. Before incorporating any AI tool into an assignment or activity, you must discuss your intent with the teacher. Any assignment created with (or supposedly without) the use of AI programs is subject to a verbal review with the teacher.  Be prepared to explain and discuss the content of your work, without the contributions or assistance of AI. 

Tutorial/ Student Support

On Wednesdays and Thursdays students are afforded  30 minutes of tutorial time. Tutorial is designed to provide students an opportunity to receive reteaching, intervention, enrichment, or time to work on projects, readings, and redos. Students will select which tutorial to attend weekly, based on their needs.  In some cases, teachers will assign students to attend tutorials they offer as needs arise. Weekly sign ups are in Infinite Campus and it is recommended that students wait until Friday to sign up for tutorial. Not all of the sessions are available until then. Students who fail to sign up for the week’s tutorials  by Monday at 8:30am may receive a lunch detention. 

 Academic Honesty

Please review page 13 of the IHMS Family Handbook

Students will need pencils, paper, earphones/earbuds and a place to safely store class handouts and/or scripts. They will also need their chromebook charged and ready to use. All other materials will be provided in class.

Please view the embedded presentation below to view the class expectations, rules and procedures.