Earth Science is the study of how matter and energy flow through the Earth and our Solar System. We will study plate tectonics in the geosphere, weather and climate in the atmosphere, the role of water in the hydrosphere, and our planet relative to the sun and other objects within our solar system. 

In Honors Biology, Students will be introduced to the Science of Life, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, the Cell, Heredity, Diversity and Evolution, Life Systems, and the Methodology of Science all in accordance with the Utah State Core Curriculum.

The objective of this class is to master skills helping students to facilitate the incorporation of the subject content into everyday life and prepare students for their specific future needs (i.e. College, Occupations, etc.) as it relates to the subject.

9th grade Language Arts is a continuation of what students learned in 8th grade. We focus on writing, especially argumentative essays, and reading both informational and literary text. The course is designed to encourage critical thinking skills and prepare the students for the SAGE test at the end of the year.

In Honors Language Arts the students go deeper with writing, reading and discussion. They will be researching and reading on a higher level than regular LA. This does not mean more work, it just means more interesting work.

Click HERE to read the Pre-Req's for Honors classes

Students in Secondary Mathematics I will deepen and extend understanding of linear relationships, in part by contrasting them with exponential phenomenon, and in part by applying linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend. Students will use properties and theorems involving congruent figures to deepen and extend understanding of geometric knowledge. Algebraic and geometric ideas are tied together. Students will experience mathematics as a coherent, useful, and logical subject that makes use of their ability to make sense of problem situations.  

Students in Honors Secondary Mathematics II will focus on quadratic expressions, equations, and functions, extend the set of rational numbers to the set of complex numbers, link probability and data through conditional probability and counting methods, study similarity and right triangle trigonometry, and study circles with their quadratic algebraic representations. Honors students will also represent complex numbers and their operations on the complex plane, solve systems of equations, prove and apply trigonometric identities, express conic sections algebraically, and solve problems using volume measurements. 

Geography for Life Students will demonstrate a comprehensive geographical view of the human and physical worlds and why they influence and relate to the environment, societies, and to global interconnectedness and interdependence.

• Develop map and globe skills of space and place.

• Develop and evaluate alternative uses of environments and resources.

• Demonstrate local, regional, national, and international connections

In Physical Skills students will learn to perform a variety of motor skills through workout routines and specific team and individual sports. Through class activities, students will gain insight into the benefits of being physically fit and develop strategies for achieving and maintaining life-long fitness. 

Physical Skills 1 is designed to develop competency in up to five different activities for individual, dual, and team sports with the emphasis on lifelong participation opportunities. This particular class will focus on lifetime fitness, yoga, dance, and crossfit activities. Volunteers from the offerings in the community will come to guest teach and we take field trips. 

BOS applies advanced concepts and principles using word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and electronic presentation software. Students will integrate applications learned. This course builds on skills in Digital Literacy. Students may have the opportunity to participate in industry level exams through Certiport. 

Intro to Python 1

Python is a popular programming language with simple syntax (coding). This introductory course will jump-start your future as you learn how to code your own programs, apps, and simple console-based games. Code Lego EV3 robots with Python as part of your experience. This course is intended for students who have no programming experience, yet will still challenge those who have coded before.

Intro to Python 2

Intro to Python 2 is the 2nd course in Python which will increase your coding experience with console based gaming programming as well as apps. This class will serve as a prerequisite to taking the concurrent enrollment courses in programming at the high school level. Code the newest Lego EV3 robots with Python as part of your experience and participate in classroom competitions!

This class is designed for students who want to improve their drawing skills as well as their interest in art. We will continue to explore a variety of contemporary artists and their work. The class is studio based and students will be able to develop and improve skills learned in previous

Art classes. Fee is required

Concert Band is composed mostly of 8th graders  or students with two years of playing experience on a band instrument.  This group learns grade 2 to 2 1/2 level music which it performs at two concerts during the school year.  It also usually performs in the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival in February/March.  This band helps to form the SCMS marching Warrior Band in the Fall for a number of local parades. 

Symphonic Band is composed mostly of 9th graders  or students with three years of playing experience on a band instrument.  This group learns grade 3 to 3 1/2 level music which it performs at two concerts during the school year.  It also usually performs in the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival in February/March.  This band helps to form the SCMS marching Warrior Band in the Fall for a number of local parades 

In this class students are introduced to the concept of choir. They are taught the basics of vocal production and proper rehearsal techniques. 

In this class students continue their choral education concepts learned in beginning choir. They pursue music with deeper concepts and difficulties. It is a good course to for preparing them for high school music making. 

• Pre-Req: Beginning Choir

Students in the beginning guitar class are expected to actively participate in group and solo work, learn to tune and care for their instruments and to play exercises, scales, rhythm patterns, chords and songs. An evening performance may be included in the grade. 

Orchestra Class is composed of 8th and 9th grade students who have usually had two years of experience in an orchestra or on a string instrument.  This group learns grade 2 to 4 1/2 level music which it performs at two concerts and some festivals,  during the school year.  This class also focuses on string techniques and ensembles.  It also usually performs in the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival in February/March. 

Theater I is a foundation course that introduces the basic concepts of characterization through improvisational exercises, text analysis, movement and voice, and scene study. Students taking Theater I at the Middle School level will learn the basic skills of acting and performing. This class is required in order to take Theater 2. 

Theater II focuses on honing a students performance skills, enhancing their knowledge of technical theater and design, and increasing the students ability to communicate both theatrically and critically. Teamwork and responsibility are key components to this class. 

Pre-Req: Theater I

Theater III is the Advanced Theater class at Snow Canyon Middle School. Students in Theater III will utilize both acting and technical training learned in Theater I and Theater II to produce plays, readers theater productions, and other performance venues throughout the course of this class.

Pre-Req: Theater I & Theater II

AFJROTC provides leadership training and an aerospace science program for high school students. This program is taught at Dixie High School and students who are interested can be bused from SCHS to Dixie High School in order to participate in this program. Air Force Junior ROTC helps build better citizens by providing courses in leadership, physical fitness, aviation history, the science of flight, and exploration of space. Additionally, cadets have awesome extra-curricular opportunities to compete on drill teams, a cyber protection team, and a space team. Juniors and Seniors can earn their private pilot's license. 

Speech and Debate is a one-semester introductory course that covers a variety of speaking skills and prepares students to participate in formal debates. Students will learn how to think critically, creatively and quickly while they are constructing their message and addressing opposing views.  This class will involve a great deal of public speaking.   

Film History is a semester course which introduces students to the history of how the movies came into being. Throughout this course, students will learn about the early inventions that led to movie making, the great turning points in cinema innovation, the major figures to influenced the medium, and the great movies that impacted the world of making film forever. 

The overarching intent of world language instruction in our program is to educate students linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which all students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other world language, which in this case is Spanish.

It is with these expectations that our intended learning outcomes are to;

• Develop competency and understanding of the language to engage in simple conversation in Spanish

• Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language and culture.

• Connect with other disciplines and acquire new knowledge.

• Develop greater insight into their own language and culture and realize that multiple ways of viewing the world exist.

• Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world in a variety of contexts and in culturally appropriate ways. 

German 1 is an introduction to the German language and its cultures.  We learn the language by speaking, listening, singing, playing, and eating.  We talk about the different German cultures in Europe and throughout the world.  Germany has the 4th largest economy in the world, and leads business and the European Union in Europe.  

Every year German classes have the opportunity to attend Swiss Days in Santa Clara, "Christkindlmarkt" in Salt Lake City at "This is the Place Heritage Park" and the BYU German Fair.  

The German language has a lot to offer you and the world, so Komm mit!

Student Council class is a hybrid; students enrolled are responsible to be excellent representatives of our school and will be involved in planning assemblies, dances, activities, and news announcements that promote a positive atmosphere and school spirit at Snow Canyon Middle School.  In addition, this class will include a curriculum of leadership, with an emphasis on learning how to be an effective leader. Concepts include leadership history, goal setting, time management, effective communication, diversity, and decision making.   

This class is a mix of eighth grade and ninth grade students.  9th grade Student Council Members are elected by ballot after applying and campaigning before the entire school population in the spring of each year.  Newly arriving 8th grade Student Council Members apply for the opportunity to join while 7th graders at their prior school.  The application process is based on criteria that includes core class GPA and citizenship appraisal, teacher evaluation from their prior school, peer consideration, creativity in the ideas offered within their applications and interest in promoting school spirit. 

All students either elected or selected for Student Council are held to a high standard of being an example in grades, service, and positivity.

Yearbook is a class that develops life skills through an understanding of the publication of each year's Snow Canyon Middle School Yearbook. Students are introduced to photography, graphic arts and journalism.

Each student must fill out an application and be interviewed by Mr. Strasmann prior to being admitted. 

The overarching intent of the dual immersion program is to educate students linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which all students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and in Spanish. It is with these expectations that our intended learning outcomes are to;

• Develop competency and understanding in more than one language and culture.

• Demonstrate understanding of the nature of language and culture.

• Understand and use oral language skills to communicate and to engage in conversations in Spanish.

• Use the skills, strategies, and processes of reading and writing in Spanish.

• Connect with other disciplines and acquire new knowledge.

• Develop greater insight into their own language and culture and realize that multiple ways of viewing the world exist.

• Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world in a variety of contexts and in culturally appropriate ways

Pre-Req:  Successful completion of Spanish 4 DLI Honors

The DLI Chinese 5 course is designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam in May and to develop a student’s communication skills in Chinese. The course is equal to a first-year university or college course with a complete approach to language proficiency and encourages interrelation of comprehension and comprehensibility, vocabulary usage, language control, communication strategies, and cultural awareness. The class will be held in Chinese 100% of the time and will use as its foundation the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational) as defined in the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century. The overarching intent of the dual immersion program and AP programs is to educate students linguistically and culturally to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. 

The DLI Chinese Culture, history & Media course is designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam in 9th Grade and to develop a student’s communication skills in Chinese.  Students will cultivate their understanding of Chinese language and culture by applying the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and community, personal and public identity, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.  The class will be held in Chinese 100% of the time. 

Students will help put away books, deliver copies to teachers, stock paper and organize the Library. If you LOVE reading or just plain LOVE the Library, then this class is for you!

Pre-Req:  Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

In this class students will be assigned to work under the supervision of the office staff.  They will be expected to answer phones, retrieve students from classes, and assist with non-confidential office duties.  They may be assigned to do other projects such as creating, preparing and posting bulletin boards.  Office aides are expected to be responsible individuals who can do their assigned tasks with a minimum of direct supervision. 

Pre-Req:  Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

The purpose of this course is to give students an opportunity to assist and tutor students in the special education classroom.  Peer tutors will learn how to teach functional concepts and other programs as trained by the classroom teacher.  This course may be taken more than 1 semester.

Pre-Req:  Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

Shop Aides serve as helper to the teacher during class. Some of their duties include, running the “Island area”, handing out supplies, helping students, organizing supplies, running errands, and maintaining equipment.

Pre-Req:  Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

In this class students will be assigned to work under the supervision of a teacher.  They will be expected to do filing, duplication, and assisting in preparations of non-student and non-confidential records.  They may be assigned to do other projects such as creating, preparing and posting bulletin boards.  Teacher aides are expected to be responsible individuals who can do their assigned tasks with a minimum of direct supervision. 

Pre-Req:  Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

This is an introductory course designed to help each student:

• Improve muscular strength and endurance.

• Clear understanding of developing a healthy mind and body. Including: nutrition, positive mental thinking, eating disorders, making workouts meaningful and successful in achieving your goals.

• Gain knowledge and understanding of weight training principles and concepts.

• Know the major muscle groups of the body; and associated exercises.

• Develop a personalized weight training program.

In this course students will be introduced to exercise routines involving resistance training. Students will learn about the major muscles of the body as well as lifts/exercises that can make those muscles stronger. Students will learn about various weight training equipment and how to safely use the it while performing technique sound exercises 

In this course, students will continue building on the skills they learned in Weight Training I. Students will learn about the major muscles of the body as well as lifts/exercises that can make those muscles stronger. Students will learn about various weight training equipment and how to safely use the it while performing technique sound exercises 

Strength and Conditioning Course Description:

For all athletes, heading into high school sports: We are excited to bring in a strength and conditioning class! It will work in tandem with advanced weightlifting  in order to: 

• increase speed, explosion, and motor control

• teach injury prevention movements, and pre-rehabilitation to recover at a high level

• Agility and reactive movements for athletes to acquire new movement and skills, more efficiently

• and more! 

**Pre-requisites: PE credit from eighth grade year or ninth grade 1st semester. For more information, meet with your school counselor!

This course is an introduction to the Behavioral Health industry. Topics that will be introduced in this foundational level course include understanding self-concept, effective communication, healthy relationships, addictive behaviors, mental health disorders, and protective laws and rights of patients and practitioners.

*This course is not designed for the student to diagnose themselves, friends, or family. It is an introduction to the behavioral health career field only.

This course will give the student an overview of technology and related careers. The students will also become familiar with the techniques used in the industry today and participate in several projects to gain hands-on experience in construction. 

This is a project-based class. Students will complete a variety of projects and activities to explore Engineering. Students will use problem-solving skills, tools, machines, and technology to do hands-on projects. Some of the Engineering areas students will explore are Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, and Architecture.

This course introduces students to basic apparel design and construction skills.  These skills prepare students for the exciting global apparel industry, entrepreneurial opportunities, as well as project management in any field.  Students will sew apparel and accessory projects.  Student leadership and competitive events (FCCLA) may be integrated into this course. 

This course explores how fashion influences everyday life and introduces students to the fashion industry.  Topics covered include fashion fundamentals, elements and principles of design, textiles, consumerism, and fashion related careers, with an emphasis on personal application. 

Students will utilize new technology to design, create and market fashion merchandise.  This technology includes:  3D printing, sublimation printing and application, use of Silhouette design cutting equipment, and more.  Students will explore entrepreneurial opportunities throughout several class projects in which they will demonstrate knowledge of business marketing strategies.  Students will become aware of the traits and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.    Students will also study various career opportunities in the fashion industry.   

The Fashion Apparel and Textiles Pathway prepares students for careers in the global industry and entrepreneurial opportunities by teaching apparel and product design using various construction techniques.  Students will also understand the skills and procedures necessary for sales and marketing in the fashion industry.

This course is designed to focus on the science of food and nutrition.  Experiences will include food safety and sanitation, culinary technology, food preparation and dietary analysis to develop a healthy lifestyle with pathways to career readiness.  Laboratory based experiences strengthen comprehension of concepts and standards outlined in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.  Student leadership and competitive events (FCCLA) may be integrated into this course.  

This course will give the student an overview of technology and related careers. The student will also become familiar with the techniques used in the industry today and participate in several projects to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing. 

Python is a language with a simple syntax, and a powerful set of libraries. It is an interpreted language, with a rich programming environment, including a robust debugger and profiler. While it is easy for beginners to learn, it is widely used in many scientific areas for data exploration. Python I is an introduction to the Python programming language for students without prior programming experience.  

Python is a language with a simple syntax, and a powerful set of libraries. It is an interpreted language, with a rich programming environment, including a robust debugger and profiler. While it is easy for beginners to learn, it is widely used in many scientific areas for data exploration. Python II is an introduction to the Python programming language for students without prior programming experience. In order to take this class, you must have taken Introduction to Python.

Pre-Req: Python II

Learning Strategies is an academic support class. Small class sizes allow for individualized instruction for students needing help with math, language arts, science, history and/or other subjects. Students are expected to come to class prepared to work on assignments or homework from their other classes. Chromebooks, desktop computers, and calculators are available for student use. Cell phones, headphones, airpods, etc. are not allowed during class. Grading is based on attendance and participation (using class time wisely). 

This class helps students increase their fluency in English by covering social and academic language. The subjects of academic language that students will concentrate on are Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics. ESOL uses the SIOP model and project based learning to help students with low English proficiency. 

The following classes are available for students with an IEP:

• Co-Taught Math

• Co-Taught Language Arts

• Language Arts Lab

• Math Lab

• Study Skills Lab

• Advisory