Electives
Middle School Course Descriptions
Anatomy (Moore Only)
Grade: 7
The Anatomy and Physiology course is designed for students to conduct laboratory and field investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in Anatomy and Physiology will study a variety of topics, including the structure and function of the human body and the interaction of body systems for maintaining homeostasis.
Art
Grades: 6-8
Visual Arts introduces students to art: its histories, criticism, theories, and production. The academic focus is on the elements and principles of design, cultural studies, and art history. The studio focus is expressing feelings and ideas through a variety of visual mediums, processes, problem-solving, and high-level thinking skills relating to art and composing the visual elements.
Art Appreciation
Grades: 7-8
Art Appreciation: incorporates the study of dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts to offer unique experiences and empower students to explore realities, relationships, and ideas.
Astronomy (Moore Only)
Grade: 8
In Astronomy, students focus on patterns, processes, and relationships among astronomical objects in our universe. Students acquire basic astronomical knowledge and supporting evidence about sun-Earth-Moon relationships, the solar system, the Milky Way, the size and scale of the universe, and the benefits and limitations of exploration.
Athletics - Boys
Grades: 7-8
Athletics offers a wide range of University Interscholastic League competitive sports in which students may participate. The emphasis is on providing a fundamental foundation for the young athlete in order to prepare them for the more demanding high school athletic program. The boys’ program offers football, cross-country, basketball, swim, tennis, and track. During the time that a sport is not in season, athletes will participate in a strengthening condition program. Some activities will require tryouts to select team members. *Completion of a medical history, physical exam and parental permission forms are required prior to participation. Students must meet state mandated academic and attendance requirements to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
Athletics - Girls
Grades: 7-8
Athletics offers a wide range of University Interscholastic League competitive sports in which students may participate. The emphasis is on providing a fundamental foundation for the young athlete in order to prepare them for the more demanding high school athletic program. The girls’ program offers volleyball, cross-country, basketball, soccer, swim, tennis, and track. During the time that a sport is not in season, athletes will participate in a strengthening condition program. Some activities will require tryouts to select team members. *Completion of a medical history, physical exam and parental permission forms are required prior to participation. Students must meet state mandated academic and attendance requirements to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
AVID
Grade: 6
The sixth grade AVID Elective course is an introduction to the AVID philosophy. Students will develop awareness of the values accompanying academic goals and success. The course will focus on building self-confidence and communication skills in working with peers and adults. Students will be exposed to reading strategies that will assist in vocabulary building and understanding a variety of texts, and will also focus on prewriting techniques, summary writing and structural components of note-taking. The students will increase college and career awareness through guest speaker presentations, field trip opportunities and research.
AVID
Grade: 7
The seventh grade AVID Elective course builds upon the components of the AVID philosophy. Students will refine short- and long-term goals, and as a result, begin to understand the value in taking charge of their actions. Students will start working on intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, as well as formal and informal speech. Students will complete self-evaluations and peer evaluations, related to reading, writing, organization, and speaking. In broadening their writing practice, students will begin considering audience, purpose, and form in their writing. Students will take an active role in their learning, understanding the roles of all members in assignments and collaborative lessons. They will expand their knowledge bases of note-taking, in relation to studying and test preparation. Students will be exposed to different field trips, guest speakers and research, to increase their knowledge of college and career options.
AVID
Grade: 8
The eighth grade AVID Elective course is the year of preparation for high school. The students will regularly exhibit and utilize the skills and strategies learned in the sixth and seventh grade AVID courses. Students will refine previous goals, focusing on their transition to high school as part of a college preparatory path. Their writing will focus on completing all steps of the writing process and varying style, word choice, vocabulary, structure, and voice. Major writing assignments include persuasive, expository, descriptive, and timed writing. Students will transition from active learners to leaders. Other areas of focus include increasing the use of technology and building upon their test preparation and test-taking knowledge. They will broaden their experiences with analyzing text and utilizing appropriate reading strategies in various settings. Students will become more involved in the presentations of guest speakers and field trips, particularly as they relate to preparation and prior knowledge. Students will also participate in college preparatory testing and build connections with the high school they will attend.
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Band - Beginning
Grades: 6-7
Students will be introduced to instrumental music through the selection of a band instrument. Students will learn to read music and basic music theory, including scale studies. Students will learn the elements of tone production, balance, and blend. Students will perform concerts and learn proper concert etiquette.
Band
Grades: 6-8
Prerequisites: Beginning Band
A student will be placed in a band class with students who have comparable skills. Auditions are required for placement in the more advanced band classes. The overall goals of the band program are to teach students: (1) respect for each other as well as adults, (2) responsibility through a positive work ethic, and (3) a love and respect for music through learning how to play band instruments and working together. *All students must meet University Interscholastic League (UIL) guidelines and participate in required band competitions and concerts with after school practices providing a portion of the students’ grades for the six weeks average. Students must audition with the Band department.
Career and College Explorations
Grade: 8
1 Semester Course
Career and College Explorations allows students to identify strengths and interests that align to college and career goals and to investigate different endorsements and pathways necessary for high school graduation.
Choir
Grades: 6-8
A student will be placed in a choir class with students who have comparable skills. Auditions are required for placement in the more advanced choir classes. Beginning choir students will be placed in a beginner class. The Junior High Choir Program focuses on sight-reading knowledge and building vocal skills and technique. Students may select choir and audition to participate in a variety of choirs. All students must meet UIL (University Interscholastic League) guidelines and participate in All- Region competitions as well as Solo & Ensemble Contests outside of the school day. Students must audition with the Choir teacher.
Digital Arts
Grades: 6-8
Digital/Visual Arts introduces students to art: its histories, criticism, theories, and production. The academic focus is on the elements and principles of design, cultural studies, and art history. The studio focus is expressing feelings and ideas through technology.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Grades: 6-8
Prerequisites: Yes - EB students with limited English proficiency, new to U.S. schools, or with less than three years of enrollment and a TELPAS Composite score of Beginning or Intermediate.
This course is designed to support middle school students who are learning English as a second language. Through engaging and interactive lessons, students will build essential skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The course focuses on developing practical language skills that will help students communicate effectively in both academic and social settings.
Students will participate in group discussions, hands-on activities, and projects tailored to their language level, allowing them to practice new vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills in real-life contexts. The class also emphasizes cultural understanding, encouraging students to explore and share their own backgrounds while learning about others. By the end of the course, students will gain confidence in using English, preparing them for success in school and beyond.
Environmental Science (Moore Only)
Grade: 7
In Environmental Systems, students conduct laboratory and field investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students study a variety of topics that include: biotic and abiotic factors in habitats, ecosystems and biomes, interrelationships among resources and an environmental system, sources and flow of energy through an environmental system, relationship between carrying capacity and changes in populations and ecosystems, and changes in environments.
Exercise Science (Moore Only)
Grades: 7-8
Students in this course will understand diet and exercise, as well as techniques to help patients recover from injury, illness, and disease. They will also learn about introductory health science topics such as employability skills, lifespan development, and ethical and legal standards.
Forensics (Moore Only)
Grade: 7
Forensic Science is a course that introduces students to the application of science to connect a violation of law to a specific criminal, criminal act, or behavior and victim.
Integrated Physics and Chemistry (Moore Only)
Grade: 8
In Integrated Physics and Chemistry, students conduct laboratory and field investigations, use engineering practices, use scientific practices during investigation, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. This course integrates the disciplines of physics and chemistry in the following topics: force, motion, energy, and matter.
Journalism (Moore Only)
Grades: 7-8
Students that enroll in this class will learn important journalism skills in the areas of news writing, editing, photography, layout / design and other elements of production.
Media Studies for Advocacy (Birdwell Only)
Grades: 7-8
An academic Spanish Language Arts elective, in which students use podcasting, vlogging, public speaking and other journalistic skills to identify and offer solutions to community problems.
Orchestra – Beginning
Grades: 6-7
Students will be introduced to instrumental music through the selection of an orchestra instrument. Students will learn to read music and basic music theory, including scale studies. Students will learn the elements of tone production, balance, and blend. Students will perform concerts and learn proper concert etiquette.
Orchestra
Grades: 6-8
Prerequisites: Beginning Orchestra
A student will be placed in an orchestra class with students who have comparable skills. Auditions are required for placement in the more advanced orchestra classes. The overall goals of the orchestra program are to teach students: (1) respect for each other as well as adults, (2) responsibility through a positive work ethic, and (3) a love and respect for music through learning how to play orchestra instruments and working together. *All students must meet University Interscholastic League (UIL) guidelines and participate in required orchestra competitions and concerts with after school practices providing a portion of the students’ grades for the six weeks average. Students must audition with the Orchestra department.
PE Dance
Grades: 6-8
In PE Dance students will learn fundamental skills in these dance techniques: ballet, modern, jazz, tap, folk, character, hip hop, and World Dance.
Physical Education
Grades: 6-8
PE includes a combination of activities designed for improving physical fitness and body strength. It also introduces a variety of team sports, individual sports, and activities. Basic skills, rules and team strategies will be taught. Students are required to actively participate each day in building team play with friendly competitions.
Professional Communications
Grade: 8
1 Semester Course
Professional Communications blends written, oral, and graphic communication in a career-based environment. Careers in the global economy require individuals to be creative and have a strong background in computer and technology applications, a strong and solid academic foundation, and a proficiency in professional oral and written communication. Within this context, students will be expected to develop and expand the ability to write, read, edit, speak, listen, apply software applications, manipulate computer graphics, and conduct Internet research.
Successful completion will result in .5 high school credits.
Robotics (Three Lakes Only)
Grade: 8
In Robotics, students will transfer academic skills to component designs in a project-based environment through implementation of the design process. Students will build prototypes or use simulation software to test their designs. Additionally, students will explore career opportunities, employer expectations, and educational needs in the robotic and automation industry.
Spanish I ADV
Grade: 8
Suggested Prerequisites: : Commended Performance on reading STAAR and high English performance
This is Level I of high school Spanish offering the student the opportunity for acquisition of the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The primary objective of the level one course is to develop audio- lingual skills and to obtain a mastery of simple basic communicative structures. The students will develop a cultural appreciation of the Hispanic World and recognize the interdependence of languages. Successful completion will result in 1.0 high school credit.
Successful completion will result in 1.0 high school credit.
STEM (Moore & Three Lakes Only)
Grade: 6-8
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is a method of hands-on teaching and learning where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities.
Technology Applications
Grades: 7-8
Technology applications incorporates the study of digital tools, devices, communication, and programming to empower students to apply current and emerging technologies in their careers, their education, and beyond.
Teen Leadership
Grades: 7-8
In Teen Leadership students learn leadership, professional, and business skills. They gain an appreciation for the importance of having a vision when setting personal and professional goals.
Theatre Arts I (Beginning)
Grades: 6-8
Students will be introduced to Theatre Arts through character development, physical awareness, safe use of voice, script interpretation, and emotional expression. Concepts introduced include pantomime, improvisation, voice and physical expression, staging, character analysis and performance, audience etiquette, peer evaluation, and self-reflection. This is a collaborative, creative, and “on your feet” opportunity in learning how to control the mind, body, and voice in performance situations.
Theatre Arts II and III
Grades: 7-8
Prerequisites: Beginning Theatre Arts
Advanced Theatre requires teacher approval. Students will build on the work introduced in Theatre I. Additionally, students will use sensory and emotional recall in their improvisational and prepared performances, understand and use dramatic structure, character analysis, playwriting, and will perform in a play for an audience.
Web Applications (Moore Only)
Grades: 7-8
The Web Development program of study explores the occupations and educational opportunities associated with designing, creating, and modifying websites.