Avon Local Schools

Avon Middle School strives to challenge students to reach their optimal potential in character building, social/emotional development, academic excellence, citizenship, and service. Opportunities provided through curricular studies and extracurricular activities support students through stretching their thinking and increasing their exposure to new ideas, experiences, and concepts for possible career-pathways and for being well-rounded adolescents.

With this in mind and in addition to the core academic courses, the school has developed several elective course opportunities to encourage students to expand their learning and explore various fields of study in eight academic departments. Availability of elective offerings is dependent upon sign-up for courses as well as class numbers and staffing during spring scheduling. Please note the following guidelines for course electives:

• Students in Grades Six, Seven, and Eight can schedule for Band, Choir or Orchestra courses.

• Students in Grades Seven and Eight can schedule for any available elective courses, except for...

• Students in Grade Eight, the only grade level permitted to schedule for Physical Education, Physical Science, and World Language courses.

MUSIC

These performance classes are treated as other course offering and are not considered extra-curricular in content or per scheduling. Typically, prior playing experience is required for the instrumental courses, while the choral classes may require auditioning. Performing at scheduled school concerts is a large portion of a student's musical experience and course grade / assessment. Grade-level music courses are listed below:

BAND (Brass, Woodwind, Percussion) Band 6; Band 7; Band 8 (each a year course)

ORCHESTRA (Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass) Orchestra 6; Orchestra 7; Orchestra 8 (each a year course)

CHOIR (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) Choir 6; Choir 7; Choir 8 (each a year course)

MUSIC WRITING (Grade 7 or 8) (semester course)

BEGINNER PIANO (Grade 7 or 8) (semester course)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

These courses are offered to students in Grade Eight, and do not have to be taken in middle school if the student plans to participate in high school (OHSAA) interscholastic athletics or the Avon High School Mighty Eagles Marching Band. Otherwise, these classes must be taken at the middle school (preferably) or at the high school.

Introduction to functional movement is a high school-level courses assigned credit (0.25 each), with final grades appearing on the high school transcript but not factored into the high school cumulative GPA.

INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT

Introduction to functional movement is an engaging 8th-grade course designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary for optimal physical development. This course places a strong emphasis on understanding and mastering proper movement patterns that will not only enhance performance in various physical activities but also lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy living.

Throughout this course, students will explore fundamental movement patterns essential for effective and safe physical activity. From basic locomotor skills to advanced coordination exercises, students will develop a solid foundation in movement mechanics. The curriculum is carefully designed to cater to various fitness levels, ensuring that each student progresses at their own pace while gaining confidence in their abilities.

Course Highlights:

1. High School PE Credit
2. Functional Movement Training 3 days a week (includes lifting)
3. Interactive games 2 days a week that focus on spatial awareness, change of direction, and teamwork
4. Basic knowledge of nutritional needs to help fuel their days
5. Self confidence/Self Esteem
6. Developing lifelong fitness habits
7. Reduce risk of injuries

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TECHNOLOGY/VOCATIONAL

TECH ANIMATION: Relying upon imagination and creativity, students taking this course will design descriptive and engaging stories through the use of storyboard methods and techniques through collaborative teamwork. Students will learn the features, functions, and capabilities of the school's animation laboratory for the purpose of producing animation features that contain unique characters, motions, gestures, interactions, and scenery accompanied by synchronized voice overs for their audio-animated characters (semester course).

PROGRAMMING: Programming is for 7th and 8th grade students interested in creating their own websites and animated games using JavaScript. Course standards are pulled from Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) Standards for grades 6-8. The purpose of this course is for students to learn the fundamentals of computer programming including introductory terms, concepts and practices. Students will learn and utilize problem solving and design-thinking skills to complete tasks as well as create an HTML and/or CSS webpage, a Javascript game with animations and sprites, and a physical computing device using a circuit board.

Learning Objectives:

• Use a structured problem solving process to address problems and design solutions that use computing technology.
• Learn how to build an app
• Create a website using HTML and CSS
• Animate and program our own game using Javascript

TECH DIGITAL MEDIA ART: This course uses an integrated approach to technology and the students' lives. Students will focus on learning the fundamental principles and processes of computer-based design using a variety of traditional and non-traditional media with an emphasis on problem-solving and creative exploration. Using such media as high-definition video, sound, animation, installation art, print and digital photography, students work in a digitally integrated computer laboratory and studio environment to gain hands-on experiences (semester course).

PRE-ENGINEERING: Pre-Engineering is for 7th and 8th grade students interested in problem-solving by building and testing models within a group. We will be utilizing a laser printer and 3D printers in this course. Course standards are pulled from Ohio Technology Standards (Design and Technology) for grades 6-8. The purpose of this course is for students to learn and utilize problem solving and design-thinking skills to complete tasks as well as create new objects and works. Concepts and skills include but are not limited to innovation versus invention, technical drafting, 2D and 3D design, design thinking and problem-solving skills.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn and practice using the Engineering Design Process through various hands-on challenges, like building an arcade game, theme park ride, and bridge
• How to use tools like 3D printers and laser printers
• Learn about various inventors and inventions and how their innovations change the world
• How to use drafting software to blueprint
• How to collaborate in groups and teams

TECH ROBOTICS: 7th and 8th students interested in building Lego robots and programming them to complete specific tasks with a partner. Course standards are pulled from Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) Standards for grades 6-8. The purpose of this course is to teach students the basics of robotics programming. We will be utilizing Lego SPIKE Prime kits, Scratch block coding software, and various Lego Robotics materials for the majority of the class. Students will collaborate in teams to complete specific challenges using pseudocode and a combination of motor movements and sensors. Students will also be introduced to other robotic and programming platforms.

Learning Objectives:

• How to Pair Program
• Learn drag and drop block programming
• How to design robots for specific activities and missions
• How to collaborate in groups and teams
• Learn problem-solving strategies
• How to use SPIKE Prime Software

VIDEO/MEDIA PRODUCTIONS: Students will have the opportunity to help design and create the pages for the school yearbook. Students will work together to select yearbook covers to designing the pages of picture layouts. Along with the work on the yearbook, students will work on how to produce videos by creating our daily announcements for the entire student body to view (semester course).

VOCATIONAL CAREER EXPLORATIONS: Life skills with real world applications and hands on experiences will be offered to provide students an opportunity to discover interests to guide their career choices in the future. Units / projects may include: Culinary and Baking skills, Woodworking skills, Wiring skills, Building skills, Gardening skills

VISUAL ART

Visual art courses encompass a wide variety of foundational artistic styles and types, ranging from two-dimensional design to mixed media and three-dimensional forms. Creativity, expression, and technique development are encouraged and stressed.

Advanced Art 8:  The purpose of this 18 week Art course is to introduce students to many forms of artmaking. Students will be drawing, painting, sculpting, printing and designing. They will experience two and three-dimensional problem solving through both fine art and crafts. Students will use and identify the elements and principles of design by participating in various enrichment lessons. The approach to learning in this course is based on lessons framed around the Ohio Virtual Arts standard for grade 8.

Upon completion of this course with an earned semester grade of A, demonstrating mastery; students become eligible to bypass the Intro to Art course at Avon High School and begin studies in higher level art courses.

* Completion of Advance Art 8 does not earn high school credit.

WORLD LANGUAGE

World Language courses are designed for qualifying students in Grade Eight (see HONORS COURSES tab). French, Mandarin, and Spanish are high school-level courses assigned credit (1.00 each), with final grades appearing on the high school transcript but not factored into the high school cumulative GPA. In Grades 9 through 12, students can continue taking French, Mandarin, or Spanish up to level five (years), or elect to take another world language.

World Languages are aligned with the Ohio Department of Education's World Language Standards and meet NCAA eligibility requirements. A fee and workbook may be required.

FRENCH 1: This course introduces students to the basics of the French language through the four skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The early stages of study are spent exclusively in developing pronunciation, building vocabulary, and learning the basics of French language structure and culture. This class strives to help students recognize cross-cultural similarities and differences and to understand how other cultures influence their own. The focus of French 1 is to provide students with the skills they need to create language for communication (year course).

MANDARIN 1: The purpose of Mandarin is for students to speak, read, and write Chinese at a basic level. This course focuses on the Chinese Pinyin system and simplified characters. By the end of the course, students should be able to (1) demonstrate correct pronunciation of the official Chinese language, (2) carry out simple conversations in Chinese on a limited range of daily-life topics, and (3) demonstrate basic understanding of grammar rules in reading and writing. With the burgeoning Chinese economy and influence in global affairs, learning Mandarin could be advantageous for those considering entering a business field (year course).

SPANISH 1: This course stresses the beginning development of the following language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the language within the context of the culture. The class has an emphasis on listening and speaking skills integrated with reading and writing. Vocabulary and grammar are not studied in isolation, but are incorporated into the development of all the communication skills. Spanish 1 strives to help students recognize cross-cultural similarities and differences as well as to understand how other cultures influence their own (year course).