Thomas B. Riley School
Grade 7 Complementary Programs:
Purpose:
At Thomas B. Riley School, students are able to study Career and Technology
Foundations (CTF), Fine Arts, French as a Second Language, and Locally Approved
Courses as part of their complementary program. These experiences are designed to
help students:
 Explore - discover their gifts and talents
 Integrate - connect their knowledge and skills from other subject areas
 Extend - delve into an area of interest
Student Choice:
Students select from a variety of programs based on their conversation with parents
and teachers and by applying knowledge of themselves as a learner. Please be aware
that some courses may be cancelled due to demand, timetable constraints, expertise,
and other unforeseen circumstances.
Semester System:
Our school year will be divided into two semesters. Students will take four
complementary courses in each semester. French and Band are full year courses.
TLC students are required to take French and Band at all grade levels.
Exploratory:
The complementary program allows students to try different courses and experiences.
By providing a variety of courses within any given area, students are able to delve into
areas of passion, or experiment with up to eight different complementary courses over
the course of the year.
Choose Wisely!
Please read through the attached descriptions before filling in the attached selection
form. Please rank all choices on the sheet provided. We will do our best to get you
into your top picks!
The Fine Arts
The Fine Arts includes art, drama and music. In each area there are common
outcomes - the student is involved as creator, performer, historian, critic and
consumer.
Art
Art - Culture
Students will examine how art and culture are connected. Artwork acts as a record of
our human experience. Students will grow in their understanding and appreciation of
unique cultures and come to understand how art is essential to a community's wellbeing, economic and cultural vitality, sense of identity, and heritage, and will notice
how art can change a culture and political views. Students will examine lessons on
anthropology, art history, folklore, mythology, religion, and the cultures of which they
are a part including reflections in contemporary art. Students will produce their own
pieces as they reflect upon their own beliefs, life experiences, and that of their own
culture.
Art - Techniques
Students will be focusing on techniques in a variety of media. Art created can include
drawings, paintings, ceramics, alternative mediums, and mixed media. The projects
will include critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation. They will have choice in
projects, an opportunity to share their voice, and participate in self-assessment.
Drama
Drama - Characters
Are you an actor or actress? Do you enjoy making characters for presentations or just
because? Dramatic Characters will allow you to look at how speech and emotion are
created through a variety of characters. You will look at TV shows and movies to see
how actors create stock characters. You will be asked to create your own character
through monologues, short skits or improvisation activities.
Drama - Explorations
Are you not sure if drama is the right option for you? Dramatic Explorations will allow
you to have the opportunity to create and discover an area of drama that you enjoy.
You will explore a variety of drama games, improvisation and acting activities. You will
also have an opportunity to experience the technical side of the theatre to see where
you’re most passionate.
2|6
Drama - Movement
Are you a dancer or mover? Are you interested in creating movement through music or
poetry? Dramatic Movement will allow you to explore movement and how elements of
energy, focus and control all work together. You will focus on movements through
tableau, creative movement and improvisation activities.
Music
Band
The concert band will explore exciting and challenging music including popular and
movie music. Instruments included will be flute, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet,
trombone, tuba and percussion. Extra fun activities include band clinics with
professional musicians, several performance opportunities, and a senior band trip to
the Banff Music Festival.
Career and Technology Foundations
Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) provides project-based learning
experiences designed to help students explore their talents related to occupationspecific knowledge and skills related to five career clusters: business, communication,
resources, technology and health/human services. Students complete related projects
and are assessed according to how they design, create, and appraise their process
and product.
Computers
Computers Introduction
All new grade seven students will be enrolled in this course. Students will learn
navigation skills on the TB Riley local area network as well as the Internet and Google
drive. They will learn how to demonstrate good digital citizenship while using email,
D2L and Google drive as a communication and organizational tool. They will develop
fundamentals in perspective technical drawing that include layout, colours, scale, cut,
copy and paste.
Computers Modules
Computer students at TB Riley will work through and complete modules that will focus
on design and creative elements. This will provide skills and understanding in
ergonomics, typing, multimedia, programming, 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional
drawing, technical drawing, animation, game design, photo manipulation and web
design. Students will use a wide variety of software from basic Microsoft Office Suite
tools, Free Web, and Mac based programs to the more sophisticated Adobe CC suite.
As students progress through their modules they will learn to display their portfolio
projects on a Webpage.
3|6
Construction
Construction courses are designed as a progression of modules. Students may
choose to take Construction for one or two semesters. Students will work through a
series of modules based on their experience and abilities.
Construction
Construction allows for students to try out a wide variety of trades-oriented skills and
concepts. In this course, students will develop appropriate shop tool safety. They will
have an opportunity to design objects through drafting different views and 3
dimensional orthographic projections. They will learn to use both metric and imperial
units of measurement. As a student moves through the various projects they will
acquire different skills with various hand and power tools and apply construction
processes to produce many useful items out of both wood and metal.
Digital Photography
Digital Photography
Students will improve their camera knowledge and learn techniques to use digital
cameras for a variety of projects. They will focus on angles and poses, principals and
elements of art in photography. They will learn advanced camera usage techniques,
tips on how best to photograph landscapes, and how to create balanced compositions.
Students will create and enhance their pictures using various programs including
Photoshop and iPhoto. They will create a photograph portfolio and learn to display it in
different formats from print to multimedia.
Fashion
Fashion - Sewing Fundamentals
This course will take you through the beginning elements of sewing and garment
construction. You will begin with classic hand sewing techniques and finish with more
advanced techniques on the sewing machine. You will learn to sew seams, buttons,
and hems and finish the term with an individual project. Projects often include hand
warmers, pillows, and stuffed animals.
4|6
Film Studies
Film Studies
Students will focus on the process that goes into the making of a film. You will learn
how to start with an idea for a short film and then turn it into a screenplay, storyboard,
scout locations, cast, and film your script.
Foods
Foods - Baking
This course will introduce you to beginning baking skills as you learn measuring
techniques, terminology, and preparation methods. Recipes often include puffed wheat
squares, chocolate chip cookies, and banana muffins.
Foods – Basics
This class focuses on safety and sanitation, following recipes directions, and
developing efficient cooking habits. You will cook a variety of foods throughout the
term including fruit salad, macaroni and cheese, curry rice, and chili as you work your
way through the four food groups.
Sports Medicine
Sports Medicine
With the increased number of participants involved in physical activity, competitive
sport in schools, and the community, this program will help meet the increasing need
for students to become familiar with the care, prevention, and rehabilitation of athletic
injuries. Students will acquire basic knowledge of the body’s skeletal and muscular
system and be provided with training in First Aid and CPR. Students will also be taught
taping techniques for various body regions.
5|6
French as a Second Language
French as a Second Language - **full year course**
Alberta’s French as a second language program (FSL) provides students with an
opportunity to learn the French language as a subject in a typical English- language
school. In FSL, students study French to learn to communicate in a variety of school,
leisure and job-related situations. Learning is centred around four components, all
equal in importance: Communication experiences, Language experiences Cultural
skills and knowledge, Specific language learning strategies.
Locally Developed Courses
Power Up Your Learning
Power Up Your Learning
This class is ideal for students who require extra time and support to complete
assignments from their core classes. Students will identify and strengthen the focus of
their learning goals. They will learn how to use their learning preferences and strengths
as a learner. Students will participate in small group and/or individual instruction of new
strategies to support their personal learning style, including organizational skills, study
strategies, remedial math, reading, and writing.
Sport Performance
Sports Performance
Do you want to be a better athlete? Do you know which food choices are the best for
your body? As youth sports continue to be more and more competitive, it is helpful to
learn and train to be your best! This course will help you improve your physical health
and well-being, fitness level and self-confidence through nutritional education,
muscular endurance/strength and flexibility training. Topics include: nutrition,
hydration, goal setting, aerobic training, agility training, power training, speed training
and flexibility.
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