Blach 8th Grade
Electives Catalog
2017-2018
What are YOU going to learn next year?
Music
8th Band - year long
This course is designed for students with
1-2 years of experience playing a band
instrument. You must have completed a
beginning level book. You can expect
Basic Level 2 technique methods books,
introduction to scales, and increasingly
difficult performance music. This group
performs at least three times per year and
takes trips outside of the district. A lab
donation will be requested.
Concert Percussion - year long
This course is designed for the beginning
or experienced percussionist. You will
work with mallets, bells, xylophone, glock,
chimes, timpani and piano. The class will
develop stick, drum, rhythm, and time
techniques, as well as note reading. You
will need a snare drum and stand and a
p r a c t i c e d r u m p a d fo r q u i e t h o m e
practice. This ensemble will perform with
both 7th & 8th grades at major concert
events and festivals. A lab donation will be
requested.
8th Orchestra - year long
This course is designed for students who
have had two or more years of experience
playing a string instrument. Level 2
string technique books, introduction to
scales and finger maps, and concert music
will be used. You will perform at least
three times per year and take trips
outside of the district. A lab donation will
be requested.
Chorus - year long
This course is for students who love to sing!
Learn and perform different types of music,
practice vocal technique, create ensembles,
and explore what it means to be a vocal group.
Yo u c a n a u d i t i o n fo r t h e B l a ch a p p e l l a
performing group and may travel to festivals,
including Anaheim. A lab donation will be
requested.
World Languages
French or Spanish Language and Culture 1B - year long*
You can learn to speak a new language in French or Spanish 1B. You will
continue learning to speak, read, and write in your new language. You will
also learn about what people do and how they live in different parts of the
world. Projects structure most of the units in these courses, and may
include cooking, art, poetry, skits and video productions. Students who
complete 1A and 1B by the end of grade 8 are eligible to enroll in French 2 or
Spanish 2 in high school, and will have completed their first year of high
school language requirement. A lab donation will be requested.
*Please note that this is a high school level academic class and does have daily
homework.
Want to Help?
Library Aide - one semester
Do books make you happy? Do you love to spend time in
the Library? This is an ungraded course for students
interested in assisting the library staff with important
tasks such as shelving, book care, and check out.
Enrollment in this course is limited and no experience is
necessary.
Office Aide - one semester
If you like to be in the center of the action, this is for
you! In this ungraded course, you will help the office
staff with routine tasks such as: picking up
attendance absentee slips, delivering slips for
students who have to leave, being a liaison between
the office and classrooms and helping with office
projects. Enrollment in this course is limited to 10
students per semester.
Teacher Aide - one semester
Do you find yourself constantly helping your teachers? As
a Teacher’s Aide, you will do a variety of tasks for your
assigned teacher. Those tasks may include special project
work, organization, filing, paperwork, individual tutoring,
and other duties as assigned.
Other Opportunities
Art I – one semester
Do you like to draw, paint and make 3D objects? Or do you wish you can
express yourself through the powerful language of art? If
your answer is “Yes”, this fun filled elective is just tailored
for you! Art 1 offers a wide range of experiences in the
visual arts. You are instructed in drawing and painting
techniques, using pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, pastels,
and acrylics. In addition, you are also introduced to threedimensional media with a ceramics project. Additional
units on the elements and principles of art, perspective,
and famous artists complete this a well-rounded
introductory course. No previous artistic experience is
necessary. Most of work/projects are done in class so there
is very little homework!
Art II - one semester
Ready to be further challenged with your art skills? The
advanced art class is designed for returning Art 1 students
or students with advanced art skills. Students will explore
advanced drawing skills, such as drawing/painting from
still life, drawing portraits and figures using a variety of art
mediums such as color pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic
and pen and ink. In addition to 2D projects, techniques on
how to build 3D sculptures, including a ceramic project, a
multi media sculpture design, and a creative 3D paper
sculpture project. Students will also collaborate with
classmates for a group project.
Computer Science
Do you like to create animations, websites, games and apps? This fun
hands-on class is designed to help you learn computer
science skills so you can express your creativity and
solve problems with digital tools. Using the
programming language Python, you will get a deeper
understanding of how computers work, study
algorithms and data structures and learn to design and
code your own project. The course is open to all levels of
previous experience and it will prepare you for future computer science
classes and coding projects.
Creative Writing - one semester
Do you enjoy writing short stories or poetry? Would you like to write a
novel? In this class, you will have the opportunity to write short stories,
poetry, and even a novel. Your writing will also be featured in Falcon Feed,
the online literary magazine designed by students in the class and
published on Blach’s website. During the first quarter, you will write
paragraphs, poetry, and short stories to work on sensory details, word
choice, figurative language, dialogue, setting, character development, the
elements of a story, and how to begin a story. We will have pair shares and
read-a-rounds to provide feedback and encouragement. All work will be
done in class. Second quarter is all about choice; you choose your writing
topics. You can write more short stories and poetry or begin a novel. You
will also participate in collaborative stories. This is a fun class for students
who enjoy writing creatively and want to
improve their writing skills.
Video Production - one semester
This course trains you in the art of
digital filmmaking and broadcasting. In
addition to working collaboratively inside
and outside of class on the school's weekly
"Blach Talk" video announcements, you will
create diverse video projects in a variety of styles and
genres while also exploring the topics of digital literacy and
critical media. No previous experience or extra
equipment is required.
Drama - one semester
This course introduces you to basic theater techniques and provides you
an opportunity to showcase your talents and abilities. You will
experiment with c o s t u m e s , m a k e u p ,
props, voice, movement, body
l a n g u a g e, a n d improvisation, performing
plays in the Blach Little Theatre by
published writers as well as from your own
creation.
Engineering - one semester
Engineering offers you the chance for
hands-on opportunities to design and
construct various projects. This course will
include investigation in the following areas:
rockets, race cars,
woodworking, b r i d ge
d e s i g n , d r a f t i n g , t r e b u ch e t s , catapults,
power and energy, and solar cars.
This is
something you will never forget! A lab
donation will be requested.
Intro to Interior Design and
Architecture - one semester
Do you ever wish that you can change your
room/house into a space ship? Or maybe a
magical space where the fairy would like to
visit? This creative class is designed for the
aspiring young Architects/Interior Designers. In
this class, you will learn many aspects of
interior design and Architecture from your
house, landscape to a skyscraper. You will learn
how to illustrate your design, build scaled
models, furniture design, and even get to design
your own café/restaurant! Projects include:
home design, garden design, building design,
restaurant design and furniture design. You will
also learn the history of the modern
architecture and its influence on society today.
Previous art/design experience is helpful but
not necessary, come join me and learning this
fun and creative class.
Journalism
If you enjoy magazines and think writing and
creativity is fun, then Journalism is the
elective for you. This is an exciting semesterlong elective for both 7th and 8th grade
students, that is dedicated to the craft of
writing, editing, photographing, designing
layouts and documenting news for Blach Junior
High School. Working in small groups, students
will be responsible for the production of Falcon
Fever, a Blach news magazine, as well as
several online magazines focused on topics that
would be interesting to our students. Interested
in style, food, politics, environmental concerns,
trends, music, books, fashion, social media?
Create a magazine!
Leadership - one semester
Leadership is a crazy-fun class for those who
have a desire to provide service to the school
and community. It requires time and energy
to develop projects to improve school
atmosphere and to explore your leadership
potential. You must have a desire to make a
positive difference in this world and the
ability to solve problems creatively. As we
plan dances, activities, and service projects,
you will learn lessons about the attributes of
a leader in practice. If you are willing to work
hard, AND you can get along with a variety of
people, then Leadership IS FOR YOU!
Maker Lab - one semester
Do you like to make, create, tinker, craft, invent, or
construct? The Maker Lab is a one semester elective
where you will be able to complete a project of your
choice from start to finish in true maker space style.
You will be taught how to use a variety of tools and
materials to design and create your creative and
inventive projects. Lab donations may be requested.
Photography - one semester
Do you love to take pictures? Wish your pictures turned out better? In this class
you will learn how to use a camera, including the manual modes, about exposure
and lighting, composition and technique, and some
photo editing. You will have the opportunity to explore
your own style, gain experience with your own camera,
and learn about organization through maintaining a
digital portfolio. You are invited to use your own
camera or one will be provided. A lab donation will be
requested.
Public Speaking - one semester
Robotics - one semester
Speeches. Presentations. Discussions. In
all of these, you will be expected to speak
in front of your peers. This class will give
you experience speaking in front of an
audience and will help you gain confidence
in public speaking. You will learn effective
speaking techniques: volume, eye contact,
inflection, vocal modulation, tempo,
enunciation, and expressions/gestures. In
class, you will practice the speaking
techniques in a variety of activities, such
as dialogue scripts, readers’ theater, and
impromptu talks. You will also prepare,
organize, and give formal speeches,
including how-to, informative, sell a
product, persuasive, and historical. We will
end the semester with an introduction to
debate.
This course is a hands-on introduction
to the field of robotics. You will work in
small teams to build robots using LEGO
Robotics and learn NXT programming.
You will be presented with a series of
challenges where you must build and
program robots to solve problems
and/or compete with other robots in
the class. Some of the challenges may
include: tug of war robot, soccer
playing robot, and a robot that can
travel across a tightrope. You will also
build a hydraulic robotic arm that you
will be able to take home. No prior
experience is necessary. A lab
donation
will
be
request.
Independent Study Hall one semester
An ungraded class in which students,
capable of working independently, may
substitute for a regular elective on a
limited, space-available basis.
Survivor – one semester
This class is strongly recommended for
those of you who need help staying
organized and completing homework
assignments. Placement is based on
counselor
and
teacher
recommendation. Along with time for
homework completion, some of the s k i
lls you will learn are time mana
gem e n t , organization, task
completion, and self-advocacy skills.
Class size will be limited.
Yearbook - one semester and
year long
Yearbook is a collaborative elective which
focuses on planning, creating, and promoting
Blach's annual yearbook. You will gain
knowledge and experience in photography,
graphic design and layout, copy writing, and
project management. You will be directly
responsible for creating assigned yearbook
pages. Having good people skills, being able
to work independently and meet deadlines is a
must. Be a part of Blach's history.
What are you
going to learn
next year?