LCS Middle School Program of Studies

Full-Year Courses

Band
This is a beginner level course which includes the basic elements of music, playing skills, and introduction to band literature. Students begin with one of four instruments, flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone, but may move on to a different instrument second semester. Most beginning band students are learning to play their first musical instrument, though some may have had piano lessons previously.

Orchestra
This course is available to beginning students who would like to learn to play a stringed instrument as well as those students who are already proficient in the playing of a stringed instrument. Students expand on technical and performance skills.

9 WEEK ROTATION (*courses will be chosen from those listed)

Music/Theatre
This course introduces students to the basic elements of music theory and the instrument families of the symphony orchestra. Students also study the role of music in different cultures throughout the world.

Art
This course provides students an introduction to both 2D and 3D art forms. Students will use a variety of media to produce drawings, paintings, and sculpture.

Technology
Students study the basic elements of all technology, including tools, energy, materials, information, and people. This also includes the problem-solving process and various hands-on activities. They explore various systems of technology, including hydroponics, transportation, problem solving, and production/manufacturing. Finally, they relate the impact of technology on society, environment, and culture to future consequences and decisions. Projects include: Introduction Flyer, Safety Slide Show, Tic-Tac-Toe game board, wind mobile, and hydroponic planter.

Keyboarding
This course is designed to introduce the student to keyboarding fundamentals. They will learn a touch typing method for striking all keys quickly and accurately. Students will use a variety of timed programs to increase speed and accuracy at the keyboard.

Full-Year Courses

Intermediate Band
This course is designed to offer students intermediate-level instruction in solo and ensemble playing, with emphasis on music theory, interpretation, and improved technical proficiency.

Orchestra
This course emphasizes development of musical interpretation and the attainment of proficiency in solo, ensemble, and string orchestral performance.

Semester Courses

Inventions and Innovations 7
Students study the basic elements of all technology, including tools, energy, materials, information, and people. This also includes the problem-solving process and various hands-on activities. They explore various systems of technology, including hydroponics, transportation, problem solving, and production/manufacturing. Finally, they relate the impact of technology on society, environment, and culture to future consequences and decisions. Projects include: Introduction Flyer, Safety Slide Show, Tic-Tac-Toe game board, wind mobile, and hydroponic planter.

Family & Consumer Science
Course has an emphasis on teen living skills and developing personal responsibility. Food unit includes nutrition, kitchen safety, cooking, and entertaining. Sewing unit covers use and care of the sewing machine, hand-sewing machine, hand-sewing techniques, and the completion of an individual sewing project. Childcare unit covers the responsibilities of parents and babysitters, childcare job proficiencies, safety, and age-appropriate play activities. A craft project will also be done if time permits.

Art 7
This course is designed to give the students a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional projects.  We will review the elements of art (learned the year before) and focus on the principles of design with multiple art mediums such as chalk, pastels, pencils, charcoal, paint, watercolors, collage, recycled materials, ink, etc.  Units such as observational drawing, understanding color, and abstract art will all be covered.

Computer Applications
Students will continue to review and develop correct keyboarding techniques and gain a basic knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics, and telecommunications applications. Students will demonstrate and understanding of computer concepts through application of knowledge. In this course, students learn to use software packages and local and worldwide network communications systems.

Career Investigation
This course is designed to provide students with the ability to make informed decisions concerning the world of work and how it relates to the world of learning. Students will compile a portfolio of their work, take assessments to better guide them in their career development, investigate sixteen different career clusters, complete their high school graduation plan, explore options after high school, discover the job-hunting process, hear from community members about their jobs, and learn how to succeed at work.

Drama
Students will get an in-depth look at numerous aspects of theatre including makeup, pantomime, improvisation, monologues, scene work, and creating, producing and performing a class-made play. Pre-requisite to enroll in Pre-AP Theater Arts in grade 8.

Full Year Courses

Advanced Band
This advanced-level band class emphasizes the development of full-band performance skills in preparation for concerts and competitions. The elements of more complex music theory and interpretation are addressed and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed.

Orchestra
This course emphasizes development of music reading skills and interpretation as well as the attainment of proficiency in solo, ensemble, and full-orchestra performance.

Yearbook
The main objective of this course is to create a yearbook that reflects our school community and equally reflects each student in the student body.  Our goal is to present a yearbook in May to the faculty, staff and student body that reflects the experiences of this school year and is an accurate representation of all.

Full Year High School Credit Electives (*1.0 High School Credit)

French I*
This course emphasizes communicating in French. Students become involved immediately in using the language to simulate daily life situations. Activities include speaking, listening, writing, reading, and the study of French culture.

German I*
In this introductory course, students become involved with the German language through conversations and readings relating to school, family, leisure-time activities, travel, parties, and German speaking countries. Authentic audio-visual aids reinforce aural-oral skills while lending authentic cultural insights.

Latin I*
This course provides the foundation for understanding Latin and the basis for learning any world language. Students enlarge their vocabulary, refine grammar in English, and learn about the origins of many aspects of our culture while reading the history, myths, and legends of the ancient Romans.

Spanish I*
This course is an initiation into language as a means of active communication. A reasonable proficiency in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish is the primary goal.

Pre-AP Theatre Arts*
Pre-AP Theatre is a beginners class for actors. Here students learn the basics of theatre and the art of acting, developing performing skills, and taking part in fun projects/activities such as scene writing and performing, monologues, and music videos. Throughout the course, students have opportunities to practice the four areas of focus for Pre-AP Arts: analysis and interpretation, peer-to-peer dialogue, experimentation, and reflective writing.

Semester Courses

Art
This course stresses the art elements, good design principles and art history in both two- and three- dimensional art forms through the use of a variety of different media. Units of study include opportunities in drawing, painting, printmaking and the creating of sculptures. Supplies needed for this class are 9 x 12” drawing paper, colored pencils, a binder for notes, and a set of broad markers

Inventions and Innovations 8
In this course students will make models of significant inventions that have advanced society. After studying these developments, they explore contemporary technological problems facing them, their community, or the world and apply a systematic procedure to invent new products or innovations as solutions. Technology topics include: audio communications, computer animation, alternative energy, flight, CO2 Dragster design, video production, virtual architecture, materials and processes, digital music, and computer graphics technology. ;Students will also work in small groups to solve technological problems using the design process. Projects include: CO2 Dragster, egg passenger compartment, flower box, acrylic picture frame, Balsa Wood Glider, mouse trap car, and vinyl t-shirt design transfer.

Technical Drawing
In this course students learn the basic language of technical drawing and design. Students design, sketch, and make technical drawings, use applied geometry, build architectural models, and prototypes of real design problems. Students use computer-aided drawing and design (CAD) equipment and established standards or codes to prepare drawings and models for presentation. The students will use the engineering Design Process to produce prototypes from the designs they create in AutoCAD Inventor. This is a good course for students who think they would like a career in engineering or architecture. Projects include: Technical sketches, AutoCAD and Inventor drawings, architectural drawings, jump Game design and Prototype, and model house.
Student is required to be in Alg. 1 or Alg. 2

Family & Consumer Science
This course is designed to introduce and explore basic homemaking skills. It includes units in food management, clothing management (individual sewing project), babysitting as a job, and personal care and grooming.

Keyboarding
This course is designed for students to develop and enhance touch skills for entering alphabetic, numeric, and symbol information on the keyboard. Students create their own business concept and compose/produce personal, educational, and professional documents.