Electives
Physical Education
Physical Education is a semester long course that is designed to promote physical activity, teamwork, self-motivation, self- discipline and increased development of body movement and athletic ability. Students are beginning to mature in their ability to perform various athletic tasks and movements. In this course, students will demonstrate more mature motor movement, perform more complex rhythmic skill and apply movement forms to developing motor skills. Along with athletic skill and increased motor skills, Physical Education focuses on good sportsmanship, building students’ confidence in their abilities and their willingness to try new things. Students will also improve their individual fitness levels through cardiovascular conditioning, general body strength and flexibility.
Introduction to Fine Arts
This 18-week course is an introduction to the world of fine arts. Students will explore visual art, music, theatre, and dance as they begin to understand, relate to and appreciate the different art forms that exist. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to further their creativity and to take risks with their ideas. Another goal of this course is to provide students with opportunities to enhance the use of their imagination. Students will be engaged in lessons that will encourage self-confidence and a willingness to try new things. This course encourages students to work collaboratively and share their creativity.
Writing 6
This is a nine-week course is designed to create a solid foundation of writing skills for sixth-grade students. Throughout this course, students will have opportunities to creatively express themselves and to enhance their writing skills. Students will become more fluent in communication using written form and will develop more complex sentences while also increasing their spelling, grammar, punctuation and editing skills. Upon completion of this class, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skill to be more successful writers as they complete required tasks and assignments as well as being more successful as they write for personal enjoyment and entertainment.
Creative Writing 7
In Creative Writing 7, students further develop their writing skills as they incorporate consistent use of technology into writing. Throughout this class, students will begin to learn and improve typing skills and good keyboarding habits. Students will incorporate the use of technology for creating and publishing works including: stories, essays, poetry, plays and other works that they choose to create as they write for their own creative expression and enjoyment. Students will be provided with support to become more confident in their writing and as they become more willing to express themselves through the pieces they create.
Introduction to Art
This elective is a nine-week course. The lessons this it includes are targeted toward focused study and rigorous participation in making sense of art. An increased understanding fine arts will be developed through critical and abstract thinking. Students will be guided through a variety of exercises to assist them in expressing themselves creatively and artistically through different mediums. As students participate in the activities and projects provided in this course, they will begin to develop as individual artists through discussion and critique. Middle school artists will make added meaning of art by searching for and understanding how art applies to real life and to various jobs and careers. In this course, students will also complete a unit in which they will briefly examine architecture as art and how it has made a mark throughout history.
Fiber Arts
Fiber arts is a nine-week course that involves using textiles such as fabric, yarn and other synthetic fibers to create artistic pieces. A variety of techniques are incorporated into this form of art. In this class, students will participate in projects designed to provide them with an understanding of Fiber Arts through the realization that this craft based art is strongly linked to human livelihood, agriculture and history. Students will search for and understand how this art form applies to real life and how it is useful in different jobs and careers. In this class, students are encouraged to use their creativity and artistic talents to go “outside the box” and become confident, innovative artists.
Introduction to Music
This course is offered to students in 6th grade regardless of previous musical experiences. The course allows students to explore and experience the importance of rhythm in all types of music from different cultures, time periods and genres. The curriculum emphasizes the basics of reading music and music theory. Students will participate in activities and lessons allowing them the opportunity to explore different forms of music including singing, playing instruments, listening to varying types of music and creating musical lyrics and rhythms.
Chorus
Chorus is a year-long elective course offered to aspiring singers regardless of their previous choral experience. The course explores choral music from a wide variety of cultures and time periods through study and performance. The curriculum emphasizes the basics of vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory and music history. Students who participate in the chorus program will perform concerts and participate in other performances for the school and for special events that may be scheduled throughout the school year. Student who are in chorus will also have opportunities to audition for additional extracurricular choral activities such as Honor’s Chorus and All-State Chorus.
Drama
Drama is an eighteen-week elective course offered to seventh and eighth grade students. Throughout the semester in which students are enrolled in this course, they will experience and participate in many types of oral presentation and theatrical performances. Aspects of stagecraft such as movement, voice, timing, teamwork, costumes, prop and set design will be explored allowing multiple opportunities for students to develop a number of interests in being a part of a live production. Class assignments will be a combination of practice performances, improvisational games, speaking on given topics, and participation in a class play. Students will develop their individual talents and interests through their active participation in this class. They will also end the semester having gained skills to help them in all areas of their future education and life including; increased self-confidence, increased public speaking skills and abilities, interview techniques and practice, and working as a team to achieve a common goal.
Journalism/Yearbook
Journalism/Yearbook is semester long elective course. Students participating in this course will develop a comprehensive knowledge of desktop publishing skills and techniques. Students will be introduced to the world of mass media and print journalism including blogs, podcasts, news articles and yearbooks. Students will develop “hands on” experience while working as a team to plan, design and edit the pages of the TFS Middle School yearbook using publishing software from Josten’s (our yearbook publishing company). Class activities and individual/group projects will immerse students in the world of journalism. In conjunction with the work done for the yearbook, students will learn about researching, interviewing, reporting, writing, proofreading, editing, digital photography, layout and design in order to generate news articles. Articles and other works will be published both in print and online news. At the conclusion of this semester long course, TFS students will have the skill and practice to be discerning news consumers and critical thinkers
Readers' Theater
Readers’ Theater is a nine-week elective course designed to help students be more confident readers and public speakers. Students will improvement their public speaking ability as they actively participate in this course. This course will also include; linguistics study, innovative projects and will expand their vocabulary. Throughout the nine-week period students will gain skills necessary to speak more fluently and use more complex communication both formally and informally. Students will be exposed to some foreign words and phrases, some SAT vocabulary as well as various slang, idioms and dialects. At the conclusion of this course, students will have a better understanding of the power of words and word use in public speaking.
Spanish
Middle School Exploratory Spanish is a nine-week course designed to give students an introduction to the study of Spanish. Seventh Grade students who participate in this elective course, will be briefly exposed to the history, culture, music, art, literature and language of the Spanish speaking world. While students will study some basic elements of the Spanish language, the main purpose of the course is to offer students a framework with which they can better understand and appreciate their language studies as they advance into High School language classes. The class will culminate in a project in which students will choose a topic to research in depth. This topic might include choosing a particular Spanish speaking country, a specific historical or cultural event or a piece of art or music. Upon completion, this project will be presented to classmates.
Art 8
This is a nine-week course is designed for eighth grade students who have prior experiences with art courses. Students who take this course will be strongly encouraged to build a portfolio that highlights personal style, innovation and shows off acquired skill. Drawing from life and designing through imagination are main focuses of this class. Artistic risk taking should be evident. This course includes painting, sculpture, advanced perspective and advanced design. Applied color theory will be used in paintings, 3D projects and compositions. Students taking this higher level art course will be expanding their ability to make connections to the use of art in “real life”. Finished work will be exhibit ready and fulfill all given expectations and goals.
Intro To Broadcasting (7th Grade)
This is a nine-week introductory course providing students with a general over view of what broadcasting is all about. This class is designed for students who are interested in media, mass communications and video production. Throughout this course, students will learn about basic equipment, job responsibilities for broadcast productions, safety, vocabulary relevant to the broadcasting industry, lighting, recording, editing and professional ethics. Students will have hands-on experience with creating, editing, critiquing and presenting short productions. Students who successfully complete this class and determine that they have an interest in broadcasting may later choose to participate in the Broadcast/ Production class that is an intermediate level class designed to further enhance students’ knowledge of the broadcasting industry.
Broadcast Production- Tallulah Falls TV
Broadcast Production is an eighteen-week intermediate level elective course. This class is designed for students who have an interest in media, mass communications and video production. Students in this class build on previous knowledge of video equipment and broadcasting experience. In this Video Production class, students will produce a weekly news broadcast to include various segments such as sports reporting, human interest stories, commercials, “Man On the Street”, weather, and other segments based on students’ interests and ideas. Students will be responsible for meeting multiple deadlines each week. This course is designed to give "real world" experience. The end production is seen throughout campus and on social media. Students may be required to video/live stream an after-school event. Topics that will be studied throughout the semester include: Professional Ethics, Legalities and Copyrights, Teamwork and Responsibility, Basic Lighting and Music, Safety, Video camera and support equipment, Audio, Editing and Switching, Scripts and Storyboarding, Scenery, Props, Staging and Remote and Studio Shooting. This class is very fast-paced and active covering a lot of useful information in a short amount of time. Self-motivation, self-discipline and creativity are highly encouraged.
Chinese
Middle School Chinese is a nine-week elective course designed to give students an introduction to the Chinese language and culture as well as to foreign language acquisition. Through this course, students will acquire and or deepen their knowledge of China and the Chinese language and culture through the development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. Games and role playing will be used to enhance students’ learning opportunities.
Graphics and Digital Art
Graphics and Digital art is a nine-week elective course that exposes students to the various opportunities and careers that are available with a working knowledge of art designed using the computer or other forms of technology. Students will design graphics, sequential illustrations and photographs that demonstrate a basic understanding of computer software. Students will take time to research people and companies that use computer based arts and graphic design to advertise or promote products and services. Students will gain an understanding of the power of “mark making” throughout history. This course implements hands-on techniques and the use of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. As students learn and grow throughout this course, they will be encouraged to be more innovative and willing to take creative risks.
Leadership
This elective course is taught over a nine-week period. While participating in this course, students focus on what a leader is and how to become leaders in their school and community. This course is based on Stephen Covey’s bestselling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Students will explore each of the seven habits which are: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win-win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; synergize, and sharpen the saw. Students will become instantly absorbed in real-life stories of teens who have overcome obstacles to succeed, and step-by-step guides to shifting paradigms, building equity in "relationship bank accounts," and creating action plans. Students will also acquire a “real life” understanding of leadership and the roles of leaders as the hear from guest speakers who are currently involved in leadership roles within the school and the local community. Upon completion of this course, students will have the skills needed to begin to develop their own leadership style and to begin accepting roles as leaders within their own school and community.
Persuasive Writing
Persuasive Writing in a nine-week elective course that is designed to offer students guidance and effective techniques to assist them in speaking and writing in a convincing manner as they form and defend their ideas or opinions about various topics. Critical writing and thinking skills are enhanced through this course and students increase their knowledge and ability to develop the elements necessary to build an effective persuasive essay. Participants in this class will grow in their ability to support their opinion, improve their arguments, and persuade the reader/audience to understand, and possibly agree with, the writer/presenter’s point of view.
Rhetoric – The Art of Speaking
This is a nine-week course designed to help middle-schoolers develop confidence in their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas to their peers and other audiences. Students will focus on the necessary skills to become effective communicators through both writing and speaking. Various types of speeches will be written and presented throughout the course including: Impromptu, Partner Speeches, Speeches with Visual Aids and Election Speeches. Plans for other types of speeches will be implemented as they develop based on students’ interests and ideas.
Sculpture & 3D Design
This is a nine-week art course designed to introduce students to diverse styles of sculpture and 3D design. Students will design and construct four sculpture projects throughout the duration of the course. Along with the sculpture, students will write supporting descriptions for each piece. The four projects will each focus on specific goals including: movement, repetition, force and flow in nature, sculpting, and commercial design. Materials will include but may not be limited to; wire, wood, cardboard and materials found in woodland. Students will study pieces created by well-known sculptors and artists to help influence their ideas and to help enhance their knowledge of successful artists and art pieces. The concepts in this class will provide students with connections to the real world and the various uses for 3D design.