Visual Arts Beginning and Advanced

Course Codes: MFA8519, MFA8520
Grades: 6-8
Length: One semester

Welcome to Visual Arts Beginning and Advanced! Visual Arts Beginning will spark your imagination while exploring and experimenting with drawing, painting, sculpture, and more in a supportive community of creative learners. Express, celebrate, and reflect on your unique perspective, ideas, culture, and feelings with individual and group projects while using the Elements of Art and Principals of Design. Visual Arts Advanced will grow your creativity and artistic skills by creating 2D and 3D projects that may involve drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, clay, and paper mâché. All students are welcome.

Ceramics Beginning and Advanced

Course Codes: MFA8403, MFA8404
Grades: 6-8
Length: One semester

Welcome to Ceramics Beginning and Advanced! In Ceramics Beginning, you will create a variety of projects using hand building techniques such as pinch, coil, slab, sculpting, and possibly how to “throw” clay on the pottery wheel. Experiment with different ways to add color and decoration to your projects which may include cups, plates, vases, pitchers, spoons, monsters, and more. Collaborate with others while managing the studio and caring for the materials, tools, and equipment. In Ceramics Advanced you’ll expand those skills by using your experiences and knowledge to celebrate and communicate your ideas, unique perspective, and culture through your art. All students are welcome.

Literacy 6A and 6B is a semester of a year-long course that provides a foundation for middle school Language Arts by emphasizing close reading, writing, and speaking in a formal style. This course focuses on literary analysis and research at the 6th grade level, increasing in complexity throughout the year.

This course prepares students to develop the ability to independently read a variety of texts from many genres by using reading strategies to comprehend and interpret informational and literary works. Students analyze texts for main idea, theme, plot, claim, inference, author’s point of view, word choice, and author’s craft, as well as identify, cite, and assess evidence. Students will demonstrate the ability to independently read, with scaffolding, a variety of texts from many genres. While building and honing reading skills, students will work in differentiated groups targeting language learning, individualized education plans, advanced learning, and reading intervention. 

Students also develop writing proficiency by crafting clear and purposeful text while adhering to writing conventions. Students use the writing process to write in a variety of genres, purposes, and audiences, with a focus on creating narrative, argument, and informational text.

The course guides students to demonstrate a command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage. Students become proficient in conducting research based on a question, identifying a claim, and evaluating evidence from multiple sources. They write in a formal style, cite evidence, and create a bibliography, while avoiding plagiarism.

Both rigor and complexity of reading and writing tasks will increase as the course progresses, providing a thorough foundation for their middle school academic experience. In terms of speaking and listening skills, students participate in collegial discussions and collaborate effectively with diverse partners and produce presentations for both formal and informal purposes.

Together these skills and practices allow students to make effective use of strategies to analyze and improve reading, writing, critical thinking, language, and speaking and listening skills.

Learning Objectives

• R1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and make logical inferences; cite evidence.
• R2 Determine central ideas or themes and analyze development.
• R3 Analyze how individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact.
• R4 Interpret words and phrases including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings.
• R5 Analyze structure of texts and relationships.
• R6 Assess how point of view or purpose shapes content and style.
• R7 Integrate and evaluate content in diverse media and formats.
• R8 Evaluate arguments and claims.
• R9 Analyze how multiple texts address similar themes.
• R10 Read and comprehend complex texts independently.
• W1 Write arguments with valid reasoning and evidence.
• W2 Write informative/explanatory texts clearly.
• W3 Write narratives using effective techniques.
• W4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
• W5 Develop and strengthen writing through revision.
• W6 Use technology to produce and publish writing.
• W7 Conduct research projects.
• W8 Gather and assess information from sources.
• W9 Draw evidence from texts for analysis and research.
• W10 Write over extended and short time frames.
• SL1 Participate effectively in discussions.
• SL2 Integrate information from diverse formats.
• SL3 Evaluate speaker’s point of view and reasoning.
• SL4 Present information clearly.
• SL5 Use digital media strategically.
• SL6 Adapt speech to various contexts.
• L1 Demonstrate command of grammar and usage.
• L2 Demonstrate command of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

Literacy 7 is a semester of a year-long course which prepares students to deepen their craft through the analysis and understanding required for successful reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills, using a variety of 7th grade texts.

Critical reading skills prepare students to further develop their understanding of literature and be able to name how multiple components within and across texts interact and influence meaning. Students will demonstrate the ability to independently read, with scaffolding, a variety of texts from many genres. While building and honing reading skills, students will work in differentiated groups targeting language learning, individualized education plans, advanced learning, and reading intervention.  Students also refine writing skills by routinely in response to reading for a variety of purposes and audiences including but not limited to writing argue, interpret, synthesize, present, and develop narrative reflecting genre style.

Through research, students use, link, and cite evidence from multiple sources using a standard format to support claims with logical reasoning in a cohesive manner that articulates the soundness of the author’s reasoning. Students transfer reading lessons to differentiated texts individually, in partners, and groups, and students write in develop analysis and inquiry through those texts.

Both rigor and complexity of reading and writing tasks will increase as the course progresses, building upon and further developing grade-level skills. In terms of speaking and listening skills, students work collaboratively in a variety of contexts, posing questions that elicit elaboration and track progress toward specific goals. Together these skills and practices allow students to make effective use of strategies to evaluate and improve reading, writing, critical thinking, language, and speaking and listening skills.

Learning Objectives

• R1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions.
• R2 Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
• R3 Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact.
• R4 Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
• R5 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
• R6 Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
• R7 Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
• R8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
• R9 Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
• R10 Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
• W1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
• W2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
• W3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.
• W4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• W5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
• W6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
• W7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
• W8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
• W9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
• W10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
• SL1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
• SL2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
• SL3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
• SL4 Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
• SL5 Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
• SL6 Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
• L1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
• L2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Literacy 8 A and B is a semester of a year-long course which provides students with a rigorous foundation of skills for English in high school and beyond. This course refines skills in reading, writing, language, speaking and listening.

This course prepares students to incorporate a range of interdependent skills which stem from an integrated model of literacy. Readings lend themselves to literary analysis, represent a variety of reading levels, genres, and cultures, and showcase an assortment of themes. The texts allow students to build on their skills of analysis and evaluation in order to analyze fiction and non-fiction to explain choices authors make, especially word choice, point of view, language details, rhetorical strategies, literary devices, figurative language, audience, purpose and form.

While building and honing reading skills, students work in differentiated groups targeting language learning, individualized education plans, advanced learning, and reading intervention.  Students also refine writing skills by routinely in response to reading for a variety of purposes and audiences including but not limited to writing argue, interpret, synthesize, present, and develop narrative reflecting genre style.

Both rigor and complexity of reading and writing tasks will increase as the course progresses, providing a thorough foundation for their high school academic experiences. Students transfer reading lessons to differentiated texts individually, in partners, and groups, and students write in develop analysis and inquiry through those texts.  Students will use the research and inquiry process to write to develop and revise ideas, elaborate on analysis, and prepare for high school reading and writing tasks. 

As a result of this course, students are prepared to analyze and evaluate theme, and argument through the lens of both the written and spoken word. In terms of speaking and listening skills, students prepare for and effectively participate in a range of presentations and collaborative discussions with diverse partners, asking probing questions and propelling conversation forward. By completion of eighth grade, students will be ready to independently and collaboratively apply learned strategies and skills to sophisticated texts in high school.

Learning Objectives

• L1 Demonstrate command of grammar and usage.
• L2 Demonstrate command of capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.
• R1 Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence.
• R2 Determine central ideas or themes and analyze development; summarize key details.
• R3 Analyze how individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact.
• R4 Interpret words and phrases including technical, connotative, and figurative meanings.
• R5 Analyze structure of texts and relationships between sections.
• R6 Assess how point of view or purpose shapes content and style.
• R7 Integrate and evaluate content in diverse media and formats.
• R8 Evaluate arguments and claims including validity and evidence.
• R9 Analyze how multiple texts address similar themes.
• R10 Read and comprehend complex texts independently.
• W1 Write arguments with valid reasoning and evidence.
• W2 Write informative/explanatory texts clearly.
• W3 Write narratives with effective techniques.
• W4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
• W5 Develop and strengthen writing through revision.
• W6 Use technology to produce and publish writing.
• W7 Conduct research projects.
• W8 Gather and assess information from sources.
• W9 Draw evidence from texts for analysis.
• W10 Write over extended and short time frames.
• SL1 Participate effectively in discussions.
• SL2 Integrate information from diverse formats.
• SL3 Evaluate speaker’s point of view and reasoning.
• SL4 Present information clearly.
• SL5 Use digital media strategically.
• SL6 Adapt speech to various contexts.

Course Codes: MMA6858, MMA6860
Grades: 6
Length: Two semesters

Students will review fraction and decimal operations and use them to solve problems. They will learn long division, divide fractions by fractions, and extend their understanding to negative rational numbers and integers. Students will reason about absolute value, order rational numbers, and locate points in all quadrants of the coordinate plane. They will use variables, write expressions and equations, evaluate them, and solve equations and inequalities. Students will analyze ratios, unit rates, and proportional relationships. They will explore statistical questions, summarize data, and compute measures like mean, median, and variability. Students will calculate areas, surface areas, volumes, and draw polygons.

Course Codes: MMA6862, MMA6864
Grades: 7
Length: Two semesters

Students will understand the rational number system and recognize fractions, decimals, and percents as representations of rational numbers. They will operate on rational numbers and apply these skills to numerical and algebraic expressions. Students will solve single and multi-step ratio and proportionality problems, graph proportional relationships, and understand slope. They will tackle percent problems, including discounts and taxes, and solve scale drawing problems. Students will write and solve equations and inequalities. They will work with circles and three-dimensional figures, and solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume. They will compare data distributions, explore sampling, and evaluate probability models.

Course Codes: MMA3821, MMA3822
Grades: 7
Length: Two semesters

Students will understand the rational number system, recognizing fractions, decimals, and percents as representations of rational numbers. They will operate on rational numbers, explain rules for arithmetic with negatives, and solve equations involving rational numbers. Students will explore rational and irrational numbers, radicals, and integer exponents. They will solve ratio, proportionality, and percent problems, graph proportional relationships, and interpret slopes and y-intercepts. Students will compare data distributions, use random sampling, and evaluate probability models. They will apply the Pythagorean Theorem, solve surface area and volume problems for cones, cylinders, and spheres, and analyze two-dimensional figures using transformations, congruence, and similarity.

Course Codes: MMA6866, MMA6867
Grades: 8
Length: Two semesters

Students will deepen their understanding of the real number system, including rational and irrational numbers, radicals, and integer exponents. They will solve linear equations, interpret slopes and y-intercepts, and analyze proportional relationships. Students will understand functions as rules linking inputs and outputs, translate between function representations, and describe their relationships. They will solve systems of linear equations and use these to analyze problems. Students will learn the Pythagorean Theorem and its applications, solve volume problems for cones, cylinders, and spheres, and explore transformations, congruence, and similarity. They will analyze angles, triangles, and parallel line relationships.

Introductory Band

Course Codes: MFA8509, MFA8510
Grades: 6-8
Length: One or two semesters

Welcome to Introductory Band! This course is for students who want to learn a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument such as flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, snare drum, and more. Come join a welcoming community committed to building lasting relationships where all learners succeed. You will learn instrumental technique, musicianship, and perform many styles of music. No previous experience necessary. All students are welcome.

Concert Choir

Course Codes: MFA8409, MFA8410
Grades: 7-8
Length: Two semesters

Expand your singing style in a supportive choral community! Concert Choir is an advanced, year-long course for students who have multiple years of choral experience. Students continue to develop their vocal and musicianship skills through performing engaging music from a variety of genres, cultures, and styles, while building lasting relationships with others through performing in school and community concerts and traveling to regional festivals.

Course Codes: MSC3007, MSC3105
Grades: 6
Length: Two semesters

Sixth grade science focuses on nine unit-storylines that begin by engaging learners in a puzzling, relevant scientific phenomenon or engineering problem. Students engage in science topics through authentic science practices including investigation, argumentation, and explanation. Students build foundational learning in core science ideas and apply this knowledge in two engineering design units. Units focus on body systems and cells including an engineering design application; thermal energy and molecular movement; variables that influence weather patterns; the impact of climate change and humans’ role in these changes with an engineering design project; and Earth-Moon-Sun systems.

Course Codes: MSC3038, MSC3108
Grades: 7
Length: Two semesters

Seventh grade science supports students’ learning progression through nine unit-storylines anchored in puzzling, relevant scientific phenomena or engineering problems. Students engage in science topics through authentic science practices including investigation, argumentation, and explanation. Students continue building upon core science ideas and the application of knowledge to engineering design. Units focus on plate movement and designing a tsunami warning system; explaining the rock cycle; phase change and designing low-cost portable incubators; conservation of matter and the rearrangement of atoms in chemical reactions; how populations affect each other in an ecosystem; and the movement of carbon through living and non-living systems.

Course Codes: MSC3042, MSC3109
Grades: 8
Length: Two semesters

Eighth grade science supports students’ learning progression through nine unit-storylines anchored in relevant scientific phenomena or engineering problems. Students continue engaging in authentic science practices and building upon core science ideas and applying knowledge to engineering design. Units focus on the relationship between force, velocity, and mass during collisions and design an emergency supply drop pod; the relationship between magnetic force, kinetic energy and potential energy; the interaction of light waves and matter; genetic variation and heredity; the process of natural selection and the design of antimalarial treatments that minimize drug resistance; and the evolution of species over time.

Course Codes: MSS7451, MSS7452
Grades: 6
Length: Two semesters

World History 6A and 6B is a yearlong course that enhances students’ understanding of the Earth and its peoples through the study of history, geography, politics, culture, and economic systems. Students explore major world regions and delve into ancient civilizations, analyzing their development and decline while considering cultural interactions. The course covers history to approximately 1450CE. Students will develop map skills, learn how history is constructed by archaeologists and historians, and understand the significance of primary and secondary sources, starting with the agricultural revolution and river civilizations.

Washington State History 7A and 7B

Course Codes: MSS9045, MSS9046
Grades: 7
Length: Two semesters

Washington State History 7A and 7B is a yearlong course that explores the tribal and colonial histories of Washington, focusing on civic and social responsibilities for the future. The course begins with the first peoples of the land, examining tribal homelands and the balance between indigenous and colonial land values. Students study migration, social justice, urbanization, and environmental interactions to develop agency and understanding of civics, economics, geography, and history. They will enhance social studies skills by analyzing historical and current events, conducting inquiry-based research, evaluating sources for credibility and bias, and understanding multiple perspectives on public issues.

Course Codes: MSS7459, MSS7460
Grades: 8
Length: Two semesters

In U.S. History, students gain a deeper, more abstract understanding of social studies concepts within the context of U.S. history and government from 1776 to 1877. The course covers significant ideas, issues, and events from the framing of the Constitution through Reconstruction. After examining the founding of the United States and the Constitution, students investigate the evolution of politics, society, culture, and economy in the nation. This exploration enhances their conceptual understandings in civics, geography, and economics, fostering critical thinking and a comprehensive grasp of the historical and governmental foundations of the United States.