Art, Computer Science, and Technology Electives

Electives are offered each trimester in the following categories for students in Grade 6: computer science & technology, performing arts, and visual arts. Students in Grades 7 and 8 select from the same categories with the addition of music. Students select these courses in the spring by rank, ordering their choices in an electronic form sent through email. Students may take no more than two courses from the same category. Final placement is not guaranteed, but we will honor their preferences as much as possible.

Performing arts classes prepare for an ensemble performance, either large or small, during the term. Computer science & technology and visual art studio classes are designed for individual creativity on project-based work; and appreciation classes cover the history and significance of key genres, artists, or movements within the chosen discipline.

Grade level English courses meet twice in the eight-day cycle.

Performing Arts

The Middle School performing arts curriculum is specifically designed to encourage and foster creativity and risk taking. Each course can be taken independently, or courses can be combined to provide an in-depth study of various theatrical topics. Classes are collaborative and hands-on, requiring students to work together with their peers to solve technical challenges, create new designs and share stories. With an emphasis also on building self-esteem and specific skills, performance courses are designed to meet each student where they are, as a middle schooler and performer, and then to build upon that base. Paired with the MS Musical, all courses complement each other, and allow for individual and collective growth.

Current courses include: Comedy in Action, Story Drama, Stage Makeup and Special Effects, Stage Combat, MS Theatre and Technical Theatre, Step in Time, All that Jazz.

Middle School Musical

The Middle School musical provides a performing arts experience for participating students, and in doing so, fosters self-confidence and personal fulfillment through teamwork. Students may elect to participate in rehearsing and performing the musical, or building sets and props and operating the technical equipment in the technical theatre class. Both classes are available to all students regardless of experience level. A typical day in class involves both hard work and fun, and relies on students to come prepared and develop a willingness to take risks and think creatively about problem solving. The culminating activity for the course is the musical itself, which students perform on three occasions. Students who enroll in the MS musical or technical theatre class undertake great individual responsibility and commitment to assure a successful production and rewarding experience for one another, including two Saturday rehearsals, four after school rehearsals, three performances, and set strike (clean up) day.

Participation in the MS musical is one of the most mission-aligned efforts a student will make at Sewickley Academy. From auditions to rehearsals and performances to set strike, students learn first hand the key components of creating and producing a full-scale musical. The skills learned throughout the process are directly transferable to other theatrical experiences a student may pursue, or more broadly, life skills and character traits such as job interviewing, public speaking, collaboration, self-confidence, and resilience.

Visual Arts

The Middle School visual arts curriculum is specifically designed to encourage and foster creativity and risk taking. Each course can be taken independently, or courses can be combined to provide an in-depth study of various artsrelated topics. Classes are collaborative and hands-on, allowing for individual and collective growth work as students work independently and together with their peers to reatively develop

their artistic techniques. With an emphasis also on building artistic habits of mind and observational skills, visual arts courses are designed to meet each student where they are, as a middle schooler and artist, and then to build upon that base.

Current courses include: Drawing and Painting, Printmaking, Found Object Art, Sculpture, Glass and Mosaics, 3-D Art, Hand Building, Wheel Throwing.

Printmaking

A variety of printmaking techniques, from screen-printing and stamping, to block printing are investigated and practiced in Printmaking. Students will develop artistic behaviors that support inquiry and problem-solving while pursuing independent projects and taking creative risks. In addition, students will learn to examine, reflect and discuss observations of their own process and artwork, and the work of artists in an historical context.

Found Object Art

Students in Found Object art are encouraged to open their eyes to the world that they live in as they explore and collect. This course focuses on creating two- and three-dimensional artworks from found objects and unconventional materials. Students will work both independently and collaboratively to build and construct, while solving problems and reflecting on their process. The course will explore the work of other artists who use unusual materials throughout the course.

Sculpture and 3-D Art

Students produce pieces that come alive as they are introduced to working in three dimensions. Students will discover a variety of tools and techniques, such as carving, molding, and attaching. Emphasis will be placed on the process of creating work, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes. Students will be asked to reflect on their process through writing and discussion, as well as engage in peer-reviews and critiques.

Ceramics: Hand Building

Project based and mastery learning are the central tenants of hand building. Projects include: research and create an African mask employing soft and hard slab construction techniques; create an aquatic animal of their choice by utilizing pinching techniques; craft a “replica” of an ancient Grecian vessel using the coil method and sgraffito decorating; and combine all introduced techniques and create a “personal” art piece as a final project.

Ceramics: Wheel Throwing

Students will concentrate their studio work on the wheel. Units include: an introduction to basic throwing techniques (center, enter, open, raise, and form); creation of rudimentary vessels, focusing on proportion and wall thickness; introduction of glazing applications (dip, pour, trail, brush, stain, and spray); and presentation of composite pieces (lids, handles, and spouts). Creativity, working independently, and resilience are Mission-skills that students enhance as they work in the studio. During each class, students receive regular feedback on their progress and are provided the opportunity to work at their own pace to meet their potential. Priority registration is given to students in Grade 8.

Ensemble

The Middle School music ensembles provide the confluence of communal aspiration and personal accountability through participation in instrumental or choral musical expression. Students come to the ensembles with a wide range of experiences and ability levels. This unique combination fosters the development of positive traits such as humility, empathy, leadership skills, and partnership. In time, students recognize the value of possessing diversified sets of skills and perspectives while also developing the necessary social skills for effective collaboration. As each musician’s path toward proficiency is unique, students are encouraged and challenged to discover what works best for their own personal development. MS music ensembles include formal winter and spring concerts as well as additional performance opportunities throughout the year.

Each concert and performance is a representation of preparation and the continuous refinement of skills over the long term. Through class discussion, guest performers, and most especially through the repertoire being prepared by each class for the concerts, students are exposed to musical genres and aesthetics of past and present generations, representing cultures geographically near and far.

Bang-on-a-Bucket

Got rhythm? Who could ask for anything more? If you are looking for a safe space to channel your inner drummer, come explore the world of rhythm through bucket drumming, drum circles, and the percussion instruments of the world in this class dedicated to the percussive arts.

MS Studio Art

This studio art course will introduce MS students to the processes, materials, and experience of drawing and painting. Students will learn principles of observational life drawing, composition, form, scale, color, and perspective and will explore mark-making and representational techniques using a range of materials - pencils, ink, charcoal, pastel, collage, and acrylic paint. In class, students will work from life and observation in a number of formats - still life, portraiture, figure drawing, landscape - as well as create more open-ended color studies, free studies, and abstractions. For their final project, students will create their own independent body of artwork.

Programming Virtual Worlds

Students in Programming Virtual Worlds will design and program 3D environments to create virtual experiences, animations, and games. Students will use 360 cameras to take photos of real environments and design their own objects in tinkercad which can both be uploaded and used in their virtual world. [EUs 1,2,3,4][EQs 1,3,4]

Digital Game Design

Students in Digital Game Design will design, create, play, and evaluate various games. Students in the course will construct a board game using fabrication tools, program an original digital game, and build their own video game controller using a Makey Makey. [EUs 1,2,3,4][EQs 1,2,3,4]

Lego Robotics 1

Students in Robotics will learn how to build and program a Lego robot using various Lego parts, motors, and sensors. Students will enhance their problem solving skills as they work to get their robot to perform certain tasks and find solutions to real world problems. [EUs 1,3,4,5][EQs 1,4,5]

Lego Robotics 2

Prerequisite: Lego Robotics 1. Students in Robotics 2 will build off of their knowledge and experience in Robotics 1 in programming the Lego robot to complete missions, but will be introduced to new sensors, advanced techniques, and the creation of their own missions. [EUs 3,4,5][EQs 1,4,5]

Arts & Bots

Students in Arts & Bots will combine craft materials and a Hummingbird Robotics kit to create a unique robot that they will animate by programming sensors, motors, servos, and LEDs. Students will also use various digital tools to help them brainstorm and design components of their robot. [EUs 1,2,3,4,5][EQs 1,2,4,5]

Programming in Python

Prerequisites: 2 previous programming courses (listed above). Ready to move on from block-based to textbased code? This course will use the Finch robot to teach students the fundamentals of Python, a general-purpose programming language used by professionals for developing websites, software, task automation, data analysis, and data visualization. [EUs 1,3,4,5][EQs 1,4,5]

Web Design

Students will learn to create websites using HTML and CSS inside Code.org’s Web Lab environment. Throughout the unit, students consider questions of privacy and ownership on the internet as they develop their own personal websites. They engage in problem-solving as it relates to programming,

as they learn valuable skills such as debugging, commenting, and structure of language. [EUs 1,2,3,4][EQs 1,2,3,4]

App Creation

Students will apply the problem solving process to the problems of others, learning to empathize with the needs of a user and design solutions to address those needs. During the second half of the unit, students form teams to prototype an app of their own design, first on paper and eventually in Code.org’s App Lab environment. [EUs 1,2,3,4] [EQs 1,2,4]

Physical Computing

Students will use Code.org’s App Lab environment, in conjunction with the Adafruit Circuit Playground, to explore the relationship between hardware and software. Throughout the unit, students develop prototypes that mirror existing innovative computing platforms, before ultimately designing and prototyping one of their own. [EUs 1,2,3,4][EQs 1,4,5]

Reverse Engineering

Take a dive into the inside of devices to learn more about the hardware side of computer science. Students will learn about the various pieces and parts that make computers work and how the technology used to create them continues to evolve. [EUs 1,2,4][EQs 1,2,4]