The Arts

The Middle School arts program allows students to explore multiple visual and performing arts courses. Course offerings include: art, band, chorus, drama, and technical theatre.

Performing Arts

Middle School Drama

Course Number: 576

Grade Level: 6-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Students in Grades 6 through 8 will continue to explore how performers and audiences interact and what skills and knowledge are used in the process of creating productions. Students will continue to work on pantomime, improvisation, theater terminology, collaborative activities, and essentials for performance as they present multiple performances throughout the year. This course allows students to practice communication and perception checking skills, both verbal and nonverbal. The students will work together within the class to collaborate on ideas, encourage and respect new ideas, and support individual and class growth. These are the very skills that students will use and apply throughout life, long beyond the stage.

Middle School Tech Theatre

Course Number: 575

Grade Level: 6-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Prerequisites: None

Middle School Tech Theatre is for students Grades 6 through 8 who like to design, build, paint, and use their imaginations to help support the actors on stage and make a magical experience for the audience. Intended as an introduction to technical theatre for Middle School, this course is for students looking for a hands-on experience in building the scenery, props, and technical elements for theatre. Students will get to work with lighting and sound and all the other technical aspects of St. Johns’ Performing Arts Center. This class allows for further exploration of plays and productions and developing analysis skills by watching and critiquing outside production technical elements.

Middle School Chorus

Course Number: 594

Grade Level: 6-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Middle School Chorus is open to all students in Grade 6 through Grade 8. Students learn vocal technique, music theory, and aural and sight-reading skills. The group performs a variety of choral styles at School events and in the commu- nity. Students will have the opportunity to audition for the Florida All-State Choruses and participate in the events of the Florida Vocal Association and American Association of Choral Directors.

GRADE 5/MIDDLE SCHOOL BEGINNING BAND

Course Number: 543

Grade Level: 6-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Prerequisites: Provide own instrument

Beginning Band is a performance-based class for students interested in learning a traditional band instrument with no experience necessary. Students will be required to attend and participate in several rehearsals and performances outside of regular school hours.

Middle School Concert Band

Course Number: 546

Grade Level: 6-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Prerequisites: One year of band experience; provide own instrument, director permission to enroll

Concert Band is a performance-based class. Students will be required to attend and participate in several rehearsals and performances outside of regular School hours. Placement is based on student audition and director recommendation.

GRADE 5/MIDDLE SCHOOL PERCUSSION METHODS

Course Number: 560

Grade Level: 5-8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

Prerequisites: One year of band experience on a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. Placement is based on student audition and director recommendation.

Percussion Methods class is a performance-based class. Students will be required to attend and to participate in several rehearsals and performances outside of regular School hours. Students will focus on developing percussion playing techniques, playing a variety of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments, and performing with the Concert BandVisual Arts

Grade 6 Foundational Art Explorations In 2d And 3d

Course Number: 507

Grade Level: 6

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

This course covers two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts and emphasizes the basic language of the principles and elements of design. The goal of this class is to allow students to explore art media and techniques, and develop artistic confidence. For two-dimensional art projects, students will develop skill in the areas of painting, drawing, and printmaking. Students will gain experience with the following media: graphite, ink, watercolor, tempera, and collage. For three-dimensional art projects, students will develop skills in the areas of additive sculpture and ceramics. Self assessment critiques will be conducted at the conclusion of major projects and students will learn how to critique and assess art. Students will study art vocabulary and historical references and will be required to maintain a sketchbook.

Grade 6 Foundational Art Course Standards

1. Demonstrate understanding of and follow safety protocols for media, tools, processes, and techniques.

2. Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods, and approaches in making works of art and design.

3. Demonstrate respect for copyright laws and intellectual property ownership when creating and producing works of art.

4. Combine concepts collaboratively to generate innovative ideas for creating art.

5. Create artwork requiring sequentially ordered procedure and specified media to achieve intended results.

6. Use constructive criticism as a purposeful tool for artistic growth.

7. Analyze personal artworks, using teacher-developed rubrics, to articulate the motivations and intentions in creating personal works of art.

8. Make connections between the elements and principles of design to understand how artwork is unified.

9. Use accurate vocabulary to explain the creative and art-making processes.

10. Explore various subject matter, themes, and historical or cultural events to develop an image that communicates artistic intent.

Grade 7 Foundational Art Explorations In 2d And 3d

Course Number: 506

Grade Level: 7

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

This course covers two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts and emphasizes the basic language of the principles and elements of design. The goal of this class is to create artistically confident students and broaden their understanding of how classroom projects and techniques fit within an art historical context. Exploration, problem solving, and critical thinking will be fostered. For two-dimensional art projects, students will develop skill in the areas of painting, drawing, and printmaking. Students will gain experience with the following media: charcoal, graphite, ink, watercolor, tempera, and collage. For three-dimensional art projects, students will study additive sculptural methods in order to become familiar with utilitarian and sculptural considerations. Self-assessment critiques and teacher guided class critiques will be conducted at the conclusion of major projects. Students will study art vocabulary and historical references and will be required to maintain a sketchbook.

Grade 7 Foundational Art Course Standards

1. Demonstrate understanding of and follow safety protocols for media, tools, processes, and techniques.

2. Create artwork requiring sequentially ordered procedure and specified media to achieve intended results.

3. Assess personal artwork during production to determine areas of success and needed change for achieving self-directed or specified goals.

4. Explore various subject matter, themes, and historical or cultural events to develop an image that communicates artistic intent.

5. Manipulate content, media, techniques, and processes to achieve communication with artistic intent.

6. Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design.

7. Examine artworks to form ideas and criteria by which to judge/assess and inspire personal works and artistic growth.

8. Organize and use the structural elements of art and principles of design to achieve artistic goals when producing personal works of art.

9. Use accurate vocabulary to explain the creative and art-making processes.

10. Analyze how response to art is influenced by understanding the time and place in which it was created, the available resources, and cultural uses.

Grade 8 Foundational Art Explorations In 2d And 3d

Course Number: 509

Grade Level: 8

Type: Elective, full year, 1 credit

This course covers two-dimensional and three-dimensional concepts and emphasizes the basic language of the principles and elements of design. The goal of this class is to create artistically confident students. Exploration, problem solving, and critical thinking will be fostered. Students will broaden their understanding and gain perspective of how classroom projects and techniques fit within an art historical context. The study of art vocabulary and historical references is a required component of this course. Two-dimensional art projects will include painting, drawing, and printmaking. Students will gain experience with the following media: charcoal, graphite, ink, watercolor, tempera, and collage. Three-dimensional art projects will include both additive and subtractive methods. Sculptural methods that will be covered include wire construction and ceramic techniques such as slab and coil construction. Students should feel comfortable assessing art and using foundation vocabulary for teacher guided class critiques and self-assessment rubrics. A sketchbook is required for both in class and homework assignments.

Grade 8 Foundational Art Course Standards

1. Manipulate tools and materials to achieve diverse effects in personal works of art.

2. Develop spontaneity and visual unity in artwork through repeated practice and refined craftsmanship.

3. Use creative risk-taking strategies learned from artists’ works to incorporate artistic solutions in the creation of new personal artworks.

4. Evaluate artwork objectively during group assessment to determine areas for refinement.

5. Demonstrate understanding of the organizational principles of design in works of art to establish a technical foundation for visual coherence.

6. Discuss formal and conceptual vocabularies of art and design to view surroundings in new ways through art-making.

7. Create a convincing and logical argument to support an evaluation of art.

8. Explore various subject matter, themes, and historical or cultural events to develop an image that communicates artistic intent.

9. Use ideas from cultural, historical, and artistic references to create personal responses in personal artwork.

10. Distinguish different ways art is used to represent, establish, reinforce, and reflect group identity.