• ELECTIVE WHEELS (Classes rotate every trimester)

    The elective program at Hall has 4 elective rotation options for our rising 7th and 8th grade students to choose from for the 2022-23 school year. Please see the specific trimester long classes that are included in each rotation below. The course descriptions are also given to understand the combination of the classes you will rotate through over the course of the year.

     

    Elective Rotations for 2022/23

     

    Elective A - IDEA, Studio Art, and Film

    Elective B - Musical Theater, Speech, and Peer Resource

    Elective C- Studio Art, Leadership, and IDEA

    Elective D- IDEA, Studio Art, and Community Leadership

      

    Elective Course Descriptions

     

    Studio Art: In this course, students will have the opportunity to further develop their technical skills as well as their personal style of making art through in-depth projects. They will learn how to create art using a wide range of materials, techniques, and processes, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture.  Students will also create an ‘altered book’ to record their processes and to challenge themselves as artists. The skills students learn in this class will strengthen their ability to communicate visually and build on what they have learned in previous art classes. 

     

    IDEA (Innovation, Design, Engineering, Architecture): Join our adventure into the world of innovation as we look to combine ideas from the fields of engineering, digital design (including games), architecture and good, old-fashioned maker education. Students will utilize the engineering design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in our lives. Students will be challenged to think big and toward the future, like learning how to apply energy-saving (green) concepts to the fields of architecture and construction. Tools students will use include 3D printing, Scratch game program, Sphero coding bots, GlowForge laser engraver and the full variety of Maker Ed workshop tools.

     

    Speech: Do you want to feel more comfortable speaking in front of a crowd? Do you want to win arguments? Perform a poem with emotion? Then this course is for you! Class activities include participation in the speaking events (Debate, Persuasive Speaking, Expository Speaking, Group discussion). There is continued stress upon principles of organization, methods of support through argument and example, and appropriate language (word usage). Students will have the opportunity to compete in a local speech competition! 

    Leadership: Students will plan and lead activities that include assemblies, lunchtime activities and student/staff recognition programs. They develop and implement a budget that meets their goals and carry out school-wide fundraisers to support the many programs for students at the school. Students will also promote school spirit, develop leadership skills and build connections with our elementary feeder schools. Student Council Officers are required to enroll in this course.

    Community Leadership: Students will plan and lead activities that include student driven programs to demonstrate service leadership. Students will also develop leadership skills and build connections within our community. Past examples of student service projects include education and awareness about gender equality, implicit bias, and more. Other projects included raising awareness and funding for specific causes such as the War in Ukraine, Animal Shelters, One Warm Coat, and Climate Change efforts. 

    Musical Theater: In this course students work on the basic crafts of acting, singing and working in an ensemble. The importance of self-discipline, teamwork, personal responsibility and personal expression are stressed. Students are introduced to basic acting technique and musical theater production concepts. In class performances are expected. 

    Film: In Filmmaking, students learn how to communicate ideas visually using basic filmmaking techniques incorporating historical and contemporary traditions. Traditional filmmaking traditions may be extended with video cameras and multimedia technologies, including the addition of text, scanned and digitized photographic images.

    Peer Resource: This course is designed to teach students basic helping skills. These skills are used throughout the school year in a peer facilitator program. The program provides conflict management services and one-on-one counseling for students who have attitude, academic, preparedness, and/or attendance issues.

     

    Year Long Electives 

     

    Spanish 1:  We will learn most of the High Frequency vocabulary words and basic grammatical structures in Spanish. The vocabulary includes but it’s not limited to: likes & dislikes, leisure activities, describing ourselves and others, the school, food and healthy living, going places, around the house etc. The grammar includes the present tense, articles, pronouns, sentence structures etc.  Students will learn to communicate using simple sentences and dialogues.  

     

    Spanish 2: Focus on developing fluency and more in-depth understanding of the language. We will also continue expanding our vocabulary and grammar knowledge. This class will review the concepts learned in Spanish 1 and expand the grammatical concepts to include the present progressive, preterite and some imperfect. Students will also learn to use the object and reflexive pronouns. The vocabulary includes but it’s not limited to: going shopping and buying for self and others, going on vacation and helping in the community. [Students must complete Spanish I in order to qualify for this course.]

     

    Upon the completion of Spanish 1 and Spanish 2, the students will have completed the first year of high school level Spanish in the Tamalpais High School District.

     

    Beginning Band: This course is designed for students who interested in becoming a musician and would like to learn to play an instrument. The class is open to students who would like to play flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, french horn and percussion. Students will learn many musical concepts including melody, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, intonation, sight-reading, posture, blend, listening, project based learning, and composition. Students will perform throughout the year.

     

    Intermediate Band: This course is designed for students who are practicing musicians and have approval from Mr. Derby. The class is open to students who play flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, french horn and percussion. Students will learn many musical concepts including melody, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, intonation, sight-reading, posture, blend, listening, project based learning, and composition. Students will perform throughout the year.

     

    Advanced Band: This course is designed for students who are long time musicians with and have approval from Mr. Derby. The class is open to students who play flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, trombone, french horn and percussion. Students will learn many musical concepts including melody, rhythm, articulation, dynamics, intonation, sight-reading, posture, blend, listening, project based learning, and composition. Students will perform throughout the year.

     

    Choir: The Concert Choir course integrates advanced elements of auditory, vocal, kinesthetic, and aesthetic dimensions of choral music through analysis, rehearsal and performance. Particular attention will be paid to ensemble participation in the context of rehearsal and performance.

     

    7th Grade Only- Math 8 Elective: For 7th grade students who would like to work toward placement in Algebra in 8th grade, we offer dual enrollment in math. This means that students who do not move to Pre-Algebra but would like to work towards Algebra in 8th grade can with this choice. Taking both Math 7 and Math 8 concurrently can support a successful transition to Algebra in 8th grade.  

    8th Grade only: Teacher Assistant (by approval process): This is an opportunity for students to assist in a classroom or in the office; this can include working as an additional support for students in Math and other subject matter. This is only available with special permission and prior approval from the teacher and the office. Approval process will be available in the office which includes a list of expectations.