At Hill we offer a variety of elective courses for students. As you scroll through the descriptions, please note which classes are open to specific grade levels. 6th grade students take electives with other 6th grade students only while 7th and 8th grade students are combined in elective courses.
Course Description:
Physically educated students will demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform various physical activities. The content of this course includes six standards: Skilled Movement, Movement Principles and Concepts, Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, Personal and Social Responsibility, and Affective Concepts. Students will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.
Comprehensive health is a skills-based course designed for students to become familiar with the fundamentals of health education. Students will participate in practical, project-based learning activities, focusing on acquiring skills and knowledge necessary to promote optimal health and wellness. Skills and activities consist of, but are not limited to, goal-setting, communication, analyzing influences, accessing valuable sources of health information, decision making, and self-management promoting mental, physical, social, and emotional health. Key concepts covered may include nutrition, hygiene, mental and emotional health promotion, sexual health and relationships, drugs/alcohol/tobacco/vaping, school safety, personal advocacy, and essential life skills education.
Explore a variety of materials and art techniques during your time in Visual Arts! Students will need to provide a sketchbook and will use this daily for drawing exercises and planning their major 2D & 3D projects. Learning about and incorporating the elements and principles of art into each project will help students think critically about their artwork. Analyzing professional pieces of art will also be a component of this Visual Arts course.
Open to all interested 6th grade students.
This year-long Visual Arts course will be used to explore a variety of materials and art techniques! Students will need to provide a sketchbook and will use this daily for drawing exercises and planning their major 2D & 3D projects. Reviewing and incorporating the elements and principles of art into each project will strengthen independent artwork. Learn about contemporary and local artists while making your own independent artwork personally meaningful.
Open to all interested 7th & 8th grade students.
This year-long Visual Arts course will focus on all 3-dimensional artwork. Students will use a variety of materials and techniques to build their sculptures; everything from cardboard, to found objects, and even packing tape! Students will still need to provide a sketchbook and will use this to plan their final 3D projects. Reviewing and incorporating the elements and principles of art into each project will strengthen independent artwork. Students will also learn about contemporary and local sculptors.
Open to all interested 7th & 8th grade students.
This year-long course is designed for students who are very interested, passionate, and talented in Visual Arts. Advanced Art is an opportunity to develop stronger skills and a deeper understanding of various media, tools, and techniques in art. There will be an emphasis on personal meaning in your artwork. This course will focus on 2D & 3D projects. Some personal art materials will need to be purchased for this class. A personal sketchbook will be used for daily sketches, planning, and journaling.
Teacher approval required.
In this semester – long class , students will get to learn the basic Spanish skills by reading, speaking and a little writing in Spanish. Students will learn Spanish in context by actively listening, participating, acting out stories,and reading Spanish everyday.
Pre-Reqs & Notes: no previous knowledge of Spanish needed.
In this year-long class, students will develop their foreign language skills by reading, writing and speaking in Spanish. Students will learn Spanish in context by actively listening, participating, acting out stories and reading in Spanish every day. This class is a prerequisite class for Spanish 1B.
Pre-Reqs & Notes: Students who took Exploratory Spanish in sixth grade will have a preference. If you did not have Spanish in 6th grade, wait to see if there is room. Students who already speak Spanish should NOT sign up for this class.
This is a 2nd year Spanish class for students who have already had Spanish before and who are serious about acquiring the Spanish Language. Students will continue to develop their language skills by reading, writing, and speaking in Spanish 90-100% of the time. Students will learn Spanish in context by actively listening, participating, acting out stories, and reading in Spanish every day. We will also cover advanced grammar structures and tenses. The goal of the class is to prepare students for upper level Spanish classes in high school.
Pre-Reqs & Notes: You need to have taken Spanish 1A to take this class or being recommended by the teacher after an outstanding year in 6th grade). Scores of the district test will be taken into consideration. Students who already speak Spanish should NOT sign up for this class.
In choir class, we sing, move, and body-beat our way through a wide range of music, from folk to pop to multi-cultural pieces. Students will also begin to experiment with writing their own compositions, improvising in music, and exploring building harmony – all culminating in a grand concert at the end of the semester.
Open to all interested students
The goal of this course is to create a variety of music in digital and real-world environments. Students will learn the basics of working in a digital audio workstation, using industry-standard software and hardware. Students will record and edit their music, combine it with electronically created music, and perform alongside electronically created music. Students will learn music theory (how music is written), songwriting, and improvise. Students will also play musical instruments including ukulele, guitar, electric bass, keyboard, drumset, and marching drums to create music and will have opportunities to perform live. Singing is strongly encouraged, too. Students will create their own music, explore music of other cultures, and will develop live performance skills in a collaborative space.
Open to all interested students
In choir class, we sing, move, and body-beat our way through a wide range of music, from folk to pop to multi-cultural pieces. Students will also begin to experiment with writing their own compositions, improvising in music, and exploring building harmony – all culminating in a grand concert at the end of the semester.
Open to all interested students
The goal of this course is to create a variety of music in digital and real-world environments. Students will learn the basics of working in a digital audio workstation, using industry-standard software and hardware. Students will record and edit their music, combine it with electronically created music, and perform alongside electronically created music. Students will learn music theory (how music is written), songwriting, and improvise. Students will also play musical instruments including ukulele, guitar, electric bass, keyboard, drumset, and marching drums to create music and will have opportunities to perform live. Singing is strongly encouraged, too. Students will create their own music, explore music of other cultures, and will develop live performance skills in a collaborative space. Performances outside the school day and at least one off-campus performance will be a part of this class.
Open to all interested students
In this course, students will develop knowledge of the musical world including pop, traditional, and world music.
The course emphasis is on developing skills in creating and performing music that includes guitar, keyboard, electric bass, drumset, and vocals. Students will also learn music theory (how music is written), songwriting, and learn to improvise. Students will learn instrument fundamentals and instrument care, how to create their own music, explore music of other cultures, and develop personal performance etiquette and teamwork skills. Students will also learn to record and edit their music, combine it with electronic music, and perform alongside electronically created music. Performances outside of the school day, and at least one off-campus performance is a requirement of this course.
Open to all interested students
In this class we will learn the techniques and history associated with cheer/pom. This includes learning cheers, dance routines, leaps, turns, jumps, and tumbling. Attending home games is a requirement for this class where we will cheer on our team and perform during halftime.
Open to all interested students- any grade level
In this class 7th and 8th graders will continue or begin their study into dance technique, history, and performance.
We will study many different styles of dance including modern, ballet, jazz, hip hip, and world dance. We will be learning and creating choreography to perform in the winter and spring shows. The students in this class could have some experience with dance either at Hill, outside classes, gymnastics, acro, aerial, or be brand new to dance. Part of the mastery of standards for the class is to perform at the winter and spring dance performances here at the Hill auditorium.
Open to all interested students- 7th and 8th grade
In this class all students in 7th and 8th grade will go further in-depth in their study of dance technique and history.
The students will analyze, research and reflect on the many different styles of dance including modern, ballet, jazz, hip hip, and world dance. The students in this class will have had a few years of experience with dance either at Hill or outside classes and can demonstrate very strong dance technique.
The choreography practiced will include high level difficulty in movement, transitions, and technical skills.
Part of the mastery of standards for the class is to perform at the winter and spring dance performances here at the Hill auditorium.
Open to advanced students in dance- 7th and 8th grade
Semester: In band, students will choose and develop foundational skills on an instrument – no experience necessary, but if you have experience, we love that too! We will explore flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and mallet percussion, and learn the basics of playing an instrument through games, mini-performances, and a fun variety of music.
In orchestra, students will choose and develop foundational skills on an instrument – no experience necessary, but if you have experience, we love that too! We will explore violin, viola, cello and bass, and learn the basics of playing an instrument through games, mini-performances, and a fun variety of music.
Year Long: In this band, students will choose and develop beginning skills on a new instrument – no experience necessary! We will explore flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and mallet percussion, and learn the basics of playing an instrument through games, mini-performances, and a fun variety of music.
Year Long: In this advanced band, students will develop skills on their instruments by building independence and having more opportunities for unique musical roles within the ensembles. The class digs into more complex music while also exploring composition, elements of expression and music theory through games, performance opportunities, and field trips near and far. At least one semester of experience on an instrument is required to join this course.
Year Long: In this orchestra, students will develop skills on their instruments by building independence and having more opportunities for unique musical roles within the ensembles. The class digs into more complex music while also exploring composition, elements of expression and music theory through games, performance opportunities, and field trips near and far. Experience preferred for this ensemble.
Year Long: In this exploratory music class, students will have the opportunity to explore rhythm, pitch, and other essentials of music, in addition to the various roles that music plays in our society. Students will use a variety of mediums to learn concepts, including a unit of piano skills, guitar skills, and drumming. No experience necessary!
This STEM course will challenge students to solve real world problems over the course of a year! We will use engineering and creativity to code, build and even shoot off CO2 canisters to race dragsters. Expect to work on building using many different types of materials and get familiar with more tools.
In this STEM course will figure out how to build a sustainable world using Green Architecture. Using recycled materials we will create 3-D structures that represent buildings that save energy, water and space. Plants will be a focus in this course as well, as we learn about the many impacts they have, including energy efficiency, mental health, and nutritional value. We will also dream up our own tiny home and make models that maximize space and resources. This class is one semester long.
In this STEAM course we will figure out how to build a beautiful but also efficient world. The completion of successful products is reliant not just on their engineering team, but also their designing team. Using recycled materials we will create 3-D structures that represent buildings that save energy, water and space. One key unit will be all about creating your own board game! We will find art in robots, scientific drawings, sustainability and more. Open to all interested students.
This STEAM course will have students building and coding robots! We will strengthen coding skills by creating video games and programming CPU dialogue. Then we will construct robots that can drive, grab, respond, light-up and much more. At the end of the year, look forward to a robot competition!