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Merrill Electives 24-25 School Year

Merrill Electives24-25 School Year
We are excited to offer a variety of elective classes for the 23-23 school year. Our teachers have put together class descriptions and a short video to share what students will be learning in their classes. Please enjoy looking through what we are proud to offer for the upcoming school year. Students will be selecting their classes in their Advisement class on April 19th and April 20th.
To watch videos of the electives, click on the title for the class- Example to watch the Band video click "BAND"
Students are assessed for their procedures in the art room. Among other elements of cognitive creativity, students demonstrate planning, experimentation, artistic maneuvers, reflection, revisions and overall effort. All points related to student work and evidence will be found in Schoology. Any other communication that is needed will be through email.
AVID is a career and college readiness elective that student's stay in through senior year of high school. AVID students learn about college and careers, visit college campuses and go to industry tours as well as learn good study habits. In order to be in AVID, students must be recommended by their teachers, have the desire to attend college or be career ready by the end of high school, strong leadership skills, may need a little support in core classes, works hard, turns in all or most of their work without being prompted and works well with others. By the time students are in high school AVID they are looking for scholarships and applying to colleges.
Band is one of our music electives, where we learn woodwinds, like flute, clarinet, saxophone; brass, like trumpet and trombone; or percussion, like xylophone and snare. In all music classes we perform concerts, listen to musical examples from throughout history and around the world, and compose our own new pieces of music. This is a super fun elective if you love music!
Orchestra is one of our music electives where we learn string instruments, like the violin, viola, cello, and upright bass. In all music classes, we perform concerts, listen to musical examples from throughout history and around the world, and compose our own new pieces of music. This is a super fun elective if you love music!
Dance is a powerful medium that contributes to healthy minds and healthy bodies. Merrill is collaborating with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance to provide students with an opportunity to engage in and learn more about all different types of dance. Students will not only develop their skills as a dancer they will also learn about teamwork, collaboration, and develop communication skills
Deeper Math is a math extension class for students who want extra help with the grade level math content they are learning and students who want to refresh their skills from previous years. We follow the curriculum from your grade-level math course while infusing real-world problem-solving projects and activities to learn the concepts slowly and meaningfully. This class allows you to ask for help and get small group and individual assistance on math problems and mathematical understanding. There is no pressure to perform or get things right. Our goal is to have fun, find problems, and solve problems collectively.
Drama is an introduction to the acting and theatre production process, with a focus on collaboration. Students learn how to build a character; how to use their body and voice in interesting ways, and how to create effective stage movement and design. They begin to explore student leadership by leading warm-ups and teaching theatre games. They learn how to develop their own material through the use of improvisation, as well as how to work with a variety of texts, including scripted material, literature, and poetry. Students have many opportunities to collaborate in both small and large ensembles, as well as working individually.

Advanced Reading

In advanced reading we will focus on two things, firstly reading a diverse selection of texts. Over the course of 9 weeks your middle schooler will read a book from the following genres- Graphic Novels, Sci-Fi Dystopian, Non-Fiction Narrative, Poetry, and Diverse Point of View (Non-white male protagonist, non-white male author). Secondly, we will also focus on socializing our reading! Our students will engage with these diverse texts in small 3 to 4-person groups called “lit circles” where they will compose their own questions and lead their own discussions about the books they have chosen themselves! In addition, we will have whole-class seminar discussion days about issues surrounding our chosen genres as well as whole-class book share days as well. It’s a great class, you should take it.



6th Grade- Philosophy, Debate, and Rhetoric

Ever wondered how the greatest minds approached the most difficult questions? Ever come up with the perfect comeback but it was up to 2 and a half days later? Do you just want to sit with really complex ideas and try to figure them out? Well if any of these answers were yes you should consider taking “Philosophy, Debate and Rhetoric” as your 6th-grade elective choice.

In this elective, we will plumb the greatest philosophic questions of humanity while also learning how to engage in Oxford-style formal debate. Students will engage with one philosopher and one controversial debate topic each week that will culminate with a full-on student vs student debate where the class decides the winner. Interested? Then sign up!!



7th Grade- Sociology through Sport

Are you especially interested when your ESPN starts to brush up against the evening news? Sports and society have been inextricably linked since Ancient Greek days and this is a course where we will incorporate research with discussion activities to better understand the world and society around us through the controversies that have defined the 20th century, sports, and America itself. Are you interested? See you next year!!



8th Grade- Welcome to the Real World

Are boring things important? In the finance world, YESSSS!! In this course, students will learn about the foundations of financial literacy. Whether it’s salary, insurance, retirement, or even filing your taxes this is the class that will get down into the weeds. You will hear from many guest speakers in the financial industry and you will get to make financial decisions that can shape your future for the next 50 years! Get a jump on the hard stuff and learn it the easy way! Hope to see you next year!

Short Films, Music Videos and PSAs

Directing, Writing, Production and Video Editing

This class will teach students to produce creative video content. Students will learn to storyboard, write and direct visually compelling content. Students will work with production equipment including cameras, lights, audio and video editing software.

Multilingual Education provides students the learning opportunities necessary to acquire advanced academic language skills and achieve proficiency in English. Instruction will center on the domains of Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening with the goal of improving overall literacy skills in English. Students will further their English language abilities through high-interest unit topics, interactive lessons, targeted skills practice and language-centered class assignments and projects.

News Stories and News Features

Reporting, Writing, Producing and Production


This class will teach students to produce television news. Students will learn to write, interview, report and manage video projects professionally to create engaging stories that impact the community. Students will work with production equipment including cameras, lights, audio and video editing software.

PE

6th Grade PE

The 6th grade physical education class is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of physical activity, health, and fitness. Throughout the semester, students will learn about the importance of all components of fitness, as well as safety in physical activity. Students will participate in pre and post-fitness assessments to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. The class will include a focus on sport skills development, including basic movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. In addition to physical skill development, students will learn about general physical health and the benefits of regular physical activity in conjunction with participating in games and sports in order to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and fun. By the end of the semester, students will have developed a deeper understanding of the importance of physical activity and gained the knowledge and skills needed to live a healthy, active lifestyle.


***To watch the 6th Grade PE Video Click Here***

7th and 8th Grade PE

The 7th and 8th grade-mixed physical education class is designed to provide students with a well-rounded experience that combines physical activity, skill development, collaboration, and exposure to outdoor education. There will be a focus on developing the Domains of Athlete Potential, which includes physical, psychological, technical, and tactical skills. Students will learn about advanced skill performance and strategies to enhance their athletic abilities. Students will also learn critical collaboration skills to work effectively with their peers in team sports. Additionally, students will participate in pre and post-fitness assessments to track their progress and identify areas of improvement. The teacher will incorporate elements of outdoor education, which will provide opportunities for students to learn and develop skills outside of traditional classroom-content. By the end of the semester, students will have developed a deeper understanding of their athletic potential and the skills needed to succeed in a variety of environments inside and outside of the classroom.


***To watch the 7th and 8th Grade PE Video Click Here**

The Adaptive Physical Education class is for 6th grade students and Merrill MIS students to engage in P.E. class together. The class is designed for 6th-grade students who want to support their peers and learn about adapting physical activities to meet the needs of students with special needs. The primary goal of the class is to create a positive and supportive environment where our MIS students can have fun, build friendships, and be challenged in a safe and inclusive way. The class will focus on adapting physical activities to meet the needs of each student to ensure that they are able to participate fully and enjoyably in physical activities. Lessons are ensured to consist of activities that meet class needs and interests. By the end of the semester, students will have developed a deeper understanding of how to adapt physical activities to meet the needs of individuals with special needs and disabilities, while developing important social-emotional skills within a physical activity and sports setting.


***To watch the Adaptive PE Video Click Here**

Spanish is a year-long elective offered in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. At Merrill, unlike other Middle Schools in the area, you will have Spanish class every day of the week! We will be delivering instruction through listening to, speaking, reading, and writing Spanish on a daily basis. You will reinforce your learning by reading outside of class (Fluency Matters), listening to Spanish music, watching Spanish tv, practicing weekly vocabulary words with family members, using Señor Wooly (apps to practice vocabulary and learn new words). Spanish is a cycling elective. Students must take Spanish as a 6th grader to be able to continue into 7th and 8th grade Spanish.
In this class we do several different project based learning units. Students will be engaged by frequent hands-on activities geared towards combining each of the STEM disciplines, including Art (STEAM). At the end of each unit, students will have a product to show their learning whether it be a 3D design (6th, 7th, 8th), webpage (8th), sensor system (6th, 7th), game (6th) and more! In addition to creativity and collaboration, self-directed learning is emphasized in this class.

Student Assistant in Ms. Wendy’s MIS Peers (7th and 8th Grade Only)

In this class, we help Merrill’s MIS students learn real-life skills for the future. We help them with reading, math, and counting. We help create friendships with these students and go on fun field trips, including the Special Olympics, bowling, basketball, eating in restaurants, and more!