List of 3 items.

• 5th-Grade Electives

  Mastery Electives: 5th Grade (Students Select One Mastery Elective)
  
  

  CHOIR 
  This vocal class is designed for students to explore the creative and expressive qualities of their voice. Musical opportunities are provided for students to learn the basic skills of singing and reading music as part of an ensemble. They will also have the opportunity to create and compose original pieces. Student voice and choice drive Dawson’s concert repertoire, giving our choir members true ownership of the class. This is a year-long course.
  
  

  ORCHESTRA 
  This course focuses on the fundamentals of string performance, including playing positions, instrument care, procedures, and reading music for students’ selected instruments. Students will also develop the discipline and skill set required to practice both in the classroom and at home. Learning an instrument is fun, but at the same time, it takes dedication and continuous effort. Students will perform increasingly complex pieces from the selected repertoire, showcasing their music comprehension and playing ability. This course is designed to build passionate and talented musicians by balancing amusement, humor, perseverance, and application. This is a year-long course.
  
  

  Exploratory Electives: 5th-Grade (Students Select One Exploratory Elective)

  
  

  DESIGN LAB 5

  This course builds upon the design-thinking concepts introduced in our Lower School Design Lab. Students embrace a ‘maker mindset’ by exploring their passions and learn to use a variety of tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and coding software. Through imagination and innovation, students plan, prototype, iterate, and collaborate to design fun and creative solutions that address human-centered, community needs. This is a semester-long course. 

   

  MUSIC TECHNOLOGY 5

  This course provides students with a survey of the musical field and modern music composition technology. It prepares them for composing and recording original music by introducing music theory and production. They will use various music technologies, including music notation software, midi controllers, music workstations, and music production software. This class focuses on writing original works and learning the fundamentals of music. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  PHOTOGRAPHY 5

  Using 35mm SLR cameras and black and white and digital film, students create unique, well-composed photography. They explore various concepts behind creative composition and gain hands-on experience developing images in a traditional darkroom. Students learn how to operate a digital SLR camera and refine their images within Adobe Photoshop CC. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  THEATER-ACTING 5

  Students are introduced to basic theater arts concepts using various creative drama techniques. Through theater games and role-playing activities, students build confidence, take risks, lose their inhibitions, and gain trust in themselves and others. The culminating event is a public performance of a student-selected, one-act play. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  VISUAL ARTS 5

  This course helps students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skills, and navigate creative ideas. Each month offers a new prompt such as materials, artists, artistic movements, and the Elements of Art vocabulary. In-class discussions allow students to express the message behind their works of art. Self-reflection, critique, and revision are some of the key components of this class, right alongside fun. This is a semester-long course.

  
  
  

  
  
  

• 6th Grade Electives

  6th Grade Mastery Electives (Students Select One Mastery Elective)

  
  CHOIR

  This vocal class picks up where the fifth-grade choir left off. Students will continue to sing self-selected, two-part songs before exploring three-part music. This will allow them to develop into independent singers while fine-tuning their ears for tougher songs with more complex harmonies. We will also dive deeper into note and rhythmic reading, helping to shape the next generation of singers and songwriters. This is a year-long course. 

  
  ORCHESTRA

  Students will learn to play an orchestral string instrument, read and perform music at an appropriate skill level, and perform for an audience throughout the year. Students will concurrently develop listening skills and learn about music history and the theory behind the harmonization of parts as an ensemble. Students will continue to learn increasingly complex pieces from the selected repertoire, showcasing their music comprehension. This course is designed to sustain the passion and talent of musicians by balancing amusement, humor, perseverance, and application. This is a year-long course. 

  
  

  6th Grade Exploratory Electives (Students Select One Exploratory Elective)

  
  

  DESIGN LAB 6
  Students continue to build upon their understanding of the Dawson Design Process and how it is applied to high-quality learning games for Early Childhood students. Students will develop and test innovative ideas through our iteration cycle, exploring the many steps involved in game creation. Students will enjoy prototyping, play-testing, 2D and 3D design, incorporating feedback, and more. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY 6

  Students will create dynamic imagery through digital photography and Adobe Photoshop. The course begins with a discussion of how to compose and create images that produce what we refer to as “The Wow Factor”. Each student creates a portfolio of traditional and manipulated art with an emphasis on visual impact and creative style. Students refine their technical skills involving camera operation and learn an efficient workflow within Adobe Photoshop that includes individualized advanced instruction. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  MUSIC TECHNOLOGY 6

  This course provides students with a survey of the musical field and modern music composition technology. It prepares them for composing and recording original music by introducing music theory and production. They will use various music technologies, including music notation software, midi controllers, music workstations, and music production software. This class focuses on writing original works and learning the fundamentals of music. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  THEATER-ACTING 6

  Students can show off their creativity, imagination, and writing skills by creating their very own show! As an ensemble, they will select a series of monologues, scenes, and songs for a unique theater revue, a type of popular theatrical entertainment that combines acting, music, and dance! This is a semester-long course.

  
  
  

  VISUAL ARTS 6

  This course helps students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skill set, and navigate creative ideas through a Project-Based Learning lens. Students will develop quality work that is beautiful and can inspire change by investigating artists, artistic movements, the Elements of Art, and design. In-class discussions allow students to express the message behind their works of art. Self-reflection and developmental growth are some of the key components of this class, right alongside fun. This is a semester-long course.

• 7th & 8th-Grade Spring Electives

  Section I Electives: 7th/8th Grade (Students Select One Elective From Section I)

  
  

  DIG IN: A GARDEN CLASS

  Students will get their hands dirty learning about what it takes for the Ruffin Organic Garden to thrive in the desert. We will plant, prune, weed, water, respond to pests, compost, and harvest plants. Highlights include teaching Lower School students about gardening techniques and planning and hosting a garden market for the community. All proceeds will be donated to an organization dedicated to food insecurity. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  THEATER TECH and Production (This is TECH THEATER and MUSIC TECH combined) There will be 35 students

  This course teaches the basic design and creation skills needed for behind-the-scenes aspects of theatrical production. Students learn and apply the basics of technical theater, including the creative elements of set design and construction, lighting design, prop design, costume design, and makeup design. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  MULTIMEDIA DESIGN

  Students learn to effectively tell a story by combining photography, videos, and music. They engage in photojournalism by documenting student life and events around campus, organizing and selecting images, and creating videos. Students work toward building slideshows for the eighth-grade graduation dinner and the end-of-year, all-school slideshow that best tells the story of student life on campus. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  MUSICAL THEATER 

  Singing, dancing, and acting all at the same time! This performance-based elective gives every student the chance to become a triple threat on stage. The show will culminate in student-selected performances for our community at the end of the semester.  This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  TECH FOR GOOD

  This STEM-based elective allows students to join a global community of digital humanitarians attempting to change the world. Students use the Dawson Design Process to find and solve authentic problems within our community. The main learning outcomes include understanding the principles of human-centered design, engineering, and other STEM concepts. This class can be taken multiple times. Students taking it for the first time use 3D printing and vinyl cutting to solve problems, and repeating students deepen their understanding of CAD design and broaden their technology skills by also using our laser cutter, our CNC mill, and our professional printer cutter.. This is a semester-long course.
  
  

  WEAR IT

  Calling all trendsetters: Dive into the world of swag-making in the Middle School Design Lab. Learn the basics of graphic design to make custom, personalized keepsakes using high-quality resin, leather, wood, acrylic, and metal. Students will craft items using techniques like 3D printing, laser cutting, and metal casting. This class is designed for anyone interested in designing for wearing and transporting. This is a semester-long course.

  
  Section II Electives: 7th/8th Grade (Students Select One Elective From Section II)

   

  ADVANCED ORCHESTRA

  Students advance their skills on their respective orchestral string instruments, study music at their appropriate skill level, and perform for an audience throughout the year. This requires knowledge of rhythm and melody, as well as interpretive and technical skills. Students concurrently develop listening skills and learn about music history and theory in relation to their playing style and execution of their musical pieces. Students continue to learn increasingly complex pieces from the selected repertoire, showcasing their music comprehension. An audition is required. This is a year-long course.

  
  

  ADVANCED VOCAL ENSEMBLE

  This class has a very different vibe compared to the fifth and sixth-grade choir classes! Students will dive even deeper into challenging and exciting songs to develop truly strong harmonies. They will explore four-part music, music for changed voices, and lots of acapella songs. Think Glee meets Pitch Perfect. Auditions are required, as the matching of pitch is essential for this deep dive work. This is a year-long course.

  
  

  C.A.F.E. (Culinary Arts and Food Exploration)

  Students investigate the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics involved in food selection. They learn food handling, preparation, and presentation through practical and theoretical constructs. Milestone topics include knife skills, safety and sanitation, nutrition, menu planning, measurement and conversion, budgeting, and (of course) various forms of cooking, baking, and air frying. Competencies of collaboration, professionalism, and self-sustainability will be stressed throughout the course. This is a semester-long course.

  
  CREATING WITH CODE: APPS, ART, ROBOTS, AND GAMES

  This class is open to any 7th and 8th-grade student, regardless of skill level or experience, who is creative, collaborative, curious, and wants to be ready for the future. This class is perfect for students interested in using block coding to build video games, create unique designs, program mini robots, build apps, and run Micro:bits. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  DAWSON YEARBOOK PRODUCTION

  Students become a team of intrepid reporters with experience in journalistic writing, photojournalism, thematic page design, and graphic design software. It is the ultimate Project-Based Learning course because student staffers control all aspects of this community publication. This course sometimes requires students to meet outside of designated class time due to publishing deadlines. This is a year-long course.

  
  

  DAWSON DE$IGN COMPANY 

  Do you know what it takes to run a business that creates and sells original designs?  Would you like to help Dawson raise funds for worthwhile causes? Digital fabrication tools such as laser cutters, vinyl printer/cutters, 3D printers, and CNC routers allow Dawson students to design and create professional-looking objects to be sold for profit. Learn the principles of design, understand what it takes to become an entrepreneur, and make a difference while having fun. This is a semester-long course.

   

  FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY 7/8

  Students create dynamic imagery through digital photography and Adobe Photoshop. They communicate as visual artists, develop a personal style, reflect upon their work, and discover their voice through photography. Each student creates a portfolio of traditional and manipulated art with an emphasis on visual impact and creative style. Students further refine their technical skills involving camera operation and learn an efficient workflow within Adobe Photoshop that includes individualized advanced instruction. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  VISUAL ARTS 

  Students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skill set, and navigate creative ideas. Prompts are given in accordance with the “Teaching for Artistic Behavior” educational approach to investigate artists and artistic movements and learn about the seven elements of art. In-class discussions allow students to express the message behind their works of art. Self-reflection and developmental growth will be some of the key components of this class, right alongside fun. This is a semester-long course.