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 K-4 Design Lab. Students embrace a ‘maker mindset’ by exploring their passions and learning how to use a variety of tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and coding software. Students plan, prototype, iterate, and collaborate to design fun and creative solutions that address human-centered, community needs through a balance of imagination and innovation! This is a semester-long course. 

   

  PHOTOGRAPHY 5

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

  THEATER-ACTING 

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

  
  

  VISUAL ARTS 

  This course will help students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skillset, and navigate creative ideas. Each month offers a new prompt such as materials, artists, artistic movements, and Elements of Art vocabulary. Further, in-class discussions will give students the skills needed 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 in the sixth-grade design lab will continue to build upon their understanding of the Dawson Design Process and how it can be applied to high-quality learning games for Early Childhood students. Students will learn to develop and test innovative game 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 focus on creating 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 then 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 THEORY AND COMPOSITION

  This course is designed to provide 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 will focus on writing original works and learning the fundamentals of music. This is a semester-long course. 

  
  

  THEATER-ACTING

  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.
  
  THEME PARK ENGINEERING
  Sixth grade students in this course will come to a consensus on a theme that will act as the driving throughline for all decisions made as they work collaboratively to do the work of structural, mechanical, and civil engineers tasked with the development, design, construction, and marketing of an amusement park. STREAM competencies utilized will include scale drawing, CAD and model fabrication, research & development, technical reading and writing, applying physics and mechanics to design rides that are thrilling but safe, and committing to environmental sustainability for attractions and locations. The culminating product will be shared with a panel of experts who will evaluate student work using the industry standards for safe and engaging recreation. This is a semester-long course that will be offered in Fall only.

  
  VISUAL ARTS PBL 101

  This course will help students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skill set, and navigate creative ideas through a Project-Based Learning lens. More than just an art display on a gallery wall, 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 will give students the skills needed 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 Electives

                                                                            Section I Electives: 7th/8th Grade (Students Select One Elective From Section I)
  
  DAWSON CHANGEMAKERS (Formerly Genius Hour):
  Dawson Changemakers is a semester-long 7th-grade elective that provides students with an opportunity to develop their leadership abilities, work on projects that will improve our school and community, and prepare to serve as leaders within their 8th-grade Capstone groups. Through the use of the Dawson Design Process, students will identify areas for community improvement and personal growth. By working through this process, students will develop solutions that are grounded in research, iterative, and responsive to feedback from their peers and community members. This elective offers students agency over their learning and encourages them to take ownership of their projects. Working collaboratively in groups, students will develop initiatives that foster leadership skills, communication, and empathy. Through project-based learning, the design process, and a changemaker mindset, students will be empowered to create positive change in our school community.” This is a semester-long course only offered to 7th graders.
  
  DIG IN: A GARDEN CLASS

  In this elective, you will learn about what it takes for a garden to thrive in the desert. Plan on getting your hands dirty in The Ruffin Organic Garden. We will plant, prune, weed, water respond to pests, compost, and harvest plants. You will experience the joy of watching the plants that you care for grow from seeds to flowering plants. You will teach classes to lower school students about gardening techniques. We will plan and host a farmer’s market for the community. All proceeds will be donated to an organization dedicated to food insecurity of our choosing. Did you know that gardening has been shown to lighten your mood and lower levels of stress and anxiety? This is a semester-long course.
  
  

  MUSIC TECH: THEORY AND COMPOSITION

  This course is designed to provide students with a survey of the musical field and modern music composition technology and will prepare students to compose and record 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 will focus on writing original works and learning the fundamentals of music. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  PHOTOJOURNALISM

  Students will be immersed in the art of capturing life in motion while exploring the importance of visual imagery for communication and storytelling. They will learn to recognize quality photographs, both technically and aesthetically, and learn to make, manage, and edit photographs with digital cameras and Adobe Photoshop. The photojournalism team’s top priority is to document school events and daily student life for the annual yearbook publication. This is a semester-long course and is only offered during the fall semester. 

  
  

  TECH FOR GOOD

  This STEAM-based elective allows students to join a global community of digital humanitarians attempting to change the world. Students will study examples of technology helping to make the world a better place and will find out what it means to become a “changemaker”. They will use the Dawson Design Process to find and solve authentic problems within our community. The main learning outcomes include developing an understanding of the principles of human-centered design, engineering, and other STEAM concepts – all while having fun! Students taking Tech for Good for the first time will e use 3D printing to solve problems, and students taking the course for a second time will deepen their understanding of CAD design and 3D printing to broaden their technology skills. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  THEATER-ACTING

  Students will refine their dramatic skills to perform more sophisticated work. They will use various creative drama techniques to build an ensemble, stimulate imagination and movement, and role-play with an emphasis on focus and stage presence. Students are taught to direct their focus, intent, and motivation to create and sustain a character, command audience attention, and develop stage presence. The culminating event for this class is the public performance of a student-selected, one-act play at the end of the semester. This is a semester-long course and is only offered in the fall semester.
  
  VISUAL ARTS 

  This course will help students explore different mediums, grow their artistic skill set, and navigate creative ideas. Prompts will be 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. Further, in-class discussions will give students the skills needed 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.

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

   

  ADVANCED ORCHESTRA

  Students will advance their skills on their respective orchestral string instruments, study music at their appropriate skill level, and perform for an audience throughout the year. A quality orchestra program emphasizes musicianship at a high level of performance. This requires knowledge of rhythm and melody, as well as interpretive and technical skills. Students will concurrently develop listening skills and learn about music history and theory in relation to their playing style and execution of their musical pieces. Students will continue to learn increasingly complex pieces from the selected repertoire, showcasing their music comprehension. Audition 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.

  
  

  CREATING WITH CODE: APPS, ART, ROBOTS, AND GAMES
  Coding is the language of the future. It is the magic behind every app you have run, website you have visited, video game you have played, and robot you have seen, and the time has come for Dawson students to unleash the power of coding to create, have fun, and make a difference. “Creating With Code” will focus on the use of block coding to make things happen, could allow students to extend their skills once they have mastered block coding, and is open to any 7th and 8th-grade student, regardless of skill level, experience, interest level and, of course, gender. Students will work individually and in teams and will possibly collaborate with people outside of their class. If you are a creative, collaborative, and curious student who wants to be ready for the future and who is interested in learning to build video games, create unique designs, program mini robots, build apps, and run Micro:bits, then “Creating with Code” is for you. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  DAWSON YEARBOOK PRODUCTION

  Students will become a team of intrepid reporters who document the story of the year and gain experience in journalistic writing, photojournalism, thematic page design, and graphic design software. This class allows students to develop their scholastic journalism skills while producing a publication for the Dawson community. It is the ultimate Project-Based Learning course because student staffers control all aspects of the 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? Do you want to create and sell original designs?  Would you like to help Dawson raise funds for worthwhile causes? Then The Dawson De$ign Company is for you. 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 that can be sold for profit. Be part of the first group of students to work with Mr. D. Smith and Mr. Lehrer in our newly created Middle School Design Lab to launch this exciting new elective next year. Learn the principles of design, understand what it takes to become an entrepreneur, and make a difference…all while having fun. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  FORENSICS

  Forensics is the study of crime, and students will fine-tune their observation, inference, and analysis skills to build an argument from evidence. This is a course rich in exploration and lab investigation, applying many disciplines of scientific study such as biology, anatomy, chemistry, and physics to solving crimes. They will conduct investigations of fictional, true crime scenarios and solve simulated virtual mysteries such as the “Murder at Old Fields” or “Diablo Highway”. Using scientific methods, students will collect and analyze evidence through case studies and simulated crime scenes to explore the art of fingerprint analysis, ballistics, DNA, and blood analysis. This is a semester-long course.

  
  

  FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY 7/8

  Seventh and eighth-grade fine art photography students will create dynamic imagery through digital photography and Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn how to communicate as visual artists, develop a personal style, reflect upon their work, and take strides toward discovering their own voice through photography. Each student will create a portfolio of traditional and manipulated art with an emphasis on visual impact and creative style. Students will 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.