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Elective
Course Descriptions
Dance
Dance class will encompass not only the fine art of dance, but theatrical
talents as well. This class will
teach a combination of many
styles of dance that will be
showcased in performances
throughout the school year.
General Music
Touch on the history of music
and how to read it in this
general and basic music class.
An introduction to music is the
main focus of this class. This
class is for the student who is
interested in music, but doesn’t
know too much about it or for
the student who has a basic
knowledge of music, but would
like to strengthen their
knowledge base.
Music (Instrumental)
This class will use various
types of instrumental music
(classic rock, jazz, blues) to
create small band atmospheres.
Guitars, drums, and voice can
also be implemented into this
class. To elect for this class
the student must already have an
instrument.
Physical Education/Karate
Students may choose between
Karate or Physical Education.
Both classes will focus on group
cooperation, positive
socialization, fitness
development, and basic team
skills.
Technology Applications
This course will introduce and
expand students’ knowledge of
the PC. Beginning and
intermediate keyboarding skills
will be taught. Students will
build speed and increase
accuracy through various
projects and activities.
Computer projects will include
posters, newsletters, poetry,
and portfolios of their work.
Art
Surprise yourself with an art
ability you did not know you
had. Or take the opportunity to
advance your art skills. Learn
to draw, mix your own colors,
create modern designs, and
participate in various
contests.
Choral Music
This class is open to any
student on campus no matter what
their ability or level. They
will learn the fundamentals in
vocal technique from proper
support to vowel formations.
There will be an emphasis on
Classical, Pop, and Jazz.
Students will be exploring Show
Choir concepts, including
dancing and stage presentation.
We will perform regular concerts
for the school, parents, at
least two festivals, and school
plays. There will be a $20.00
activity fee per year. Concerts
and home practice makes up the
majority of the grade. There is
an advanced level choir for
students with prior experience.
Band
This is the first step in our
instrumental music program.
Students will learn basic music
instruction and master their
chosen instrument. Beginning
Band will perform in various
concerts for parents and the
school. We will perform regular
concerts for the school,
parents, at least two festivals,
and school plays. There is an
intermediate and advanced level
band for musicians with prior
experience. Intermediate or
Advanced Band classes must have
the instructors approval before
signing up for these course.
Theater Arts
Are you interested in acting?
This is a chance to try many
areas of drama, including choric
verse, pantomime, and
improvisation. Students will
write, direct, and act in plays
as well. There is are
intermediate and advanced level
classes available for students
with prior drama experience. The
advanced or UIL Theater Arts
classes must have the
instructors approval before
signing up for these courses.
Creative Writing
Imagine switching places with
someone else, just for a few
hours! How would life be
different? How might you act
knowing you had such newness?
Next, imagine you are a famous
newspaper columnist, or the
person who writes speeches for
the President of the United
States. Continue to think of
such scenarios, leaving only
your imagination to limit you.
A class called Creative Writing
will be able to bring all of
this to you… and MORE! The
students will focus on the
writing process, by doing such
things as brainstorming
possibilities, writing drafts,
peer-editing work, revising
drafts, and sharing work with
the rest of the class. Students
will not only be learning “HOW”
to write, but they will also be
challenged with the amazing
capability of “LIKING” to
write. As Collin McCarty once
wrote, “Increase the chances of
reaching your goals by working
at them gradually.” This class
will be an excellent place to
try.
Odyssey of the Mind
The Odyssey of the Mind teaches
students to learn creative
problem-solving methods while
having fun in the process. For
more than twenty years, this
unique program has helped
teachers generate excitement in
their students. By tapping into
creativity, and through
encouraging imaginative paths to
problem solving, students learn
skills that will provide them
with the ability to solve
problems -- great and small --
for a lifetime. The Odyssey of
the Mind teaches students how to
think divergently by providing
open-ended problems that appeal
to a wide range of interests.
Students learn how to identify
challenges and to think
creatively to solve those
problems. They are free to
express their ideas and
suggestions without fear of
criticism. The creative
problem-solving process rewards
thinking "outside of the box."
While conventional thinking has
an important place in a
well-rounded education, students
need to learn how to think
creatively and productively.
Media Literacy
This new and exciting course has
just been added to our school
curriculum. Its goal is to
produce students who can write
articles fit for publication in
a newspaper/periodic
publication, use various types
of software to produce a school
yearbook, and master multiple
techniques in publishing and
Internet/website usage. This
means that students will learn
to write for the purpose of
disseminating information
responsibly and efficiently,
write for a specific
audience/readership, gather
information for articles from a
variety of sources, understand
newspaper administration and
roles, and meet publication
deadlines. Hamilton media
literacy students produce the
monthly AHMS Echo and the annual
AHMS yearbook.
Book Club
Students will enjoy reading a
multitude of books while gaining
the articulation to discuss them
with other avid book readers.
Students will participate in
Name That Book contests and will
attend field studies to Coffee
Shops, bookstores and/or the
library. Reading is a tool that
will carry your student to
college and beyond and if their
love for books is nurtured it
will help them soar.
Robotics
Technology is important in
today's world. There can be no
doubts about that! It is vital
that students learn that
technology is not something that
is created by others that does
"magical" things for them.
Technology is something they
must understand how to use and
how to control. That is the
purpose of introducing a
robotics program in our middle
school. We want our students to
understand how technology works,
how it is used to solve real -
world problems, and how it is
within their power to make
decisions to control technology.
There is also an advanced level
class available for students
with prior robotics experience.
Habitat for Hamilton
The students in this course
design a habitat for the
Hamilton community. Projects
include a small pond, gardening,
landscaping, study of natural
plants, and more. If you have a
love for the outdoors and
appreciate nature or wish to
learn, this is the class for
you!
Speech and Debate
Speech/debate is a year-long
course designed to allow
students the maximum number of
opportunities to perfect their
research, analysis, and public
speaking skills in an
educational environment of
competition. Students learn and
review basic and advanced oral
communication skills in the
classroom
and apply those skills at
interscholastic speech and
debate tournaments. Students
strive to gain and enhance a
complete understanding of
two-man cross-examination policy
debate, Lincoln-Douglas value
debate, oratory, extemporaneous
speaking, dramatic
interpretation, humorous
interpretation, prose reading,
poetry reading, and student
congress. Students will be
expected to assist and evaluate
one another, as well as to
accept the evaluation of
tournament judges. Ethics,
research, analysis,
organizational, and delivery
skills are taught, demonstrated,
and monitored. This course is
competitive in nature and
requires members to travel on
weekends to forensic
tournaments.
International Studies
Students in this class will
enjoy a project-based curriculum
designed to enhance their
knowledge of cultures, lands,
and customs from around the
world. It will go much further
in depth than the traditional
History class, and will include
pantomimes, guest speakers,
field trips, and technology.
Students will also have a say in
what cultures and/or countries
that they study. They will be
encouraged to seek out and
research cultures not often
mentioned in school, and find
commonalities and differences
between those cultures and their
own. |
Dance