Electives

2023-2024 Elective Course Information

This page includes course descriptions for the elective classes offered at Lincoln Middle School. Before you choose the elective you want to take during the
next school year, please take the time to carefully read this document to avoid misunderstanding and later surprises in the school year.

Note: Based on school district requirements, students may be placed in a support class in lieu of an elective. These support classes include:
★ Strategic Academic Support for students with IEP’s (Students in Special Education)
★ English Language Development for students designated Limited English Proficient.

All 6-8th grade students take one elective class.

7th and 8th grade students should rank their top 7 elective choices.
Double check that your selection is available to your grade level.
Priority of World Language will be given to 8th grade students.
7th grade students will be enrolled in a World Language class if enrollment in the language of choice is low.

6th graders can choose between Beginning Band, Orchestra, Guitar, Choir or 6th Grade Exploration Wheel. Every 6th grade Exploration Wheel class is six weeks long and is Pass/Fail only. After the 6th grade Wheel is full, late enrolled students will be placed into a Music class. All Music classes are yearlong and graded.

Note: Leadership students are required to submit applications. The Leadership class has after school requirements (social events) that may interfere with extracurricular activities. There is a voluntary request for a small donation for supplies in Engineering and Music classes.

Music

Each class will have three mandatory graded performances, the fall, winter and spring concerts. Students are expected to attend rehearsals several days prior to a performance, but rehearsals are not graded.

Beginning Band (6-8th Grade)

Advanced Band (7-8th grade)

Orchestra (6-8th grade)

Choir (6-8th grade)

LVGI - Choir is an entry level singing group where all levels of musicianship and experience are welcome! Throughout the course, we will learn proper singing technique, performance etiquette, how to read music, solfege, and how to sight sing. We will explore music from different time periods, genres, and cultures. We will practice singing in unison, as well as two- and three-part harmonies. Students will have the opportunity to perform live on multiple occasions and develop a love for singing!

Guitar (6-8th Grade)

LIBH - Beginning Guitar is an introductory course in which the basic skills and concepts of the instrument are learned, practiced, and refined. Students are introduced to chord progressions, right-hand techniques, and basic rhythm and pitch notation. Students learn in different formats including small ensemble, large ensemble and solo works. By the end of the course, students will be able to perform using every string, and some basic chords.

6th Grade Exploration Wheel

The “wheel” is a fixed series of six enrichment classes divided in two sessions per trimester. Students are randomly placed in a cohort, and that cohort moves through the rotation of the wheel every six weeks.

All classes in the wheel are graded pass/fail.

Exploration Art

Exploration Engineering

Exploration French

Exploration Music

Exploration Mandarin

Exploration Spanish

7th & 8th Grade Electives

Leadership and student aides are required to submit applications. The Leadership class has after school requirements (social events) that may interfere with extracurricular activities.

Arts

Art (7-8th grade)

Art - Advanced (8th grade-only)

Drama (7-8th grade)

LDGH - This yearlong play production course immerses the students in team-building as they become a performing troupe. The highlights of the course are the production of a short play in the fall, the school talent show, and a full-length play or musical to be presented to the public in the spring. Students will learn and practice the basics for role auditions, memorizing lines, acting, singing and dancing. The course also involves production posters and playbill design, production fundraising and ticket selling, and backstage work.

Note: After school rehearsal and crew work time is required before performances.

World Languages

Primarily 8th grade courses unless enrollment is low.

French 1 (7-8th grade)

FFAH - This yearlong high school level course introduces the basic reading, writing, comprehension, and speaking skills of the French language. Emphasis will be given to the practices of listening and speaking, as well as exploring the various aspects of French culture including cooking.

NOTE:

7th graders who are interested in taking French be allowed to enroll in the course if the class is not full.

Mandarin 1 (7-8th grade)

FMAH - This yearlong high school level course introduces the basic reading, writing, comprehension, and speaking skills of the Mandarin language. Students will be introduced to Mandarin language and Chinese culture. Students will use pinyin- the official phonetic system for transcribing the Mandarin pronunciations of Chinese characters into the Latin alphabet.

7th graders who are interested in taking Mandarin be allowed to enroll in the course if the class is not full.

Spanish 1 (7-8th Grade)

Computers (7-8th grade)

CCBH - The computer introduces students to:

Digital Citizenship which addresses online issues including: digital footprints, online privacy, cyberbullying, copyright laws, hate speech, fake news, and more.
Computer Graphic Tools to learn and practice graphic design skills using Pixlr (an online photo editor that mimics Adobe's Photoshop), Vectr (an online vector creation tool that mimics Adobe's Illustrator), an animation program, and a 3D modeling program.
Coding: Students learn HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript using Using Khan Academy and Code.org as mediums. 4) Google: to learn the use of Google tools including Sites, Drawing, and Slides.

Engineering (7-8th grade)

Other Electives

Leadership (7-8th grade)

OSGH - This yearlong course is designed to have students learn and practice the skills needed to become effective leaders. It includes the study of public speaking skills and leadership best practices. Emphasis will be placed on initiative, cooperation, empathy, and perseverance. Students will demonstrate what they learn by working in committees related to the coordination of school social, cultural, and public relations events. Students will participate in student orientation days, parent/guardian tours, Back to School Night, Open House, assemblies, community drives, spirit days, school dances and other events.

Students need to complete the Leadership Application packet. Students may participate in/organize lunch activities such as Music on Friday’s and our annual Everyone Belongs Here event.

Outdoor Development (7-8th grade)

OXGH - This yearlong course aims to develop students' responsibility for individual and team work using the LMS campus as a work medium. Students will learn skills dealing with the proper and safe use of hand and power tools. Techniques for basic construction will also be introduced. Students will learn how to plant, landscape and keep a garden. This class maintains the school's Nature Area, runs the school's recycling program, and our Seed to Table program.

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