Middle School Exploratory

Back By Popular Demand! Middle School Exploratory

Students who have fun in the classroom while learning, are more inclined to retain information. In an effort to break up the normal school day, students will have a designed flex period in order to “have fun while learning” 3 days a week (MWF) students will partake in a newly formed elective that brings learning to life. Our goal is to provide opportunity for students to apply concepts they have learned in theory. Hands on learning and performance based assessments will be the key components to bringing theory to life. 2 days a week, (T,TH) students will participate in a variety of exploratory lessons. These lessons are designed to allow students to enjoy being at school. Teachers will be focusing on relationship building and social, emotional learning of our students. Students need to learn how to properly interact with each other and socialize appropriately.

Middle School Course Electives

Real World Science

Real World Science (MWF, Sobek)

The concepts of integrated Science will be used for real world application in creating a functioning aquaponics system and greenhouse. Students will investigate the inner workings and requirements necessary to maintain and run an aquaponics and greenhouse unit. Emphasis will be placed on the application of scientific principles to solve real world problems. The overall goal is for students to experience hands-on activities that are reinforced by science. Students will be evaluated on participation and performance, knowledge of procedure, and comprehension of scientific principles

Drama 6

Drama 6 (MWF, Barbero)

During this course, students will be introduced to the art of drama in order to develop an appreciation for it. In the course, students will learn terms associated with drama, study character development in order to portray character, and understand the dramatic structure and use dramatic play. Some improvisation and technical elements will also be examined in the course.

Adventure Awaits

Adventure Awaits (MWF, Desak)

Students will learn the basic skills necessary for trip planning. The skills include but are not limited to obtaining a passport, booking airfare/various forms of transportation and creating an itinerary. They will also explore concepts such as adapting to different cultures, learning the official language and researching local food and popular attractions. Students will be expected to choose a destination and outline a week long itinerary including various excursions (e.g. adventure seeking, educational, relaxing, etc), places to stay and how to travel there

Cursive Handwriting

Cursive Handwriting (MWF, Dicianna)

Good handwriting is so important and research has shown that cursive handwriting improves neural connections. This cursive handwriting course will follow the Peterson Method Curriculum. The students will refine motor memory skills, improve memory and enhance understanding while learning how to write their name in cursive. The course will increase in complexity and speed at the individual pace of the student and culminate with writing a formal handwritten letter and other products.

Entrepreneur-style Math

Entrepreneur-style Math (MWF, Wiltz)

Have you ever thought about being your own boss, aka an entrepreneur? This 9 week course will help you become exposed to skills that are used regularly by entrepreneurs. You will create a faux business that will be the center of learning imperative skills such as profit margins, shipping calculations, weight conversions, graphing and banking.

Makerspace Basics

Makerspace Basics (MWF Gross)

Makerspace Basics is an introductory course to the Makerspace and the possibilities within. Are you interested in 3D printing? Have you ever wanted to make your own t-shirt? Are you interested in learning to use a laser cutter to make a wood or acrylic product? Have you ever thought about making a podcast, recording an original song, or learning how to make videos on a green screen? The possibilities are endless when you step into the Makerspace and let your creativity blossom. Students will be introduced to each of the main technologies in the Makerspace, and they will then create a sample project from each technology.

Novel Study 7

Novel Study 7 (MWF, Christie)

In Novel Study 7, students will develop their reading comprehension and thinking skills through high-quality literature. The students will practice and refine their skills related to the standards in a more long-term and extended way than the average textbook passage. Students will engage in a long-term analysis of a novel and its literary structures. Students will read the novel on different levels and complete assignments and activities that range from Depth of Knowledge Level 1 (Recall) to Depth of Knowledge Level 4 (Extended thinking).

Drama 7

Drama 7 (MWF, McGinity)

During this course, students will continue their study of the art of drama in order to develop an appreciation of it. In the course, students will go deeper into aspects covered in Drama 6, such as the terms associated with drama, character development, dramatic structure, and use of dramatic play. Students will also create and act out a script. Some improvisation and technical elements will also be examined in the course.

Cougar Kindness with Science

Cougar Kindness with Science (MWF, Markovich)

Cougars know kindness! This student led class will allow students to use science and technology to connect and spread joy throughout the Charleroi learning community. The students will become leaders in the school and design projects to spread kindness to other students, teachers, and the community using the outstanding technology and resources in our school. Students will be given the opportunity to create kindness projects such as creating gifts for local nursing homes using our glowforge printer, teaching math in an elementary classroom using manipulatives printed on the 3-D printer, and growing flowers/vegetables in our greenhouse to give to others.

What are the Odds?

What are the odds? (MWF, Higinbotham)

Description: In this class, students will first learn about the probability of one event and multiple events happening by completing small tasks such as flipping a coin or spinning a spinner. They will then use their knowledge to complete real world applications such as the probability in sports, the lottery and game shows.

Current Events and History Podcasting

Novel Study

Novel Study 8 (MWF, Berkovitz)

In Novel Study 8, students will develop their reading comprehension and thinking skills through high-quality literature. The students will practice and refine their skills related to the standards in a more long-term and extended way than the average textbook passage. Students will engage in a long-term analysis of a novel and its literary structures. Students will read the novel on different levels and complete assignments and activities that range from Depth of Knowledge Level 1 (Recall) to Depth of Knowledge Level 4 (Extended thinking).

Collaborative Math

Real World Math

Exploratory Courses

Creative Writing

Creative Writing - MS Version (T, TH Gross)

Are you a creative person? Do you enjoy personal journaling, story writing, poetry writing, or lyric writing? Or maybe you have a lot to SAY, but lack confidence in writing? If so, Creative Writing I is the perfect course for you to explore the powers of writing within your life. This course will expose you to a variety of writing types including journaling, memoir and other non-fiction styles as well as short story fiction and poetry. Additionally, it will help to facilitate creativity by introducing many writing exercises designed to draw from and expand upon your powers of observation, imagination, and language use. Ideas will be sparked, confidence acquired, and you’ll gain a sense of purpose within your writing. Most writings will be shared in the classroom forum for student-to-teacher and peer-to-peer critiquing, editing, and revision. At the culmination of the course, students will have a working portfolio with many pieces of original writing and a collection of exercises from which they might create more original works. You will also have the opportunity to utilize the Makerspace to create final publishable quality work.

Starting Strength

Board Games

Scrabble Tournament

Canva Course

Canva Course (T, TH Wiltz)

If you like designing and creating with online tools, then you will love to learn to use Canva. Bring images to life by adding text, stickers, and speech bubbles to your favorite photos and images. Canva allows you to edit images using trendy filters, create posters reflecting your personality, and even create images for social media posts.

Puzzler

Broadway

Brain Games

Coding Cougars

Coding Cougars (T, TH Higinbotham)

Description: Students will learn basic coding skills by utilizing the online program Scratch. This program allows students to create digital stories, games, and animations both individually and collaboratively. Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem-solving skills; creative learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing. Having the ability to code computer programs is an important part of literacy in today's society. When students learn to code using Scratch, they will learn important strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas.

Board Meetings

Board Meetings (T, TH Christie)

During Board Meetings exploratory class, the students will be building relationships while having fun! There will be a variety of games that the students will be able to choose from. These students will be learning how to interact and communicate properly in an atypical classroom setting. This class will also help students learn how to act appropriately while being competitive. Socializing appropriately while in a competitive environment is something that these students will use throughout life.

Legion of Justice

Legion of Justice: (T, TH Berkovitz)

In this exploratory, students will be reading and talking about comics. The students will learn comic books, one of America’s only original art forms. The class will learn and discuss the history of comics, starting with the first comic strips in the 1890s to the first appearance of Superman in 1938 and beyond to the present day. Students will be reading Mighty Marvel Masterworks, reprints of Marvel comics originally printed in the 1960’s. Students will develop an understanding of how history and society affected the development of their favorite heroes as well as developing a deeper vocabulary from reading the books. Students will also research the lives of the men involved in creating these heroes like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Johnstown native and Spider-man co-creator Steve Ditko. Students will analyze the different methods in creating comics, including script-first and Marvel method. Students will even write and create their own comics as well as connect other media to the readings and discussion in class.

Movie Critiquing

Math Games

Math Games: (T, TH Lash)

Students will learn how to work together for a common goal by being a team player, using social skills, and communicating with others. Students will have the opportunity to solve logic puzzles, use flash cards, play games such as chess, checkers, and set, to name a few. The goal is to enrich the students by increasing their critical thinking, problem solving, and analyzing skills.

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