Middle School Electives
Arts
Art of Cooking/Art of the Cookbook
Visual Arts
Digital Photography
Music
Family and Consumer Sciences
Baking
American Regional Cooking
Health and Physical Education
Computer Skills
World Languages
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III
Language Arts
Reading for Success
Sticks and Stones Poetry
Native American Literature
Art
Art of Cooking/Art of the Cookbook
Heather Delisle
hdelisle@blueskyschool.org
This class offers an art credit and so it will offer recipes for cooking as well as recipes for the cookbook project. Each student in the class will be making a recipe book as well as cooking recipes. Some weeks the assignment will involve cooking in the kitchen; some weeks the students will be designing recipe pages for their own cookbook. The elements and principles of design will be discussed. Kitchen safety, food safety, nutrition, cooking terms, and preparing simple meals and snacks will also be discussed. Students do not need to have any kitchen experience. Requires camera and the ability to take and submit digital images of food and cookbook projects.
Digital Photography
Nicole Petersen
npetersen@blueskyschool.org
Students will learn the basics of photo composition and begin to look at the world around them in a different perspective as through the "eye" of the digital camera. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the elements and principles of design and learn how to apply them to their visual perception. Most importantly, students will learn that the world around them can be viewed as artwork - no matter how "ordinary" one may think of his/her own environment. Requires ability to take digital pictures.
Visual Arts
Nicole Petersen
npetersen@blueskyschool.org
This basic fundamental course offers a foundation of visual vocabulary built on the elements and principles of design. Students will be able to explore works of various artists through the ArtsConnectEd web site associated with the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Walker Art Center. Students will also create various projects that demonstrate their understanding of artistic design as well as learn about various movements in art history, how they evolved through the ages, and how they can use this information in creating their own works of art. Ability to take digital images recommended, but alternative track available for students without cameras.
Music
Behind the Music
Ben Haensel
bhaensel@blueskyschool.org
How do instruments work? What makes that tune stop you in your tracks? Students will study music through the ages learning about Classical, Jazz, Movie music, and more. Daily activities will include listening and responding to music, and the study of basic music theory. Semester 2 only. Requires media player and ability to hear sound on computer.
Family and Consumer Sciences
American Regional Cooking
Rachel Hilyar
rhilyar@blueskyschool.org
Students will learn the basics of cooking while they make and sample foods from around the United States. Students will explore each region by learning about its history and unique types of foods. Students will learn cooking techniques and will be given recipes that will you to practice your skills. This is a great class for either beginning or experienced cooks. There is something for everyone in this course. Students will need to take digital pictures of their cooking projects and supply the recipe ingredients.
Baking
Rachel Hilyar
rhilyar@blueskyschool.org
This class will include baking techniques and actual recipes for students to follow, share, and have critiqued by their friends and family. Students will learn about the essentials of baking ingredients and techniques and practice making recipes. This is a hands-on class, so students should be prepared to have fun baking, eating and sharing their projects. Students will need to take digital pictures of their cooking projects and supply the recipe ingredients.
Computer Skills
Keyboarding
Kristi Westerbur
kwesterbur@blueskyschool.org
Using a software application programs and engaging in internet-based learning activities, the students will learn how to format memos, business letters, reports, and other business documents. A main goal of this course is to spark an interest in learning correct keyboarding techniques which will help the students concentrate on the important stuff – creating the message they want to communicate, rather than searching for the correct key. The students will also learn about the importance of keyboarding and computer applications in building their future careers.
Health and Physical Education
BlueSky Fit Club
Jill Larson
jlarson@blueskyschool.org
BlueSky Fit Club is a class for those interested in setting fitness goals for themselves. Students in Fit Club will set personal fitness goals ranging from weight loss to weight gain, increasing muscle mass to increasing bench pressing weight. Along with setting their own fitness goals, students will log weekly progress, weekly thoughts and feelings about their progress and their plan. Students will also research fitness programs and plans.
Lifetime Physical Activity
Jill Larson
jlarson@blueskyschool.org
The goal of this course is to help students accept regular participation in physical activity as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Students will understand the benefits of being physically active, learn the components of physical fitness, and develop a personalized fitness plan. They will demonstrate regular participation in both aerobic and anaerobic physical activity as well as partake in a variety of activities of their choice.
Language Arts
Native American Literature
Amee Wittbrodt and Kim Johnson
awittbrodt@blueskyschool.org, kjohnson@blueskyschool.org
This elective class is designed for students who want to expand their literary horizons by reading novels, essays, poetry, and short stories written by Native American authors. Students will have the opportunity to become more familiar with issues facing American Indians through literature. Since a lot of reading is required, students should possess good reading skills.
Reading for Success
Angie Klopstad
aklopstad@blueskyschool.org
Students in this class will become successful, active readers in any subject. The purpose is to teach students the reading process, critical reading strategies and when to use them, reading tools and organizers, text organization, and other essential skills that will aid in reading comprehension.
Sticks & Stones Poetry
Jaclyn Weber
jgomez@blueskyschool.org
"Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." In this course, students will explore the power of words, in contrast to this childhood idiom we have all heard. Students will explore the work of many poets, looking at typical poetic conventions of imagery, form, and style, to name a few. Students will also be playing with words, creating a range of poetry, and critiquing their own work and the work of others.
World Languages
Spanish I A & B
Leasa Kulm
lkulm@blueskyschool.org
This year-long course provides students an incredible opportunity to learn an introduction to the Spanish language, but it will require a great deal of time, dedication and personal discipline. Each week students will use assignments to master vocabulary, complete grammar exercises write and submit sentences in Spanish, and call the teacher 1 time each week to practice new vocabulary in Spanish on the phone or on Skype. Students will be required to show language progress each week in the various skill areas. Students will learn about the cultures of various Spanish-speaking countries as well. To start mid-year, the student needs some background in Spanish. This will be a course that is for very hard-working and motivated learners!
Spanish II A & B
Leasa Kulm
lkulm@blueskyschool.org
Spanish II is a continuation of Spanish I. Students will build upon the information learned previously and will delve deeper into the language and culture of various Hispanic countries. There is a great deal of focus on grammatical structure and vocabulary acquisition. Students will acquire a higher level of communication skills at this level. Students are expected to fulfill all of the same requirements as those listed for Spanish I. Prerequisite: Spanish I
Spanish III A & B
Leasa Kulm
lkulm@blueskyschool.org
Spanish III is a continuation of Spanish II. Along with learning more content specific vocabulary, students will learn the future and conditional verb tenses. There will be a greater concentration on grammatical structure. Students will explore the Mayans and Aztecs. Students are required to contact the teacher to practice speaking Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish II
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