Wheel Thrown Pottery

• Centering and trimming on the wheel.
• Creating two basic forms —bowls and cylinders.
• Construct plates, mugs, teapots, pitchers and more.
• Explore a variety of glazing and surface design techniques.
• Visit local galleries, museums, and public art displays.

Printmaking

• Hands-on introduction to printmaking as an art form.
• Learn five techniques: engraving, linocut, monoprint, stencil, collograph.
• Create a body of work around a theme of personal significance.
• Explore a range of imagery, from literal to symbolic and non-representational.
• Emphasis on experimentation, discovery, and personal growth.
• Create a culminating digital portfolio to curate and reflect upon work.

Ceramic Dinner Ware and Surface Design

• Explore techniques such as sgraffito, mishima, decals, stamps, wax resist, and printing methods.
• Focus on functional pottery: plates, bowls, cups, etc.
• Hand-building and/or wheel techniques.
• Final project will be a dinnerware set and a party.

Hand Formed Clay

• Learn a variety of hand­ building techniques such as coiling, soft slabs, hard slabs, and molds.
• Projects based on student interest including functional pottery and sculptures.
• Option to create a pottery set: bowls, cups, and plates.
• Options to create a sculptural boat, bird bath, masks, and animals.
• Glazing and surface design techniques.
• Personal expression is highly valued

Drawing and Painting

• Learn how to use a variety of drawing and painting media: pencil, colored pencils, watercolor, pen, collage, stencil, acrylic paint.
• Create a portfolio of artworks based on a theme of personal significance.
• Gain exposure to art historical references.

 

Rock and Roll is Here to Stay

• Explore the roots of rock and roll through games, movies, and videos with lots of MUSIC!
• Class games include Blue Blocks, Concentration, British Invasion Bingo, and Fantasy Rock Band.
• Investigate the history of rock instruments and the recording industry.
• Dance Party! Learn dances and watch past experts.

Musical

• Students will rehearse and perform a fully staged musical production.
• Past performances: "School of Rock," "Guys and Dolls," "Addams Family," "13," and "Spelling Bee."

• Two mandatory Saturday Rehearsals, and during performance week, additional schedule is required. Parents are notified within the first week of the beginning of class.

Musical Composition/Songwriting

• Learn to write melody and harmony.
• Music theory topics include, scales, intervals, harmonic structures.
• Write pieces and possibly record and/or perform them.
• Improve your musical and listening skills.
• Explore instrumental and vocal compositional styles.
• Work on the skills required to set lyrics to music.
• Students may work on individual projects for more advanced study.

Spring Play —MA Middle School Drama Festival

• Production of a play for festival.
• Mandatory Saturday performance (April 28, 2018).
• Learn acting and character development.
• Lighting, sound, and stage management.
• Mandatory Saturday rehearsal: 4/21/2018 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM.

Filmmaking

• Class will write 4-5 original screenplays.
• Learn acting and directing for the camera.
• Editing skills will be developed.
• Class culminates in a movie-screening night for the community.

KnightMusic

• Performance based on a 5 song set drawn from popular music.
• Show choir which combines singing, choreography, props, and costumes.
• Community evening performance.

Improv and One-Act Comedies

• Building on the improv skills learned in seventh grade, this course will explore the basics of comedy improvisation: team building, trust, speed, status, active listening, and agreement.
• Students will learn to create solid characters (voice, attitude, object work, and physicality) and develop strong scenes.
• The class will culminate in a comedy show comprised of improvisation and short scripted works.