Course Selection
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Global Studies 8
[full year]
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Understand the relationship between
physical and human geography
throughout each region of the world.
• Create and interpret a variety of maps,
calculate and estimate distance, scale,
density and spatial distribution
patterns around the world.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of
economic principles.
• Study current events and analyze their
global impact.
Instructional Focus: Instruction is
presented in a variety of ways: class
discussion, small and large group
activities, simulations, and the use of
technology and geographical tools.
Special Education
Students with disabilities will be placed in
support services courses as determined
by their special education needs relating
to their disability as outlined in their Indi-
vidual Education Plan [IEP]. For more
information about the Special Education
program in general, please see the Assis-
tance for Students section on page 16 of
this guide. For individual student service
questions, please contact your child’s
case manager.
Technology Education Courses
Technology Education 7
[elective or required, every other day]
Intended Audience: Grade 7
Major Outcomes:
• Produce various items by using
computer generated graphic designs
and CAD drawings.
• Increase technological literacy and
investigate emerging technologies.
• Learn the processes to design, build,
and test products, and become a
wiser consumer of technology.
• Integrated STEM activities = Science,
Technology, Engineering, Math.
14
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
• Develop safe work habits in a
laboratory environment.
• Applied math/technical reading.
Projects/Activities: Use various tools and
machines to make wood or sheet metal
projects. Create 3-D printed designs and
dye sublimation items from computer
generated student work.
Instructional Focus: This is a hands-on
course in which students engage in tradi-
tional and computer led instruction utiliz-
ing both individual and group activities.
PLTW Gateway [DSF]
[elective or required, every other day]
Intended Audience: Grades 7 and 8
This course may replace the Technology
Education requirement in grade 7.
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Understand the engineering process
from concept to production.
• Explore how science has affected
technology throughout history
by looking at concepts in
nanotechnology, physics and
chemistry.
• Explore the science behind
aeronautics and use software
to experience space travel.
Projects/Activities: Students will be intro-
duced to various software throughout the
course such as 3D-CAD, NASA flight sim-
ulator, and on-line resources to provide
enriched learning experiences. Addi-
tional design and hands-on experiences
are integrated throughout the course.
Instructional Focus: This course emphasizes
high levels of academic rigor and computer
literacy. Homework is an integral part of this
course and students must be independently
motivated to complete it in a timely
manner. This class is a part of a nationally
recognized pre-engineering program called
Project Lead the Way Gateway. The program,
which has a goal to develop more American
engineers, includes modules in Design and
Modeling, Science of Technology, and Flight
and Space. Authentic, real-world problem
WORLD LANGUAGES
solving skills are emphasized throughout
the class. This is an academically chal-
lenging course and is best suited to
the independent learner.
PLTW Gateway [ACG]
[elective, every other day]
Prerequisite/Selection Process: PLTW
Gateway DSF strongly encouraged
Intended Audience: Grade 8
Major Outcomes:
• Experience a scientific environment
involving design, creativity, and team
problem solving.
• Learn about mechanical systems,
energy transfer, machine automation,
and computer control systems.
• Students learn the basics of program-
ming in Intro to Computer Science 1.
• Investigate architectural plans, con-
struction styles, alternative materials
and processes, dimensioning, measur-
ing and architectural sustainability.
Projects/Activities: Students are intro-
duced to the influence of automation and
robotics in our world and use a robust
robotics platform to design, build and
program a solution to solve an existing
problem. Additional hands-on student
experiences are integrated throughout the
semester including MIT App Inventor
where students create variations of an app
and use another 3D architectural software
program to create an environmentally
friendly home using shipping containers.
Instructional Focus: This course empha-
sizes high levels of academic rigor and
computer literacy. Homework is an inte-
gral part of this course and students must
be independently motivated to complete
it in a timely manner. This class combines
key pre-engineering content areas
through a nationally recognized program
called Project Lead the Way: Gateway. The
program, whose goal is to develop more
American engineers, includes modules in
Automation and Robotics, Introduction to
Computer Science, and Green Architec-
ture. Authentic, real-world problem solv-
ing-skills are emphasized throughout the
class. This is an academically challenging
pre-engineering course and is best suited
to the independent learner.
Middle School Registration Guide