Middle School Electives

Do you enjoy expressing yourself in creative ways? Do you like to journal? If so, Art Journaling with Mrs. Alvarez is the elective for you! In Art Journaling, you will learn how to apply creative art techniques and explore art materials in your art journal. Mrs. Alvarez will be your guide as you work to express yourself in new and creative ways. You must have taken Art Journaling 1 to register for this course.

In Ceramics, you will learn hand-building and surface design (glazing and other techniques). Hand-building is shaping clay by hand, using techniques like pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction. Students will have fun exploring three-dimensional design and getting a little messy during this elective with Mrs. Alvarez. This course is only open to 8th graders.

In Creative Technology, you will have the opportunity to develop your own creative project using the Adobe Creative Cloud, cameras, microphones, and Procreate. Your project does not need to be a major production or live action; it can also be digital art and media. You will work independently and collaborate as needed. This class is open to any grade level.

Come learn to crochet! In this beginner’s class, we will cover single crochet, double crochet, turning the corner, starting, and ending. After you learn the basics, you will be ready to make your own project. If you wish to learn how to read a pattern, we can cover that as well. This elective is open to any grade level.

Come learn how to knit! In this beginner’s class, we will cover casting on, making the knit stitch, making the purl stitch, combining knit and purl to make different stitch designs, counting rows, casting off, and reading a pattern. You will need to provide your own needles and yarn. Choose a worsted weight (#4) yarn in a light color and size 8 or 9 metal needles (about 8 inches long) in a dark color. After you learn the basics of knitting and can make a small square like a hot pad, you will be ready to move on to a bigger project. This elective is open to any grade level.

Giving presentations isn’t just part of school life, it’s a part of almost every line of work! The difference between a dull presentation and a captivating one can make a huge difference in your success—just ask the contestants on Shark Tank!  Join Mrs. Smith as she guides you in learning how to dazzle the St. Mark’s Shark Tank with your future presentations. Compete with your classmates at the end of the trimester to see who lands the best deal! This course is open to any grade level.

Interested in encryption, codemaking, and cryptography? Modern cyber security is based largely on the ancient art of ciphers that dates back to the Middle Ages and the adoption of the Arabic concept of zero (sifr). In this class we will learn about the origins of cryptography, some of the most famous ciphers, and how they are applied in modern cyber security. We will also build our own versions of coded treasure hunts using different ciphers, puzzles, and trivia. This course is open to any grade level.

Have you ever played the game Telephone? Even with just a few people, the original message almost never makes it down the line without changing. Imagine the changes to stories as history is passed through generations! Do we have the true story? The whole story? Travel back in history with Mrs. Block to see what really happened and how the stories have changed over the years. This course is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Calling all Swifties (and poets)! In this beginner's creative writing class, we will learn about poetry by looking at iconic songs by Taylor Swift. We'll explore rhyme, puns, allusions, metaphors, and all the other literary devices Swift uses to make her lyrics memorable and impossible to forget. You'll have the opportunity to write your own poetry inspired by her subject matter and style. This course is open to any grade level.

¡Hola alumnos de 7to y 8tvo! ¿Te encanta la cultura, música y arte del idioma español? Are you interested in continuing your Spanish journey throughout high school? If you said si to these questions, then this is the course for you. Discover in depth the Hispanic/Latino world, participate in community work, and engage with other Spanish speakers through activities such as crafts, dancing, foreign films, field trips, and more! This is a great way for students with a passion for the language to strengthen skills & understanding while having fun. This course is only open to 7th and 8th graders.

Are you interested in basic geography? Curious about the world? Like weird "fun facts" about the Earth? Want to color? Want to make a video? Students will watch videos, make a physical representation of the Earth, and create an 8- to 10-minute video about a country they create! This course is open to any grade level.

Originally, myths were helpful in explaining things about our world that were not yet fully understood, but myths have influenced our world for thousands of years. Now, mythology gives us insight into the reasons behind today’s beliefs, traditions, and cultures. You and your classmates will choose a type of mythology to explore this trimester with Mrs. Key in this elective. This course is open to all grade levels.

Here's your chance to leave your legacy at St. Mark’s! Become a photographer and a reporter as you work together with your peers and Ms. Thelander to publish our school yearbook! In Yearbook, you will learn the best photography techniques for capturing exciting moments around school and design a visually appealing yearbook for all to enjoy. You’ll also be the eyes and ears of the yearbook and find out which school events we should be documenting! This course is open to all grade levels.