Middle School Specials
Specials courses at AST offer middle school students opportunities for personal enrichment and self-discovery.
Visual Arts
Middle school visual arts classes expand on students’ elementary foundation in the areas of art vocabulary and skills. These elective courses are designed as introductory courses for students in technique, composition and design, creative problem solving, original expression, and art history understanding. While learning from the elements of art and the principles of design, students develop their drawing, clay sculpting, 3D modeling, painting, and printmaking skills.
Music
Drama
Crafts
Robotics
Innovation
In Innovation, middle school students develop important skills and understandings of the Design Thinking process. They learn how to break down problems into manageable parts so that they can produce hi-tech, low-tech or no-tech solutions. Students focus on common problems on campus and around the community. The learning experience may differ for each student depending on the problem they are attempting to solve.
The Innovation course prepares students for future courses in Design Thinking.
The Innovation course prepares students for future courses in Design Thinking.
Computer Science Discoveries
Physical Education
One of the goals of the middle school PE program is to help students develop a positive attitude toward physical activity in and outside of school! Another goal is to encourage them to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. Sports are an essential part of teaching students necessary life skills such as sportsmanship, comradery, and teamwork.
Students practice different motor skills and learn traditional sports, such as soccer, basketball, football, and volleyball. They also learn less traditional activities, like pickleball, rugby, Kin-Ball, cricket, and yoga amongst many others!
As physical educators, we promote a growth mindset. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. We emphasize the importance of hard work rather than talent or skill in achieving individual goals. We want students to learn that "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" (Tim Notke).
Students practice different motor skills and learn traditional sports, such as soccer, basketball, football, and volleyball. They also learn less traditional activities, like pickleball, rugby, Kin-Ball, cricket, and yoga amongst many others!
As physical educators, we promote a growth mindset. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. We emphasize the importance of hard work rather than talent or skill in achieving individual goals. We want students to learn that "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" (Tim Notke).
Courses Offered
|
Bells (Grades 6-8)
Crafts (Grades 6-8) Computer Science Discoveries (Grade 6-8) Design Survey (Grades 6-8) Drama (Grades 6-8) Film Critics (Grades 6-8) Foundations of Art (Grades 6-8) Graphic Design (Grades 6-8) |
Illustration (Grades 6-8)
Innovation (Grades 6-8) Latino Culture (Grades 6-8) Music & Technology (Grades 6-8) Physical Education (Grades 6-8) Piano & Violin (Grades 6-8) Robotics (Grades 6-8) Video Production (Grades 6-8) |
