Elective Class Descriptions
Art
This course engages students in the exploration of multiple art forms through the California State VAPA strands. The focus of the class is on the elements of art (line, shape/form, space, texture, value, and color). Students learn various art techniques including painting, sculpting clay, drawing, and more. Creativity is a theme tying all projects together. This is a one-semester exploratory art course. There is a suggested lab contribution of $20 for this class.
7th Grade GOMS Music Electives
Choir (year-long)
Choir is a large vocal group that performs at multiple events each year. If you like to sing, join choir! Previous experience is recommended but not required.
Concert Band (year-long)
Concert Band is a large instrumental group that performs at multiple events each year. If you play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, join Concert Band! Previous experience is recommended but not required.
Orchestra (year-long)
Orchestra is a large instrumental group that performs at multiple events each year. If you play a string instrument, join Orchestra! Previous experience is recommended but not required.
8th Grade GOMS Music Electives
Guitar Lab (semester-long)
Guitar Lab is a non-performing class which teaches the basics of guitar. If you are interested in learning how to play the guitar, join this class! No experience required.
Orchestra (year-long)
Orchestra is a large instrumental group that performs at multiple events each year. If you play a string instrument, join Orchestra! Previous experience is recommended.
Symphonic Band (year-long)
Symphonic Band is a large instrumental group that performs at multiple events each year. If you play a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, join Symphonic Band! Previous experience is required. Students must complete one year of Concert Band as a prerequisite.
Publications
The Granite Oaks Publications course is designed to provide students with the journalism skills necessary for the production of the school yearbook. Units of study include media awareness, researching, reporting, writing, editing, photography, graphic design, and distribution. A strong commitment to publications are required in order to make an outstanding yearbook. As “reporters”, students will be expected to cover extra-curricular events after school, work independently, and be able to honor deadlines.
Exploratory Spanish
This course is an introduction to the Spanish language, culture, and history. This one-semester course will introduce the student to basic conversational Spanish. Students will gain the necessary skills to appreciate the Spanish language through grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and daily class participation. To reinforce what is being learned, students will participate in games, do group activities, have daily warm-ups, and complete art projects. You do not need to take Exploratory Spanish to take Spanish I in 8th grade.
Spanish I
Spanish I is a year-long course designed so that the student will study vocabulary, have a basic mastery of regular verb conjugations in the present tense, and be able to answer basic questions. In addition, students will develop a stronger cultural awareness, which is an essential aspect of learning a language. It is our hope that students will learn to converse with their basic Spanish rather than focusing only on the rules that govern Spanish grammar. Classroom activities will include paired and group activities, storytelling, translations, games, videos, presentations, art-related projects, daily warm-ups, book work exercises, and tests. This course uses the essential skills required by Rocklin and Whitney High School. We are using the ịEspresate! text and curriculum.
Prerequisite: 8th grade, 3.5 GPA, or higher.
*Exploratory Spanish is not required to take Spanish I.
Note: Upon completion of Spanish I, 9th grade students will be placed in Advanced Spanish II at Rocklin High School and Spanish II at Whitney High School.
Manufacturing Technology
Manufacturing Technology is an exploratory class that introduces and builds important life skills and allows students to craft with their hands. Both hand and select power tools are utilized to build up to four projects within the shop-style class. Hammers, hand saws, cordless drills, and band saws are just a few of the tools that you will learn to use in Man Tech.
A donation of $20 is requested to cover consumable materials.
Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Designed for students that want to take their Man Tech skills to the next level. Advanced Manufacturing Technology students will design and build more complex projects with an expanded repertoire of tools at their disposal.
Prerequisite: Students must pass Manufacturing Technology with an A or B and have teacher approval due to limited space.
A donation of $20 is requested to cover consumable materials.
Family and Consumer Sciences
In alignment with the National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences, this introductory course aims to enrich students’ lives through a variety of project-based learning experiences. It acquaints students with the career pathways connected to Clothing and Textiles, as well as Foods and Nutrition. In-class learning activities allow students to develop life-enriching skills, while showcasing their creativity and individuality. Our curriculum also provides a basis to pursue culinary courses in high school. Students will use classroom sewing equipment to design and construct their own unique products. During their study of food science and nutrition, students will prepare and taste test an assortment of foods. Students are requested to contribute a $20.00 donation toward consumable lab materials.
Exploratory Computer Science
This is an introductory course to computer science and coding. The course will cover programming, design, and "making" (creative design and development related to computer science). The curriculum includes a variety of lessons that will enable students to explore concepts and build their understanding. The primary goal of the course is to provide a common foundation upon which all students, regardless of their prior experience, can develop their knowledge of computer science concepts.
Computer Science I
Computer Science I continues to build on topics explored in Exploratory Computer Science. In CSI, students will further explore the problem-solving process, programming concepts, web design, and “making” (creative design and development as related to computer science). Students will work through a series of in-class, project-based activities to learn about Design Thinking, physical computing (Arduino and Raspberry Pi microprocessors), robotics, along with app and game development. Students will also have access to 3D printers for “maker” projects.
Prerequisite: Exploratory Computer Science, enrollment in STEM, or teacher approval.
Media Arts
The Media Arts course is designed to introduce students to basic photography, video production, and animation. Students will have fun exploring and developing their creative expression through a series of short projects exploring cell phone photography, digital storytelling (video production), and animation. Each student will have their own Adobe Creative Cloud account for the semester. The account allows access to Adobe’s entire suite of applications and project files both at school and at home.