2026-2027 Middle School Elective Catalog
PLEASE PICK ELECTIVES FROM ALL CATEGORIES (i.e. ART, PE, and STEM/TECH)
All incoming middle school students will take a math placement exam date TBD at C2E. Students who are not able to attend the placement exam will be placed in their normal grade level math class.
Category – ART (26/27)
Intro to Art – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
This course is for students at an introductory level who are interested in a variety of art experiences and media. For example: drawing and painting, sculpture, printmaking, and mixed-media. (Parents required to purchase Sketchbook for this class – costs approximately $16)
Drawing and Painting – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Drawing/Painting courses provide a foundation in drawing and painting using a variety of media and techniques, emphasizing observation and interpretation of the visual environment. These courses typically include applying the elements of art and principles of design, along with a study of art and artists from a worldwide perspective, and instruction in the critique process. (Parents required to purchase two 8×11 canvases for this class – costs approximately $17)
Ceramics 1- Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In this hands-on ceramics course, students will explore the art of working with clay through both wheel throwing and hand-building techniques. This is a 3-D course, the material is messy and dusty. They will create functional yet artistic pieces, from mugs to sculptures, while learning the importance of form and function in their work. Students will also dive into the glazing process, experimenting with various techniques to enhance their creations, and gain a deep understanding of kiln firings. This course is designed to foster creativity, technical skill, and an appreciation for the craftsmanship involved in ceramics.
Mixed Media – (prerequisite Intro to Art) – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Artists will learn how to mix multiple media by combining more than one medium or material to create projects. This is a problem solving course in which artists are to draft concepts before manipulating materials to create their pieces. This can take many forms, but the three most common are collages, assemblages, and sculptures. Many mixed media artworks feature different materials such as paint, fabric, paper, and found objects.This is a specialized art course in which you will be using a multitude of art mediums and supplies, maybe get a little messy, create new art, but most of all, you will be challenged. (Parents required to purchase two 8×11 canvases for this class – costs approximately $17)
Advanced Art – (prerequisite Intro to Art & one upper level Art class) – Grades: 7th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
This Advanced Art course is designed for middle school students ready to refine their skills across a variety of media. Students will dive deeper into acrylic painting, watercolor techniques, black-and-white drawing, oil pastels, and mixed media projects. Emphasis will be placed on developing personal artistic style, mastering technical skills, and pushing creative boundaries. Through guided practice and experimentation, students will explore how to combine these different mediums to produce complex, meaningful artwork. This class encourages self-expression, problem-solving, and critical thinking, preparing students for higher levels of artistic exploration. Students must have completed Intro to Art and one more upper level art elective as prerequisites for this advanced course. (Parents required to purchase two 18×24 canvases for this class – costs approximately $20)
Category – PERFORMING ARTS
(26/27)
Middle School Band – Grades: 6th-8th (Year Long Elective)
Band includes the basic elements of music playing skills, and introduction to band literature. It is designed to offer students performance skills in preparation for concerts and competitions with emphasis on music theory, interpretation, ensemble experience, and improved technical proficiency. Students in band perform in at least two concerts a year. Although the curriculum is designed for students with one year of playing experience, students with no prior experience are welcome to participate. Instrument choices are: Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Percussion, and Keyboard. Band is a year long course. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase, although the school does have some to provide on a limited first come first serve basis.
Middle School Advanced Band – Grades: 7th-8th (Year Long Elective)
This year-long repeatable course is the Advanced Band Ensemble. Instrumentation for this Band ensemble is: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, baritone, saxophone(s) (altos, tenor, baritone), euphonium, tuba, piccolo, french horn and percussion (Snare drum, Bass Drum, Bell kit and Auxiliary percussion). We will perform classical transcriptions and arrangements of popular music for multiple concerts and school events. Members must be able to perform six or more major scales of their choice with a characteristic tone, a portion of the chromatic scale, and sightread notated music that feature rhythms such as half notes, quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes, eighth rest sixteenth notes, dotted half and dotted quarter and dotted 8th notes. Students in this course will perform in at least 2 concerts per year. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase.
Middle School Orchestra – Grades: 6th-8th (Year Long Elective)
String Orchestra includes the basic elements of music playing skills, and introduction to orchestra literature. It is designed to offer students performance skills in preparation for concerts and competitions with emphasis on music theory, interpretation, ensemble experience, and improved technical proficiency. Students in orchestra perform in at least two concerts a year. Although the curriculum is designed for students with one year of playing experience, students with no prior experience are welcome to participate. Instrument choices are: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Keyboard. Orchestra is a year long course. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase, although the school does have some to provide on a limited first come first serve basis.
Middle School Advanced Orchestra – Grades: 7th-8th (Year Long Elective)
This year-long repeatable course is a large String Ensemble. They will perform classical transcriptions and arrangements of popular music for multiple concerts and school events. Members must be able to perform four or more major scales of their choice with correct intonation, a portion of the chromatic scale, and sightread notated music that feature rhythms such as half notes, quarter notes, quarter rests, and eighth notes, eighth rest sixteenth notes, dotted half, dotted quarter, and dotted 8th notes. Instrumentation for this String ensemble is: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass. Students in this course will perform in at least 2 concerts per year. Students must provide their own instruments through rental or purchase.
Choir – Grades: 6th-8th (Fall semester)
Singers will develop their musical potential and artistic expression through singing in a choral ensemble. Study includes the ability to read music using the Kodaly technique (solfege). The core curriculum emphasizes the basics of vocal technique, sight-reading, music theory, and music history. A wide variety of songs will be studied. Students perform in a concert at the end of the semester, and learn the importance of artistic expression through performance.
Percussion Ensemble – Grades: 6th-8th (Spring semester)
Get ready to make some noise, in a good way! This beginner percussion ensemble is perfect for students with no prior experience who want to explore rhythm and percussion instruments like drums, cymbals, and mallets. Students will learn the basics of timing, reading simple music, and playing together as a team. We’ll also explore improvisation, create our own rhythms, and try different musical styles. Group rehearsals build teamwork, listening skills, and confidence, with opportunities to perform in informal and formal concerts. By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in percussion and ensemble performance, no experience needed, just energy and enthusiasm!
Drama – Grades: 6th-8th (Fall semester)
This drama elective enables students to express themselves through dramatic play and storytelling. Course content typically includes the use of movement, language, character, plot, and spectacle to portray imaginary or real experiences. As appropriate, students may focus on acting techniques and traditions, other aspects of drama staging, lighting, costuming, or both. Specific course content conforms to any existing state standards for grades 6-8.
C2E Tech Theater – Grades: 6th-8th (Spring semester)
Technical Theater teaches students the basics of lighting, sound, makeup, costuming, stage management, and other aspects of theater production. These courses may also include the practical application of skills including set building.
Category – STEM
Engineering – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
The Engineering class will help students grasp foundational engineering and robotics concepts as they design, build, and power working prototypes for simple and compound machines through standards-aligned lessons. Sphero Blueprint Engineering helps take mechanical and structural engineering concepts to the next level with power, sensors, and motors—all without the need for programming. The class includes prototyping, CAD support through OnShape and STEP files, and hand-on problem solving and testing.
Programming and Coding – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
This course introduces students to software engineering and object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. This curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems.
Web Development – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In Web Development, students are put in the shoes of a web developer and empowered to design and create a web page to meet a user’s needs. As students develop the pages and begin to see themselves as web developers and designers, they are encouraged to think critically about the impact of sharing information online and how to be more critical consumers of content. They are also introduced to problem-solving related to programming while learning valuable skills such as debugging, using resources, and teamwork. At the conclusion of chapter one, students will design and create a web page for a user. After chapter two, students will have worked with a team to create a multi-page website they can publish and share.
Interactive Animations and Games – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In this course, students create programmatic images, animations, interactive art, and games. Starting off with simple, primitive shapes and building up to more sophisticated sprite-based games, students become familiar with the programming concepts and the design process computer scientists use daily. They then learn how these simpler constructs can be combined to create more complex programs. In the final project, students develop a personalized, interactive program.
App Lab Design Process – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In this course, students explore the role of physical devices in computing. Using App Lab and BBC micro:bit, students develop programs that utilize the same hardware inputs and outputs that you see in the smart devices, looking at how a simple rough prototype can lead to a finished product. Then, students explore how physical devices can be used to react to the world around them using a “maker” mindset to create prototypes with everyday materials.
3-D Printing and Design – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In this elective students will learn the basics of 3D printing and design. Students will familiarize themselves with the 3D printing and design processes as well as create and print their own designs. (Parents required to purchase 3D Printer Filament for this class – costs approximately $30. More information to be provided when enrolled in class)
Intro to Robotics – Grades 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Robotics courses help students develop and expand their skills and knowledge of robotics and related scientific and engineering topics. Course topics may include principles of mechanics, electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, programmable logic controllers. These courses may emphasize the use of engineering principles to design and build robots, construct and connect sensors, and program robots in the programming language.
Category – PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Middle School Physical Education – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Physical Education courses provide students with knowledge, experience, and an opportunity to develop skills in more than one of the following sports or activities: team sports, individual/dual sports, recreational sports, and fitness/conditioning activities.
Middle School Team Sports – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Team Sports courses provide the student the opportunity to compete in a wide range of team sports. They will be given direction and strategies important to these sports. They will also have the opportunity to develop teamwork, problem solving, and leadership skills important in becoming young adults. We will play a variety of sports as well as the common football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer. This will be a high energy, action packed activity class.
Strength and Conditioning – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
In this course we will be focusing on the development of athletes as pertains to strength and conditioning. We will be working with Kettlebells, Battle ropes, Med-balls, and body weight to workout with. We will discuss and implement the principles of training, like overload, progression, specificity, regularity, and individuality. We will be using the physical best activities and apply the FITT guidelines to improve health and overall fitness. This class is intended for students that compete in sport activities to help them improve their overall athletic ability.
Teen Thrive – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
Teen Thrive is your backstage pass to adulting, ditching boring lectures for real talk on crushing stress, navigating friendships (and drama!), mastering your body’s upgrades (athletic performance, nutrition, sleep), understanding mental wellness like a pro, and building the skills to live your best, healthiest life, not just survive it; think actual life skills, not just math and reading!
Sports Journalism – Grades: 6th-8th (Semester Long Elective)
This course explores the exciting world of sports media and data. Students will learn how to report on games, conduct interviews, and write articles for print or digital platforms. They will also produce podcasts and videos, developing skills in storytelling and multimedia communication. In addition, students will track and analyze player and team statistics, learning how analytics inform strategy and performance. The class emphasizes critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity, giving students the tools to evaluate sports from multiple perspectives. Students will gain experience in both the media and analytical sides of athletics, discovering how data and storytelling work together. This course is ideal for students interested in sports, writing, broadcasting, or numbers.
Category – SPANISH – World Languages
Spanish 1 – Grades: 6th-8th (Year Long Elective)
Designed to introduce students to the Spanish language and culture. This course emphasizes (comprehension of the language and learning about the Hispanisc culture). Students will be exposed to reading, story-telling, songs, videos, etc. to attain novice performance in all modes of communication -interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational.
Spanish 2 – (prerequisite Spanish 1) – Grades: 7th-8th (Year Long Elective)
Designed to continue to develop student’s proficiency, Spanish 2 continues to develop their comprehension and communicative skills. Students will be exposed to reading, story-telling, songs, videos, etc. to attain novice performance in all modes of communication -interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. Students who have taken Spanish continuously for 2-3 years should have developed enough understanding to be recommended to take Spanish 2 when entering high school. To get a recommendation for Spanish 2 in HS students will need to have Spanish in their 8th grade year.
Spanish 3 / Spanish 4 – (prerequisite 2, & or 3) – Grades: 6th-8th (Year Long Elective) Spanish 3 and 4 are staff recommended courses. These courses are consecutive classes that build on each other. Students who have taken Spanish continuously for 2-3 years should have developed enough understanding to be recommended to take Spanish 2 when entering high school. To get a recommendation for Spanish 2 in HS students will need to have Spanish in their 8th grade year.
Category – ACADEMIC SUPPORT
(26/27)
The following electives support the Colorado requirements of M.T.S.S. Students requiring additional support in Reading, Math, or in their Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be appointed to these electives by teachers.
Study Skills: 6th-8th
Study Skills is a staff-recommended course. This course will prepare students for success in high school and/or for postsecondary education. Course topics may vary according to the students involved, but typically include reading improvement skills, such as scanning, note-taking, and outlining; library and research skills; listening and note-taking; vocabulary skills; and test-taking skills. The courses may also include exercises designed to generate organized, logical thinking and writing.
Gifted Resource: 6th-8th
Gifted Resource is a staff-recommended course. Students will select an area of interest that they are not currently pursuing or not at the depth they would like in their classes at C2E. They will develop a project whose scope and sequence will span approximately one semester. After the project is proposed to and accepted by the instructor, the instructor will attempt to partner the student with a mentor who currently works in the student’s chosen area of study. Correspondence between mentor and student will be closely monitored. Students will be evaluated on how they work towards their goal, not the success of their product.
Math Enrichment (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE)
Math Enrichment is a staff-recommended course for students needing instructional reinforcement in math concepts. Students receive small group instruction or individual web-based instruction.
English Enrichment (YEAR LONG ELECTIVE)
English Enrichment is a staff-recommended course for students needing instructional reinforcement in Language Arts/fluency concepts. Students receive small group instruction or individual web-based instruction.
