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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
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2011-2012 Courses. See “Forms” Page for a Sign-Up Sheet for these courses.
DEBATE AND LAW: Monday mornings at 7:45 a.m., Learning Center. Do you like to argue? Do you think you'd enjoy being an attorney or a witness in a mock trial? We will have the best of both worlds as we start the year with a debate tournament, and finish with a Mock Trial at the Guilderland Courthouse. Come and learn the basics of argumentation and public speaking. Procedure for choosing members of the team will be explained at the first meeting. Meetings begin October 3. SIGNUP for this course is closed.
MATH OLYMPIAD, Tuesday mornings at 7:45 a.m., Learning Center. This team (limited to 35 students) meets in coaching sessions once a week from October through March, to learn math word problem-solving strategies in preparation for once-monthly tests called "meets." Meetings begin October 5. SIGNUP for this course is closed.
HISTORY: Wednesday mornings at 7:45 a.m., Learning Center. In this course, you will choose a topic, research, and create a product for National History Day competition. The product can be a paper, exhibit, website, performance, or documentary. This project is time consuming and requires effort, but will teach you research and presentation skills that will lead you to success not only for History Day, but for future courses in high school and college! Many of our student have gone all the way to the national level of this competition. See the Links page for the National History Day website, and download the file below if you would like to know more about this program. Independent study option is available. Meetings begin October 5.
VERBAL CHALLENGE: Thursday mornings at 7:45 a.m., Learning Center, October-January. This course will prepare you to take the Verbal SAT. You will expand your vocabulary, learning hundreds of new words. You will also learn Greek and Latin roots that will help you to guess the meaning of words you do not yet know. You will also learn more about grammar and how to edit sentences and paragraphs on a test. Games and activities will make this course fun, but it will also require work outside of class. If you approach this course seriously, it will pay huge rewards in the future. Meetings will begin October 13.
FUTURE ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS: Thursday mornings at 7:45 a.m., Learning Center. You will learn basics of engineering principles and some basics of architecture. This class is a hands-on experience with engineering projects, but you will also learn about city infrastructure by creating a SimCity. If there are more than 25 signups, there will be a tryout project for this class and you will receive information on the tryout in December. Meetings will begin in February for those who are selected from the tryout.
MATH COUNTS: Tuesday activity periods. This course will coach you to build the skills/concepts you need to handle the challenging math content in the Math Counts Competition. This will take you a step above what you thought was possible in math. Homework will be required to prepare you to compete to become a member of our school's team. A runoff will be held in December to choose the four team members and four alternates who will represent our school at the regional contest. Once team members have been selected, coaching sessions will be expanded to 3:30-5:00 during January, February (and part of March if the team makes it to the State level of the contest). For more info, visit www.mathcounts.org. Meetings begin October 11.
PHILOSOPHY: Access period. Once Philosophy is guaranteed to be an eye-opening, thought-provoking experience. You will be engaged in discussions about the nature of the universe and the meaning of concepts, ideas, or words you have always taken for granted. It will make you think harder than you ever thought possible! Meetings begin in the fall.
SIXTH GRADE MATH: Access period. This course will take you beyond classroom math to explore topics that are above-grade level. You will learn some basic algebra, challenge your problem-solving skills, and develop a geometric eye through completing projects in origami and polyhedron-building with manipulative kits. Begins after December break.
SEVENTH GRADE MATH: Access period. This course will challenge and surprise you. You will learn problem-solving techniques, algebra, and other math skills. Begins after December break. READING: (Sixth Grade). Reading class pullout. Read and discuss short stories or novels in a deep, though-provoking, thought-shaking way. You will learn to appreciate and enjoy reading and will progress in your ability to critically analyze themes and content. You may sign up to be considered for one of theswe groups but the final decision will be up to your teachers.
READING/WRITING: Access periods. Students will read short stories or poetry in a specific genre, then work together to create a piece in the same genre. For seventh grade, the genre is science fiction. For eighth grade, the focus is nonfiction humor, persuasive writing, and other informational works of literature.
CHESS: Thursday activity periods. This course involves everyone from beginner to expert, ends with a school chess tournament, and is coached by Mr. Flynn. SPELLING BOOTCAMP: Thursday activity periods, beginning in October. If you're determined to make it to the Regional or National Spelling Bee, this is the place for you to receive the coaching that might help you get there. You will be given tips and recommendations, word study lists, etc., that will prepare you for the school, regional, and hopefully national, level of competition.
CREATIVE WRITERS: Do you want to write a novel, play or short tory? Are you interested in getting your writing published? Meetings will be held starting in the Spring, day and time to be announced.
MYTHOLOGY WORKSHOP: In this one-day workshop, learn more about Greek myths, engage in games and activities, and write your own version of a myth which you will present as a skit. PHOTOGRAPHY: In this one-day workshop, learn how to photograph portraits, edit using Photoshop, and create a photo story. SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP IS CLOSED. PUBLIC SPEAKING/IMPROVISATION: In this one-day workshop, improve your presentation and improv skills. SIGNUP FOR THIS WORKSHOP IS CLOSED.
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ENRICHMENT
Farnsworth Middle School
6072 State Farm Road
Guilderland, NY 12084
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