7th & 8th Grade Electives
2022-2023 Elective Course Descriptions
Gorzycki Middle School Elective Course Descriptions
Several courses require a materials fee. If assistance is needed, please reach out to your grade level counselor.
Grades earned in high school courses are included in the student’s high school grade point average and will be part of their high school transcript. Please click on the link below titled, "BEFORE you sign up for a high school course, read this" for important information.
Students identified as Gifted/Talented must be registered for Advanced courses in the area(s) in which they have been identified in order to maintain GT designation.
Students who do not meet minimum expectations on the STAAR Reading and/or Math test are required to have an intervention class to prepare for success on their next STAAR test. Counselors work with teachers and students to determine the best placement in a required intervention course in the absence of STAAR scores .
Required Academic Courses
All students must select one course offering for each of the core subject areas of ELA/R, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Select either Academic or Advanced (previously called Pre AP)
Enrollment in Advanced Algebra I or Advanced Geometry requires prerequisite courses be completed
To help understand to sequence of Math instruction at GMS, please refer to this document
Physical Education Requirement Information
All students are required to have one semester of a Physical Education course during both 7th and 8th grades, unless AISD Athletic Offices grant a “Category II” or “Off Campus PE” waiver. Students must apply for the waiver through the district office. See https://www.austinisd.org/pe-health/pe/ocpe for info and deadlines.
Students will be required to purchase a specific uniform for all PE and Dance classes.
Physical Education Course Descriptions
All 7th and 8th graders must take at least ONE of the following courses. Students who have only one semester of a PE course will have to take one semester elective to pair with it. See semester electives in sections below.
Physical Education - semester In grades 7 & 8, students acquire knowledge and skills in a variety of sports such as basketball, bowling, ultimate Frisbee, etc. while also improving their overall fitness.
Strength and Conditioning - semester In this class, students work out to improve their strength, speed, endurance, and agility. A physical completed by a doctor and online forms are required to participate in this class. Please visit https://www.austinisd.org/athletics/forms for the necessary information.
Dance PE - semester This is a semester long technique-based curriculum designed to provide students the opportunity to explore the various forms of traditional & contemporary dance. Students will learn basic human anatomy as well as the history of dance techniques.
Dance Team - yearlong Placement on a dance team is based on auditions and final determination will be made by the coach. Participation in this class requires an updated Sports Physical. See link above, under Athletics, for sports physical form to be completed by a doctor.
Tigerettes - yearlong advanced level performance-based dance class.
Tiger Dancers - yearlong intermediate/advanced level performance-based dance class.
Tiger Drill - yearlong intermediate level performance-based dance class.
Athletics - semester OR yearlong This class is designed for students who want to compete in team sports for GMS. Fall semester sports are: Boys Football, Girls Volleyball and Girls Basketball. Spring semester sports are: Boys Basketball/Offseason Football, and Girls Track. Coaches will create class rosters based on evaluations and try-outs. Choosing the Athletics class does not determine who makes the actual team. Students who choose Athletics but do not make a team may not be able to change out of the Athletics class. A physical completed by a doctor and online forms are required to participate in this class. Please visit https://www.austinisd.org/athletics/forms for the necessary information.
Fine Arts Course Descriptions
Middle school students are required to complete one year of a fine arts course in 6th grade. Once completed, they may choose to continue advancing in Fine Arts courses or choose other electives based on their interests. All of these courses are Middle School courses, not High School courses.
Art Students will work with a variety of processes and materials such as painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, fibers, jewelry and digital media. Students rely on their perceptions of the environment, developed through increasing visual awareness and sensitivity to surroundings, memory, imagination, and life experiences as a source for creating artworks. Students are placed in Art level based on the number of years taken in middle school. GMS offers Art I, Art II and Art III.
Band Band provides students with continued instruction on a chosen band instrument. Students will be placed in a specific band class based on their current skill level and previous experience. Public Performance is a required component of this course. Students in the Honors or Symphonic Band will have one after or before school rehearsal per week for small-group/like instrument learning. Students are able to participate in both Band and Athletics. GMS offers Beginning Band, Honors Band and Symphonic Band. Placement is decided by band director via audition.
Choir This class focuses on vocal techniques, music literacy, & performance skills for the developing and advanced singer. Boys are placed in a separate choir from the girls, but both, boys and girls, will sometimes perform and travel together. Public performance is a required component of this course. Students wishing to be in Glee Club must be enrolled in a choir class. Girls wishing to be placed in Advanced Choir must audition & must currently be enrolled in choir. GMS offers Intermediate Choir and Advanced Choir for girls and Boys Choir for boys.
Movie Makers - semester Students are given the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of filmmaking: design, production, acting, observation, and analysis while working on PSA projects and a short film. Students study the history of film by watching, discussing, and reproducing the ways great filmmakers achieve the effects that captivate audiences. Students gain a greater appreciation for the world of film making and learn the craft needed to create a film.
Orchestra Upper level orchestra provides students with continued instruction on a chosen orchestral instrument. Students will be placed in a specific orchestra class based on their current skill level and previous experience. Orchestra students are expected to participate in public performances and furnish their own instruments. GMS offers Beginning Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Placement is decided by band director via audition.
Piano - semester This class is for students who want to learn how to play piano. Prior musical training is not necessary for this course, however, students with prior piano experience are welcome to take this course to advance their current level of skills. Students will learn how to read music, will learn music theory, & will perform selections they have learned for their class each week. Students do not need to have a piano at home. All learning and practice will be in the classroom.
Technical Theatre - semester This semester course will teach students the basics of all the work that takes place behind the scenes of a theatrical production. It introduces students to the basics of light, sound, set, prop and costume design through a hands-on project approach. Students will explore careers in technical and learn the principles of designing for the theatre.
Theatre Arts Theatre focuses on developing acting and directing skills. Projects include monologues, duet acting scenes, musical mime and a class production. Students will be expected to perform as a requirement of the class. GMS offers Theatre I, Theatre II and Theatre III.
Theatre Production This course focuses on producing scenes and plays. Students apply theatre skills to productions. Students are expected to participate in the AISD one act play festival and commit to after school rehearsals. Selection is by an audition process. Prerequisite: one full year of theatre arts.
Middle School Elective Course Descriptions - These courses are NOT High School credit
Creative Writing Students will explore different genres of writing through reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The goal of this course is to inspire students to develop original pieces and ideas. Through writing and thinking students will learn to become better readers, writers, and thinkers. Some possible writing genres covered poetry, family storytelling, fairy tales, fantasies, short stories, and journals.
Health Education Middle School - semester Students will have opportunities to learn about their own health and participate in projects that advocate for wellness for their community. This course covers: Introduction to Wellness, The Brain, Personal Health, Social Health, Practicing Wellness, and Health Advocacy. Students who take this course can take the Health Education High School course next year.
Multimedia Journalism Like to tell stories? Want to learn how to conduct an awesome interview? Love making videos or taking photos? Ever wondered about podcasting? Have a legendary social media account? Then this is the class for you! Come explore ways to create compelling content using a multimedia approach. Our focus will be on creating stories using whatever medium fits the topic best - and you get to choose! From writing traditional news articles to penning editorials to creating beautiful photo essays to conducting a press conference - you’ll learn how to best connect with and communicate information to your audience. Along the way, you’ll learn the basics of journalism, photography, and graphic design. This class is portfolio-based, so you’ll take an electronic body of work with you when you finish the year!
PALS Love helping others? Feel like you're a great leader? Want to be part of a student-led class? Then the PALS program is for you! PALS is a peer helping program in which a select group of eighth grade students is trained to work as mentors with other students on campus. In addition to mentoring students, PALS engage in team-building activities, leadership development, field trips, and real-world project-based decision making and problem solving. PALS are also committed to improving their school and community through service activities. Application approval required.
Quiz Bowl Quiz bowl is a game in which two teams or individuals compete head-to-head to answer questions from all areas of knowledge, including history, literature, science, fine arts, current events, popular culture, sports, and more.
Reading Literature The concept of genres is introduced through class discussion and mentor text. Students will explore several different genres throughout the semester. Some possible genres: poetry, short stories, biography/autobiography, fantasy, historical fiction, and mythology. Students may have to purchase or check out books on their own for the class.
Social Justice / Sociology Students study social organizations, institutions, and patterns of social relationships in different cultures. They also analyze the social interactions of individuals and groups. They will learn a systematic method for studying cultures, social institutions, social relationships, and the process of socialization. They also study a variety of social issues such as crime, racial discrimination, gender equity, urbanization, family structure, and other similar topics.
Speech / Debate The study of and practice in the basic principles and techniques of effective oral communication. This course includes reading famous speeches, writing original speeches, and instruction in adapting speech to different audiences and purposes. They will also apply standards to analyze and evaluate propositions and construct valid approaches to both affirmative and negative arguments. Students will hone speaking skills and provide valid and constructive critiques of others
Student Council This course provides an opportunity to study, practice, and develop group and individual leadership and organizational skills. These skills include the structure of leadership, organization and managerial skills, citizenship, goal setting, group processes, and communication.They will organize campus wide events and awarness of multiple topics. Application approval required.
Study Skills - semester or yearlong Study Skills class focuses on executive function skills needed for effective planning, organizing, starting and finishing all tasks, assignments, and problem-solving. There will also be time built in to the class for homework assistance or reteach concepts from content classes.
Elective Course Descriptions - High School Credit Courses
Business Information Management I Students apply abilities to do particular job-related tasks well, to address new business computer programs and technologies, to create word-processing documents, to create and edit spreadsheets, to create and edit databases, and to make electronic presentations using appropriate software.
Digital Media In Digital Media, students will learn how to create animation projects by implementing traditional and emerging digital technologies. Students will study various animation styles and techniques from early 2D hand-drawn animation to modern 3D CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). Students will exhibit best practices in project and desktop management as well as implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace environment. The knowledge and skills acquired and practiced will enable students to successfully perform and interact in a technology driven society.
Fundamentals of Computer Science Students will discover the background behind what makes robots and video games work. Basic programming skills will be acquired for a foundation that leads to a vast understanding of Computer Science. Students will foster their creativity and innovation through opportunities to design, implement, and present solutions to real-world problems. Students will collaborate and use computer science concepts to access, analyze, and evaluate information needed to solve problems. Students will learn the problem-solving and reasoning skills that are the foundation of computer science.
Health Education High School- semester This course covers topic such as consumer health; diseases; environmental health and safety; growth and development; health and fitness for daily living; nutrition; use and abuse of tobacco, alcohol and drugs; and the human life cycle. Students are encouraged to choose responsible health behaviors now and in the future. This course is for mature middle school students and will only be offered to 8th graders. Students who complete this course will earn 0.5 high school credit toward their graduation requirements. This course is not a CTE course.
Keyboarding (Touch System Data Entry) - semester Students apply technical skills to address business applications of emerging technologies. Students enhance reading, writing, computing, communication, and reasoning skills and apply them to the business environment. Students will need to apply touch system data entry skills for production of business documents. There is no longer a keyboarding or equivalent requirement, therefore we will no longer offer keyboarding competency "test-out" opportunities.
Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness - semester Lifetime Nutrition and Wellness is a laboratory course that allows students to use principles of lifetime nutrition and wellness to help them make informed choices that promote wellness as well as pursue careers related to hospitality and tourism, education and training, human services, and health sciences.
Principles of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Students are provided an opportunity to learn and explore agricultural skills through hands-on projects and research. In this course, students will be required to develop and document their own, individual Supervised Agricultural Experience. This SAE will make up a large portion of the student's overall grade. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to become Junior Members of the Bowie FFA (Future Farmers of America).
Principles of Applied Engineering This course introduces students to concepts and skills in engineering design. Students explore the engineering design process using relevant hardware and software to complete hands-on and group projects in a variety of areas. Subjects may include robotics, electronics, mechanical design, computer-aided drafting (CAD), and career opportunities.
Principles of Bioscience Principles of Biosciences reinforces Biology content and provides an overview of biotechnology, bioengineering, and related fields. Topics include genetics, cell structure, proteins, nucleic acids, and the impact of immunological events in biotechnology. Students will further study the increasingly important agricultural, environmental, economic, and political roles of bioenergy and biological remediation; the roles of nanoscience and nanotechnology in biotechnology medical research; and future trends in biological science and biotechnology.
Principles of Construction (Woodshop) This course is intended to provide an introduction and lay a solid foundation for those students entering the construction or craft skilled areas. The course provides a strong knowledge of construction safety, construction mathematics, and common hand and power tools. This course also provides communication and occupation skills to assist the student in obtaining and maintaining employment.
Yearbook - Digital Communication of the 21st Century: Come work on the award-winning staff of The Roar, Gorzycki’s yearbook! Students will learn theme development, branding, graphic design, photography, interviewing, storytelling, writing copy, editing, and marketing. Students are completely in charge of the book’s development and creation; therefore, students in the class must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the school. APPLICATION REQUIRED
LOTE Course Descriptions - Languages Other Than English
Students are NOT required or expected to select a LOTE course while in middle school. They may choose to wait until high school to take Spanish, French or American Sign Language.
Spanish I & II and French I & II : Spanish and French are sequential world language courses designed to develop fundamental language across the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes of communication. Culture and civilization of the target language is integrated into all aspects of the course. Students will develop confidence in using the target language to describe familiar topics such as family, hobbies and school life. Students will also use the language to connect with other content areas, make comparisons with their own language and culture, and participate in communities beyond the classroom.
These are high school credit courses and the grades earned in LOTE courses will be part of both the student's cummulative GPA and rank GPA. These courses require students to demonstrate strong study and organizational skills to do group work, presentations and project-based learning. To be successful in a World Language class, students are expected to do 20 minutes of daily practice.