1. 2016-2017 CHOICE SHEET – 8TH GRADE MURCHISON MIDDLE SCHOOL
CHOICE SHEET – 8TH GRADE MURCHISON MIDDLE SCHOOL DeAnna Mahan, Counselor
AFTER AUGUST 1, 2016 COURSE CHANGES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED UNLESS IT IS DUE TO AN ERROR IN SCHEDULING BY MURCHISON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

2. CORE SUBJECTS

3. WORLD LANGUAGES REQUIRED YEARLONG (HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT CLASSES)

4. PE CREDIT- REQUIRED. CHOOSE PE/DANCE OR ATHLETICS

5. CHOOSE at least 1 semester & RANK your top 3 Choices for FINE ARTS

6. CHOOSE at least 1 semester & RANK your top 3 Choices for DESIGN (TECHNOLOGY)

7. Design & Modeling / Automation & Robotics (DM/AR)
(Offered semester long DM or AR, but recommended as yearlong course. Yearlong earns 0.5 hrs HS credit) 
This course is the foundation of PLTW Gateway for middle school. It is recommended that students take this course before taking any other PLTW courses, such as Medical Detectives or Green Architecture. Design and Modeling teaches the steps of the Design Process and how this helps to solve problems. Sketching and Dimensioning teaches students to identify and create perspective, isometric, and orthographic sketches, and to dimension them correctly. Students use Autodesk Inventor (3d computer aided design software) to learn how to create 3D models. Challenges include projects such as creating a toy or a piece of furniture. The winner of various challenges will receive a 3-D model of their design to take home. 
Automation and Robotics gives an understanding of what robots are used for and the effect they have on our lives. Students will learn about mechanical and automated systems by using VEX Robotics components and the ROBOTC programming language to build, model and test solutions to automated problems. Students are presented with design and building challenges, such as building a windmill that can grind grain, building a car that can be two-wheel or four-wheel drive and creating and programming a car to follow a line autonomously or by remote control. 

8. PLTW COURSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT
Medical Detectives (MD) 
(Semester long course, if both MD & GA are completed, 0.5 hrs HS credit can be earned)
Student must obtain approval from teacher in order to register
In Medical Detectives students explore the biomedical sciences through hands-on projects and labs that require the students to solve a variety of medical mysteries. Students investigate medical careers, vital signs, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as human body systems such as the nervous system. One project involves a sheep brain dissection. Genetic testing for hereditary diseases and DNA crime scene analysis put the students in the role of real life medical detectives, such as solving a murder mystery by doing electrophoresis.
Green Architecture (GA)
(Semester long course, if both GA & MD are completed, 0.5 hrs HS credit can be earned)
Green Architecture shows students that in a world of increasing costs, from construction materials to energy use, it is important to expose the next generation of builders to the concept of “being green.” In the wake of a hurricane, tsunami, or forest fire, many affordable homes are needed quickly; students will learn how to provide necessary housing and repurpose otherwise unused building materials.
Challenges include projects such as creating an emergency home from shipping containers, learning how to use and draw with an architecture scale, and using Autodesk® Revit® to create 3D models of the floor plans students have drawn. 

9. CTE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Info Tech - This exploratory course will increase student's knowledge of the operating system of a computer. Concepts learned include recognizing and understanding computer hardware, installing and using software, learning internet skills, peripherals, customer service skills and professionalism. The student will learn how to troubleshoot different programs and modify computer settings. Students will also diagnose and repair basic hardware issues. Students will explore careers that involve designing, developing, supporting and managing computer hardware, software and multimedia.
Broadcasting & Business Professionals of America - Murchison broadcasting gives students creative freedom to use different media formats in order to deliver news stories to the school. Students write, design and film different stories that can be streamed on the MMS Broadcast YouTube channel. In Business Professionals of America (BPA) student will be able to:
​Expand their social network and become a leader
Explore college and career opportunities
Participate in national service projects
Compete nationally and earn scholarships
Computer Science - Students will learn basic programming skills through hands-on projects and activities. They will explore the impact of computing in society and build skills in digital citizenship and cybersecurity. Beyond learning the fundamentals of programming, students build computational thinking skills by applying computer science to collaboration tools, modeling and simulation, and data analysis. 

10. Energy, Power, and Transportation

11. Graphic Design/Yearbook

12. Publications English/Journalism

13. Multimedia and Animation

14. Professional Communications/Speech

15. Photography

16. AVID

17. Web Design

18. Extra Electives & English Second Language
With Counselor Recommendation:
Junior Police Academy

19. IB REQUIREMENTS LANGUAGE ARTS (YEARLONG) MATH (YEARLONG)
SCIENCE (YEARLONG)
SOCIAL STUDIES (YEARLONG)
LOTE CLASS (YEARLONG)
PE CREDIT (SEMESTER)
FINE ARTS (1 SEMESTER)
DESIGN (TECHNOLOGY) (1 SEMESTER)
ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN A WORLD LANGUAGE CLASS, A PE CREDIT CLASS, A FINE ARTS CLASS, AND A TECHNOLOGY CLASS.
STUDENTS NOT MEETING EXPECTATIONS ON STAAR MAY BE PLACED IN A YEARLONG INTERVENTION CLASS THAT WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF REQUESTED ELECTIVES. 

20. DATES TO REMEMBER Feb. 2 Choice Sheet Night
Feb. 3 – 5 Choice Sheets Due to Teachers
Feb. 5 Choice Sheets Due to Counselor
Feb. 24 – March 4 Scheduling Self-Serve in Classes