ELECTIVES

The Middle School offers a total of 29 electives to provide our Middle School students with opportunities to enrich their education by exploring different topics. Throughout the three years of MS, students may choose electives as their schedules allows. Grade 6 students have one period for electives whereas Grade 7 & 8 students may select electives for two periods. These electives are extensions from humanities, math, science, art, music, drama and technology.

DEBATE (ONE SEMESTER)
Do you like to argue? Do you want to improve your skills in research, public speaking, notetaking, and seeing both sides of an issue? Do you enjoy discussing social issues or playing devil’s advocate? If you answered yes tot any or all of these questions, then debate is the place for you! Emphasis will be given to Lincoln-Douglas style debate, which is VALUE debate, (meaning it is a debate about what ought to be rather than specific policy). It usually involves a topic regarding the conflict between the rights of the individual opposed to the rights of the larger society. Debaters will learn to research, write arguments for, and defend both sides of their topics.

CREATIVE WRITING (ONE SEMESTER)
This course is for middle school students to begin to name and express the emerging themes of their lives through writing. Students will discover, analyze, and apply the methods and forms used in various forms of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. The course will be taught in a workshop style where much time will be spent in small groups, with peer critique and discussion. Students will succeed in this class if they are willing to write constantly, edit work thoughtfully, and cooperate with others in writing groups. Emphasis will be given to self-improvement and the ability to use the necessary tools of the writing process.

EXPLORING DELHI (ONE SEMESTER)
Delhi, like Rome and Athens, is a city alive with amazing ancient as well as modern places to explore. Exploring Delhi will be mainly off campus, including trips to: The Presidential Palace, Paper Making at Modern School, the medieval Jantar Mantar astromonical observatory, a medieval 7 layer step well, Hauz Khaus, India Gate & Children’s Park, the Zoo, Dilli Haat, National Gallery of Modern Art, Natural History Museum, Ravi Shankar Music Center, and more. This course is offered in second semester.

SCRIBBLER PUBLICATIONS GRADE 7,8 (FULL YEAR)
This yearlong course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of journalistic writing and publishing. As reporters, students will investigate events, individuals, and opinions within the middle school and publish their articles on a regular basis to a portion of the middle school website called Scribbler Online. Additionally, students will oversee the editing and publishing of at least two print-based publications, where editing, graphic design and desktop publishing will be emphasized.

YEARBOOK GRADE 7,8 (FULL YEAR)
In Yearbook class, students work as a team to create the amazing MS yearbook. They do all their own photography, design, layouts and writing and learn how to use programs like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Cooperation, creativity, and time-management are important skills students will develop in this class – along with enthusiasm for all the events and classes at our Middle School.

VIDEO YEARBOOK (ONE SEMESTER)
This course will give students a chance to develop their video shooting and editing skills while working to create the Middle School Video Yearbook. Since we do this production online, all our final videos will be posted and social media will be used to encourage viewing around the world. Shooting, editing, and producing both video and still montage pieces will be the main focus of the class, but students will also have the opportunity to practice reporting on-camera and do documentary pieces as the opportunity arises.

ORGANIC GARDENING (ONE SEMESTER)
Organic Gardening is an exciting hands-on elective course that introduces students to the basics of growing edible and useful plants using techniques that are not harmful to people or the environment. In this elective students will learn about the importance of environmentally friendly food production and will work to further develop the organic garden at AES. Other activities in this elective will include; fieldtrips to local gardens and farms, educational campaigns on and off campus, composting, keeping a garden journal,and watching relevant films. In this course students will have fun and learn many new things while actually doing something that will benefit them, our school community, and the world!

ROBOTICS GRADE 7,8 (ONE SEMESTER)
If you want to design, build, and program robots and then have your robot compete against your classmates’ robots, then Robotics is the class for you! Using the Lego Mindstorms components, students work together to design, build and program robots that solve a challenge. This class also offers a chance to explore the electronics in further depths as they construct motors, circuits and electronic devices.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS (ONE SEMESTER)
In Model United Nations students are able to step into the shoes of ambassadors of UN member states, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, to debate current issues. Students, better known as "delegates," prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the UN's rules of procedureall in the interest of resolving problems that affect almost every country on Earth. The elective culminates in an international conference where students from all over the world meet to debate their resolutions, address current world issues, and negotiate with their fellow members.

ROOTS AND SHOOTS (ONE SEMESTER)
Roots & Shoots is designed to inspire each individual to take sustainable actions to make the World a better place for people, animals, and improving the environment. This elective is tied to the international ‘Roots & Shoots’ organization founded by Dr. Jane Goodall. The Roots & Shoots ambassadors will be involved in learning and spreading awareness about various environmental issues. This class takes a 2 night trip to Corbett National park that lends itself as a unique destination with a strong historical background and stands as prime example of efforts to conserve. This helps students take a firsthand look at nature, understand what makes up the forest and man's impact on forest and animals. The goal is for all students to learn care and concern in three areas: the human community, animals and the environment.

PHOTO (ONE SEMESTER)
In this course we use digital and film cameras to go out and shoot pictures. We will explore our own visual skills and develop the art of seeing through the lens of the camera. Using both film and digital cameras and computers we learn through practice and reflection to take better pictures. Participants will shoot photos on location in order to make good compositions, learn to frame in new ways, and employ tricks to help with exposure and lighting. While doing our film unit, the aim is to learn to how to use film cameras, shoot manually, develop film and make prints using traditional darkroom practice. We will make large digital prints for the MS student show, which students will take home.

ART STUDIO (ONE SEMESTER)
This is the perfect addition to Art 6&7. Work with a variety of art materials and techniques, just like professional artists in their studios. Learn to develop your genius artistic ideas. Be creative. Have fun, and learn tons through independent sketchbooking, solo work, and class projects.

SCULPTURE (ONE SEMESTER)
In Sculpture class students will experiment with a variety of sculpting materials and techniques. Our primary mediums will be paper mache’ using molds and armatures and clay. We will both construct and carve in our art experiments. The class will make three to four projects over the course of the semester and students are encouraged to develop their own creative ideas within each project’s structure. Reflection and discussion will be worked into e-portfolio presentations.

CERAMICS (ONE SEMESTER)
Students will learn different ways to build their own clay art works. Our goal is to try a variety of hand building as well as learning to use the wheel. We will explore different decorating techniques on our clay pieces including stamping, carving, sculptural and decorative additions, under glazing and glazing. Students will have a chance to develop their creativity and problem solving skills while designing projects and learning how to use the medium of clay.

DRAMA (ONE SEMESTER)
Drama class provides an introduction to performance for students who want to be energized, up on their feet, and engaged in action. Students learn how to develop unique characters and convey emotions onstage, how to project their voices, and how to work cooperatively as an ensemble. Greek theatre, Shakespeare, improv, and clowning are some of the units explored in this class. All students will have the opportunity to perform for different audiences as part of their work in drama.

THEATRE TECHNOLOGY (ONE SEMESTER)
In Theatre Tech, students will become proficient in backstage production skills. Key areas students will explore will be: lighting, sound, set design, costume design, makeup, stage crew roles and responsibilities, video recording and editing. Students will work on the light board, learn to use the sound system, and will work with programs like Audacity, Premiere, Studio, Google SketchUp and others. Students who join the class will be expected to form the backbone of the tech crew for our major MS theatre productions in the fall.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND (OM) (ONE SEMESTER)
Odyssey of the Mind or OM is a class for students who like to use their imagination to solve problems. It is a class designed to build participant’s creativity, enhance skills in problem solving, and promote teamwork in enjoyable and meaningful way.

VIDEO PRODUCTIONS (ONE SEMESTER)
Video Production is an elective course that is designed to develop higher levels of competence in computer skills that students will use in secondary school, as well as introduce new enrichment topics. Students will write, direct, edit and produce short videos throughout the semester as well as a short news broadcast. Productions usually combine sound editing, video editing, video filming and production techniques. Students will maintain a blog for assessment and discussion purpose.

DESIGN GRADE 7,8 (ONE SEMESTER)
Ever wonder how designers get their next idea? Design logos and make your own business cards. Collaborate with you classmates to design the next agenda cover. Learn how to make eye-popping posters for school events, and discover the inside tricks and ideas that make graphic artwork shine. Come explore the creative world of Design!