Electives

APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
The 6th grade Technology program covers three areas of instruction: Video production, Photography, and Aerospace awareness. Students produce a mini video, build and photograph with a pinhole camera, and construct and launch a small rocket.

Manufacturing Technology involves basic skills in ARC and oxyacetylene welding, bench work, and flat pattern development. Students work on basic fabrication techniques, as well as industrial safety procedures.

Communications Technology expands the student's creativity and technical skills with the production of an informational video. Hands-on experience includes developing a storyboard, script writing, and camera and sound techniques and editing methods.

Students also complete an engineering project incorporating the design, construction, racing, and evaluation of a miniature CO2 powered vehicle.

MUSIC
Granite Mountain offers band, orchestra and choir, with two choir classes - beginning and advanced. One of the highlights of the year is participation in the annual Downtown Prescott Courthouse Lighting in December.

Two orchestra classes are offered: Beginning Strings and String Ensemble. This is one of the largest string programs in Northern Arizona. In 2005-2006, the String Ensemble was honored by being featured at the Tri-City Mayor's Arts Breakfast. They also received a "superior" rating at the Regional Festival (highest rating possible).

GMMS offers three band classes: Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble. The bands participate in the Holiday and Light Parades in December. They also perform for pep assemblies.

In addition, GMMS has an established Jazz Band which requires auditions to participate. In 2005-2006, the Jazz Band was honored to perform for the Arizona State School Board Association's conference. Most groups perform regular concerts and at the Yavapai County Fair. They also perform for the school board, art show, etc.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Whether it be softball, lacrosse, flag football, or extreme team dodge ball, Granite Mountain Physical Education is the place to be. In addition to covering a wide variety of sports, games, and contests, the students participate in the President's Challenge Fitness Tests. This is a battery of five tests consisting of curl-ups, shuttle run, mile run, sit and reach,a nd pull-ups/push-ups.

There are also several co-ed activities throughout the year, such as capture the flag, an all day soccer match, and a boys' volleyball all-star game against the Granite Mountain Varsity Girls.

To culminate the program at the end of the school year, we host a day of "Spirit Games." These games are typically held on a Friday in May. They not only cover the fitness tests, but are an integral part of our character counts program. It's a day of sweat and fun for our 7th and 8th graders!

ART
Sixth grade art classes offer a variety of projects that expose students to many different media, including pencil, ink, color pencil, oil pastel, chalk pastel, watercolor, tempera, and acrylic. Students also create papier-mache, collages, and weavings with different textured materials. The seven elements of design are emphasized through each project or assignment, and students learn to critique and evaluate artwork.

Seventh/eighth grade art classes build on the seven elements and basic drawing skills, but more complex projects lead to an understanding of the seven principles and art appreciation as well. These classes offer projects in mask making and hand built clay pieces. Students also learn about different art styles and master artists through fun hands-on activities.

New to GMMS is the 3-D Sculpture class that offers students a chance to advance their art skills. Students participate in a variety of class projects including jewelry making, wire sculpture, papier-mache, painting, stained glass or pottery, and other projects including beading, dream catchers, altered books, woven wall hangings or scarves, cultural adornments, nature sculptures, quilts, and more. These assignments and activities encourage students to use their creativity and problem solving skills.

In addition, students may participate in art shows and art contests to win awards and cash prizes, as well as the GMMS "art opening," which affords students the opportunity to share their artwork with the public.

LIFE SKILLS
Sixth grade Life Skills is a 9-week class which offers an introduction to basic cooking, nutrition, and sewing. There are four cooking labs and a cookbook assignment. The sewing project for this class is a fleece pillow and a needlepoint project.

Cooking and Family Finance is a semester class where students develop skills in food preparation and techniques. This class also includes principles in family science applied to family money management.

Textiles is a semester class where students learn about fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Students learn to correctly operate a sewing machine and use the machine to complete the following projects: fleece hat, apron, and a pillow. Students also learn to knit a scarf and complete a cross-stitch project.

COMPUTERS
Students have the opportunity to take computers all three of their middle school years. In 6th grade, students explore the basics of computers, utilizing the Windows Office programs. Students learn how to create a database (Access), spreadsheet (Excel), and develop word processing (Word) skills and drawing skills. This class also focuses on the fundamentals of keyboarding and internet safety.

The Computer Applications class uses the industry approved software "Dreamweaver 8" to create web pages, Photoshop CS2 to manipulate pictures, and Microsoft Publisher to create newsletters and business cards.

They Keyboarding class is a state required class for all students. The goal is to achieve at least 30 words per minute with 90% accuracy. Students also learn to format letters, memos, announcements, reports, and tables. This is a class that the students find extremely useful in our computer oriented world.