Talent Development Activities

Talent Development activities

Sixth Grade

Physical Education/Health - Mr. Anderson, Ms. Stelk, and Mrs. Moscoso

Muscle and bone nomenclature – opportunity to learn the remaining muscle groups and bones beyond the basic major groups.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dolan/Mrs. Parisi

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  More elaborate one-point perspective drawings with more details and shading.  Higher level pattern skills with more complicated patterns in weaving, repeating color patterns, more difficult techniques (all seven techniques).  All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc. 

General Music - Mr. Travis

Advanced music students will encouraged to identify components of music theory beyond the basics. Advanced recognition of rhythm patterns involving triplets and different meters is encouraged. Recognition of additional music intervals is encouraged.  Complete an analysis of a modern song structure in conjunction with their music report.

Seventh Grade

Physical Education - Mr. Anderson, Ms. Stelk, and Mrs. Moscoso

Calorie and activity log – investigate the results of certain diets.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dolan/Mrs. Parisi

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  Ceramics – larger pots, more difficult hand-built techniques, combination techniques, more elaborate and detailed patterns and designs.  Painting – develop the painting with more of a three-dimensional effect with a higher skill use of color and value.  Photography – More varied tone quality and thematic composition. All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc. 

General Music - Mr. Travis

Students will be assigned to more advanced areas of study during the Star-Spangled Banner unit, including research on the history of the song, analysis of it’s musical form and an account of the war of the time period.  Advanced students will be encouraged to learn and identify a greater number of Italian tempo markings.  Advanced recognition of rhythm patterns including syncopation is encouraged.  Accelerated piano players will be offered additional harmonies for right hand and ostinatos for the left hand.

Eighth Grade

Physical Education - Mr. Anderson, Ms. Stelk, and Mrs. Moscoso

Fitness components – personalized fitness plan with a specific goal, based on performance enhancement or weakness.  Options are provided in PE for kinesthetically skilled students to excel in inter-task variation by competing in peer groups. 

Art - Mrs. Dolan/Mrs. Parisi

Students may complete extra sketchbook drawings to improve drawing skills to a higher level, creativity, observation skills.  Drawing – develop a theme to express their own personal ideas and beliefs through the use of various drawing methods and techniques in the drawing of their hands.  Relief printing – develop a higher level of detail and drawing with a higher complexity of combining line, color, shape, pattern, texture and detail  to express their own ideas of promoting the protection of endangered animals with an “attention getting” color scheme.  Water color – students develop an awareness of wash proficiencies and are able to successfully use various wash techniques in the creation of  a water color painting.  Students are able to successfully communicate and express  personal ideas and beliefs through water color media. All students are presented the opportunity to write a research report on a visual artist of their choice, i.e. Picasso, Andy Warhol, etc. 

General Music - Mr. Travis

Origins of Medieval and Renaissance folk songs may be researched and incorporated into chant and round group projects. Original melodies, in the appropriate style, may be performed with each project. Baroque song analysis may be done alone, without a group.  Great Musical Works study may include longer sections, with analysis of classic form.  Students are encouraged to act-out scenes from their composer’s life for the video biography.

 

BAND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Physical Education - Mr. Ranz 

Franzen Band Students

Tetrachord Scale Award

Peacock Band Students

Scale Master Award Level 1 – Major Scales

Scale Master Award Level 2 – Natural Minor Scales

Scale Master Award Level 3 – Harmonic Minor Scales

Band Honor Roll Award – Quarterly

Perfect Attendance Award – Quarterly

Best Marcher Award – Memorial Day Parade

Student Mentor Award – Tutor Younger Musicians

Instrumentation Award – Play 2 Different Instruments

Music Librarian Award

Most Improved Musician Award

Quarterly Seating Tryouts – Concert Band

VanderCook College of Music HonorFest – Concert Band Section Leaders

Illinois Music Educators Association District Honor Band – Tryouts Required

Northshore Festival of Music – Concert Band

Director’s Award – Top Eighth Student

Drum Major Award – Memorial Day Parade

Illinois Grade School Music Association Contest – Jazz Band

Sammy Nestico Award – Top Jazz Band Student

Solos – Jazz Band

Instrumental Ensembles – Fine and Applied Arts Festival