MIDDLE SCHOOL FEBRUARY FOCUS WEEK

This course introduces students to the scientific principles and practices behind solving crimes. Sleuths-in-training will hone their deductive reasoning skills (“Elementary, my dear Watson!”) and gain hands-on experience in forensic techniques used to collect, examine, and analyze crime scene evidence, including fingerprints, handwriting, ink, fabrics, soils, blood (artificial), and hair. These skills will then be applied to solving a dastardly, mysterious theft.
 

Using everyday materials, specialty paints, and hand tools, students will dive into techniques and media they may not otherwise use in a school art class. For this year, students will engage with various sculptural media in bringing their ideas to life. Each student will also take part in painting a unique animal on a small stone for a hide-and-seek game with our LS students.

Wrestling is an ancient sport with deep classical roots. In classical Greece and Rome, it was a foundational part of training and education. Plato himself was renowned for his skill as a wrestler. In this course, we'll explore the ancient origins of wrestling while also focusing on fundamental techniques of the sport, with special emphasis on the physical conditioning required to endure a wrestling match. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in live wrestling practice to develop their skills.

Calligraphy means “beautiful writing” in Greek, and in this course, students will learn the basic techniques of pointed-pen calligraphy (also known as Copperplate). Students will become familiar with the tools of calligraphy, and they will learn to script the full Copperplate alphabet. They will also be introduced to crafting techniques such as embossing and envelope-making. In addition, students will receive supplies to take home so that they can continue to develop their skills beyond the classroom. Knowledge of cursive penmanship recommended.

This course will teach students about history through the painting of miniature soldiers. Students will be painting realistic miniatures, as well as learning about the time period the miniatures reflect by examining dress, weapons, and tactics of that historical era. Students will also recreate a battle by making use of the miniature soldiers they have painted. For this year, we will be studying the American Civil War. Please Note: Instead of painting our usual 28mm soldiers, we will be painting 15mm. The smaller size allows us to have more figures on the table and recreate the era accurately.

This course will introduce students to elements of photo editing and graphic design through Adobe Photoshop. An assortment of creative projects will expose students to the wide array of tools within this industry-leading application. Pending time and progress, additional applications within the Adobe Creative Suite may be introduced.

This course will introduce students to the basics of writing a compelling short story, including character development, plot pacing, imagery, tone, and more. The course will cover a variety of genres of short stories, spanning from classics by Arthur Conan Doyle and Ray Bradbury to modern selections by Amy Tan. We will spend significant time in one-on-one sessions, polishing the work into a complete short story, which will be shared in a public reading at the end of the week. Weather permitting, we will also spend a day in downtown Princeton, finding inspiration in our surroundings.

The theater course will practice and perform a complete play. Along the way, students will learn about vocal projection, staging, character role play, and working with props and costumes. The week will culminate in a performance for our school community. If you enjoy acting and making stories come alive, then theater is the group for you