IMS Winter Elective Openings 08 – 09 Art Electives Art History Your Way, 2 million BC to Today Mr. Cooper Students will spend the first week learning the basics of the field of art history and choosing the artwork they want to explore during the course. We will look at one piece of art each class period where students will learn why it looks they way it does and why it is made the way it is, as well as what was going on in the artist's life and in the world during the time it was made. Have you wondered what the big deal is about Leonardo DaVinci's Mona Lisa? Did you ever wonder where the foot used in Monty Python came from? Ever wonder why all those old statues are missing their arms, legs, or heads, or why some art looks like a little kid did it? During class, we will utilize different forms of multimedia to fully explore art and answer some of these very questions. Students should come to class ready to think outside the box and be ready to share even the craziest thoughts they might have about a work of art because they just might be right. Students who are interested in art, history, and the world around them, as well as learning interesting facts should sign up. Wood Self-portraits Ms. Mailer Produce life-sized fantastic self-portraits on wood. Introduction to Stone Sculpture Mr. Barillaro Students will work with their hands and tools to shape and refine a piece of stone. They will learn the basic procedure for completing and finishing a stone work. Drama & Film Electives Comedy in Film: The Marx Brothers Mr. McGlone & Mr. Shuman The course will cover the origins of comedy in film, focusing primarily on films made before 1940. The class will include discussions on how cinema can convey comedy, the marriage of vaudeville and performance comedy in early twenties and thirties, and the appearance of these different styles of humor in the classic Marx Brothers films. From the political satire of Duck Soup to the slapstick farce of Monkey Business, the objective of the course is offer a historical perspective on the modern comic spirit, or in the words of Chico, “Why a duck?” Film Production Ms. Jadow & Ms. Villano An introductory workshop in the art of film-making. This elective includes hands-on classes in scriptwriting, shooting, and editing using iMovie and Final Cut Pro. Whenever possible we will supplement our work with examples from classic movies, short films and documentaries, as well as occasional visits from professional movie writers and directors. Zhang Yimou’s Films Ms. Fontaine Zhang Yimou is a nationally acclaimed director from Shaanxi province, China. His films are a daring deconstruction of China as a nation and his success is largely due to his focus on humanity and individualism. Come explore China’s evolution over the past century through Zhang Yimou’s films: Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, Not One Less, The Road Home and Hero. Other Electives 1968 Mr. Anselmi Multi-media look at this pivotal year in the history of the United States. A year of riots, assassinations, counter culture and elections, echoes of 1968 still reverberate today, 40 years later. Explore this time through video, reading and music. CPR/First Aid Mrs. Hillson Become fully certified in First Aid and CPR. Learn these life saving techniques from Mrs. Hillson, a certified instructor and a member of an EMT squad. There will be a modest processing fee. Cribbage Mrs. Soja Can you add to 31? Then you can probably beat Mrs. Soja in cribbage, the mother of all pegging card games. Learn the ins and outs of this great game. Play against each other, and learn what it means when someone is ‘skunked’ or what ‘nobs’ are and what it means when someone says “15 for 2, Go.” Debate Club Mr. McGlone Do you like to argue? Have you ever had difference of opinion with someone else? Well, take your debating skills to the next level as a part of this elective. Led by master arguer, Mr. McGlone, you will learn point/counter point methods and how to drive home your ideas home. Ecology Club Mr. Brown The Ecology Club will do a variety of activities including energy audits of IMS; poster construction for environmental awareness; nature hikes; recycling; nature photography; and environmental action. Math Counts Ms. Schopp Math as a contact sport. Take on the big brains. Go to the Nationals. Modern French Culture Mr. Stevens A a course that discusses food, music, film and theatre, as well as daily life in France for people of roughly the same age as our students. We will be looking into finding a sister school for IMS to become pen pals with, students who are working on their english over in France. The elective would also cover basic conversational French, most likely simple vocabulary and expressions that would help with everyday travel if one wished to visit the country. Planet Earth Mr. Doria Experience Earth as never before with groundbreaking footage of our planet and its wildlife. The Planet Earth elective will consist of viewing and discussion of the fascinating BBC documentary that has revolutionized the way people can experience nature. Those who have a love of film and a strong desire to discuss nature will find this elective right up their ally. Sports Journalism Mr. Griggs Students will be introduced to journalism through the eyes of athletics. There will be three components to the class. First, the students will study writing just the facts the way a typical daily newspaper journalist would write. The second aspect of the course will be to discuss how sports periodicals (Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, etc.) have become a large part of American culture. Overall, the students will end the course with an understanding of the media as it pertains to athletics. South African History (8th and 9th graders only) Mrs. Soja This elective is a look at South African history from 1900-1992. Specifically, we will explore the topic of Apartheid as we read the book Kaffir Boy together and discuss. We will also watch several films about Apartheid and the Anti-Apartheid movement in the 1980s and 1990s. Some outside reading will be expected of those who participate. Stock Market Mr. Stubbs Learn the workings of the stock market and the basics of how public companies are structured and how shares it them are traded. Students will set up dummy portfolios and watch them grow (hopefully)!