STEAM2 Electives

The Fall Musical Elective invites students to be introduced to the world of Theater Production! Students learn the importance of being a part of a creative collaborative environment. Students will be exposed to all elements of a theater production; on stage and behind the scenes and how these sections work together to bring a musical from the page to the stage. Our students will be guided by a team of professional stage directors, vocal coaches, set designers, choreographers and makeup artists. Our students will learn a wide range of skills including the audition & rehearsal process; acting, vocal and dance techniques; stage management, makeup & costuming basics; scenic painting and set design. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntreRlCJMiI

The surfing elective is so rad.  Students study the history, music, cinema, board and fin design, and ocean dynamics that make surfing such a soulful endeavor.  At Campus Point on surf trips, students receive expert surf instruction and experience the thrill of surfing for themselves.  Students also design and implement plans to help keep our ocean and beaches healthy. Bring your stoke, your aloha, and let's go surfing!

Students will learn the fundamentals of coding with our sphero robots. Each student will have their own robot and depending on skill level, students will use block coding or javascript to guide their robot through a series of tasks. Some tasks of interest include: building a maze, sphero olympics, and bridge building.

Term 2

Support the Calm Service Initiative with donation collections, sorting and tracking as well as a field trip to deliver whole school contributions. Plan all aspects of the Middle School Winter Wonderland Dance set for Friday, January 31st. Prep the Term 2 Special Lunch voting options and menu. Manage “Walter” The Vending Machine with stocking, counting and the late winter service initiative. Volunteer with local non-profits and go on field trips to support projects around the Santa Barbara community. Support campus projects for the holidays, special events and overall beautification.

Term 3

• Prep the Term 3 Special Lunch voting options and menu. 
• Manage “Walter” The Vending Machine with stocking, counting and new snack offerings
• Plan and execute Spring Service Initiative. 
• Volunteer with local non-profits and go on field trips to support projects around the Santa Barbara community. 
• Support campus projects for the holidays, special events and overall beautification.

Training Camp provides the physical training that will help you adapt to any sport you might choose. This athletic training course is designed to help increase coordination, agility, quickness, reaction time, jumping strength and endurance.

We will explore the masters of Pop art, where we will learn how to use popular culture, the signature bold and bright colors, along with the techniques to create comic style portraits. This art style  is a fun and funky way to express the mainstream images and popular figures using all different mediums. We will explore mediums such as print making, collage, and textiles.

• Original oratory (persuasive speech writing and delivering)
• Oral interpretation (reading a published work in dramatic speech)
• Impromptu speaking (speaking eloquently about a topic given to you in the moment)
• Duet acting (performing a short part of a published play)
• Debate (partner activity with a rigid set of rules for competition)

Want to relax, improve balance, gain flexibility, and build strength? Join this class and stretch your way into calmness and clarity by connecting your movements to your breath. In addition, Nurse Bower will be joining us to share journaling, aromatherapy, meditation, vision-boarding, and other self-care/mindfulness practices, so you can reduce stress and have fun! Yogis will also enjoy field trips to practice in the park and at a local yoga studio followed by a Backyard Bowls treat!

Get ready to fly! Students will build mini Crazyflie drones and learn to fly them through a variety of challenges and obstacles using a drone flight simulator and block coding. We will also learn how drones are used in real-world scenarios in the air, water and on land. We may even have the opportunity to enter a worldwide competition this term by completing and showcasing drone micro-missions along the way!

In this ceramics elective we will start with the basics of hand building. We will learn how to properly join pieces together, roll out proper slabs, and how to use coils and pinch pots to create personal pieces. Students will learn how to use different clay tools and how to glaze their final pieces. In the second part of the class students will get to try their hand at "throwing" on the wheel creating bowls and other items.

Come jam with us!  Learn the art of live music performance.  Learn a new instrument or strengthen your ability in one you already play!  The School of Rock is so much fun. 

In this elective we will explore the world of alternative sports.  Including pickleball, disc golf, slacklining, ultimate frisbee, table tennis, soccer golf, ball golf, hiking and more.  If you would like to learn a new sport or play on one you already enjoy, this elective is for you!

In this elective, we will explore the world of “tablescaping,” learning the fundamentals of decorating a table for events! We will brainstorm and put together vision boards to bring our creative ideas to the table. This class will take field trips to Michaels, The Dollar Tree & Thrift Stores to acquire all items needed for our party table decorations. This class will design party tables for our upcoming Holiday Brunch & School Dance!

Slam dunk your way into fundamentals. Our basketball 101 class is perfect for those looking to refresh their skills. Learn the essentials of dribbling, shooting, passing and defense in a supportive and engaging environment.

To explore the rich and diverse world of tacos in the Santa Barbara area, "The Magic of the Taco" takes you on a culinary adventure, allowing you to savor and dissect the flavors, techniques, and cultural nuances behind this beloved dish. You'll have the unique opportunity to make fresh tortillas, taste a variety of tacos from local eateries, master the art of crafting the tacos from scratch, and critically analyze the distinctions between the different taquerias. The taquerias we are planning to visit are the following: Flor de Maiz, Los Arroyos, Santo Mezcal, and Mony’s.  The cost for the taco field trips are $30 each, making a total of $120.

We will start with a square to learn the knit and purl stitches. Once you master these two basic stitches, you will knit a ribbed scarf. Mid-term, we will visit The Knit Shop, the new knitting store in Santa Barbara. You will have the opportunity to buy yarn for a project of your choosing.

We will study and explore a different category of wellness each of the three meeting days: motivation, movement, and maximization — by watching videos and podcast clips, getting outside, exploring research, discussions and debates, as well as preparing and planning our current needs, priorities, goals, and aspirations. 

Motivation: How can we explore new perspectives, glean new knowledge, and try new experiences in order to keep ourselves motivated? 

Movement: Why, and how often, do we need physical movement? What kinds of movement do we need? How do nutrition and movement overlap?

Maximization? How can we best maximize each minute/hour/day/week? How can we put ourselves into situations and environments that help us maximize our potential, our goals, and our overall well-being?

This elective is designed to introduce middle school students to the art and science of photography. Students will explore various techniques, styles, and the history of photography while developing their creative expression and critical thinking skills.

Looking for a fun outlet to contribute your thoughts on local food, parks, art, or music? Join SB Culture Blog and compose thoughtful pieces on what you love through first-hand experiences, such as dining at restaurants, hiking through gardens, exploring museums, and more. Part of SB culture is the amazing selection of nonprofits in town, so we’ll be choosing one to volunteer with as well. This elective will help you learn techniques for how to express your passions clearly, creatively, and effectively.

This is a great elective for anyone who loves working with young children. At the beginning of each week, you will meet with Mrs. Kustura to learn more about teaching and working with our littlest students. For the majority of class, you will spend time helping in one lower school classroom. At the end of the term, you will plan and lead an activity for the little ones to do. A field trip to get supplies (and maybe a treat along the way) will help prepare for this final activity. 

Training for the future - the FUN comes first!  This high energy physical course is designed to help students road map their way through the journey to their future careers. It involves short term and long term goal setting, mentorship, motivational documentaries, and sports training fun. This course will help kids adapt to anything life brings their way!

The chess elective is for all ability levels. Students completely new to chess and aspiring grandmasters alike are invited to participate. We will continually develop new strategies and tactics to employ and test their success or failure with a critical eye. We will experiment with chess clocks to see the effect of limited thinking time on conducting an action plan. We will apply logic to each move on the board to exploit an advantage. Learning to apply a critical eye to the chessboard will prime your brain to tackle logic problems of all types around the globe.

We will learn about the visual language of graphic novels. Here are the basic terms: composition, layout, panels, gutters, splashes, bleeds, and close-ups. 

We will read and study 2-3 graphic novels, and then you will write your own using the most amazing tool called ProCreate.

In Podcasts with Penton, students will listen to and discuss various podcasts currently available - both from the past and present, and simultaneously, students will learn about the relatively brief, though incredibly dense, history of podcasts. Next, students will begin to brainstorm, plan, and choose their own style and topic for their own podcast that will be recorded, edited, and presented by the end of the term. Once podcast planning begins, students will be able to work individually or in pairs, but the class as a whole is designed to be collaborative, and will learn and practice conversational skills, interview techniques, and narrative-building as a group.

Logo Design, 3D Printing, Sound Engineering, Circuitry, Virtual Reality Design and more! Other possible projects could include learning to use the Cricut machines, stop motion claymation, and game building with Bloxels! Come experience all the “DEC” that the CDEC has to offer this term!

The Set Design Elective will design all scenery and props for upcoming plays and musicals.

1. Visit local bakeries
2. Shop for ingredients needed for our baking projects
3. Make your own pizza dough day
4. Themed cake-decorating relay race
5. Riviera Ridge’s FIRST CUPCAKE WARS!

Since as far back in time as the late Pleistocene Epoch, with evidence of Santa Rosa Island occupation by humans dating back some 13,000 years (NOAA.gov), humans have gathered food resources from our local waters and islands.  Students in the fishing elective will carry on this local tradition, learning lessons of the history, art, and science of fishing; the importance of sustainable harvest; and the great respect for local ecology that comes from learning how, when, where, and why to fish.  Students will tie knots, sling lures, drop baits, and, with a little fishermens' luck, feel the tug at the end of the line.  These young anglers will fish the pier, the nearshore waters, and even head out on a chartered fishing boat to catch rockfish.  This year will also include some teaching from local fishermen, purveyors, and cooks about the whole process from sea to table.  Fish on! 

Join us and learn beyond the classroom and into the great outdoors! In this elective, you will explore a few local hiking trails, immersing yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds us. You will learn about the type of trails in our area, including its terrain, local fauna, and unique flora. Whether it’s a peaceful walk to the rouse garden  or an invigorating hike through the mountains, every adventure is designed to deepen your connection with nature.

Enjoy musical theater performance and vocal training with your favorite musical number!

Plan and execute a bold design for I Madonnari. Learn basic skills in chalk, learn how to grid, plan, and execute a new mural at school and work the I Madonnari event in May.