Course Catalog
Welcome to the St. Louis Park Middle School digital course catalog!
This guide is designed to assist students and parents in making thoughtful course selections and navigating the registration process successfully.
Getting Started:
- Find Your Registration Materials: Locate your grade-level sample daily schedule and registration worksheet just below these instructions. Either print or download it to plan your courses for the upcoming year.
- Explore Courses: Navigate to your grade (Grade 6, Grade 7, or Grade 8) and search by department for specific courses.
- Learn More: Click on "read more" within the catalog to view full course details, including instructional staff and requirements.
For a comprehensive understanding of middle school, consider exploring all three grade levels for a “big-picture” view of the coursework.
Registration Information:
- Current Fifth Graders: Students enrolled in St. Louis Park Schools will receive a Google form in their school email account with instructions on registering for sixth-grade classes. A middle school counselor will also visit fifth-grade classrooms to provide information.
- Current Sixth and Seventh Graders: Students enrolled in St. Louis Park Schools will receive instructions at school to register directly through their PowerSchool account.
- New Students: Students not currently attending St. Louis Park Schools must enroll through the District Enrollment Center.
Important Notes:
- Classes are scheduled based on student registration.
- Requests for changes after the registration deadline are discouraged and will only be accommodated on a space-available basis.
-
If you have specific questions or special requests, please email MSregistration@slpschools.org. Special requests are due by June 1, 2025.
Grade 6
- Music/Performing Arts
This band consists of students who have previous experience playing a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. In this course, a variety of musical literature will be studied and students will have multiple performance experiences throughout the year.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This multi-grade class is for students who have never played a musical instrument before and would like to learn how to play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This class is for students who would like to sing and continue to develop vocal skills. No previous experience is necessary. Choir is an upbeat course where students work together as a team to develop their singing skills.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Meets Music Requirement
- Design/Keystone
Through the lens of visual art, students will explore design problems. Design, and the development of new technologies, has led to many changes in society: transforming how we access and process information; how we adapt to our environment; how we communicate with others; how we are able to solve problems; how we work and live
- Grade 6
- Required
- Language and Literature
Digital stories are multimedia productions that can combine photographs, video, animation, sound, music, text, and a narrative voice. Inquiry and thinking are key IB learner profile attributes that will be reinforced through this course.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Language Acquisition
St. Louis Park Middle School values our community of diverse learners. The goal of the Multilingual/English Language Learners Program is to develop students’ academic English language proficiency so they can access the content and fully participate in their grade level classes. Service and support decisions are made based on the individual student’s strengths and needs.
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Language Acquisition
This class continues the development of Spanish language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Grade 6
- Visual Arts
This course encompasses broad visual art experiences. It is designed to build knowledge of art and art history to create an awareness of visual arts within the world.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Language Acquisition
This course is an introduction for beginning language students. The course starts from the beginning with French, using a variety of techniques to learn a fun language that is spoken around the world.
- Grade 6
- Meets Language Requirement
- Language Acquisition
Herzlich Willkommen! This class starts students’ language acquisition with the foundations of German language and culture. At this level students will learn basic phrases, sentence structures, and vocabulary to help communicate in German.
- Grade 6
- Meets Language Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
In Global Classrooms, students will study various topics around country development, government, and globalization.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
Guitar Class provides students an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of guitar performance; reading traditional notation, understanding the musical concepts of melody, harmony, rhythm and form.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Meets Music Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
In this yearlong course, students will study the history of Minnesota from early history to Minnesota in the modern world.
- Grade 6
- Required
- Language and Literature
This course encourages students to appreciate and analyze a wide range of texts. In this new integrated course, challenges will be offered throughout the units. Students will be able to choose differentiated options for ways of showing learning throughout the year.
- Grade 6
- Required
- Language Acquisition
Este curso está diseñado para los estudiantes hispanohablantes que hablan bien español y que quieran mejorar sus habilidades en lectura y escritura.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Science
MN Outdoors is a class that combines Minnesota natural history, ecology, and environmental sciences through projects, activities and outdoor experiences. This will be a very active, hands-on class!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
Within the academic year, students will explore music, theater, and dance as well as the visual arts by participating in the production of a pre-written musical. The musical will be learned, rehearsed, and staged during class and result in public performances during the first semester of the year.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
In this course, a variety of orchestral literature will be studied and students will have multiple performance experiences throughout the year. The fundamentals of instrumental musicianship will be reviewed and emphasized throughout the course.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
String methods is a multi-grade orchestra class which is open to students grades 6, 7, and 8 with no previous experience required.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Physical Education and Health
Welcome to PE class! Students will be involved in activities that work on locomotor skills and community building. The major areas covered are large group indoor/outdoor games, pickleball, game creation, and physical fitness.
- Grade 6
- Required
- Mathematics
Students enrolled in this rigorous course will experience a complex instructional approach to learning mathematics. With this approach, students will work in groups to ask questions, explain ideas, justify their work, and consider multiple perspectives.
- Grade 6
- Required
- Physical Education and Health
Students will achieve extra opportunities for daily movement with this high-energy class. Multiple lifetime and recreational activities will be offered.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Science
Science 6 is a yearlong earth science course with emphasis on earth and space systems, climate science, environmental awareness, and the engineering design process.
- Grade 6
- Required
- Language Acquisition
Bienvenidos! Spanish 6 is an introductory course in the Spanish language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.
- Grade 6
- Meets Language Requirement
The study class is intended to meet the needs of students who see a quiet environment in which to individually complete assignments. Students are expected to arrive in class with work to complete, a book to read, or some other appropriate individual activity to do.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Mathematics
Become an expert on what goes on behind the curtain for theater productions. Students will learn about set, sound, lighting, lighting design, publicity, stage management, costumes, and how math is a vital piece to all of it!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
The primary focus of this course will be using the writing process to produce quality pieces of writing in a variety of genres with an emphasis on structure and supporting details. Greek and Latin roots will also be taught. This is a required course for non-ESP students. It may be taken as an elective for ESP students.
- Grade 6
Grade 7
- Music/Performing Arts
This band consists of students who have previous experience playing a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. In this course, a variety of music literature will be studied and all students will have multiple performance experiences each year.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This multi-grade class is for students who have never played a musical instrument before and would like to learn how to play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Visual Arts
This course provides students the opportunity to explore 3D design through the creation of clay and mixed media sculptures with a focus on aesthetics and art history.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This choir class experience will build on skills developed in 6th grade choir, and all students are welcome to join regardless of previous experience.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Physical Education and Health
Do you love PE class? Do you wish for more games and activities with people who really want to play? Then this class is for you. Competitive sports activities will promote high levels of exertion and stamina.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Physical Education and Health
This class is for the student that wants to take their athletic experience to the next level. Activities are designed to improve physical performance on National Fitness Standards and the components of fitness to give a competitive advantage to athletes.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
In this class, students will learn the stops to the creative writing process. Throughout the term, students will get a chance to produce many creative writing pieces including: short stories, fan fiction, slam poetry, historical fiction, and more. We will workshop and revise our writing as we read popular authors’ opinions on the craft.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Design/Keystone
Designing requires an individual to be imaginative and creative while having substantial knowledge. Designers must adopt an approach that allows them to think creatively while conforming to the requirements of a design specification.
- Grade 7
- Required
- Visual Arts
Digital media arts courses allow students to learn the fundamentals of photography, graphic design, and computer illustration in a fun and supportive environment.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Language Acquisition
St. Louis Park Middle School values our community of diverse learners. The goal of the Multilingual/English Language Learners Program is to develop students’ academic English language proficiency so they can access the content and fully participate in their grade level classes. Service and support decisions are made based on the individual student’s strengths and needs.
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Language Acquisition
This is a continuation of the Park Spanish Immersion (PSI) Extended Spanish Program (ESP). These classes are taught exclusively in Spanish and are for students who are enrolled in the ESP program.
- Grade 7
- Language and Literature
Film Studies is a course that explores all aspects of cinema. Students will view many full-length films and film clips throughout the year and discuss why and how those films were created, as well as the techniques used to achieve certain effects.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language Acquisition
Students will continue with their French language development by expanding on their ability to communicate with others.
- Grade 7
- Meets Language Requirement
- Language Acquisition
Students will continue to develop language skills by exploring how to talk about daily lives.
- Grade 7
- Meets Language Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
In Global Classrooms, students will study various topics around country development, government, and globalization.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
Guitar Class provides students an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of guitar performance; reading traditional notation, understanding the musical concepts of melody, harmony, rhythm and form.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
Students will use a variety of maps to look at the world, as well as try their hand at map making. Studying geography can enhance your navigation skills, no matter where you are.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Individuals and Societies
In this yearlong course, students will study the history of Minnesota from early history to Minnesota in the modern world.
- Grade 7
- Required
- Science
Introduction to Zoology is an alternate day course designed to introduce students to a variety of basic concepts. This course will focus on topics such as animal behavior, animal classification, comparative anatomy, basic dissection, and the zoological world in general.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
This course focuses on reading and writing skills through in-depth, critical analysis of a variety of texts and creation based on audience imperatives. In this new integrated course, challenges will be offered unit to unit, and possibly even assignment to assignment.
- Grade 7
- Required
- Language Acquisition
Este curso está diseñado para los estudiantes hispanohablantes que hablan bien español y que quieran mejorar sus habilidades en lectura y escritura.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Science
MN Outdoors is a class that combines Minnesota natural history, ecology, and environmental sciences through projects, activities and outdoor experiences. This will be a very active, hands-on class!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
Within the academic year, students will explore music, theater, and dance as well as the visual arts by participating in the production of a pre-written musical. The musical will be learned, rehearsed, and staged during class and result in public performances during the first semester of the year.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
In Orchestra 7, students will have the opportunity to improve technique while emphasizing basics. Using a variety of musical literature, the fundamentals of instrumental musicianship will be reviewed and emphasized throughout the course.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Music/Performing Arts
String methods is a multi-grade orchestra class which is open to students grades 6, 7, and 8 with no previous experience required.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Visual Arts
Explore the world of painting and illustration through the elements and principles of design. Students will explore a variety of subject matter and examine various cultures and artists.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Physical Education and Health
This class provides opportunities for social and physical development through the lens of “good sportspersonship.
- Grade 7
- Required
- Mathematics
Students enrolled in this rigorous course will experience a complex instructional approach to learning mathematics. With this approach, students will work in groups to ask questions, explain ideas, justify their work, and consider multiple perspectives
- Grade 7
- Required
- Science
Science 7 is a yearlong life science course with an emphasis on the structure of living things and the connections they have with their surrounding environment.
- Grade 7
- Required
- Language Acquisition
¡Aprende mas! Language acquisition continues as students use the language in meaningful and authentic ways.
- Grade 7
- Meets Language Requirement
The study class is intended to meet the needs of students who see a quiet environment in which to individually complete assignments. Students are expected to arrive in class with work to complete, a book to read, or some other appropriate individual activity to do.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Mathematics
Become an expert on what goes on behind the curtain for theater productions. Students will learn about set, sound, lighting, lighting design, publicity, stage management, costumes, and how math is a vital piece to all of it!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Individuals and Societies
This class will teach you all about adulting: choosing a career path, applying and interviewing for a job, managing a budget, filing your taxes, and trying your luck at investing in the stock market.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Visual Arts
In this class, students will have the unique opportunity to capture the memories and spirit of our school community through the creation of the school yearbook. Students will have hands-on experience in photography, interviewing, storytelling, graphic design, and teamwork. If you have a passion for creativity and want to be part of preserving our school’s history, this class is for you!
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
Grade 8
- Mathematics
Students enrolled in this research based, rigorous course will work collaboratively to solve problems that cannot be solved by using simple algorithms and are often embedded in real-world contexts.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Music/Performing Arts
This band consists of students who have previous experience playing a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument. Students will get a chance to sharpen their instrumental skills through challenging music and performances.
- Elective
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This multi-grade class is for students who have never played a musical instrument before and would like to learn how to play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Visual Arts
This course provides students the opportunity to explore 3D design through the creation of clay and mixed media sculptures with a focus on aesthetics and art history.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This choir class experience will build on skills developed in 7th grade choir, and all students are welcome to join regardless of previous experience. Students will get a chance to sharpen their vocal skills through challenging music and performances.
- Elective
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Physical Education and Health
Do you love PE class? Do you wish for more games and activities with people who really want to play? Then this class is for you. Competitive sports activities will promote high levels of exertion and stamina.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Physical Education and Health
This class is for the student that wants to take their athletic experience to the next level. Activities are designed to improve physical performance on National Fitness Standards and the components of fitness to give a competitive advantage to athletes.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
In this class, students will learn the stops to the creative writing process. Throughout the term, students will get a chance to produce many creative writing pieces including: short stories, fan fiction, slam poetry, historical fiction, and more. We will workshop and revise our writing as we read popular authors’ opinions on the craft.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Design/Keystone
Students are agents of change. We learn as a result of action. Students in this course will use critical thinking, inquiry, analysis, and communication to engage in deep conversations about race, culture, and identity in society.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Visual Arts
Digital media arts courses allow students to learn the fundamentals of photography, graphic design, and computer illustration in a fun and supportive environment.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Language Acquisition
St. Louis Park Middle School values our community of diverse learners. The goal of the Multilingual/English Language Learners Program is to develop students’ academic English language proficiency so they can access the content and fully participate in their grade level classes. Service and support decisions are made based on the individual student’s strengths and needs.
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Language Acquisition
This is a continuation of the Park Spanish Immersion (PSI) Extended Spanish Program (ESP). These classes are taught exclusively in Spanish and are for students who are enrolled in the ESP program.
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
Film Studies is a course that explores all aspects of cinema. Students will view many full-length films and film clips throughout the year and discuss why and how those films were created, as well as the techniques used to achieve certain effects.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language Acquisition
Students will build upon the materials they learn in French 7 to move from scripted conversations into conversations they create on their own.
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Mathematics
Students who wish to take this course must be approved by their math teacher.
Students enrolled in this rigorous course will experience a complex instructional approach to learning mathematics. With this approach, students will work in groups to ask questions, explain ideas, justify their work, and consider multiple perspectives.
- Grade 8
- Language Acquisition
Students will build language skills based on what they have learned in the previous grades, demonstrating proficiency and ownership of the language.
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
In Global Classrooms, students will study various topics around country development, government, and globalization.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
This class provides students an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of guitar performance; reading traditional notation, understanding the musical concepts of melody, harmony, rhythm, and form.
- Elective
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Individuals and Societies
Students will use a variety of maps to look at the world, as well as try their hand at map making. Studying geography can enhance your navigation skills, no matter where you are.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Individuals and Societies
Global Studies is the main focus of our 8th grade social studies curriculum. Students in Global Studies explore various regions of the world using geographic information from print and electronic sources.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Science
Introduction to Zoology is an alternate day course designed to introduce students to a variety of basic concepts. This course will focus on topics such as animal behavior, animal classification, comparative anatomy, basic dissection, and the zoological world in general.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Language and Literature
The main focus of this comprehensive course is making meaning from a wide variety of texts and consideration of multiple perspectives presented in informational text, short stories, poetry, drama, class novels, and independent reading. In this new integrated course, challenges will be offered unit to unit, and possibly even assignment to assignment.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Language Acquisition
Este curso está diseñado para los estudiantes hispanohablantes que hablan bien español y que quieran mejorar sus habilidades en lectura y escritura.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
- Science
MN Outdoors is a class that combines Minnesota natural history, ecology, and environmental sciences through projects, activities and outdoor experiences. This will be a very active, hands-on class!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Music/Performing Arts
Within the academic year, students will explore music, theater, and dance as well as the visual arts by participating in the production of a pre-written musical. The musical will be learned, rehearsed, and staged during class and result in public performances during the first semester of the year.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Music Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
This is an intermediate orchestra focused on developing students into advanced instrumentalists. This orchestra will continue to build on fundamental skills students learned their first few years of playing through the use of exercises not limited to scales, arpeggios, intervals, as well as through ear training.
- Elective
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Music/Performing Arts
String methods is a multi-grade orchestra class which is open to students grades 6, 7, and 8 with no previous experience required.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Music Requirement
- Visual Arts
Explore the world of painting and illustration through the elements and principles of design. Students will explore a variety of subject matter and examine various cultures and artists.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement
- Physical Education and Health
Students will work with classmates to develop a sense of “team” in this class. They will accomplish this through the activities of ultimate frisbee, volleyball, softball, outdoor recreation games as well as personal strength and conditioning training.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Science
Science 8 is a yearlong physical science course with an emphasis on energy, matter & its interactions, motion & stability, and waves & their applications.
- Grade 8
- Required
- Language Acquisition
Students will identify messages, facts, opinions, feelings, and ideas presented in oral, visual, and written language and demonstrate their comprehension in short oral and written form.
- Grade 8
- Meets Language Requirement
The study class is intended to meet the needs of students who see a quiet environment in which to individually complete assignments. Students are expected to arrive in class with work to complete, a book to read, or some other appropriate individual activity to do.
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Mathematics
Become an expert on what goes on behind the curtain for theater productions. Students will learn about set, sound, lighting, lighting design, publicity, stage management, costumes, and how math is a vital piece to all of it!
- Elective
- Grade 6
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Individuals and Societies
This class will teach you all about adulting: choosing a career path, applying and interviewing for a job, managing a budget, filing your taxes, and trying your luck at investing in the stock market.
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Visual Arts
In this class, students will have the unique opportunity to capture the memories and spirit of our school community through the creation of the school yearbook. Students will have hands-on experience in photography, interviewing, storytelling, graphic design, and teamwork. If you have a passion for creativity and want to be part of preserving our school’s history, this class is for you!
- Elective
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Meets Arts Requirement
- Meets Visual Arts Requirement