While basic skills are the most important part of each student's education, Whitman strives to provide a range of electives to enrich your student's academic experience and reach the many different ways he/she can be successful.

Electives at the middle school level are intended to be an introductory experience in the offered field.

Sixth graders not participating in a music class are assigned to Unified Arts; a rotation of art, health and basic computer training.

In the spring, sixth and seventh grade students are allowed to request up to 4 electives for the following school year. Students may choose a combination of full year and/or semester long electives. Every attempt is made to accommodate each student's request, but sometimes it is simply not possible to give everyone all the electives he or she requests due to scheduling conflicts. Basic skills classes are given priority over elective classes.

Besides music and world language electives which are full year classes, the following semester long electives are available.

Art: This class will introduce students to techniques and elements of design.

Technology I: Technology is instruction for life long learning, decision making and learning how to be a part of an increasing technological world. Class involves the application of physical laws, mathematical skills, experiences with materials and technological systems that challenge students problem solving skills. Technology class offers: building construction, architecture, photography, lasers, magnetic, levitation, computer drafting and communications on the Internet.

TV Production I: This course teaches students TV script writing, acting, directing and video photography. These skills are used in the productions. Students also learn to use their critical thinking skills while viewing TV through the NATAS Creating Critical Viewers curriculum.

TV Production II: Prerequisite-TV Production I. This course allows students to apply the skills learned in Video Production I to the production of a weekly TV show which is broadcast to the entire school. Students may take this course as many semesters as they like upon recommendation of the instructor.

Wood: This exploratory course in wood shop involves the use of simple tool operations and construction of suitable beginning projects. Students learn names, uses and care of hand tools, kinds of woods, materials and their use in project construction, finishing methods and project planning from simple working drawings.

World Languages Introduction: As part of the 6th grade exploratory program, students may be assigned to a semester of World Languages. In these classes students explore two of Japanese, French, or Spanish languages and cultures.

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