This document provides information about Pathways, which are student-driven learning opportunities focused on passions. Pathways must adhere to five attributes: being passion-driven, academic, career-oriented, involving community engagement, and incorporating technology. They allow learning to feel more like life by connecting to students' interests. The document lists examples of pathways clustered by multiple intelligences and provides a brief description of each pathway option. The overall goal of Pathways is to create engaging, community-oriented learning rooted in student passion.

1. PATHWAYS
Catalog
Life is a journey, not a destination.
Where will you go today?

2. Education is not preparation for
life; education is life itself.
~John Dewey
The future is not some place we are going,
but one we are creating. The paths are not found,
but made, and the activity of making them
changes both the maker and the destination.
~John Schaar
051014
What are Pathways?
Student-Centered Standards-Based Future-Oriented
Pathways are opportunities for students to explore their passions in real and meaningful ways. Similar
to electives, Pathways occur during school and are academic. Unlike electives, however, Pathways are
driven by student interest, not the school schedule. In fact, in order to be classified as a Pathway, each
Pathway must adhere to five essential attributes:
PASSION
All Pathways must originate from student passion. In traditional models, students
select from pre-chosen electives which change little from year to year. Pathways,
on the other hand, are driven by students and are therefore naturally of high
interest and relevancy for them, which increases their motivation to learn.
ACADEMICS
Pathways are academic in nature. No matter the Pathway, learning can always be
aligned with Common Core State Standards, as well as state and local standards.
Students still must know how to read for information, learn new vocabulary,
understand content related to their pathway and work in groups, to name a few.
In Pathways, every teacher becomes a Learning Engineer, designing and
engineering engaging opportunies for student achievement.
CAREERS
All Pathways are career oriented. Even the term Pathway is used in Career and
Technical Education to illustrate a course of study in a field or discipline. 21st
Century Skills are also embedded to help students learn the skills necessary for
their future.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is key to any successful Pathway. As Pathways are driven
by student passion, it is important to connect students with mentors who share this
passion so they may guide the student in the learning process. These mentors may
be teachers or members of the community. Students must also exhibit their
Pathway experience and demonstrate their learning and achievements to others in
some fashion.
TECHNOLOGY
In order to best prepare our students to be successful in today’s society, technology
must be used as a key tool in student learning. Today’s students have never known
life without computers, the internet and portable devices, and these technologies
will become ever more integrated into our future lives. Therefore, teaching students
how to navigate and use these resources is critical to their future success.
These five attributes along with the Multiple Intelligences help us to maintain a strong Pathway
curriculum for all students. This ensures that Pathways are positive and engaging learning
experiences for all of our students.
The overall goal of Pathways is to create community-oriented learning environments from
opportunities rooted in student passion. Pathways allow learning opportunities to look less like
school, and more like life itself.
At Ilwaco Middle School,
we encourage the discovery and
relentless pursuit of
one’s passion.

3. Multiple Intelligences
Bodily-Kinesthetic (Body Smart)
Bodily-kinesthetic students are highly aware of the world through touch and movement. There is a
special harmony between their bodies and their minds. They can control their bodies with grace,
expertise, and athleticism These students learn better by movement and are generally good at
physical activities such as sports, dance, acting, and making things.
Intrapersonal (Self Smart)
People with a strong intrapersonal intelligence have a deep awareness of their feelings, ideas, and
goals. Students with this intelligence usually need time alone to process and create.
Interpersonal (People Smart)
Students strong in interpersonal intelligence have a natural ability to interact with, relate to, and
get along with others effectively. They are good leaders. They use their insights about others to
negotiate, persuade, and obtain information. They like to interact with others and usually have
lots of people around.
Logical-Mathematical (Math Smart)
Logical-mathematical students enjoy working with numbers. They can easily interpret data and
analyze abstract patterns. They have a well-developed ability to reason and are good at things like
chess and computer programming. They think in terms of cause and effect
Musical-Rhythmic (Music Smart)
Musical students think, feel, and process information primarily through sound. They have a superior
ability to perceive, compose, and/or perform music. Musically smart people constantly hear musical
notes in their head.
Naturalistic (Nature Smart)
This intelligence refers to a person’s natural interest in the environment. These people enjoy being in
nature and want to protect it from pollution. Students with strong naturalistic intelligence easily recog-nize
and categorize plants, animals, and rocks.
Verbal-Linguistic (Word Smart)
Verbal-linguistic students love words and use them as a primary way of thinking and solving problems.
They are good writers, speakers, or both. They use words to persuade, argue, entertain, and/or teach.
Visual-Spatial (Picture Smart)
Students strong in spatial intelligence think and process information in pictures and images. They have
excellent visual receptive skills and excellent fine motor skills. Students with this intelligence use their
eyes and hands to make artistic or creatively designed projects. For example, they can often build with
Legos, read maps, and put together 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles.
This visual model of Multiple Intelligences was created for use by Ocean Beach School District for the
development of Ilwaco Middle School Pathways.
Definitions above come from Scholastic.com, based upon the book Brain-Based Strategies to Reach Every
Learner, by J. Dianne Connell, © 2005, published by Scholastic.
PATHWAYS
Model for
Self-Discovery and Growth
Traits
Who am I?
Who do I want to be?
Know
Thyself
What can I do?
What do I want to learn to do?
Skills

4. Pathway Clusters by Multiple Intelligences
Bodily-Kinesthetic (Body Smart)
Intrapersonal (Self Smart)
Interpersonal (People Smart)
Logical-Mathematical (Math Smart)
• 4-H
• Aquaculture
• Archery
• Art: Drawing and Painting
• Canoeing and Boating
• Culinary Arts
• Dance
• Drama
• Gardening and Landscaping
• Green Team
• Longboarding and Board Sports
• Mechanical and Small Engine
Repair
• Mountain Biking and Bike
Repair
• Outdoor Survival
• Personal Fitness
• Team Sports
• Teen Cert
• 4-H
• Aquaculture
• Archery
• Art: Drawing and Painting
• Collecting
• Computers
• Creative Writing and Poetry
• Culinary Arts
• Entrepreneurship/Start a business
• Fashion Design
• Game Design / Chess
• Gardening and Landscaping
• Green Team
• Humane Society
• Jewelry Making
• MAKE: Inventor’s Workshop
• Marine Biology
• Mechanics/Small Engine Repair
• Mountain Biking / Bike Repair
• Movie Making
• Personal Fitness
• Print Shop and Graphic Design
• Psychology
• Robotics
• School Magazine, Yearbook
Photography
• Critics Corner
• Debate and Public Speaking
• Destination Imagination
• Drama
• Entrepreneurship / Start your
own business
• Movie Making
• Philanthropy
• Radio Broadcasting
• School Magazine, Yearbook and
Photography
• Social Committee and
Leadership
• Student Court
• Team Sports
• World Cultures
• Aquaculture
• Collecting
• Computers and Programming
• Debate and Public Speaking
• Destination Imagination
• Entrepeneurship / Start your
own business
• Game Design / Chess
• MAKE: Inventor’s Workshop
• Marine Biology
• Mechanical and Small Engine
Repair
• Pscyhology
• Robotics
• Social Committee and
Leadership
• Student Court
• Teen Cert

5. Pathway Clusters by Multiple Intelligences
Musical-Rhythmic (Music Smart)
Naturalistic (Nature Smart)
Verbal-Linguistic (Word Smart)
Visual-Spatial (Picture Smart)
• Dance
• Drama
• Radio Broadcasting
• World Cultures
• 4-H
• Aquaculture
• Canoeing/Boating
• Culinary Arts
• Gardening and Landscaping
• Green Team
• Humane Society
• Marine Biology
• Outdoor Survival
• Psychology
• Creative Writing and Poetry
• Critics Corner
• Debate and Public Speaking
• Destination Imagination
• Drama
• Movie Making
• Radio Broadcasting
• School Magazine, Yearbook and
Photography
• Student Court
• Art: Drawing and Painting
• Collecting
• Computers
• Culinary Arts
• Destination Imagination
• Fashion Design
• Green Team
• Jewelry Making
• MAKE: Inventor’s Workshop
• Mechanical and Small Engine
Repair
• Mountain Biking and Bike
• Repair
• Movie Making
• Print Shop and Graphic Design
• Quilting
• Robotics
• School Magazine, Yearbook and
Photography
• World Cultures

6. Alphabetical Listing
4-H
4-H is a fun program where you get to “Learn by
Doing.” All youth between the ages of 5 and 19
are invited to join! In 4-H you can go to camp,
start a business, ride in a bike rodeo, take part
in an international exchange, raise an animal,
create a blog, give a presentation, participate
in a community service project, develop your
resume, practice interview skills, learn about
healthy eating habits, build lifelong friendships.
Aquaculture
Do you like aquariums? Are you mesmerized by
the fish swimming effortlessly through the water
under the light of the tank? Did you feel bad for
the fish in the tank in Finding Nemo? (Yeah, me
too). In Aquaculture you will learn about various
kinds of fish suited for indoor aquariums, how to
care for them, where they came from and what
climates they are suited to. Join Aquaculture
and dive in.
Archery
Whether you identify with Robin Hood or
Katniss Everdeen, Archery Pathway might be for
you. Can you imagine yourself steadying your
aim and trying to hit a bulls-eye on a target 30
meters away? Do you think you’ve got what it
takes?
Art:
Drawing and Painting
Are you an artist? Would you like to be? Do you
like to draw or paint? Or take an idea from your
mind and put it on paper? Then consider being in
the Art Pathway and learn the use of line, shading,
color, and form, using charcoal, pen and ink, brush
and pencil. Join this Pathway and become the
next Monet, Manet, Michelangelo or Mondrian.
If you already know who any of these artists are,
then this Pathway just might be for you.
Canoeing/Boating
Do you like being outdoors? Do you like exploring?
Do you like water? Consider boating and canoeing
as a Pathway. You may enjoy feeling like an early
explorer, learning basic skills and techniques, or just
picking a quiet and peaceful spot on a lake and
going there. Students may even create their own
boat. I can think of many reasons to be in this
Pathway. Canoe think of any?
Collecting: Stamps, Coins,
Rocks, and more...
People all over the world collect all kinds of things
that are meaningful to them in some way. Some
of these things are valuable, and some are REALLY
valuable. People collect works of art, stamps, rocks,
coins, baseball cards, Pez dispensers and more.
Collecting involves a great deal of cataloguing and
research, and can be a great way to build a fortune,
or just a hobby. Is there something you like
collecting? If so, this Pathway is for you!

7. Dance
In dance pathway we will learn the history
behind dances while learning how to put our full
emotion into the story behind the
choreography. The culminating project for this
pathway will be a talent show highlighting the
dance troupe.
Alphabetical Listing
Computers & Programming
This pathway would teach you how to use vari-ous
programs like Word, PowerPoint, Prezi and
Excel. You would learn about various apps and
how to use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You
would also learn about programing and computer
etiquette. At the end of the class students would
create a sample of what they learned and give a
community presentation.
Culinary Arts
This pathway is designed for students who want
to learn how to cook and bake. This pathway
will teach students how to cook different foods
from different cultures. For example, one Friday
the students would learn about Italy and then
they would prepare a menu, a shopping list and
a plan to make a meal from a region of Italy and
report about the food and how it was prepared
and why they chose those foods.
Creative Writing
and Poetry
Do you have a way with words? Do you like to
read and write? Do you have a story, idea or
poem in your head that you are dying to tell? The
Creative Writing and Poetry Pathway will allow
you to write your own story, share it with others,
and provide feedback to other writers. If you
want, you can even have the Movie Making
Pathway turn your story into a short film. Perhaps
you will be the next great American writer!
Critics Corner
Students would learn the art of writing critiques.
Each week they would critique something
different. One week it might be a restaurant,
another week a movie and another week a book.
The students would publish their critiques in the
Chinook Observer.
Debate &
Public Speaking
In this pathway students would work on skills
needed for debate and public speaking. They
would compete against other schools. Students
would be required to give a speech at a public
forum such as Rotary, AAUW or Toastmasters. Su-dents
would organize a formal debate and invite
the community to attend.

8. Alphabetical Listing
Fashion Design
In fashion pathway the students would learn to
sew and design outfits by learning about color
combination, body types and fabrics. At the end
they could put on a fashion show for the school
and make clothes for people in need, or create
costumes for drama, movie making, or dance, or
sell them in the Entrepreneurship Pathway.
Gardening
and Landscaping
This pathway would involve students learning
about gardening by having a greenhouse where
they could grow vegetables and flowers. They
would learn about soil, seeds, root systems and
all things botanical. They would work with the
culinary pathway to help grow things for the
culinary students to use for their meals.
Destination Imagination
Imagination is the key. Destination tourna-ments
is the goal. Destination Imagination (DI)
involves teams of seven members who choose
one of seven different challenges to solve. They
would use technology, creativity, science, art,
engineering, and presentation skills to highlight
and present solutions at local, regional, and even
international tournaments.
Drama
This pathway would allow students to study
all aspects of the theater; producing, directing,
technical as well as acting. We will work with
local theater groups making use of the many
talented theatrical people in our community.
The end of semester would be the presentation
of the play students have chosen to produce.
Entrepreneurship:
Start your own business
Do you like the idea of being your own boss? Do you
think you have what it takes to make a million dollars?
Why not try out Entrepreneurship to learn how to
start your own business? This Pathway will teach you
the basics of starting your own business such as
identifying a product or service to sell, marketing
yourself, developing a plan and what to do when
you’re actually making money. This Pathway could
also develop a student store for Ilwaco Middle School.
Game Design and Chess
Are you a brilliant strategist? Does no one want
to play games with you because you always
win? Have you ever wanted to design your own
game? Then Game Design is for you. In this
Pathway you will learn the basic of game design
and the many different kinds of games available,
such as social, strategic, race games, economic,
military domination and more. Join this Pathway
and develop your own game.

9. Alphabetical Listing
Green Team
If ecology is your game, then this pathway is your way
to fame! This pathway will work on ways to turn Ilwaco
Middle School into a Green School. Recycling cans,
bottles, and glass will be part of this team. It will be
messy and sometimes funky, but you’ll be making a
positive contribution to the environment and help us
earn money for our school. You also might be involved
in collecting composting material and adding it to a
compost tumbler which the team will eventually either
use in the greenhouse or bag for sale to the community.
Humane Society
Is there a special place in your heart for animals? Do
you love being around animals and even helping
them? Would you have a million pets if your parents
would let you? The Humane Society Pathway aims to
stop animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons.
This pathway would raise awareness about programs
that educate people and help prevent animal cruelty
as well as organizing food drives for animals in need
(Sadly, animals go hungry too, and sometimes people
can’t afford pet food). This Pathway would also work
along with the local Humane Society.
Jewelry Making
Are you creative? Are you artistic? Would you
like working with a variety of tools to create
works of art that you can wear? Then you should
consider Jewelry Making as a Pathway. In this
Pathway students will work in beads, copper,
silver, leather and more to create amazing and
wearable works of art.
Longboarding and Board
Sports
The longboard pathway is a place where students
with longboards could meet and ride various hills
and trails. This class would teach balance, timing,
strength, pererverance, and many other mental
and physical skills. The students would be also be
attending meetings and planning to create a local
Skate Park.
MAKE: Inventor’s Workshop
and Reverse Engineering
Have you ever thought of being an inventor, or
a mad scientist with your own desert island or
underground lair? Do you love the idea of
building something new from scratch or
understanding how electronic components and
simple machines work together. If so, consider
joining Inventor’s Workshop and creating the
world’s next cool invention.
Marine Biology
As a peninsula, we are nearly surrounded by
water: the Pacific Ocean to the west, Willapa
Bay to the east, and the Columbia River to the
South. Have you ever wondered what worlds lie
just beneath the surface of these waters? What
organisms make these waters their home? How
do they live, and what are they like? In Marine
Biology you’ll learn about all of these organisms
and their significance in our region.

10. Alphabetical Listing
Mechanical and Small
Engine Repair
If tinkering is your thing, then mechanical repair
might be your choice. Working on and repairing
small engines and bicycles is the focus of this
Pathway. Learn how to repair or even build small
engines. Or maybe you will choose how to modify
or fix that old bicycle sitting around in you or your
neighbor’s garage. Whatever your mechanical
passion is, this is the chance to develop that passion.
Movie Making
Do you have a story in your head that you would love
to tell? Do you sometimes think of ways you could
tell a story in film, or how you would set up a movie
scene? Then consider the Movie Making Pathway!
Learn how to create a storyboard, plan out and direct
certain scenes, use editing software to edit and
produce your movie, learn to use different kinds of
cameras and lighting equipment to shoot high quality
film. You will also learn to use various film editing
software, as well as stop-motion animation and
claymation techniques.
Outdoor Survival
This pathway is an opportunity for students to
learn basic survival skills such as: fire building,
finding food in the wilderness, creating shelter,
finding water, navigating land with a map and
compass, trap setting and various other skills
essential to survival. At the end of the course
the students would go into the woods with their
instructor for two days while they demonstrate
their knowledge.
Personal Fitness
Some people like being healthy and exercising
without having to worry about involving a bunch
of other people. For example, it’s not always easy
to put a baseball or basketball team together at a
moment’s notice. But you don’t need a bunch of
people to be active, you can do it on your own. In
Personal Fitness students will learn how to stay
healthy by finding an exercise program that works
for you, eating right, tracking your progress and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general. Join
some like-minded people and get fit!
Philanthropy
Do you like helping people? Do you often think
about making the world a better place? The
Philanthropy Pathway is designed to help others
in need, from toy drives at Christmas to food
drives helping those in need, or any other way
you can think to help others. After all, the term
Philanthropy comes from the Greek term “Love
of People.” Maybe you can help save the world,
one piece at a time.
Mountain Biking, Cycling,
Bike Trek and Bike Repair
Mountain bike pathway would be a place for kids with
bikes to ride various local trails, such as Black Lake
and Discovery Trail. Students would learn strength,
balance and coordination. At the end of the club
the students would organize a fund raiser getting
pledges for how many miles they ride. The money
raised would be used for purchasing bicycles and
equipment. This Pathway would also learn the basics
of bike repair and refurbish bicycles for the class or
donate them to kids in need.

11. Alphabetical Listing
Radio/Broadcasting
Has anyone ever told you what a lovely voice you
have? Do you like speaking to people, playing music
for others, sharing recent new events or even telling
stories? If so you should consider Radio and Broad-casting.
This Pathway will teach students how to
communicate to others via internet radio, and skills
and techniques of radio announcing. Maybe you
would like to be a DJ, or a news anchor, or a sports
caster or a radio journalist. Join Radio and get a
station started right away.
Print Shop & Graphic Design
Do you love office supplies? Does ink run in your
veins? Do you like to create PowerPoints,
documents, or other classroom materials? If
so, you might like working in the Print Shop.
This shop will be responsible for copying items
submitted by teachers, creating PowerPoints to
be used in the classroom, and making letters,
brochures, pamphlets, and anything else
someone requests in a timely fashion.
Psychology
In this pathway participants will learn about
parts of the brain, how the brain controls your
body, how it effects your emotions and what is
normal for your brain. At the end each person
will select a person to do a brain study on and
create a poster, Power Point or video.
Quilting Extraordinaire
Have your own sewing machine? Always wanted
to make your own quilt to snuggle under while
sleeping or watching TV? Learn to quilt and
how to make beautiful textiles to jazz up your
bedroom, living room, walls, or car.
Robotics
In this pathway students would design and
create their robot for a robotics competition,
learning about the principles and foundations of
robotics and programming robots. They would
also work on organizing a robotics competition
on the Peninsula.
School Magazine,
Yearbook & Photography
Students would learn to write descriptive,
detailed pieces in a journalistic style. Much like a
good magazine, this pathway will create timeless
materials that will be published in a monthly
magazine. Photography will be an intregral
piece to this pathway.

12. Alphabetical Listing
Other...
Tell us what we missed.
Swimming? Minecraft? Fishing? Leatherwork?
Geology? Backpacking? Home Repair? Crafting?
Sculpture? Woodworking? Kite Flying? Urban
Survival? Computer Programming? Ocean
Sports?
Let us know!
Social Committee
and Leadership
This pathway would be responsible for organizing
monthly afterschool activities like dances, carnivals
and middle school YAK nights. If you served on this
pathway you would be expected to stay after school
to help plan and organize the activities.
Student Court
In this pathway, students will learn how to set
up a courtroom and then learn how the court
system actually works. They would visit actual
courtrooms and have lawyers come in and share
real life stories about court experiences.
Eventually we hope to allow students to have a
student court where they will hear actual cases
and make decisions involving school related
issues.
Team Sports
Sports pathway is where you can enhance your
skills in the off season. You can practice by
yourself or get coaching from a supervisor. This
could include using the weight room for
conditioning. At the end of the semester you
will have to write an essay on what you learned
or became better at or demonstrate it for the
instructor.
Teen Cert
Teen Cert is a national Homeland Security
initiative directed at making our schools and
communities safer by having educated/trained
youth capable of preparing and responding
to disasters and emergencies. Teen CERT is an
integral part of Citizen Corps, the grassroots
movement that actively involves everyone in
making our communities and our nation safer,
stronger and better prepared.
World Cultures
Do you often daydream about travelling to other parts
of the world? Would you like to learn another language?
Do you wonder what it might be like to live in exotic
places? The World Cultures Pathway is designed to help
you learn more about cultures and customs around the
world. What foods do they eat? What customs do
people share? What beliefs do people have from
around the globe? Find this out and more in this
Pathway. People from different countries may seem
very different but maybe we are more alike than you
may realize.

13. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
~ Mary Oliver
Pathways Project
Ilwaco Middle School
Ocean Beach School District
314 Brumbach Ave., Ilwaco, WA 98624 (360) 642-3731 www.ocean.k12.wa.us