2023-24 - 6th Grade Required Courses

6th Grade Required Courses

Of note regarding course options:

Advanced (formerly Pre-AP) courses in the four core areas for students entering 6^th grade will cover grade level curriculum with greater depth and complexity. These courses will NOT be accelerated and will allow for more flexibility in course selection and student scheduling. Gifted and Talented students will have the option to choose GT sections of advanced English and/or social studies courses in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. GT students may also choose to take accelerated math and science courses. Click here for GT requirements.

Students are required to complete one course in Fine Arts during the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade year. It is highly encouraged to complete the Fine Arts course in the 6th grade year.

English Language Arts Selections

English Language Arts

Course No. LA6

Semesters: 2

Students in 6^th grade language arts participate in a course of study which includes advanced oral and written language development. Critical reading skills are developed through a wide variety of diverse materials including classic and contemporary literature and informational texts. Students are expected to analyze information from multiple sources to form relationships among ideas. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

English Language Arts Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement English Language Arts)

Course No. LA6Q

English Language Arts / STEM Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement English Language Arts /STEM) (GMS only)

Course No. LA6SQ

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district’s Pre-AP and gifted and talented language arts students. Note taking, oral presentations, advanced study of word origins, critical reading and writing skills and multiple opportunities for research are major instructional targets. Readings include a study of classic literature, mythology, and fantasy. Students are expected to analyze information from multiple sources to form relationships among ideas. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Students must possess advanced language abilities and have a sincere interest in the areas of reading and language arts.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

Students identified as in need of gifted/talented services have the option to choose GT sections of advanced English and/or social studies courses in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. GT students may also choose to take accelerated math and science courses.

GT English Language Advanced

Course No. LA6GQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for GT placement

This course is designed to prepare identified gifted/talented students for success in Advanced and AP (Advanced Placement) courses and to meet their cognitive and affective needs. This version of the ELAR course provides advanced learning opportunities for students to engage in research, problem solving, critical thinking, and creative expression. Students will enhance their skills in note taking, oral presentations, and critical reading and writing. Students will also build their vocabulary by studying word origins and increase their proficiency in utilizing conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Students will engage with ELAR standards with increased depth and complexity and analyze content from multiple sources for interdisciplinary connections. Students should have a sincere interest in the areas of reading and language arts in order to thrive and be happy in this course. Students enrolled in this course may be required to produce sophisticated products and/or performances.

ASPIRE English Language Arts Advanced (CTMS only)

Course No. LA6AQ

Semesters: 2

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed specifically to serve ASPIRE students in order to provide a learning environment commensurate with the academic and affective needs of highly gifted students. This course utilizes the standards from both language arts and gifted education to meet the needs of gifted learners. It provides an opportunity for identified gifted/talented students to see the relationship between reading, writing, and history. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. This course requires a high level of reading, comprehension, and writing skills.

Social Studies Selections

World Cultures

Course No. SS6

Semesters: 2

This course is a study of people and places of the contemporary world and their historical development. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced and students will describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Institutions common to all societies of government, economics, education, and religion are compared. Respect for cultural diversities of the world is highlighted as a citizenship skill. Map and globe skills, chart and graph skills, reading, writing, and problem solving skills are integrated throughout the course.

World Cultures Advanced (formerly known as Pre-AP World Cultures)

Course No. SS6Q

World Cultures / STEM Advanced (formerly known as Pre-AP World Cultures / STEM) (GMS only)

Course No. SS6SQ

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level and will explore grade-level standards to a greater degree of depth and complexity. Students will study the people and places of the contemporary world and their historical development. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced and students will describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Institutions common to all societies such as government, economics, education, and religion are compared. Respect for cultural diversities of the world is highlighted as a citizenship skill. Map and globe skills, chart and graph skills, reading, writing, and problem solving skills are integrated throughout the course.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

GT World Cultures Advanced (GT Qualification Required)

Course No. SS6GQ

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for GT placement

This course is designed to prepare identified gifted/talented students for success in advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and to meet their cognitive and affective needs. This version of the world cultures course provides advanced learning opportunities for students to engage in research, problem solving, critical thinking, and creative expression. Students will study the people and places of the contemporary world and their historical development. The concepts of limited and unlimited government are introduced and students will describe the nature of citizenship in various societies. Institutions common to all societies, such as government, economics, education, and religion are compared. Respect for cultural diversities of the world is highlighted as a citizenship skill. Map and globe skills, chart and graph skills, reading, writing, and problem solving skills are integrated throughout the course. Students will engage with world cultures standards with increased depth and complexity and analyze content from multiple sources for interdisciplinary connections. Students should have a sincere interest in social studies in order to thrive and be happy in this course. Students enrolled in this course may be required to produce sophisticated products and/or performances.

ASPIRE World Cultures Advanced (ASPIRE Qualification Required) (CTMS only)

Course No. SS6AQ

Semesters: 2

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed specifically to serve ASPIRE students in order to provide a learning environment commensurate with the academic and affective needs of highly gifted students. This course utilizes standards from social studies and gifted education to meet the needs of gifted learners. It provides an opportunity for identified gifted/talented students to see the relationship between reading, writing, and history. Included in the course will be the study of art, music, literature, architecture, geography, culture, government, and folklore of the cultures of the contemporary world. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively by maintaining focus and coherence, developing ideas fully, expressing their unique voice or perspective, and increasing proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. This course also provides opportunities for extended learning, possible field trips to local historical sites, and hands-on experiences. This course requires a high level of reading, comprehension, and writing skills.

Mathematics Selections

Math

Course No. MA6

Semesters: 2

Focal points in mathematics at grade 6 are using operations with integers and positive rational numbers to solve problems, understanding and applying ratios and rates and using equivalent ratios to represent proportional relationships, using expressions and equations to represent relationships in a variety of contexts, understanding data representation, and financial literacy. Use of mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding are emphasized. Students are expected to use these processes together with technology and other mathematical tools to develop conceptual understandings and solve problems.

Math Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Math)

Course No. MA6Q

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to provide students with opportunity for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. Sixth grade TEKS will be taught with an introduction to Advanced (formelry Pre-AP) strategies incorporated throughout the course. Students will engage in learning of sixth grade curriculum with increased depth and complexity. Critical thinking and creative problem solving skills are incorporated throughout this course.

Accelerated Math

Course No. MA6ACQ

Accelerated Math / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. MA6SQ

Accelerated Math / ASPIRE (CTMS)

Course No. MA6AQ

Semesters: 2

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE placement

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-AP)/AP courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district’s accelerated or gifted and talented mathematics students. All of sixth and part of seventh grade TEKS objectives are compacted to prepare the student for Accelerated Math in seventh grade. Critical thinking and creative problem solving skills are incorporated throughout this course. Students must possess advanced facility with numbers and have a sincere interest in mathematic

Science Selections

Science

Course No. SC6

Semesters: 2

Grade 6 science is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and constancy, patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale. As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments.

Science Advanced (formerly known as Pre-Advanced Placement Science)

Course No. SC6Q

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to provide students with an opportunity for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. This science course is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale.

As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments. The Curriculum will be taught with an introduction to advanced strategies incorporated throughout the course. Students will engage in learning activities with increased depth and complexity.

Accelerated Science

Course No. SC6ACQ

Accelerated Science /STEM (GMS only)

Course No. SC6SQ

Accelerated Science /ASPIRE (CTMS)

Course No. SC6AQ

Semesters: 2

Prerequisite: Meet qualifications for ASPIRE, GT or accelerated placement in Science.

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced (formerly Pre-Advanced Placement) and Advanced Placement courses at the school level and meet the needs of the district’s advanced and gifted/talented students. This science course is interdisciplinary in nature. Enduring understandings in Science transcend disciplinary boundaries and include change and constancy, patterns, cycles, systems, models, and scale. As students engage in inquiry-based scientific investigations and reasoning they will learn science in the following conceptual strands: Matter and Energy; Force, Motion and Energy; Earth and Space Science; and Organisms and Environments. Students will receive compacted instruction including standards from sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Students will engage in learning activities with increased depth and complexity.

Physical Education Selections

Physical Education/Health

Course No. PAPE6

The emphasis in the sixth grade PE program is on understanding, measuring, monitoring, and improving the relationship of physical activity and health as a lifetime skill. Students acquire physical skills through instruction, demonstration, practice, and assessment. These various skills will be used in drills and/or lead-up games for a variety of individual and team sports. Through the use of technology, students will learn to measure their own performance more accurately and develop plans for improvement. Students are required to suit out in proper uniform.

In health education an emphasis is placed on acquiring knowledge and skills regarding healthy behaviors, understanding puberty and the reproductive process. Abstinence-based programs such as Choosing the Best, Aim for Success, and Life Skills Training are major components in providing this health information. Play It Safe, a TEKS-based program, addresses a variety of contemporary topics such as sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and other pertinent issues in an age-appropriate manner. Parent previews will precede presentation of all materials related to human sexuality.

Pre-Athletic Physical Education/Health

Course No. PAPAB6 - Boys

Course No. PAPAG6 - Girls

Semesters: 2

Sixth grade physical education designed to relate terminology, skills, movements, and techniques of team sports relative to current team sports offered in the district.