2020-21 - 6th Grade Required Courses

6th Grade Required Courses

Of note regarding course options:

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 continue to be served through the Discoveries program (an integrated language arts and social studies class) as well as through Accelerated Math and Accelerated Science. These two accelerated courses cover content from multiple grade levels with compacted curricula. 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. M0609

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.

Pre-Advanced Placement English Language Arts

Course No. M0610

Pre-Advaced Placement English Language Arts / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. M0610S

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.

Essential English

Course No. 16441

Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

The focus is on oral and written language development. Students are expected to analyze information from diverse materials. Students are expected to communicate written ideas effectively and increase proficiency of conventions such as spelling, capitalization and punctuation. Sixth grade students are required to complete one English course and one Language Arts elective. ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

Gifted and Talented students will be served through the Discoveries program (an integrated language arts and social studies class) as well as through Accelerated Math and Accelerated Science. These two accelerated courses cover content from multiple grade levels with compacted curricula.

GT World Discoveries (GT Qualification Required)

ELA Course No. M0611

This course will be comprised of the objectives from language arts and social studies, as well as, gifted education practices 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. World Discoveries 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.

ASPIRE GT World Discoveries (ASPIRE GT Qualification Required)

ELA Course No. MA0611

Semesters: 2

ASPIRE Pre-AP English I 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 will be comprised of the objectives from language arts and social studies, as well as, gifted education practices 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. World Discoveries 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.

Social Studies Selections

World Cultures

Course No. M0642

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.

Pre-AP World Cultures

Course No. M0644

Pre-AP World Cultures / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. M0644S

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.

Essential World Cultures

Course No. 1642

Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

The course is a study of people and places of the contemporary world and institutions common to all societies of government, economics, education and Religion along with respect for cultural diversity. Map, globe, chart and graph skills are stressed throughout the course. ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

Gifted and Talented Offerings:

GT World Discoveries (GT Qualification Required)

History Course No. M0618

ASPIRE GT World Discoveries (ASPIRE GT Qualification Required)

History Course No. MA0618

Semesters: 2

Mathematics Selections

Math

Course No. M0622

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.

Pre-Advanced Placement Math

Course No. M0624

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to provide students with opportunity for entry into Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. Sixth grade TEKS will be taught with an introduction to 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. M0626

Accelerated Math / STEM (GMS only)

Course No. M0626S

Accelerated Math / ASPIRE (CTMS)

Course No. MA0626

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into 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 mathematics

Essential Math

Course No. 1622

Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

Science Selections

Science

Course No. M0632

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.

Pre-Advanced Placement Science

Course No. M0634

Semesters: 2

This course is designed to provide students with opportunity for entry into 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. Curriculum will be taught with an introduction to Pre-AP strategies incorporated throughout the course. Students will engage in learning activities with increased depth and complexity.

Accelerated Science

Course No. M0636

Accelerated Science /STEM (GMS only)

Course No. M0636S

Accelerated Science /ASPIRE (CTMS)

Course No. MA0636

Semesters: 2

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

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into 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.

Essential Science

Course No. 1632

Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

This course is a study of force and motion using pulleys and inclined planes, the solar system, earth systems, the chemical properties of matter, the characteristics of rocks and minerals and their formation, objects in space, characteristics of living things and how they are classified. ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

Physical Education Selections

Physical Education / Health

Course No. M0650

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.

Adapted Physical Education

Course No. M1650

Prerequisite: ARD/IEP Committee determination required.

This course provides student with basic health concepts, lifetime sports and recreation skills. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in leisure and lifetime activities based upon student need, interests, physical strength, vitality and endurance. ARD/IEP Committee determination required.