6th Grade Course Descriptions
GRADE 6 ELECTIVES
ART 6
GRADE 6
This exploratory course incorporates creative problem solving and the use of various art materials. Students will be introduced to the Elements of Art, The Principles of Design, basic drawing techniques, and other art forms.
KEYBOARDING
GRADE 6
This course is designed to introduce middle school students to the basics of computers, keyboarding skills, and potential careers. Students will develop and enhance touch skills for entering information using a keyboard to compose and produce personal, educational, and professional documents. This course is required for all sixth grade students.
INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY
GRADE 6
Students study technological resources through problem-solving processes and various hands-on activities. They relate the impact of technology on society, environment, and culture to future consequences and decisions.
COMPUTER SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS
GRADE 6
Computer Science Foundations is an introductory course that takes a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as problem solving, programming, physical computing, user-centered design, and data, while inspiring students as they build their own websites, apps, games, and physical computing devices.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE EXPLORATORY
GRADE 6
This course is designed to introduce students to as many cultures as possible. Students will be taught the importance of respect and tolerance for all cultures. Students will become aware of important documents necessary to travel abroad, such as passports. In addition, students will study the process of immigration and naturalization on becoming a citizen of a foreign country.
HEALTH/PHYSICAL EDUCATION 6
GRADE 6
Topics in the six-grade health program include body systems, physical, emotional and social growth, health care, consumer choices, nutrition, physical fitness, disease prevention, drugs, bullying prevention, safety, and environmental issues. Students participate in activities that promote fitness and cardiorespiratory endurance. Students learn and practice skills in basketball, volleyball, and many other activities. This course is required for all sixth grade students.
BEGINNING BAND
GRADE 6
This course emphasizes the fundamentals of music as well as instruction in playing an instrument. The student will begin learning the basic terms of music and the techniques associated with playing an instrument. By the end of the year, the student will be able to play their instrument at a beginner level and have an understanding of the fundamentals of music, playing technique, and music terminology. Concert performances are required.
INTRODUCTION TO AGRISCIENCE
GRADE 6
Through project-based learning, technical skill development, and academic enrichment activities, students in Introduction to Agriscience will explore the importance of plant and animal agriculture, scientific principles, agricultural mechanics, natural resources management, career opportunities related to agriculture, agriscience, and agribusiness, and the benefits of FFA membership.
CAREER INVESTIGATIONS I
GRADE 6
This course allows students to explore career options and begin investigating career opportunities. Students assess their roles in society, identify their roles as workers, analyze their personal assets, complete a basic exploration of career clusters, select career pathways or occupations for further study, and begin developing an Academic and Career Plan (ACP) based on their academic and career interests. This course also helps students identify and demonstrate the workplace skills that employers desire in their future employees. This course is required for all sixth grade students.
MUSIC 6
GRADE 6
This exploratory course is to enable students to obtain musical knowledge and skills by participating in music through singing, playing instruments, performing rhythms, moving to music, and composing/improvising. Students explore music theory by reading and writing music notation and become familiar with important musical styles and representative works of music from different periods of music history.
CHORUS 6
GRADE 6
This course completes Level 1 of the vocal curriculum by teaching the mechanics of music notation and music reading and fosters skills that help students become better singers and appreciate the relationships among music, other arts, and society. Performances are mandatory and are a part of the overall grade in this class.
DRAMA 6
GRADE 6
Sixth, seventh and eighth grade Drama provides students with opportunities to explore movement on stage, create original scenes, and interpret scripted material. While there will be major projects to assess each of the aforementioned areas, students will also engage in storytelling, theatre games, improv to develop both their skills and confidence along the way.
READING
GRADES 6-8
This course is designed to provide opportunities for students to build knowledge and understanding through the reading and in-depth study of popular, high-interest, thematic novels. Students learn new strategies to build vocabulary and increase comprehension. Students will be placed in this course based on teacher recommendation and SOL scores.
SKILLS ENHANCEMENT
GRADES 6- 8
This course is designed to provide additional support for students in the areas of reading decoding and comprehension and math computations and problem-solving. Students will be placed in this course based on teacher recommendation and SOL scores