Sixth Grade Exploratory Classes
Each course is offered for a marking period, with the exception of Band and PE.
Academic Lab (teacher recommendation required)
Academic Lab offers a smaller group setting designed for students with a desire to work toward personal academic success. The class is staffed by both a teacher and an academic aide who assist students with classwork, organization, and studying for tests. The purpose of ac lab is two-fold: to provide not only academic support, but also remediation in math and/or reading. Ac Lab is a privilege; therefore students who enroll must be on-task, willing to accept help, and committed to completing work at home as well as during the ac lab hour.
Art
Art class offers a choice-based art curriculum where students develop their own project ideas, work at an individual pace, are guided by their personal strengths and interests, and learn from the other artists creating around them. This approach encourages responsibility and nurtures collaboration of technique as students create, write about, share, and discuss art.
Band (year-long course)
This first year of band is an introduction to the fundamentals of reading music, playing instruments, and performing. By May, sixth graders are ready to perform in the spring concert!
Computers
Sixth grade computer class is a combination of practicing keyboarding skills and learning Microsoft programs such and Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher, as well as Google G suite programs while utilizing online resources and websites to help students discover how technology can assist with life-long learning. Throughout the marking period, students practice typing skills and work on various projects.
Full Value Seminar
This class is a combination of Adventure Education, which involves initiatives and activities focused on character and team-building, as well as curriculum focused on helping students develop foundational skills to better navigate the transition from childhood to adolescence.
Industrial Arts
This hands-on class meets in the shop room, where students learn the basics of working with various tools to process materials and create projects.
Life Skills
In this class, students learn the fundamentals of both cooking and sewing. The marking period is divided between first studying nutrition, learning new recipes, and practicing cooking technique, and then learning about sewing and creating individual projects.
Music
Music students take part in various units within which they sing, play instruments, compose, sight read, and analyze music. No matter the skill level, music class uses fun and experimentation to guide students toward becoming stronger musicians.
Physical Education (semester course)
Sixth grade PE covers football, volleyball, and a variety of recreational games—kickball, dodge ball, gator ball, and scooter ball, to name a few! Students explore the fundamentals, skills, strategies, and rules of these sports. There is “regular season play” followed by “tournament play,” which is tailored to each unit—a series of Bowl games and tournaments. Students are assessed for each unit on a combination of physical skills and written tests. The rec games focus on developing both fine and gross motor skills, strategy, and territory, while revolving around having FUN!
