Common Core English 6*
Students in this course are required to analyze, identify, define, explain and critique various texts. In the response to literature unit, students are introduced to various multicultural literary genres. Besides being taught as a separate unit, vocabulary is also integrated with literature. This course also focuses on the writing process and students will write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts such as folk tales, myths, essays, letters and reports. Aligned to Common Core and California State Standards.
Ancient Civilizations & Geography*
Students begin with a study of geography and its affects on the development of civilization and culture. Their adventure into the past starts with an archaeological study of early humankind since the Paleolithic era and continues through the major ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece and Rome. Students analyze and interpret the literature, art, music architecture and religion of the various culture studies. Special emphasis is given to thinking like a historian, research and writing.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Aligned to the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), this course studies various aspects of the changing Earth, including geology, geological history, fossil evidence, rocks and minerals, the Earth’s crust, erosion, plate tectonics, continental drift, earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building, use of natural resources, ecology, weather, climate and the atmosphere. Students research how various parts of the world have suffered from natural disasters and how a global effort is made when disasters occur. Students evaluate global environmental issues and research and write position papers on conservation of our world’s energy and natural resources.
Common Core Math 6
Aligned to the Common Core and California State Standards, this class focuses on accurately computing and solving problems using the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and positive and negative integers. Students demonstrate their understanding of mean, median, and mode of data sets and how to calculate the range through various projects. Using real world situations, students learn to work with ratios and proportions, and compute percentages such as tax, tips and interest. Students are also introduced to the concept of pi and the formulas for the circumference of a circle, the area of a circle and other geometric shapes.
*Honors level classes are available in these courses to Magnet students who qualify. Students are tested in math before entering sixth grade. The school considers elementary grades and test scores in making placements in honors classes.
Electives
Film 1 & 2
The Film class is a two-year program that takes students through the history of the movies from its earliest days to contemporary cinema while facilitating students in the production of their own films. Students learn the basics of Story, Scriptwriting, Pre-production, Production and Post-Production. Students develop stories, pitch their projects and take on roles in the production process. As students progress, the second year will take their filmmaking from the basics to more complex stories and productions.
Music
Winds and Percussion – 6th Grade Winds and Percussion is a one-year course designed to teach students to play a wind or drum-like instrument from the very beginning, no experience necessary. Students learn how to read, write, and perform music having their talent and growth showcased twice a year in the Winter and Spring concerts in preparation for entrance to more specialized music performance ensembles.
Strings – 6th Grade Strings is a one-year course designed to teach students to play instruments from the very beginning such as violin, viola, cello, and double bass—no experience necessary. Students learn how to read, write, and perform music having their talent and growth showcased twice a year in the Winter, and Spring concerts in preparation for entrance to more specialized music performance ensembles such as Mariachi Águilas or Spotlight Strings.
Engineering
Design & Modeling– 6thGrade
Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.
Automation & Robotics– 6thGrade
Students learn about the history and impact of automation and robotics as they explore mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Using the VEX Robotics® platform, students apply what they know to design and program traffic lights, robotic arms, and more.
World of Dance
This class is an introduction to the "World of Dance" and it's many cultural influences. It gives students a global perspective on different styles of dance. Students learn how people in different cultures experience dance and the importance and function of dance in their lives. The focus will be on Ballroom and Folk Dancing. Students will have opportunities to choreograph and create their own dance pieces and perform for parents.
