Course Offerings

• Social Studies/World History: Your student is about to embark on an adventure spanning the history of ancient civilizations that include: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance.
• Language Arts/Literature: Language Arts focuses on structured writing, beginning with the formation of outlines, five paragraph essays, and research papers. Literature includes developing reading strategies and reading a variety of genres, such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
• Science: Get ready to study about the earth and beyond in 6 th grade Earth science! This course focuses on rocks, minerals, weather, and astronomy.
• Math: There is a strong emphasis on the basics of algebra, geometry, and data/probability analysis. Other areas to be explored will be fractions, ratios, decimals, and percentages.
• Accelerated Math: Students will follow the CCSS for 6 th grade and incorporate some of the 7 th grade math standards.
• Physical Education 6: Get pumped up for activities such as basketball, archery, table tennis, volleyball, and kickball!
• Information Technology 6: Areas of study are keyboarding, software exploration, literacy, employ-ability skills, career exploration, and technical research. The student learns to format a school report, compose business letters, letters of application, and resumes and uses the Internet to do research.

Electives

Your student can either choose from the following yearlong electives: Band or Orchestra or Choir

Or your student will participate in an Elective Wheel receiving the following quarter electives throughout the year:

• Exp. Art 70906 : Exploratory Arts and Crafts consists of a nine-week introduction to basic art media and development of initial skills. The focus will be on the development of the student's own abilities for artistic expression. The exploration of a variety of media will expose the student to options for self-expression and encourage the pursuit of art study as a valuable component of one's education. This is a quarter course.
• Exp. Problem Solving 506r1: The class will explore various problem-solving strategies providing the students with alternative ways to look at problems. Activities will provide opportunity for students to develop skills in critical thinking, decision-making, abstract and spatial reasoning and logic using real-life problems. This is a quarter course.
• Exp Facs 82600: The FACS - Exploratory course is designed to allow students to experience hands-on activities in several areas: food, careers and textiles. The student explores self-image, relationships, nutrition, basic cooking techniques, basic sewing skills, team building, and communication skills. This is a quarter course.
• Exp. Music 72600: Students will be introduced to the basic rudiments of music and music performance. This will be accomplished through a variety of activities that will include instrumental techniques (recorders, instruments, percussion, ukulele, keyboards), singing, and movement. Some aspects of music history will be covered through introduction of various composers and orchestral pieces. Listening skills activities are also included. Music theory and form may be explored through compositional activities. This is a quarter course.

• Language Arts/Literature: Students will learn to communicate effectively through speaking and writing using the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). They will use the reading process to understand how to react to and interpret information. Students will develop an understanding of people, societies and the self and apply these strategies and skills to better comprehend information that is read, heard and viewed. Classes focus on written and spoken expression in many forms including structure and grammar. Projects, speeches, tests and assignments will be planned to strengthen and enrich their understanding of the English Language.
• Math: Students will follow the New Mexico Common Core State Standards. They will learn about algorithms, pre-algebra formulas and geometry relationships. They will be able to use relationships between polygons and develop formulas. Students will work with geometric concepts and measurement applications.
• Accelerated Math: Students will follow the CCSS for 7 th grade and incorporate some of the 8 th grade math standards. This class is designed to prepare students for 8th grade Algebra.
• Science: Students will learn how scientific knowledge is created and communicated and how resources and physical factors limit/support living systems. They will learn processes of scientific investigation using mathematical ideas, tools and techniques.
• Social Studies: Students will learn how to identify important people and events in order to analyze significant patterns, relationships, themes, ideas and beliefs. They will begin to understand how physical, natural and cultural processes influence a culture.

• Language Arts/Literature: The Eighth Grade Language Arts/Literature program focuses on written and spoken expression in many forms as well as the structure and grammar to write well. Projects, speeches, tests and assignments will be planned to strengthen and enrich their understanding of the English Language. The units contained within this curriculum are comprised of traditional and contemporary literary genres (novel, short story, drama, poetry, and nonfiction). Each unit contains correlating vocabulary, literary devices, grammar skills, and recommended compositions aligned to the New Mexico State Public Education Department’s Content Standards and Benchmarks.
• Math: Students continue learning about Algebraic concepts. They are expected to be able to solve multi-step equations and work fluently with linear equations. Students will also continue to build their knowledge of geometric concepts with transformations, surface area and volume. Students can expect nightly homework.
• Algebra: The student develops an understanding of the basic structure and language of Algebra a tool used to represent and solve a variety of real-world situations. The student uses tables, models and graphs to interpret algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities to analyze functions. In addition, the student uses calculators, computers, and graphing utilities in problem solving. Other areas of study are global processes, geometry, and data analysis and probability. Literacy strategies are integrated throughout the curriculum.
• Science: Students will be covering the basics of Physical Science. This includes the study of matter and energy and the changes they undergo. Topics include elements and the periodic table, forces, sound, light, magnetism and electricity. Students will focus on the scientific method and process skills.
• Social Studies: Students will study the effects of trade and how that led to early exploration and the founding of America. We continue with the study of the settlement of America through the American Revolution up to the Reconstruction Era.

You can either choose from the following yearlong electives:

• Intermediate Band
• Advanced Band
• Intermediate Orchestra
• Advanced Orchestra
• Choir
• Drama

Or you can choose from the following semester electives (students will be given 2 electives-one each semester):

• Art I: The skills identified in art can be learned through a variety of media and methods. In this way the production of art will lead to the building of a basis for life-long enjoyment and participation in art.
• Art II: Art II is a continuation of the competencies listed in Art I. Art making, history, and appreciation remain the focus of Art II. Skills are learned through a variety of drawing, sculpture, painting, and craft experiences. Color is explored thoroughly.
• Problem Solving I: The class will explore various problem-solving strategies providing the students with alternative ways to look at problems. Activities will provide opportunity for students to develop skills in critical thinking, decision-making, abstract and spatial reasoning and logic using real-life problems.
• Problem Solving II: The class will explore various problem-solving strategies providing the students with alternative ways to look at problems. Activities will provide opportunity for students to develop skills in critical thinking, decision-making, abstract and spatial reasoning and logic using real-life problems. The student participates in a variety of inquiry-based projects and is given the opportunity to discover, create, solve problems, and construct by using a variety of resources, materials, and processes. This course uniquely combines application of content in science and mathematics with integration of literacy strategies and techniques throughout the curriculum. Prerequisite Problem Solving I
• Info Tech-Business Computer Applications: Areas of study include basic operations (e.g., keyboarding) and concepts, social, ethical, and human issues, technology productivity tools, technology communication tools, technology research tools, technology problem-solving and decision-making tools, and career exploration. Information Technology is a one-semester course. The student learns a variety of computer applications (e.g. word processing, Internet research, databases, spread sheets), expanding his/her knowledge of and ability in these applications. Multimedia is introduced.
• Info Tech-Coding: Provides the background knowledge and skills to construct computer programs in one or more languages. Computer coding and program structure are introduced. Initially, students learn to structure, create, document, and debug computer programs. Emphasis is placed on design, skills to relevant applications such as modeling, data management, graphics, and text processing.
• Webscripting/Graphic Design: Course emphasizes skill development that will enable students to author, edit, evaluate and publish web pages. The basics of planning and creating Web Pages, using a variety of editors such as WordPress, selecting and adding images, choosing background colors, creating active internal and external links, adding lists and testing pages created are also covered. Basic introduction to HTML can be covered.
• TV/Video Production (8th Only)-Students will learn the elements of video and tv production and produce the daily KYOT news /school announcements (8th grade only and must have 7th Grade Info Tech teacher recommendation)
• Foods
• Student Leadership/WEB
• Student aide- (8th grade only. Requires 3.5 QTR 3 GPA)