6th Grade

Language Arts

• Reading
• Comprehension Strategies (Predicting, Questioning, Connections, etc.)
• Elements of Literature (Plot, Conflict, Theme, etc.)
• Genre (Poetry, Novels, Short stories, Non-fiction, etc.)
• Vocabulary Development (Analogies, Synonyms, Word origins, etc.)

Writing

• Process Writing (Prewriting, Drafts, Revising, Editing, and Publishing)
• Narrative
• Response to Literature
• Summary
• Expository

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

• Grammar (Sentences, Parts of Speech, Phrases, etc.)
• Usage (Agreement, Compliments, Modifiers, etc.)
• Mechanics (Punctuation, Capitalization, Spelling, etc.)

• Geography
• Early Man
• Ancient Egypt
• Ancient Mesopotamia
• Ancient China
• Ancient Greece
• Ancient Rome
• Islam
• Middle Ages/Renaissance
• Ancient America
• World Religion

Math

• Numeration
• Basic Operations with Whole Numbers and Integers
• Fractions/Decimals/Percent/Ratio
• Basic Geometry Principles
• Measurement (both Metric and Customary Units)
• Graphs/Tables/Charts
• Patterns/Functions/Algebraic Concepts and Reasoning
• Probability and Statistics
• Extend each concept to real world application

Science

• Unit One: Ecology, Interaction of Living Things, Biomes, Environmental Issues-Truth or Fiction?
• Unit Two: Earth Science, Rocks and Fossils, Plate Tectonics, Climate and Weather
• Unit Three: Space, Formation of Solar System, Planets, Our Universe Beyond, Exploring Space 
• Unit Four:  Energy, Energy and energy resources, Heat, Electromagnetism, The Energy of Waves,
  Nature of Sound, Nature of Light

7th Grade

Language Arts

Seventh Language Arts students will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, compression, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and appreciation of print and nonprint text. In addition they will develop the structural and creative skill of the writing process necessary to produce written language that can be read, presented to and interpreted by various audiences.

Social Studies

Students will take an in-depth look while studying, improving upon, and mastering the following Geographical concepts:

• Map and Globe Skills
• Water Systems and Landforms
• Weather, Climate, (Global Warming)/Physical Processes
• Economic Systems and Resources/World Trade
• Population and Movement
• Culture
• History
• Government
• World Religions
• The Great State of Tennessee

All Students will achieve a deep and personal sense of the importance of the aforementioned concepts so they will be prepared to face the challenges of an increasingly globalized world.

Each Unit of Study is geared toward a student-centered focus. Moreover, each student will take part in project-based learning, learning that appeals to several learning styles such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic, and an environment which encourages learning done cooperatively.

Math

• Identify, read, write, order and compare, and round whole numbers and decimals to the millionths place
• Calculate squares, perfect square roots and use scientific and expanded notation
• Demonstrate and apply understanding of all operations with whole numbers and/or integers using appropriate properties by solving computational and problem solving problems
• Demonstrate an understanding of and apply knowledge of ratios, proportions, and percents in a wide variety of situations
• Solve computational and real-life problems involving conversions, estimation, and measurement using metric and customary units
• Be able to identify, classify and bisect geometric figures
• Will apply their knowledge of geometric properties to solve computational an real-life problems
• Will be able to read, interpret information from and construct various types of graphs, tables and charts
• Will make inferences, draw conclusions and solve multi-step word problems related to display data
• Will solve one and two-step equations and graph a function table
• Will make predictions based on experimental and theoretical probabilities

Science

The majority of the curriculum will cover Life Science concepts such as cell structure and function, human anatomy, plant and animal structure and function, comparative anatomy, and genetics.  Science inquiry methods and scientific tools will also be implemented.  Within the areas of Physical Science, chemistry will be covered.  Earth and Space Science concepts will include the Earth’s weather.  The state and county standards are followed to implement the required curriculum.  These can be located on the following web site:  http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/cistandards2001/sci/ciscig68stand.htm. 

8th Grade

Coming Next Year

Multimedia

Students in the multimedia course at Sunset have a unique opportunity unlike any other current middle school in Williamson County.  In this twelve-week course, students survey different facets of multimedia including the history of radio and television, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, word processing, Microsoft Office Software (Word, Paint, PowerPoint, and Publisher) Digital Video Camera Operation, Brochure and Publication Design, writing for broadcast, the elements of news and Video production.

Advance students learn how to use the commercial digital video editing software, Final Cut Pro, on Mac computers to produce, film and edit their own packages.  It is our hope to have broadcast-quality student work to be shown on local channels as well as add a daily live news show on-campus in the near future.

Students enjoy exploring their own creativity, while learning hands-on and developing individual and group projects.  Skills attained in this course can also be transferred to future professional settings. 

Band

7th and 8th grade Scales and Rudiments

1st 9 weeks

• 1st half - Bb concert, long roll, 9 stroke roll
• 2nd half - Eb concert, 5 and 17 stroke rolls

2nd 9 weeks

• 1st half - F concert,7 and 13 stroke rolls
• 2nd half - Ab concert, paradiddle, double paradiddle

3rd 9 weeks

• 1st half - C concert, flamacue, flam tap
• 2nd half - Db concert, flam accent, flam paradiddle

4th 9 weeks

• 1st half  - G concert, drag, drag tap
• 2nd half - D concert, parade cadence, ratamacue
   

8th grade

1. There will be two testing periods each 9 weeks over items in Foundations for Superior Performance Book or Accent on Achievement Book 3 including:

1. Major and/or minor scales 2 octaves
2. Chromatic scales
3. Arpeggios and Inversions, Scale in Thirds, or other technical excercises.
4.  Percussion does a. and c. on bells plus assigned rudiments played open-closed-open.

2. Work on a chorale in each key.
3. Long tones, Lip slurs, and technical exercises in each key.
4. New concepts, rhythms, notes and tunes covered in both books.
5. Sheet music for performances and practice in sight reading.

7th grade

1. Same schedule as 8th grade for testing of scales, arpeggios, rudiments and other technical excercises from the Band Expressions Book 2 and Foundations for Superior Performance.
2. Scales will be played 2 octaves where applicable.
3. Work on a chorale in each key.
4. Long tones, Lip slurs, and technical exercises in each key from FSP.
5. New concepts, rhythms, notes and tunes covered in both books.
6. Sheet music for performances and practice in sight reading.

6th grade

1. A 2-4 week period of Pre-Band instruction will begin the year for these classes. 

   Phase 1: letter names of notes in treble and bass clefs, note/rest identification, note/rest values, rhythmic counting, time signatures, musical terms

   Phase 2:  beginning tone production which includes proper breathing techniques, proper embouchure (mouthpieces only), long tones with rhythmic tapping

   Phase 3:  instrument assembly and care

   Phase 4:  begin method book instruction
    

2. Band Expressions is the method book used to teach correct fingerings and subsequent terms, concepts, notes and rhythms.

3. Testing schedule on scales will begin 2nd 9 weeks 2nd half and will continue throughout the rest of the year on:
1. Bb concert                   single paradiddle and flam
2. Eb concert                    flam tap and flam paradiddle
3. F concert                      9 stroke roll
4. Ab concert                   5 stroke roll
5. Chromatic                    17 stroke roll and long roll
    
4. Tests will be taken from the scale sheets handed out which will cover the scales, arpeggios and scales in thirds.
    
5. Work on a chorale in each key.
    
6. Sheet music for performances and practice in sightreading.

Spanish     

The purpose of the sixth and seventh grade enrichment course is to introduce students to the Spanish language and its many cultures. The United States is the fourth largest Spanish speaking country in the world.  The sixth grade will have 18 weeks of Spanish.  The seventh grade will have an entire year of Spanish.  Both 6th and 7th grade will meet every third day.   The primary focus of the sixth grade curriculum: ABCs, numbers, days of the week, colors, fruits, numbers, telling time, Spanish speaking countries, animals, and basic present tense verbs.   The primary focus of the Seventh grade: a review of 6th grade curriculum, family names, occupations, months, clothes, body parts, Spanish holidays, a more in depth look into Hispanic culture, present and past verbs, numbers to 1000, tener expressions, ser & estar, Spanish house, Spanish market, and Spanish city.

Art

Art exposes students to various media and allows individual expression with hands-on projects.  These projects are linked with curriculum requirements at each grade level.  Some of the topics explored are art history, artists from different art periods, art and artists from different ancient cultures.  Some of the media used are water-soluble oil pastels, pen and ink, clay, watercolor, acrylic painting, pencil and colored pencil, wire, and found objects used to create drawings, paintings, sculptures or objects for everyday use.

Seventh Language Arts students will develop the reading and listening skills necessary for word recognition, compression, interpretation, analysis, evaluation and appreciation of print and nonprint text. In addition they will develop the structural and creative skill of the writing process necessary to produce written language that can be read, presented to and interpreted by various audiences.
 

Physical Education Beliefs

To provide a physical education program that develops the knowledge, skills and values needed for lifetime physical fitness.

To supply a developmentally appropriate and sequential program that enables all students with the ability to comprehend the value of good health and physical activities effect for a lifetime.

To increase student participation in physical activity.