6th Grade Course Catalog

Students enroll in the Exploratory Wheel or a music class. Students who sign up for a music class will opt out of the Exploratory Wheel for the entire school year.

To learn more about an elective offering, click on the class name listed below.

6th Grade Exploratory Wheel

6th Grade Exploratory Wheel

All students in the 6th grade exploratory wheel will take one elective course per quarter during the school year. The courses listed below may be part of the wheel. Courses are subject to change each year.

Art 6
This 6th grade exploratory wheel art class is designed for students to sample Art 7/8 and Digital Art, both of which can be taken in 7th grade or 8th grade. Students will develop their creativity and artistic skills with engaging art and digital art projects. Students will explore working with various mediums in art, and Adobe Illustrator software in Digital Art. At the end of this course, students will be filled with confidence and left with the urge to continue creating. Take a look at our photo album on our class website for a first hand look at student work that is created in Art 6.

Dance 6
The dance portion of the exploratory wheel provides a nurturing environment in which students can develop both artistic skills and technical proficiency in the areas of hip hop and jazz dance. Classes will consist of a warm-up, center floor work and traveling progressions, which are all designed to increase flexibility, strength and technique. Students will also learn a variety of choreographed routines, and be given the opportunity to create choreography. Their choreography will be featured in a unit that teaches students how to use dance for marketing purposes.

French Culture

This quarter-long course will invite 6th graders to make comparisons and connections between French culture throughout the world and American culture. We explore different aspects of art, music, traditions, festivities, food, and the geography of the 28 countries in the world with French as their official language. Students will learn to speak some basic expressions and terms in French. No previous knowledge of French needed. (This course is NOT a requirement for placement into French 1 in the 8th grade)

Skills for Adolescents

This class empowers students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in the community and digital world. It is devoted to improving the skills young people need during the often-challenging time of adolescence. Students learn how they will be changing emotionally, physically, intellectually, and socially. The class also focuses on respect for self, others, and community. We use aspects of the “Step It Up to Thrive” curriculum from the Thrive Foundation, a partner with Project Cornerstone, which includes lessons on finding your “spark,” pursuing goals, managing peer pressure, and growth vs. fixed mindsets. Students will also learn digital citizenship practices that empower them to make safe, smart, and ethical decisions online.

Spanish Language & Culture

This quarter-long course will invite students to make comparisons and connections between Spanish culture and American culture while exploring different aspects of food, music, traditions, festivities, and the geography of Spanish speaking countries. No previous knowledge of Spanish needed. (This course is NOT a requirement for placement into Spanish 1 in the 8th grade)

STEAM 101 Wheel

STEAM in the wheel is an introduction to the engineering design process in which students will use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) disciplines to come up with solutions to solve various problems in some or all of the following topics: Roller coaster design, cardboard pinball machines, 3D design and printing, electricity, mousetrap cars, and an introduction to handheld tools with an emphasis on safety, communication, and teamwork. This class will prepare you for STEAM 101, which is a full-year 7th/8th grade elective.

Music Electives

Beginning Band (6th-8th)

This class is for any student interested in learning to play a band instrument without previous experience on the instrument or with reading music. This class is appropriate for any student switching instruments or those new to band altogether. We will have several concerts and fun events planned.

Band instruments are: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, baritone, tuba, and percussion (percussionists will play both bells and snare drum). Piano and guitar are not options for band (but we encourage piano and guitar players to pick a band instrument and join). All percussion students must pass a note reading test or select a different band instrument.

Trojan Band (6th-8th)

This class is a continuation of the LGUSD 5th grade band program, and is open to any student (grades 6-8) that has completed a beginning level band program or lessons. Students should be comfortable reading and playing the first 6 notes on their band instrument. We will have several concerts and fun events in this class.

Band instruments are: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, baritone, tuba, and percussion (percussionists will play both bells and snare drum). Piano and guitar are not options for band (but we encourage piano and guitar players to pick a band instrument and join). All percussion students must pass a note reading test or select a different band instrument.

Concert Band

This is our intermediate level band class. To be in the Concert Band, students must either complete the Trojan Band Class OR audition into Concert Band. You may want to audition for this class if: you have been taking private lessons, you can easily read and play all your music in 5th grade, you can play 1-2 major scales and a chromatic scale on your instrument. Auditions for this class will be held in March and April. Please email Mrs. Ancheta at [email protected] to audition.

Band instruments are: flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, baritone, tuba, and percussion (percussionists will play both bells and snare drum). Piano and guitar are not options for band (but we encourage piano and guitar players to pick a band instrument and join). All percussion students must pass a note reading test or select a different band instrument.

Treble Choir (6th-8th)

Auditioned Choirs (6th-8th)

These classes are for students who have had prior experience singing in a choral ensemble, take private voice, or are active in community/school musical theatre productions. There are two auditioned choir classes: Cambiata and Bel Canto. Choir auditions are held in the spring and will determine placement in the appropriate class. The choirs will perform often at an advanced level. An enthusiastic attitude and a great work ethic are a must! Membership in these choirs is contingent upon auditions, previous experience in Fisher's Treble Choir, and/or teacher approval.

Beginning Strings (6th-8th)

This class is for any student interested in learning to play a string instrument for the first time with no previous experience on the instrument or with reading music. This class is also appropriate for a current 5th grade student switching instruments in 6th grade OR a current 5th grade string player that needs more work on the foundation of holding the instrument and/or note reading. We will have several concerts and fun events planned for this class.

String orchestra instruments are violin, viola, cello and string bass. Piano, guitar and ukulele students: we encourage you to pick an orchestra instrument and join!

Trojan Strings

Trojan Strings is a continuation of the LGUSD 5th grade string program, and is open to any student that has completed a beginning level string program or private lessons. Students should be comfortable with reading and playing the first 8 notes (D,E,F#,G,A,B,C#,D) on their instrument. Trojan Strings will have several concerts and fun events planned throughout the year.

String orchestra instruments are violin, viola, cello and string bass. Piano, guitar and ukulele students: we encourage you to pick an orchestra instrument and join!

Intermediate Strings

This Intermediate orchestra class is designed for students who have completed the Trojan Strings class and/or have taken private lessons for at least 1-2 years. Auditions for the Intermediate Strings will be held in the spring and students will participate in at least three performances per year. Please email Mrs. Krijnen at [email protected] if you would like to audition.

String orchestra instruments are violin, viola, cello and string bass. Piano, guitar and ukulele students: we encourage you to pick an orchestra instrument and join!

Advanced Orchestra (6th- 8th)

The Advanced Orchestra is designed for students who have completed the Intermediate Strings or have taken private lessons for at least 2-3 years. We will continue to build on the musical concepts introduced in Intermediate Strings, but with more complexity and intricacy. Auditions for Advanced Orchestra will be held in the spring and students will participate in at least three performances per year. Please email Mrs. Krijnen at [email protected] if you would like to audition.

String orchestra instruments are violin, viola, cello and string bass. Piano, guitar and ukulele students: we encourage you to pick an orchestra instrument and join!