Course Directory
Our challenging standards-based curriculum emphasizes the development of essential skills, the understanding of important concepts, and the ability to apply learning to real-world problems.
Our curriculum includes courses of study for all students in English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, music, visual arts, physical education, and health. In addition, students take grade-specific trimester courses in technology, research, and study skills which are designed to support their integrated learning experience.
Grade 6
Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum at ASMS is a comprehensive and thought-provoking program that teaches students about their world: past, present, and preparation for the future. The courses are aligned to the learning standards established by the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS).
In all of the middle school courses, students learn to research, analyze, explore, and connect with social, political, economic, cultural, and historical texts and media. They use critical thinking to determine the value and validity of historical evidence, and they learn to present their work in written, digital, and creative formats. Students also learn to illustrate the connections and interactions of people and events across time from a variety of perspectives.
____________________________________________________________________
Social Studies 6
The Ancient to Early Modern World
Sixth-grade social studies provides a broad foundation of skills and content that students will build upon throughout middle school. Centered on the notion that the past influences the present, students explore the tensions between the rights of the individual and the developing role of government in the following periods: The Ancient World (Mesopotamia and Egypt), Classical Era (Greece and Rome; India and China), The Dark Ages (Medieval Europe), and the Renaissance. The significance of key documents, including the Code of Hammurabi and the Magna Carta, is explored. Similarly, by studying selections of art and literature from these periods, students gain a greater understanding of the interconnection between society and culture. Finally, by learning about the geography of each region, students also discover how location and environment have influenced history.
In this active, hands-on learning environment, students work both independently and collaboratively. Research, organizational, and analytical skills are developed through the completion of daily and long-term assignments, with students gaining a solid understanding of chronology, cause and effect, continuity and change, and data evaluation. Communication skills are honed through written assignments and presentations. At the end of sixth grade, students are equipped to explore the modern world and to better understand the experiment that is America.