6th Grade Curriculum

The Middle School band puts on two major concerts per year and stages other smaller performances for the student body. A variety of styles, including jazz, classical, popular, and Broadway, are showcased. Students learn how to read music, assemble and produce a characteristic tone on their instrument, and develop finger technique, ensemble balance and dynamics. Band develops lifelong skills that increase brainpower and build discipline, and the course offers a team atmosphere in which students make beautiful music with their friends.

A yearlong course for students who seek to develop their vocal and musical skills. Students learn various types of literature, including but not limited to classical, pop, jazz and Broadway. The primary focus of each class is to learn to read music and then develop those skills in a more refined way. Students also learn to match pitch, develop healthy breathing techniques and improve tone quality. There are numerous opportunities for solos within the choral group, and students perform at concerts, assemblies and various school events throughout the year.

The beginning strings course is offered for students with no prior musical experience and provides opportunities to serve as first chair for those musicians with the strongest musical skills and technique. The strings course in grades six, seven, and eight encourages and develops lifelong skills such as discipline, teamwork and accountability in a fun environment. The Middle School strings ensemble performs on campus throughout the school year and travels in the spring.

Our Middle School STEAM elective incorporates all of the disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and applies them to the following five areas:

1. Robotics & Programming

2. Engineering & Making

3. Digital Expression

4. Design & Innovation

5. Cutting Edge

In the Robotics & Programming section of the course, students use both block and script programming to design and code robots for competitions. 

In Engineering & Making, students use modeling software and fabrication tools such as 3D printers and other CNC machines to create prototypes.

Digital Expression allows students to use digital tools such as graphic editing, animation and videography to express their ideas.

In the Design & Innovation portion of the class, students work through design cycles—from empathy and ideation to prototyping and testing—to address an identified problem or opportunity. 

Then, in Cutting Edge, students explore advancements in STEAM practices and careers.

Cutting across all of these sections, students in the STEAM track also pursue a Curiosity Project(s), an independently driven part of the course in which students explore an area of personal interest. Examples of past projects range from building a model Tesla valve to designing safer football helmets. 

Sixth-grade art meets for a quintile during the discovery rotation. Art Foundations are taught during this time which include the elements of art and principles of design, color theory, drawing, painting, sculpture, habits of an artist and critiques. Students will graduate with vocabulary to discuss art, a critical eye for creating their own art and a solid foundation of basic skills that will enhance future art classes.

All Middle School students take Technology Studio as a Discovery class. The course uses technology as a lens for developing STEAM competencies—skills and mindsets that require cross-disciplinary, open-ended, issue-based and student-directed learning. Students learn about sensors and circuits, programming, digital expression platforms, 3D modeling, machine learning, and augmented and virtual reality. In addition, they practice research, ideation, prototyping, collaboration and presentation skills. 

Each year students build on learning from the previous year but follow similar questions such as: How does technology work?; How can I use technology effectively to create and communicate new ideas, work with others, and build knowledge?; How can I become a digital citizen and critically examine technology? How can I understand issues of intention, equity, bias and impact in the design, use and access of technology?; How can I move from being a user to becoming a designer of new technology?; How can I anticipate how technology will change in the future and how technology will change the future?

Most importantly, Tech Studio examines how technology can advance the mission of Pace Academy and asks: How can we use technology to become prepared, confident citizens of the world?

Drama introduces students to the world of performance and theatre. Students study the basic physical components of theatrical and para-theatrical places, speaking in public, and character development through pantomime, music and improvisation. Students are also taught to be good audience members. Lessons are brought to life through a combination of individual and group performances and are applied to realistic situations.

This foundational course introduces sixth grade students to the overlapping goals of the Diversity & Inclusion, ICGL, and Character Education programs at Pace, and equips them with the knowledge, skills and resources to actively support the dignity and humanity of all people, and engage - as citizens of the world - to bring about racial equity and social justice locally and globally.

This course aims to help students build organizational skills. Skills taught in this course include binder organization, computer keyboarding, note-taking, test-taking strategies, time management and reading strategies.