Courses

Two Periods Every Day, All Year 

Instruction will be guided by the Washington State Learning Standards. These standards set requirements not only for English language arts, but also for literacy in history/social studies, science and technical subjects. Just as students must learn to read, write, speak, listen and use language effectively in multiple disciplines, so too must the standards specify the literacy skills and understandings required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines. Literacy standards for sixth grade and above are predicated on teachers of ELA, history/social studies, science and technical subjects using their content area expertise to help students meet the particular challenges of reading, writing, speaking, listening and language in their respective fields. It is important to note that the 6-12 literacy standards in history/social studies, science and technical subjects are not meant to replace content standards in those areas but rather to supplement them. 

One Period Every Day, All Year

Social studies education contributes to developing responsible citizens in a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world. Social studies equips students to understand their own power and their own responsibility as citizens of the world’s most powerful democracy. It equips them to make sound judgments and to actively contribute to good stewardship of the natural environment, to the health and prosperity of their own communities and to a democratic society. In sixth and seventh grades, history will be combined with ELA to form a three-period block of instruction taught by one teacher. Not only does this allow us to better teach the literacy standards within the content of nonfiction informational text, but it increases the support for students by decreasing the number of teachers sixth and seventh graders see each day. This provides a supportive transition for students from elementary school. 

• 6th Grade: Geography (one semester) and Ancient Civilizations (one semester)
• 7th Grade: Washington State History (one semester) and Ancient Civilization (one semester)
• 8th Grade: U.S. History (all year)  

One Period Every Day, All Year 

The Kennewick School Board has adopted the goal to increase the number of eighth grade students who successfully complete high school algebra. As a result, more students than ever before are receiving math credit for high school as an eighth-grader. The Washington State Standards for Mathematics continue to guide instruction with the goal of every student reaching algebra by eighth grade.

Chinook Math Courses

• Standard Sixth Grade Math Class – Holt Mathematics Course Level 1
• Accelerated Sixth Grade Math Class – Holt Mathematics Course Level 2 (these students can take algebra in eighth grade for high school credit)
• Honors Sixth Grade Math Class – Holt Mathematics Course Level 3 (these students will take honors algebra in seventh grade and geometry in eighth grade)
• Standard Seventh Grade Math Class – Holt Mathematics Course Level 2
• Accelerated Seventh Grade Math Class – Holt Mathematics Course Level 3 (these students can take algebra in eighth grade for high school credit)
• Foundations of Algebra (No high school credit available. Students who score below the 50th percentile on their math MAP test will be assigned to this class. They will study the first half of the high school algebra curriculum with the intent of learning the second half during their ninth grade year.)
• Algebra 1 & 2 (High school credit. Students who have a math MAP test history between the 50th and 90th percentiles and successfully completed Course 3 the previous year.)
• Honors Algebra 1 & 2 – (High school credit. These students will take honors geometry upon successful completion.)
• Honors Geometry 1 & 2 (High school credit. Must have successfully completed Honors Algebra 1 and 2)

One Period Every Day, All Year

An understanding of good health and fitness concepts and practices is essential for all students. Businesses have already started to realize the extent to which poor health practices can undermine an employee's effectiveness and ability to succeed. The same is true of students. Teaching our students good health and safety principles can lead to a lifetime of healthy practices, resulting in more productive, active and successful lives. Chinook students will learn these principles through both physical activities and classroom lessons. Students are required to wear a PE uniform (shorts and shirt), which can be purchased in the office. They also will be required to bring a combination lock to secure their PE locker. Eighth grade students are allowed to waive health and fitness in order to take high school Spanish.  

One Period Every Day, All Year

When comprehending current events, choosing and using technology or making informed decisions about one’s healthcare, science understanding is key. Science is also at the heart of the United States’ ability to continue to innovate, lead and create the jobs of the future. Chinook science instruction will be guided by the Washington State Next Generation Science Standards.

• 6th Grade Life Science
• 7th Grade Earth Science
• 8th Physical Science