BELL TO BELL and INSTRUCTIONAL TIME

GRADE LEVEL MIDDLE SCHOOL/DEPARTMENTAL

6-7-8
(Minimum Requirements)
Bell to Bell: A minimum of 7 hours
Instructional Time: A minimum of 6 hours
Minimum of 7 units per year for each year (6-7-8)
1 unit = 200 minutes per week for 1 year *
UNITS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
1 Religion
1 Language Arts
1 Mathematics
1 Science
1 Social Studies (Texas History-Grade 7)** (U.S. History through Reconstruction-Grade 8)
1/2 Physical Education
1 & Electives, such as: Art, Band, Foreign Language, Music, Theater, Technology Applications
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
1. Liturgy once a week may be substituted for one class period of Religion.
2. Health may be integrated into Physical Education and/or Science.
3. Guidance may include topics/activities/resources that address the social, emotional, physical, spiritual
or educational development of the student (e.g. personal and interpersonal skills, health behaviors, moral
values, career planning, etc.).
4. Human Sexuality education may be integrated into Religion, Science, Social Studies, and/or Health.
5. Language Arts includes the following subjects: reading, literature, vocabulary, English (grammar and
composition), spelling, handwriting.
6. Social Studies includes elements of history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture;
science, technology, and society; and social studies skills.
7. Science links together the physical sciences, earth and space sciences, and life science. Science should
be experiential and should occur in a variety of settings such as classroom, laboratory, etc.
8. Technology: strongly recommended that content be integrated into various curriculum areas.
9. Creative scheduling (i.e. block scheduling...) is acceptable practice.
10. A planning period for teachers must be included in the school day.
* Alternative scheduling may be used to acquire a unit over a 1 or 2 year period (e.g. 2 semesters of P.E.
in grade 7 [1 unit] fulfills P.E. requirement for both 7th & 8th grade).
** Geography may be substituted for one semester of Texas History.