A statue of de Soto in downtown Bradenton, Florida. SIXTH GRADE In the sixth grade, students in Tennessee focus on world history, which makes this a good year to remind kids that Tennesseans have done many things that have changed the world. Here are some things we recommend for sixth graders: 1) Virtual Tours -- In terms of world history, check out the Cordell Hull Birthplace, the DeSoto National Memorial, the Oak Ridge Museum (AMSE), and the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm. 2) Middle School Civics -- There's never a bad year to learn about how your government works. 3) Middle School Geography -- Read ahead for seventh grade.