6th Grade

Sixth grade is an important transitional year, and students have three primary teachers, who work closely to coordinate the program and manage the individual progress of each student. With a focus on integrated curriculum, classes are discussion based with extensive group work to support students’ development of critical thinking and problem solving skills with additional emphasis on introductory study of expository writing. With a broad range of required enrichment classes in art, music, technology, and movement over the course of the school year, 6th grade students benefit from exposure to a variety of creative elements and basic skills that enhance and inform their experiences in enrichment and elective classes in 7th and 8th grades.

ENGLISH
The 6th grade English curriculum balances the study of literary analysis, research, and writing. The theme of 6th grade literature is identity, and students work to examine characters’ identities in an effort to better understand their own. Students read short stories at the start of the course to familiarize themselves with literary devices and terminology, such as figurative language, plot, types of conflict, and points-of-view. They are expected to use these terms in their literary discourse throughout the year. Significant focus then shifts to understanding how to make inferences throughout a text. Students learn to annotate texts to identify evidence of character development, foreshadowing, types of conflict, symbolism, and theme. They apply these skills as they read different novels throughout the year, as well as learning to analyze an author’s purpose, tone, voice, and use of literary devices. Throughout the study of each novel, students learn new vocabulary and participate in analytical literature circles, creative writing, class discussions, and creative projects. Throughout all literature units, students focus on expository writing and learn to analyze literature, using strong textual evidence to support assertions. Students also complete a social justice unit which teaches them to research a chosen topic, identify credible sources, summarize information, and creatively advocate for those affected by the issue. Students also practice an understanding of grammar throughout the year as they study parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation. 

HISTORY
The 6th grade history curriculum focuses on analyzing the evolution of human beings and the creation of ancient civilizations in order to become informed global citizens with an understanding of relationships between the past and present. Using the Harcourt Social Studies: Ancient Civilizations textbook, the course begins with an examination of the process of archaeology, including the necessity and importance of historic artifacts and fossils. As students continue with the study of early man, they learn to identify main ideas and details, complex cause and effect relationships, and critical vocabulary within non-fiction texts. Students also review world geography and learn to read a variety of maps for specific purposes. As they study the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China, students build skills in identifying credible sources for research,  as well as differentiating between primary and secondary sources. Students continually work on note-taking skills, paraphrasing and summarizing texts, and using various organizational tools. Students write and perform creatively in order to put themselves in the minds of ancient people, but they primarily focus on expository writing based on textual evidence, lectures, and class discussions. Through group projects, students compare, analyze, and synthesize information from various texts and media to determine the effectiveness of ancient people’s actions, as well as the long-term effects on humans today. Finally, after each study of a civilization, students increase their global citizenship by collaboratively researching and teaching one another about the modern-day civilization’s connection to its ancient history.

MATH
Grade 6 Math broadens the students’ awareness and use of numbers of all sizes and types. Students, having acquired a facility and competency with numbers and basic operations, are asked to expand and relate their knowledge and to develop their understanding of different applications to real world situations. This course helps the student develop understanding and skills in the principles and methods of mathematics and in their application to a broad range of problem-solving and decision-making situations.

The focus of the early lessons is on pre-algebra: number sense, patterns and algebraic thinking; decimal operations; data and statistics; number patterns and fractions; fraction operations.  Students build an understanding of these concepts using models, such as rulers, number lines, and verbal models. They are also expected to apply skills to problem-solving situations and use estimation to check reasonableness of solutions. Topics from math strands, such as measurement conversions, area, averages, and data displays, are introduced early in the course and then integrated and expanded upon throughout.  Later lessons include topics such as equations and functions, geometry, square roots, and probability. The number and variety of problems, ranging from basic to challenging, gives students the practice they need to develop their math skills.

Every lesson includes both skill practice and problem solving, with multi-step problems, that  prepare students for subsequent courses in algebra and geometry.  In addition, students may do a number of hands-on labs that require them to collect data, make conjectures, and draw conclusions.

SCIENCE
The focus of this curriculum is to study the processes that shape the Earth and explain the universe. This course will explore the four main branches of Earth Science: geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. Students will learn about Earth’s systems and their interactions. Students will also explore the current theories that describe the formation or Earth, our Solar System, and the universe. Students will learn about the relationship between Earth Science and technology. 

SPANISH
Spanish transitions from being an enrichment class in Lower School to a core academic course in the Middle School.  Sixth grade focuses on introductory vocabulary, pronunciation, phonics, basic sentence structures, and present tense verb conjugations.  Students utilize various methods of interacting with vocabulary -- including, but not limited to, dialogues, art, skits, oral presentations, readings, videos, and games -- to solidify their understanding and make the language come alive.  Students learn how to hold a basic introductory conversation and are able to express activities they do and do not like to do, describe personality traits, talk about their school day, and discuss meals.  Cultural units are designed around student interest and change from year to year.