6th Grade Curriculum

6th Grade Language Arts

The Sixth Grade Language Arts curriculum provides students with a solid foundation for oral and written communication. The program helps students become confident communicators through a cohesive approach that integrates writing skills, grammar, and vocabulary.

Developmental needs are considered in course planning by sequencing the types and sophistication of assignments by allowing for creative outlets appropriate to early adolescence, and by placing a premium on study skills. Students gradually progress from summarizing to analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating texts.

Students read classic and contemporary novels, short stories, plays and poetry. Classes consist of both full-class and small group discussion, analysis, and oral presentations, allowing students to hone their speaking skills. In order for students to be passionate, life-long readers, we stress independent reading in our curriculum.

As part of the writing program, students maintain literary response journals, develop several kinds of essays, compose a variety of creative pieces, and keep a writing portfolio. Emphasis is placed on the writing process in which students continually develop, revise, and refine their work.

While editing their own and others’ work, students examine grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary as tools for improved written communication. In addition, guided instruction and focused skills in grammar are practiced throughout the year.

Word knowledge is essential to oral and written communication and reading communication. A new vocabulary lesson is reviewed every two weeks. Daily exercises give students the opportunity to put their vocabulary knowledge and critical thinking skills to use.

6th Grade Math

Grade 6 Math focuses on a review of the basic operations to whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and integers. The solving of equations is stressed in this class. Geometry, Measurement, Percents, and Data Analysis are also covered.

The students’ grades are a weighted combination of Assessment (40%), Classwork (35%), Independent Work (15%), and Homework (10%). Active participation is important in this class as it only enhances the understanding of the topics. Homework is a necessary “evil” of math, since practice is needed on the weekly topics taught. It is expected that each student keep up with the daily math assignments.

In the event of a student being absent, the current week’s work can be viewed at schoolnotes.com. Work for the week is usually posted by noon on Monday. Students can be notified by schoolnotes.com of weekly changes by visiting the site and registering for the weekly changes.

6th Grade Religion

The year focuses on the study of the Old Testament. The students will demonstrate an accurate and in depth understanding of the Trinity, the life and mission of Jesus, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the mission of the church. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the significance, purposes, and importance of the Sacraments in the life of a Roman Catholic. Throughout the year the students will demonstrate an understanding of the significance of prayer, utilizing Scripture and other sources for private and communal prayer.

Grades are a weighted combination of Assessment (40%), Classwork (35%), Independent work (15%), and Homework (10%). Grading rubrics for the homework have been passed out to each student at the beginning of the school year. Copies of those rubrics can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

6th Grade Science

Science is somewhat of a change for the Sixth Grade student from previous years. The Sixth Grade students cover Earth Science the entire year, as we will be using the Prentice Hall Science Explorer earth science books for our text. Grades are a combination of Assessments (tests and quizzes—40%) Classwork (35%), Independent work (15%), and Homework (10%).

Organization is a must and the students are required to maintain a science binders throughout the year. These binders contain all the work and assessments that are done in science throughout this year. The students’ classwork grade for the trimester is based on a check of their notebooks. These binders will be collected and graded twice each trimester. Students were given the rubric that is used for these checks well at the beginning of the year.

Active participation is important in this class as it only enhances the understanding of the topics. Lab reports will be introduced this year with the emphasis placed on the writing of conclusion for the labs/activities presented.

6th Grade Social Studies

Grade 6 Social Studies focuses on the seven major ancient civilizations. The curriculum is designed to ensure the student of learning historical events, governmental structures, societal structures, cultural contributions and economic systems as they relate to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Africa, the Indus River Valley, China, Greece and Rome. Students also gain the skills necessary to use and construct maps, globes and other tools to locate and derive information that explain why and how geography affected the life and the culture of these ancient societies.

In order for students to grasp the chronological organization of history, the diversity of peoples and the major events, reading and written response in the content area are part of daily class work and homework. Students are afforded the opportunity to take a “hands-on” approach to learning about daily life for each of the seven civilizations by completing independent projects such as creating a timeline, publishing an Ancient Roman newspaper, composing a myth and constructing a travel brochure.

Rubrics are used to evaluate a student’s performance. Usually handed out before an assignment begins, the rubric acts as a working guide for both the student and the teacher. Along with class work, homework and projects, active participation and notebook evaluations as well as quizzes and chapter tests are all weighted components of the student’s trimester grade.