Sixth Grade Curriculum
English (Grade 6) - Daily, Full Year
In sixth-grade English, students develop reading, composition, grammar,
and vocabulary skills as they explore the theme, "On the Trail: A
Mystery, a Tradition, a Choice". Students read and write in a variety
of genres. Major emphasis is placed upon self-expression, writing skills,
and literature response.
Texts: Elements of Writing (Introductory Course), English Workshop
(Introductory Course), Vocabulary Workshop (Level B), Literature (Prentice
Hall)
Core Novels: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Ear, the Eye, and the
Arm
Choice Novels: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Incident at Hawk's Hill,
The Education of Little Tree, Homesick: My Own Story
Basic Math 6 (Grade 6) - Daily, Full, Year
This course is offered as needed to those students who need additional
time and assistance mastering the concepts presented in the fifth and
sixth grades. The foci of the course are two fold: (1) to provide review
and practice of previously taught material and (2) to continue the progression
of math concepts through small group and individualized instruction. Topics
include place value systems and operations, decimals and percents, graphs,
fractions, ratios and proportions, and measurement and geometry.
Text: Passport to Mathematics, Book 1
Math 6 (Grade 6) Daily, Full Year
A strong emphasis on problem solving and on the continued development
of computational skills, makes this course a solid foundation for upper
school mathematics, providing treatment of arithmetic and geometry and
an introduction to algebra. With problem solving as the prevailing theme,
specific topics to be studied include: number theory, decimals, fractions,
percents and integers.
Text: Mathematics: Structure and methods Course # 1
Pre-Algebra (Grade 6,7,8) - Daily, Full Year
In pre-algebra, students are introduced to the language and reasoning
of algebra while reinforcing the rational number operations-particularly
with decimals and fractions, order of operations, ratios and proportions,
percents, number properties, exponents, geometric figures, areas, and
volumes. They begin the study of algebra with the following topics: multiple
step equations, operations with positive and negative numbers, evaluating
and simplification of expressions, linear equations with coordinate graphing.
Probability and radicals are also included in this study along with the
Pythagorean Theorem.
Text: Pre-Algebra I (Davison, Landau, McCracken, Thompson)
Science (Grade 6 & 7) Daily, Full Year
This course follows an award-winning spiral curriculum that combines a
variety of scientific sub-disciplines. The program is activity based and
seeks to draw connections among science, technology, and students' everyday
lives. Skills emphasized include observing and inferring, using models,
experimenting, synthesizing definitions, and keeping a notebook of all
work.
Text: SciencePlus
Social Science - World Geography (Grade 6) Full Year
This course explores the cultural regions throughout the world via geography,
history, and economics. A major focus is the impact environment has on
the growth of a culture, and the reciprocal effects of culture on its
environment. The development of critical reading, research, and writing
skills are emphasized.
Text: World Geography
Foreign Languages
Introduction to French/Spanish (Grade 6) Daily, Trimester
Students are exposed to both French and Spanish in these trimester courses,
allowing them to experience both languages before making their 7th grade
language choice. This introductory course includes vocabulary, basic grammar,
and culture, as well as language structure and strategies for foreign
language acquisition.
Texts: Spanish is Fun and French is Fun
Discovery in Art (Grades 6, 7 & 8) Daily, One Trimester
The middle school art courses are a three-year, hands-on experience in
which students are challenged to work in many different media with projects
alternating between two-dimensional and three dimensional activities.
Artists, art in society, and art history are discussed as they relate
to what the students are discovering on their own, using art as a resource.
At least one project per year is a group activity in which students have
the opportunity to experience group planning and dynamics. Students are
taught to recognize the elements of design that they are using naturally
in their own work. Composition and the principles of design are introduced
at this time as they relate to the ability of the students to communicate
ideas successfully. Discussing why pieces work well and critiquing pieces
also start in these three years.
Music (Grades 6, 7, & 8) Daily, One Trimester
Students at the Middle School level will experience music through a variety
of challenging vehicles, including singing, composing, performing, listening,
and dancing.
Music concepts will be reinforced through various specific skills. Conducting,
group composition, rhythmic and melodic dictation, handbell ringing, and
comparative listening will further enhance the student's ability to make
individual and group judgements concerning the value of music.
Middle School music will include the study and analysis of vocal techniques,
instruments, musical scores, music history, and musical theater. Twentieth
century musical types including serialism, minimalism, jazz, musical theater,
folk, popular, and rock music will be investigated to demonstrate relevance
and will be dealt with in comparison with music of the past.
An individualized listening log will be required of all students. Students
will be challenged to discover the importance of music and the role it
does and will play in each of their lives.
Health (Grade 6 - Person Health & the Human Body) Daily, One Trimester
This class is an introduction to information/skills necessary for lifelong
health and wellness. Students begin this course by conducting a mini-research
into personal family health histories. From there students explore genetics
to search for an answer to the age old question of "nature or nurture?"
Next students delve into the major human body systems from integumentary
to reproductive (and everything in between). Students learn the purpose
of these bodily systems and what keeps them functioning at optimal performance.
A capstone of this course is the completion of requirements for American
Red Cross certification in Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Resources: Holt Health Text; current events; community human resources
Computers - Daily, One trimester
This course teaches the skills needed to use personal computers as tools
for everyday work. The course focuses on word processing skills. Some
time may be given to introducing the use of spreadsheets as well as general
topics including disk management, use of the internal network, and computer
terminology. Each student will proceed at his or her own pace within a
structured environment.
Physical Education (Grade 6) Three to four days per week
This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to experience
a variety of team sports. The following aspects of sport are emphasized:
- Developing skills that improve one's strength, endurance, flexibility,
coordination, and speed. Individual goals will be set in these areas.
- Understanding the rules and regulations that govern each sport (through
participation in a variety of modified drills and games).
- Understanding basic forms of team play and strategy.
- Exhibiting sportsmanlike behavior.
Skills (Grades 6, 7, & 8) Five days a week
This course provides remedial help in basic study skills and in academic
areas in an individualized and small?group setting, when the need has
been determined by psycho-educational testing. The course is taught by
the skills specialist, who also works with classroom teachers to coordinate
remedial and regular programs and to provide diagnostic and prognostic
support.
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