What your child learns in sixth grade

Religion

Sixth grade religion uses the Sophia Institute curriculum, in accordance with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Students spend the year immersed in God's Word in Sacred Scripture and explore how the Bible records God's plan of salvation.

Social Studies

Your child will:

• Explore the ancient civilizations of the first humans, Egypt, India, China, Greece, Rome, and Israel through research, projects, art, lecture, and essays
• Discover what we have gained from these civilizations and how they impact our lives
• Understand how a civilization's beliefs and culture lead to its actions and decisions
• Practice reading and writing strategies for non-fiction texts

Math

Your child will:

• Use multiplication and division in a variety of applications
• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers, and see how they relate
• Solve single-variable equations
• Engage in beginning geometry activities
• Create and interpret graphs using graphing terminology
• Describe and list prime and composite numbers, factors, and multiples

Science

Your child will learn about:

• Scientific method and skills
• Laboratory safety
• Forces and machines
• Magnetism and motors
• Buoyancy, water displacement, and density as they relate to floating and sinking
• Plant anatomy and function

Language Arts

Your child will:

• Recognize the major parts of speech with an emphasis on correct sentence structure
• Apply the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing
• Write correctly formed paragraphs: topic sentences, supporting details, and concluding sentences
• Write narrative essays and a variety of expository paragraphs
• Apply correct writing conventions: spelling, capitalization, and punctuation

Literature

Your child will:

• Practice strategies for reading a variety of literary forms: short stories, novels, non-fiction, and poetry
• Develop reading comprehension: identifying central idea and theme, drawing inferences and conclusions, and comparing texts
• Develop word knowledge and recognition to read fluently
• Build vocabulary through reading, context clues, word origins, and structural analysis
• Read for enrichment and enjoyment

Spelling

Your child will:

• Use a spelling curriculum that targets the most frequently misspelled words
• Focus on common spelling patterns, generalizations, and strategies

Activities

• Kostka Club
• Band and strings
• Peace Partner activities
• Science fair

Computer Technology

With a 1-to-1 device program, your child will:

• Practice typing skills and set personal goals for growth
• Use a variety of programs to present material (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Practice research skills to find information from proper websites

Art

Each student has one quarter of art, focused on building confidence in drawing and painting. Projects include color analysis and theory, art history, abstract art, painting, oil pastel, drawing, one-point and aerial perspective, and applying the elements and principles of art.

Physical Education

Each student has two quarters of P.E. with their homeroom and changes into P.E. clothes for health and hygiene. Students participate at their current skill level, show growth, and practice good sportsmanship.

Drama

Students have one quarter of beginning theater, learning the basics onstage and backstage, and take part in an end-of-quarter performance either onstage or behind the scenes.

Message to parents

Sixth grade is an important transition from self-contained classrooms to the middle school model. Students have two teachers for their core subjects and at least three others, so it is a key year for managing time across subjects, working with different teaching styles, and growing more independent.