Grade Level Course Offerings | 6th Grade

GRADE LEVEL COURSE OFFERINGS

6TH GRADE CORE CONTENT

Course Description

English In 6th Grade English, literature and a variety of modes of writing are used to explore deep questions a M j o r Wr iting Evaluation about the world, develop creative thinking skills, and make students’ voices heard throughout the greater community. The study of grammar, literary devices, and vocabulary derived from literature inform students’ mastery of reading comprehension skills and writing skills - providing them with a strong foundation as they move forward in Middle School.

Social Studies

Math

Sixth Grade Social Studies looks to examine the origins of the United States of America, from our very founding to our existence in the 21st century. Together, we will address the American Revolution, our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Civil War, the origins of our election system, and our system of limited government. We will study the influences of past leaders and address topics and issues including war, politics, immigration, and government. Enhancing writing, research, critical thinking, and presentation skills is a focus throughout the year.

The Math I course focuses on the pre-algebra curriculum. Students focus on number sense mastery, integers, and expressions. They will learn through teacher instruction, collaborative work, and inquiry-based lessons. The purpose of using this model is to help the student take ownership of his learning experience and learn how to best work both individually and collaboratively, understand that mistakes are valuable learning tools, to persevere when challenged, and learn to apply concepts to higher-level questioning, and most importantly, develop his curiosity of the world and be able to use skills learned when he leaves the classroom.

Science

Introduction to Spanish

Theology

The focus in 6th Grade is Life Science. Units include cell structure, animal structure and behavior, bacteria, protists and fungi, plants, human body systems, ecology, and interactions of life. The main goal of the course is to develop an understanding of modern science and technology through experimentation and inquiry. Students will participate in labs and projects that will develop the following skills: writing, math, inquiry, time management, cooperation, and presentation skills

In grade 6 Spanish Class, students are expected to be able to perform various tasks pertaining to the Spanish Language. The four basic language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking will be demonstrated through the practice of oral, written, and reading activities on a daily basis. Students will also gain knowledge of different cultures of the Spanish-speaking world and conduct research about various cultural themes. As we advance through the curriculum, students will be assessed multiple times per unit of study in order to track their progress.

Sixth Grade Theology is designed to give students a general knowledge and appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures. Through the study of the Bible, students will come to encounter the living word of God, Jesus Christ. Throughout the course, students will learn about the Bible, authored by God through inspiration, and its value to people throughout the world. If they have not been taught this earlier, they will learn how to read the Bible and will become familiar with the major sections of the Bible and the books included in each section. The students will pay particular attention to the Gospels, where they may grow to know and love Jesus Christ more personally.

GRADE LEVEL COURSE OFFERINGS

6TH GRADE KEYSTONE COURSES

All 6th grade students take a different Keystone Course each term.

Course Description

Art In 6th Grade Art, students learn to understand and apply the elements and principles of the visual arts. Students will create and maintain a digital portfolio that displays images of all their work and can be C reat i v e Design & Producti on accessed and updated through each year of Middle School into high school. Arts classes will introduce the student to techniques and skills required for creating Art in 2-D and 3-D mediums. Students will learn art techniques through the study of Art History. Music Music I identifies and introduces the three pillars of music: rhythm, harmony, and melody. Students will demonstrate an understanding of rhythm, harmony, and melody on the piano and guitar. Students will also explore different music genres and will be asked to utilize their creativity to compose original music and perform their original compositions on piano or guitar.

C reat i v e Design & Producti on

Media

Production 6th grade media production is an introductory class that exposes students to various forms of media.

C reat i v e Design & Producti on Students will experiment with sound, image, and video. Through the completion of mini-projects, students will learn about the foundational ideas of preproduction, production, and post-production.

Life Skills

In 6th Grade Life Skills, students learn and practice general physical skills and participate in team game play. The physical skills include jumping rope and base level calisthenics like push-ups, pull-ups, and air squats. Our goal is to improve coordination and work capacity. Game play is centered around team sports and the goal is to improve teamwork, communication, agility, and decision-making skills.