Sixth Grade Themes

MIDDLE SCHOOL the college school

Sixth Grade Themes

Wilderness Experience (fall) The Wilderness Experience is a theme that focuses on personal growth, teamwork, outdoor skills, and stewardship. Through weekly day trips, such as rock-climbing and canoeing, sixth graders experience challenges that help them develop a wide range of skills, which are tested during a culminating five-day backpacking expedition to Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Throughout the theme, students also learn to reflect upon and take responsibility for their learning. They discover more about their personal and collective strengths, ultimately learning that they can do more than they first thought they could. In the end, students learn many lessons, such as perseverance, trust, and cooperation, which they can then apply to many situations throughout their school and personal lives. Academic integrations include connected literature study, problem-solving skills, reflective writing, and research projects.

State of Missouri (spring) The State of Missouri theme teaches students how people make decisions in groups - from the size of a class to the size of a state. Students are put in situations where they need to come to consensus. The theme begins with a comprehensive study of our state government. Students take on the roles of government officials in a series of simulations. They write letters to their legislators sharing their views and concerns. During a two-day trip to the state capital, students meet with and interview their legislators and visit various government and historical sites. Students take a comprehensive test on government and learn how to prepare themselves for testing situations. The class also explore sites and parks that showcase Missouri’s natural beauty.