Sixth Grade Curriculum Outlines

(Compiled from all faculty who teach 6th grade subjects)

Language Arts: Literature(30%), Grammar(30%), Writing(1%), Spelling(15%), and AR/Reading Plus(10%)

Grammar and Writing: English - Houghton Mifflin

1st Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 1 - Language and Usage - The Sentence
  • ♦ Unit 2 - Literature and Writing - Personal Narrative
  • ♦ Unit 3 - Language and Usage - Nouns

2nd Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 5 - Language and Usage - Verbs
  • ♦ Unit 6 - Literature and Writing - Story
  • ♦ Unit 7 - Language and Usage - Modifiers

3rd Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 9 - Mechanics - Capitalization and Punctuation
  • ♦ Unit 12 - Literature and Writing - Research Report
  • ♦ Unit 11 - Language and Usage - Pronouns
  • ♦ Unit 13 - Language and Usage - Prepositional Phrase

4th Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 8 - Literature and Writing - Description
  • ♦ Unit 10 - Literature and Writing - Persuasive Letter
  • ♦ Unit 4 - Literature and Writing - Comparison and Contrast


Literature: Discoveries in Literature - Scott Foresman

1st Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 1 - Short Stories
  • ♦ Unit 2 - Plays

2nd Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 2 - Plays
  • ♦ Unit 5 - Nonfiction

3rd Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 4 - Poetry
  • ♦ Unit 6 - Folk Literature

4th Quarter:
  • ♦ Unit 8 - Epic-Ulysses


Spelling - McDougal-Littell

  • ♦ Unit 1 - Prefixes, Suffixes, Base Words, Plurals
  • ♦ Unit 2 - Suffixes, Unstressed Syllables Al and Ly Endings
  • ♦ Unit 3 - Vac Words, Cious, Cial, and Cial Endings
  • ♦ Unit 4 - Greek Forms, Compound Words, Ible, Ence, and Ent Suffixes

Accelerated Reader Program or AR is a program that research has shown improves reading comprehension and speed. Students read books and take tests at school. (It is blocked for off-campus computers)They are reading at the correct level and will improve most rapidly when they score 85-92% comprehension. AR has designated points and tests for 80,000 books depending on the number of words in the book and book levels depending on the vocabulary difficulty.


Reading Plus Two quarters students participate in an online reading program that targets reading skills such as tracking, vocabulary, and especially comprehension.


Mathematics - Saxon Math.

A comprehensive system from Kindergarten through pre-calculus, which emphasizes learning in small increments and review of all previously learned concepts throughout the year. Each night's homework consists of many different types of problems from all previous lessons. For a detailed look at covered topics, see the Scope and Sequence.

Social Studies

Grade 6 uses Harcourt Brace textbooks that emphasize critical thinking skills. Units are also related to literature. Units and topics covered:
First Semester
  • ♦ Unit 1 - The World and Early People
  • ♦ Unit 2 - Early Centers of Civilization
  • ♦ Unit 3 - Eastern Civilizations
  • ♦ Unit 4 - Western Civilizations
Second Semester
  • ♦ Unit 5 - The Rise of Later Civilizations
  • ♦ Unit 6 - The Spread of Civilizations
  • ♦ Unit 7 - The Early Modern World
  • ♦ Unit 8 - Toward the Present Day

Science

Grades 1-6 use Prentice Hall Science Explorer Series – in which concepts are taught through hands-on experiments for every unit as well as textbooks. Grade 6 Units and topics are:
  • 1st Quarter-Earth Science: Inside Earth
  • 2nd Quarter-Chemistry: Chemical Interactions
  • 3rd Quarter-Immune, Nervous, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems: Human Biology and Health
  • 4th Quarter- Biology: Cells and Heredity

Projects

  • ♦ 1st—Ancient Civilization Research Report, Model, and Oral Presentation
  • ♦ 2nd—Winter Performance-Write Plays
  • ♦ 3rd—Science Project—Research Report, Backboard, and Oral Presentation
  • ♦ 4th—Biography, Time-line, Report, and Oral Presentation
Also—Field Trips-- Maryland Science Museum, Smithsonian Museums, Owens Science

Art

Textbooks/Materials used: Art Fun: A survival kit for art teachers (3 books), The glass painting book, Painting animals on rocks, Quilling, Video for perspective

Units and Topics: How to draw in general by drawing the human face and body and nature. Learn about the law of perspective and how to show depth with color and size, overlapping and shadow. Learn how to copy from many difference sources, and learn how different media can help to express different moods and feelings. Learn to express themselves through art and not to worry making mistakes. Learn how to use acrylic paint and how to recognize different shapes through working with rocks and door steps. Creating paper maché masks and learn to appreciate the beauty of different cultures.

Quilling project: learn to coil, cut and glue paper creating shapes of flowers, leaves etc. Learn about the beauty of light through glass projects and study about the history of this media: church windows, lamps etc.

Korean.

Grades 5 & 6: students will attend Korean class twice a week. They will learn simple conversation and Korean Reading I. Also, they will learn 50 actions verbs, together with vocabulary relating to family, color, numbers, clothing, animals, days, and months. They will learn how to speak, spell, read, and write Korean words.

Spanish - 6th Grade.

6th grade: This course is designed to develop strong communication skills. It begins with a rapid review of the basic grammatical structure and vocabulary. This brief review is followed by a more advanced structures needed to acquire better proficiency. Students will identify concepts presented in the units and topics through classroom activities such as oral drills, sensorial experiences, and oral and written exercises of more communicative approach. Students will learn to understand for comprehension of the language through audio and reading exercises.

Throughout both years, students will be able to speak with understanding selected vocabulary and grammar structure, creating simple phrases for active use through topics. Copy Spanish words accurately, spelling correctly from memory. Show the awareness of a different culture and it's contribution to this country.

Materials used: El Espanol: Sin Problemas by Jose M. Diaz; Country Topics, activities, facts and craft projects; by Anita Ganeri and R. Wright. Mexico activity book. Hands on heritage. School Zone Publishing Co.; Let's play games in Spanish. Vol. Two, NTC. By Loretta B.

Units and Topics: The following topics are in addition to the ones outlined above for the previous grades. Vocabulary, grammar points, and phrases are expanded to befit these grade levels. September: Refreshment/review of the whole calendar and greetings, geography of Spanish-speaking countries October: The school, Spanish math problems, phonetical sound of the alphabet, Hispanic Heritage Month, Day of the Dead Celebration November, December and January: Linguistic and Cultural concepts. Posadas. Spanish borrowed words. Clock activities. February, March, April: Passport around the world. Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other South American countries. Culture, information and comparison. May and June: Spanish grammar exercises and vocabulary enrichment.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Units and Topics:

  • ♦ Understands principles and practice and conditioning that improve performance
  • ♦ Uses basic offensive and defensive strategies in unstructured game environment
  • ♦ Sports: soccer, basketball, hockey, volleyball, football, kickball, softball

Technology

Programs used:
  • ♦ Microsoft Word
  • ♦ Microsoft Excel
  • ♦ Power Point
  • ♦ Print Shop Deluxe
  • ♦ Hands-On Microsoft Office (textbook)

MUSIC

Students will apply the musical concepts they have developed from Kindergarten - 5th Grade. They will continue to build their musical skills through learning how to play the piano. (Alfred’s Group Piano for Adults)