Sixth Grade Curriculum

Religion

The focus of religious study in sixth grade is on the Old Testament.  Through this study of the Old Testament, students will recount key events of salvation history, learn to understand the theology related to salvation, be able to discuss how God revealed himself to his chosen people and how he continues to call the faithful to him through ministry, prayer, and the sacraments. Students will combine action with the course of study through five required community service hours a quarter and participation in weekly mass.  

Text:  Loyola Press, Christ Our Life God Calls a People Workbook, 2002 
          Catholic Book Publishing Co., The New American Bible,
          Saint Joseph Edition, 1992

Social Studies

The focus for sixth grade is on the continued development of knowledge and skills acquired in previous social studies programs. Students will study, Europe (including Russia) and South America by examining social, economic, and political institutions as they analyze similarities and differences among societies. While concepts are drawn from history and the social sciences, the primary discipline is geography, especially cultural geography. This focus provides students with a frame work for studying local, regional, national and global issues that concern them, for understanding the interdependence of the world in which they live, and for making informed judgments as active citizens.

Text: Pearson, My World Geography: Western Hemisphere, 2011
           Pearson, My Student Journal: Western Hemisphere, 2011
        Glencoe, The World and Its People: Western Hemisphere, 2005

Language Arts

In language arts the focus is on writing, literature, grammar and vocabulary. The students write essays (expository, persuasive, descriptive, and narrative) as well as research papers, poetry, letters, and plays.  We read fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Grammar is taught through writing as well as with our textbook and workbook. The vocabulary program challenges the students and prepares them for standardized tests. Students practice speaking and listening by giving oral presentations and participating in class discussions.

Texts:  Loyola University Press, Voyages in English 2006
           Loyola Press Voyages in English Practice Book Grade 6, 2006
           Pearson, Prentice Hall Literature, Language and Literacy, Grade 6, 2010
           William H. Sadlier, Inc., Vocabulary Workshop Level A, 2005

Supplemental Books:

            Marley by John Grogan
            Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
            A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
            Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
            Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
            A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
            The Cay by Theodore Taylor
           

Science

6th Grade Students begin by learning about the cells and cell functions. Then they go through the characteristics of life and each of the six Kingdoms. They continue with a look at ecology including populations and their interactions, ecosystems, biomes, and succession. They also learn about the human body including a look at wellness as well as skeletal, muscular, integumentary, digestive, immune, and nervous systems.

Text: Prentice Hall, Interactive Science Series, 2011

Math

Sixth grade math begins with a review on concepts on divisibility rules, powers and exponents.  Review of the four operation – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division for decimals and fraction.  Next integers are introduced using inequalities and basic operations.   Algebra concepts follow, first with solving one step equations, 2 step equations then multi-step equation.  Ratio, proportions and percents are introduced followed by a unit on Geometry and linear equations.

Text:  Glencoe Mathematics, Applications and Concepts, Course 1, 2004