6th Grade

Welcome to our faith-filled, academically charged classrooms.  With many exciting activities, projects, assignments and field trips, our students are able to take their knowledge and apply it to the world around them. 

Language Arts: 
The Language Arts curriculum for 6th grade consists of three components: Grammar, Vocabulary, and Writing.  At this level, grammar skills are reinforced and taught to serve as a foundation for other curricular areas.  The mechanics of writings, parts of speech, and the basic structure/parts of a sentence are the main focus.  Vocabulary plays an important role, as well.  Taking the place of the spelling units in the past, this component challenges the students to sharpen their language skills and practice usage of new words through weekly units.  Lastly, the core of the Language Arts curriculum is writing.  Building upon writing as a process, the students have the opportunity to learn how to develop a 5-paragraph essay, as well as journal, story, and letter writing.  Personal Narrative, Compare and Contrast, Persuasive, Expository and Research are some examples.

Literature: 
The Literature curriculum plays a vital role in the students' reading development.  The text is an anthology of various works from many renowned authors.  Short stories, essays, poems, and plays are read and discussed.  The students look critically at works and discuss the multi-layered meanings intended by the authors.  As a class, two novels are read following a literature unit, once in the fall and spring.  Monthly book reports and Accelerated Reader are also a part of this curriculum.

Math: 
The 6th grade students are introduced to Course 1 of the middle school Algebra textbook series.  Beginning with decimals and fractions, the students review the solving of these with various operations.  The core of the mathematics curriculum involves the foundations of Pre-algebra.  This includes variables, solving multi-step equations, comparing and ordering numbers, measurement conversions, following the order of operations, comparing integers, using and applying formulas, finding outcomes through probability and problem solving verbal equations.  Simple Solutions is also an important part of the math program, as it reinforces computation and grade level math skills on a daily basis.

Science:
We use the Prentice Hall book to guide the students through Earth Science.  Topics include: soil, erosion, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, weather, climate, and ecosystems.  The students participate in lab activities and apply their knowledge of ecosystems during our three day outdoor education trip.

Social Studies:
The McDougal Littell textbook introduces the students to world civilizations.  We study ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Africa, India, China, Greece, Rome and Latin America.  Geography lessons are included to refine skills taught in previous years.  The students even get to mummify a chicken and design a theme park designed around civilizations.  

Field Trips and Special Events:
Halloween Parade/Penny Carnival
Outdoor Education Science Camp
Heart of Jesus Retreat Center
Traveling Scientist Visits
Olympic Day
Ancient Greece Day
Service Project (ex. Visit to senior care home, school supply collection, or holiday outreach for parish homebound)

Projects:
Holidays Around the World research project
End of Year Book Review and Presentation