Sixth Grade Curriculum

Religion

Creation, redemption, and sanctification are understood in view of the Trinity. Learning about the Fruits of the Spirit and Law versus Gospel provides the students with tools to use in sharing the Good News with others. The chronology of the Bible becomes more concrete as students study the Old Testament but with the focus of how the New Testament tells the “rest of the story.” Baptism and Holy Communion are studied in depth. Selected passages of Scripture and the catechism are memorized.

Math

Working with integers and equations at this level provides a basis for future experiences in mathematics. Working with percents and simplifying proportions reinforce previously learned material but on a higher level of thinking. Students learn to estimate, round, and order fractions as they learn to add and subtract them. Geometric work progresses with construction terms and divisional terminology.

Language Arts

Reading, thinking, and improving study skills are interrelated at this level in order to prepare students for the years to come. Using an anthology, students explore author’s intent and use of literary devices to better understand reading selections. They read widely in classic and contemporary selections and informational texts. Searching out multiple texts to complete research reports and projects occurs. Grammar skills progress to the point that students can correctly use a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences. Diagraming continues up to compound sentences. Writing in fiction and nonfiction forms enables students to use their grammar skills to the greatest degree.  Wordly Wise helps students focus not only on vocabulary words and their meanings, but also on their application.  Sixth grade studies words with multiple definitions, their synonyms, antonyms, and use in everyday language.  Spelling words generally parallel each vocabulary lesson.

Social Studies

God’s hand in making all the nations of the earth is the slant of this class. A study of the development of world trends and cultures and their relationships to the historic past provides a way for students to see more clearly God’s hand as an omnipresent one. In studying historic backgrounds of world societies, students learn how the governments and the societies were affected by major shifts or displacements and what effect these had on future nations or generations. Understanding different forms of government around the world helps students see the roles of citizens of those governments and how the roles of citizens change according to the expectations of the government and the power controlled by the people or by the governments themselves.

Science

Students are exposed to more in-depth physical science at this level. Understanding forces and the nature and types of machines help students to discover how things work and why. Using hands-on investigations helps them with their learning.

Computer Science

Computer literacy begins at this level. Students become familiar with computer related terminology and understand more about the parts of the computer which they can identify. Their familiarity with the keyboard and word processing skills allows them to produce several different documents. Desktop publishing skills and knowledge about file sharing continue. Work on educational software that reinforces classroom objectives continues. Students are introduced to the usefulness of databases. They create and print their own database.

Art

Students study about the effects of color. As students appreciate art in everyday life, they explore different types of art and mediums. Drawing and the use of perspective in drawing and artwork take on more meaning to the students as they see and appreciate varied types of art.

Music

Recognizing, playing, and singing melodies and parts of musical pieces are accomplished at this level. Students are exposed to various types of musical pieces from classical to more popular with the idea that they will have the opportunity to appreciate them. Exposure to different types of classroom instruments gives the students the occasion to try different sounds and sound combinations. Qualities and examples of ethnic music are compared to traditional music. Students are introduced to famous musical composers and the period their music represents.

Spanish

Sequentially taught, students expand their understanding of the Spanish language in a bilingual classroom. The teacher converses in both English and Spanish using greetings, commands, phrases, and other everyday conversations. They continue learning the use of conjugated verbs, articles, adverbs, and adjectives. They are able to describe and discuss their immediate environment, pastimes, and other people. This well-rounded approach to acquiring another language includes singing Spanish traditional, popular, and Christian songs; acting out scenes and dramatizing stories; learning about traditions and holidays of Spanish speaking countries; hearing Hispanic folk tales; writing in Spanish; learning about Central and South America, and playing Hispanic games.

Physical Education

As team sports in the school arena become more important to the student, these same sports are favorites of the students to continue to improve upon whenever they are given the opportunity. The students have time to fine tune aspects of these sports such as knowing and understanding the rules, the use of specialty teams within the larger teams, and Christian sportsmanship. Along with this desire to play well for the school comes the need to encourage self-control in losing situations and a willingness to try again.