Sixth Grade Curriculum

RELIGION

The sixth grade Religion program is rooted in Scripture, gradually introducing students to God's word and giving them background knowledge that prepares them for reading and understanding Scripture.  A study of morality is woven throughout and religious vocabulary is introduced as an integral part of all learning.  Some of the topics that are covered include:

• the study of the Old Testament as a means by which God reveals Himself to all people
• through Moses, God made His name known and revealed His plan for people to the Israelites
• God established a special covenant with His chosen people
• Laws, such as the 10 commandments
• God chose prophets from among His people
• God revealed His love for people in signs and symbols and especially His Son, Jesus
• the Holy Spirit gives the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, and piety
• the Holy spirit enables the church to carry on the work of Jesus
• the Corporal Works of Mercy
• the church's great sign of forgiveness and peace is the sacrament of Reconciliation
• at every Eucharist, Catholic Christians offer thanks and praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

All through the year, we study and celebrate the Church calendar.  We study in depth the following seasons and days:

• Presents Stations of the Cross
• November and the solemnity of all Saints
• Advent and the hop of salvation
• Christmas when Jesus came to fulfill God's promise
• Lent as the time to prepare for Easter
• Easter is the Lord's rising and a sign that we can live forever
• May we look to Mary as a model of faith
• Pentecost a celebration of the Holy Spirit with us

A part of the Religion curriculum includes a Family Life program.  The focus of the program is to help students develop healthy attitudes and values of Catholic family life.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Language Arts program consists of three main components: Reading, English, and Spelling

Reading

The Reading program uses fine children's literature in a variety of genres to teach skills.  It encourages students to read, think about, write about, discuss, and listen to each others' ideas about literature.  The Reading program also stresses a proficiency in independent reading using the Accelerated Reader computer program.  The students will work on the following comprehension skills:

• evaluating types of literature
• identifying the main idea
• making predictions
• drawing conclusions
• using inference
• recognizing cause and effect
• predicting outcomes

Vocabulary development is an important part of Reading.  The vocabulary skills introduced and reviewed include:

• identifying word meaning
• recognizing word referents
• using classification
• identifying syllabication
• recognizing prefixes and suffixes
• using synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and homographs
• root or base word meaning

Incorporated throughout the program are study skills for using a dictionary, map, atlas, chart, index, and encyclopedia.

Students will write and edit for:

• syntax
• paragraphing
• word usage
• punctuation
• capitalization
• spelling

Vocabulary Skills:

• synonyms and antonyms
• homophones and homographs Study/Reference Skills
• develop dictionary skills
• develop thesaurus skills
• develop and apply test taking techniques
• encyclopedia
• computer
• on-line services Listening and Speaking
• participate in drama activities
• present for a variety of purposes
• identify rhythm in poetry
• identify various forms of poetry
• give a speech
• develop interviewing techniques

Spelling

Spelling words are phonetically based lessons.  High frequency words and words drawn from a variety of curriculum areas are included.  Students are encouraged to use these words in their daily writing.  Vocabulary from curricular areas are incorporated in weekly lessons.

English

Written and oral communications are integrated throughout the curriculum.

Grammar: Sentences

• subject/predicate
• avoiding fragments
• avoiding run-ons

Grammar: Nouns

• singular and plural
• possessives
• abbreviations
• collective

Grammar: Verbs

• action verbs
• linking verbs
• present, past, and future tense
• regular and irregular verbs
• direct objects and indirect objects
• transitive and intransitive verbs
• predicate

Grammar: Pronouns

• adjectives and adverbs
• avoiding double negatives

Grammar: Prepositions, Conjunctions, Clauses & Phrases

Writing

• know and use the stages of the writing process
• write a business letter
• write a friendly letter
• write a persuasive essay
• use precise, descriptive vocabulary
• use figurative language
• develop an awareness of writing voice
• write a critical review
• write dialogue
• write a research report
• use reference sources
• outline/map main ideas before writing

MATHEMATICS

The goal of the mathematics curriculum is to have students learn to value mathematics, become mathematical problem solvers, become confident in their ability to do math, and learn to reason and communicate mathematically.  concepts are taught through real-life situations and the use of a variety of tools, manipulatives, and materials.  Students participate in instructional activities based upon the following strands:

Numbers:

• read and write whole numbers and decimals expressed as standard numerals and vice versa, through 12 digits
• to write expanded numerals for whole numbers and decimals expressed as standard numerals and vice versa, through 6 digits
• to compare and order, round, add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, money amounts, decimals, like and unlike fractions, and mixed numbers
• to estimate sums, differences, products, and quotients of whole numbers and decimals
• to multiply or divide a decimal by 10, 100, or 1000
• to find the value of a power
• to determine if a number is divisible by 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, or 10
• to find the least common multiple and greatest common factor of up to 3 numbers
• to identify prime and composite numbers and show the prime factorization of a number
• demonstrate the relationship between mixed numbers, fractions, and percents
• to identify, add, subtract, compare and order integers
• to name or locate an ordered pair in a coordinate plane
• to make an organized list to solve a problem

Measurement:

• to choose the appropriate metric or customary units of length, mass, or capacity
• to measure length to the nearest centimeter and millimeter
• to add, subtract, or change between measures of length, mass, or capacity in both systems
• to measure length to the nearest inch, 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch, 1/8 inch/ and 1/16 inch
• to find temperature changes (Fahrenheit and Celsius)
• to add, subtract, or change between units of time
• to find elapsed time across time zones
• to use information from a map, schedule, and a scale model to solve problems

Statistics & Probability

• collect, organize, represent, and interpret data using mean, mode, median, and range and a variety of graphig techniques
• predict and record results of simple probability experiments

Algebra

• to write an equation to solve a problem
• to identify subgoals and solve 2-step problems

Geometry

• to identify and name lines, line segments, rays, polygons, and parts of a circle
• to identify intersecting, parallel, perpendicular lines, congruent, similar, or symmetric figures
• use a compass and protractor accurately
• to name, measure, and classify angles
• to find the measure of an angle in a triangle, given the measure of the other two angles
• to solve problems involving corresponding parts of similar polygons
• to identify translations, rotations, or reflections
• calculate area, perimeter, volume circumference, and surface area
• to identify solid figures and identify their faces, edges, or vertices

SOCIAL STUDIES

The fundamental goal of the Social Studies curriculum is to enrich student awareness of important ideas.  Sixth graders study selected periods of ancient history.  the major themes of the program include:

• ways we learn about the past and the tools and methods of the historian
• meaning of time and chronology
• connections between geography, economics, culture, belief systems, and political systems within history
• basic ideas of major religions and the importance of religion on society and its influence on history

The major topics studied in sixth grade are:

• early mankind and the development of society
• the beginnings of civilizations in Africa, the Near East, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Kush
• the foundation of Western ideas, the ancient Hebrews and Greeks
• the early civilizations of Rome and India including Alexander's wars, Buddhism, Asoka, China, Confucius, and the Han Dynasty
• Roman expansion of trade routes
• growth of Christianity
• Roman contributions to culture

An important part of the Social Studies program is the development of study skills.  Students will:

• locate, select and collect information by interviewing or by using appropriate reference materials
• understand, use and create graphic information such as timelines, charts, tables, graphs, and diagrams
• identify and use map and globe symbols and identify and use different map projections

SCIENCE

Students will study Earth Science which includes the following subjects:

Plate Tectonics and Earth's Structure:

• Structure of the Earth
• Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Shaping the Earth's Surface

• How water shapes the California landscape
• Erosion and deposition

Energy in the Earth System

• Process of photosynthesis
• Organisms in the ecosystem

Resources on the Earth

• Natural origin of materials
• Renewable and nonrenewable resources

Scientific Method, Investigation & Experimentation

• Use appropriate tools and technology - balances, spring scales, microscopes and computers to perform tests
• Demonstrate the steps of the scientific method
• Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral presentations

Study materials include the students science textbook, directed reading workbook, quiz sheets, review questions, video tapes and CD-ROM's.  The science curriculum provides many opportunities for students.

The science curriculum provides many opportunities for students to develop and maintain the essential skills that form the basis for lifelong learning.  The Scientific Method skills are essential for investigating the natural world.  Students learn to ask a question, form a hypothesis, experiment and analyze results.  The curriculum integrates science with reading, writing and math skills through meaningful activities and strategies.