Sixth Grade Math

Overview

  • We are one of three classrooms in the district participating in the pilot program for sixth grade.
  • The McDougal Littell Course I textbook corresponds directly with the middle school academic math program. They have currently adopted Course II and Course III for their seventh and eighth grade programs.
  • Please take some time to look through your son or daughter’s textbook to see the variety of topics.
  • Number Sense and Algebraic Thinking
  • Measurement and Statistics
  • Decimal Operations
  • Number Patterns and Fraction Operations
  • Ratio, Proportion, and Percent
  • Geometric Figures and Measurements
  • Integers
  • Equations and Functions
  • Probability and Statistics

Classroom Expectations

  • Students are expected to come to class with a pencil, a pen, their math materials, and their completed math homework.
  • Math homework will be assigned nightly Monday-Thursday. Students are expected to complete their homework in an organized manner with work neatly shown.
  • Students can best help themselves by participating in class and asking questions!
  • Throughout the year students will have opportunities to extend their learning through various enrichment activities.

Additional Resources

  • Log onto to explore the vast array of extra support and enrichment activities.
  • Home tutor
  • Animated math
  • On-line book

Sixth Grade Science

Overview

  • 6th Grade is an exciting year for science, with hands-on activities almost every day
  • Throughout the year we will use scientific inquiry and the scientific method to answer important questions
  • We will work with a variety of partners and small groups to achieve our goals
  • We will have science homework almost every night, which includes reviewing notes and vocabulary
  • Each marking period we will study different science concepts
  • More information about this program is available at

Variables Unit

Pendulums

Students experiment with variables that may or may not affect the behavior of pendulums. Theyconclude bygraphing their results, predicting the behavior of additional pendulums.

Lifeboats

Students construct a fleet of paper-cup boats and discover how many passengers (pennies) each will hold before sinking. The variables of boat depth and arrangement of passengers are explored. Studentsthen use a syringe and agraduated cylinder to determine thecapacity of theirships.

Airplanes

Students construct rubber-band–powered airplanes and fly them on a line. Experiments are conductedwith a number of variables to see how each affects the distance the plane travels.

Catapults

Students manipulate small catapults called flippers to investigate the variables that contribute to the highest and longest flips of objects. Controlled experiments are conducted and the results are graphed for analysis.

Environments Unit

Terrestrial Environments

Students set up terrariums, observe them fortwo weeks, and describe the environmental factors that contribute to the terrarium environment.

Beetles & Isopods

Students construct a runway to investigate how isopods and darkling beetles respond to environmental factors such as water and light, and determine the environmental preferences.

Water Tolerance

Students set up and monitor an experiment to determine the range of water tolerance for early growth of four kinds of plants: corn, pea, barley, and radish.

Aquatic Environments

Students set up freshwater aquariums with fish and plants. They alsomonitor the environmental factors in the systems, testing the acidity of the water using a chemical indicator.

Brine Shrimp Hatching

Students conduct a controlled experiment to determine which of four salt concentrations allow brine shrimp eggs to hatch. Additionally, they determine range of tolerance and optimum conditions.

Biomes

Students work as research teams and create a content-filled newsletter on a specific Earth region known as a biome.

Animal Adaptations

Students research physical and behavioral animal adaptations. The investigation culminates in the creationof a fictional animal with a special combination of adaptations

Levers & Pulleys Unit

LearningGoals

  • Gain experience with the concept of force and the application of force to do work
  • Gain experience with the relationships between the components of lever systems and pulley systems
  • Gain experience with the concept of advantage as it relates to simple machines
  • Analyze real-world tools and machines in terms of the simple machines that make them work
  • Systematically collect and record data
  • Use measurement in the context of scientific investigations
  • Use diagrams to translate three-dimensional relationships into two dimensions
  • Acquire vocabulary associated with two simple machines (levers and pulleys)
  • Apply mathematics in the context of science
  • Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations: observing, communicating, comparing, organizing, and relating

Sixth Grade Language Arts

Writing

  • Sixth grade students write daily across the different subject areas and their writing can take various forms
  • Formal pieces can include narrative writing, persuasive writing, and research-based writing
  • Informal pieces can include fictional stories, lists, and poetry
  • The Writer’s Notebook allows students to informally record impressions, memories and ideas
  • You can click the link to take you to Ralph Fletcher’s website for more writing tips.

Word Study

  • Sixth grade uses word study lessons to investigate word patterns, prefixes, suffixes, root words, and word endings that aid in spelling and vocabulary
  • Students will experience multiple opportunities to learn word awareness in natural contexts, such as their own writing and their content area subjects
  • Proofreading and editing strategies will strengthen, along with spelling and vocabulary skills, as word study instruction is provided throughout the year

Making Meaning

  • Making Meaning is a reading comprehension program
  • Students are taught specific comprehension strategies to practice in their individual daily reading
  • Some of the comprehension strategies being taught in sixth grade are:

Retelling

Using schema/Making connections

Visualizing

Wondering/Questioning

Making Inferences

Determining important ideas

Understanding text structure

Summarizing

Synthesizing

  • Part of the program is Individualized Daily Reading. Students are required to read text that is at their level for up to 30 minutes a day.
  • Learning how to work together to build a reading community is built into the program.

Classroom Novels

  • Making Meaning strategies are also incorporated into the classroom novels
  • Novels are read as a class in a variety of learning structures

Sixth Grade Social Studies

  • Sixth grade social studies students investigate some of the most important ancient civilizations.
  • Some of these civilizations include Egypt, China, India, and Mesopotamia.
  • Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of ancient and modern culture as well as the key social sciences.
  • We will apply important geography concepts to many exciting projects and activities throughout the year.
  • Additionally, students will have the opportunity to develop their outlining, note taking, and presentation skills, as well their ability to work cooperatively in a small group.