This course develops the sixth-grade students’ literacy habits and skills. Teachers incorporate flexible grouping, mini lessons, and conferring to improve student learning. A high volume of daily, independent reading is expected, both in school and at home.  

 Students engage in ongoing reading work and literature analysis using selected mentor texts, including novels, short stories, poetry, and drama, as well as student-selected texts to study the elements of literature (plot, character, conflict, theme and setting). Sixth grade students also analyze writing techniques and participate in in-depth studies of how authors develop characters, use perspective, convey theme, and address social issues. 

 Writing instruction in this course focuses on writing narratives and literary analysis essays. Poetry and responses to reading are also written throughout the year. Lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics will be integrated in all units. 

The lessons and units are aligned to the PA Core Standards for English Language Arts.

6th Grade Units: 

Unit 1: Characters Who Change and Grow

Unit 2: Author’s Craft in Fiction and Nonfiction 

Unit 3: Analytical Reading and Writing

Unit 4: Kindness and Social Issues

Self-selected readings, vocabulary, and grammar run concurrently with the above units.

Students in this grade-level course begin the study of more abstract mathematical concepts. Students will learn ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning for problem solving; perform fraction and decimal operations and study rational numbers; write, interpret and use expressions, equations and inequalities; solve problems involving area, surface area, and volume; summarize and describe distributions and understand variability. This course specifically focuses on the grade six Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Mathematics.

The sixth-grade life science curriculum emphasizes the nature of science and the scientific method. This course utilizes guided inquiry-based, laboratory activities and projects to provide students with an understanding about our living world and the process of science. 

Units

• Scientific Method
• Taxonomy
• Cells and Microscopes
• Genetics and Natural Selection
• Environment and Ecology

6^th Grade Social Studies is a yearlong course infused with basic geography skills and the development of reading and writing strategies and skills 

Course content includes the study of the history, economics, government, and physical and cultural geography of 3 regions: 

Europe
Asia
Africa

The units are generally studied in chronological order and focus on the 20^th Century through the present day