Grade Six Curriculum

• Earth-Sun system
• Meteorology, climate change and sustainability
• Earth’s place in the Universe
• Earth’s internal processes and the composition of Earth’s crust
• Plate tectonics and resulting geological events
• Local geologic history

Skills

• Observing nature and its relationships
• Measurement of scientific properties using a variety of tools and units
• Recording, manipulating, plotting and analyzing data
• Asking questions and forming conclusions
• Analyzing visuals including figures, maps, charts and graphs
• Problem solving and collaboration

Number development and operations

• Factors and multiples (LCM & GCF)
• Order of operations
• Fractions/decimals/percentage
• Integers

Geometry and spatial relationships

• Scale drawings
• Attributes of 2-D and 3-D figures
• Area and perimeter
• Ratio and proportion
• Variable equation

Algebraic Development

• Estimating
• Problem-solving
• Building new mathematics knowledge; applying appropriate strategies

Learn more about the mathematics program

Interscholastic athletics

• Fall: soccer, field hockey, football, cross-country
• Winter: basketball, hockey, wrestling, squash
• Spring: lacrosse, track, baseball, softball, tennis

Skills

• Developing sportsmanship and appreciation of sports
• Team problem solving and building camaraderie
• Understanding strategy, concepts and rules
• Competing against 30+ schools in the Boston area

Developing executive function skills necessary for writing a major research paper

• Time management
• Topic selection
• Writing an outline
• Taking notes
• Paraphrasing versus plagiarism
• Creating topic sentences
• Preparing a bibliography
• Structuring an essay
• Editing process
• Identifying and properly citing a reliable source
• Conducting responsible online research

Reading

• Engaging with independently chosen books
• Introduction to annotation: tracing themes/ guided reading through Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
• Exploring literary devices through various texts
  Critical reading/exploration of texts including short stories and the text A Long Walk to Water through the lens of year-long essential questions:  “How do multiple perspectives and voices serve to contribute to cultures of peace?” and “How can we use language as a vehicle to communicate those perspectives?”
• Skills: inference, cause and effect, prediction, drawing conclusions, author’s intent/moral, theme, conflict/resolution

Writing

• Developing thesis statements
• Supporting claims with clear and reasonable evidence
• Writing cohesive paragraphs and papers about literature with the use of templates
• Applying grammar/punctuation conventions in paragraphs and papers
• Choosing topics, writing a cohesive paragraph, writing in past/present tense, editing
• Incorporating new vocabulary words into writing
• Creative writing through journal entries and stories

Verbal

• Engaging effectively and respectfully in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on a variety of topics.
• Supporting claims with clear and reasonable evidence
• Making inference from text
• Presenting academic ideas in a clear and articulate way

Chorus

• Performance based; all Middle School grades mixed together
• Various types of music performed, in various groupings
• Continued improvement in vocal sound; emphasis on sight-reading

Wind and String Ensembles

• All Middle School grades mixed together in separate wind and string groups to perform varied musical selections
• Emphasis on ensemble togetherness, sight-reading and technique

General Music

• Taught in separate grade-level sections
• Music history and music theory; includes some performance
• Emphasis on musical elements
• Opera, percussion playing, folk dancing
• How to listen to music

• Summer reading unit
• Designing and constructing personal vessels
• Mask-making
• Sculpting in clay
• Elaboration of form

Speech 101

• Demonstration speech
• Impromptu speaking (limited preparation)
• Storytelling (tales from around the world)
• Opportunities to participate in Massachusetts Middle School Speech League

Skills

• Understanding the importance of public speaking
• Organizing and writing a speech and presenting it clearly and concisely
• Reducing anxiety about speaking in front of groups
• Developing skill in oral language and voice/body expression
• Demonstrating how to be a skilled speaker
• Developing a story with a clear and engaging plot structure
• Developing character texts that differentiate narrator and characters
• Demonstrating a creative use of language, voice and body