Great Works Books & Supplies
Grade 6
THEME: RECOGNITION 

SEMESTER 1: Book List

Unit 1: Braving New Worlds

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U1  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • The Giver by Lois Lowry

STEAM

• • Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

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Unit 2: Universal Truths

7 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U2  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

STEAM

• • A Really Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

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Unit 3: On the Move

3 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U3  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez

STEAM

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

SEMESTER 1: Supply List

Unit 1: Braving New Worlds

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U1  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: The Perfect Community

• No Supplies Needed

WORLD PROJECT 2: The Power of Choice

• No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: Hungry Like the Wolf

• No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 2: Meltdown

• Water at room temperature

• Table salt or sea salt

• A tablespoon measuring spoon

• Two identical clear glasses or jars that hold at least three cups of water

• An ice cube tray to make uniform pieces of ice

• Ice

• Dark food coloring (or a substitute like blueberry or pomegranate juice)

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Unit 2: Universal Truths

7 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U2  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: All Roads Lead to China

• No Supplies Needed

WORLD PROJECT 2: Testing, Testing

• No Supplies Needed

WORLD PROJECT 3: Mythmaking

• No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: A Star is Born

• Two magnifying glasses — 1–1.5 inch (2.5–3 cm) diameter (it works best if one is larger than the other)

• Cardboard tube — paper towel roll or gift-wrapping paper roll

• Duct tape

• Scissors

• Ruler, yard stick, or tape measure

• A few sheets of paper

• Small (3–5 inch) square of tinfoil

• Tape

• Safety pin

STEAM PROJECT 2: Model Earth

• • Measuring cups

  • Corn syrup

  • Liquid soap

  • Water

  • Rubbing alcohol

  • Cooking oil

  • Clear tall glasses

  • Uncooked rice

  • Uncooked quinoa

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Materials to create a model of Earth’s layers: art supplies, clay, recycled objects

STEAM PROJECT 3: Tiny Wonders

• Half-gallon of milk (pasteurized) or soy/almond/dairy alternative milk

• Glass bowl with a tightly fitting lid

• 8 ounce cup of plain Greek yogurt with live active cultures (can use dairy alternative yogurt with live active cultures)

• Large metal saucepan

• Stove or heating source

• Heating pad

• Small towel

• Cooking thermometer

• Tablespoon measuring spoons

• Whisk

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Unit 3: On the Move

3 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U3  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: Mexico Through the Ages

• No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: Splish Splash

• Recycled plastic bottle

• Paper cup

• Straws or rubber hose

• Cardboard

• Aluminum foil

• Plastic wrap

• Balloons

SEMESTER 2: Book List

Unit 4: Taking the Lead

7 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U4  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

STEAM

• • The Disappearing Spoon (Young Readers Edition) by Sam Kean

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Unit 5: Facing History

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U5  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall III

STEAM

• How We Got to Now (Young Readers Edition) by Steven Johnson

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Unit 6: Guiding Principles

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U6  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD

• • Crossing the Stream by Elizabeth-Irene Baitie

STEAM

• • Hidden Figures (Young Readers Edition) by Margot Shetterly

SEMESTER 2: Supply List

Unit 4: Taking the Lead

7 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U4  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: Who Rules? We Rule!

• • No Supplies Needed

WORLD PROJECT 2: Friends, Romans, Countrymen

• • No Supplies Needed

WORLD PROJECT 3: The Fault in Our Typos

• • No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: In Your Element

• No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 2: Sticky Molecules

• A penny

• Pipettes or droppers

• Water

• A small container to hold water

• Liquids like vinegar, oil, vanilla, dish soap, or juice

• Ice cube tray

• Freezer

• Items to explore and explain a unique property of water

STEAM PROJECT 3: Reaction Action

• Baking soda

• Vinegar

• Tablespoon for measuring

• An airtight, sealable plastic bag, or a think plastic bottle and balloon

• Hydrogen peroxide (3%)

• Dish soap

• Dry yeast 

• Warm water

• Baking sheet

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Unit 5: Facing History

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U5  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: This Land Is Your Land

• A sheet of posterboard

• Art supplies, such as pencils, markers, crayons, glue, and scissors

WORLD PROJECT 2: This Land Is Your Land

• • No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: Innovation Stations

• Measuring spoons

• Measuring cup

• Sugar

• Half and half (alternatively, milk or heavy whipping cream may be used)

• Vanilla extract

• Salt (different types of salts, such as table salt or rock salt, should work but may give slightly different results.)

• Two small, sealable bags, such as pint-size or sandwich-size bags with zippers

• Two gallon-size sealable bags

• Eight cups of ice cubes

• Oven mitts or a small towel

• Two large paper cups (or disposable plastic cups)

• Two paper clips or toothpicks

• Cotton string or fishing line from 10 to 30 feet long

• Milk with some fat (must be either whole milk or 2%)

• Water-based food coloring or colored juice — the more colors the better

• Dish soap

• Shallow dish or bowl

STEAM PROJECT 2: The Scientific Method

• No Supplies Needed

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Unit 6: Guiding Principles

5 Weeks  |  GW-REC-U6  |  CURRICULUM

WORLD PROJECT 1: This Land Is Your Land

• A sheet of posterboard

• Art supplies, such as pencils, markers, crayons, glue, and scissors

WORLD PROJECT 2: This Land Is Your Land

• • No Supplies Needed

STEAM PROJECT 1: Innovation Stations

• Measuring spoons

• Measuring cup

• Sugar

• Half and half (alternatively, milk or heavy whipping cream may be used)

• Vanilla extract

• Salt (different types of salts, such as table salt or rock salt, should work but may give slightly different results.)

• Two small, sealable bags, such as pint-size or sandwich-size bags with zippers

• Two gallon-size sealable bags

• Eight cups of ice cubes

• Oven mitts or a small towel

• Two large paper cups (or disposable plastic cups)

• Two paper clips or toothpicks

• Cotton string or fishing line from 10 to 30 feet long

• Milk with some fat (must be either whole milk or 2%)

• Water-based food coloring or colored juice — the more colors the better

• Dish soap

• Shallow dish or bowl

STEAM PROJECT 2: The Scientific Method

• No Supplies Needed