Grade 6 Required Courses

In the Middle School at AISJ, we advocate a student-centered, collaborative approach in support of balanced literacy. Reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking are the focus of the Middle School English Language Arts (ELA) program. To ensure each child has the opportunity to become avid and skilled readers and writers, we utilize a reading and writing workshop approach. This approach provides students with a supportive environment that involves them in authentic reading and writing experiences that focus on the strengths and needs of each student. In a workshop format, reading and writing mini-lessons are taught using mentor texts in each genre studied. Students meet regularly with their teacher as they develop ideas and draft their writing pieces in various genres.

Writing in Middle School is guided by The Six Traits +1 model of writing, which focuses on the six traits of writing competency. A writing process approach to written work is also used, providing students with a process that takes them through the pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing stages to a final writing piece.

Throughout the year, students choose books at their independent reading level and meet in book clubs. Additionally, students meet individually and in small groups with their teacher in a conference style to talk about their reading lives which helps to inform personalized instruction. Students work in groups on comprehension and analytical strategies with the teacher and independently to practice these skills. Student choice in titles is valued within the reading genres studied in a workshop. The curriculum supporting a workshop approach creates an opportunity for the students to work hard and emphasizes personal responsibility and self-initiation on the part of the student and expertise and passion for literature and writing on the part of the teacher.

Our units of study are entitled:

• Realistic Fiction (Reading) Perspective

• Persuasive Speech (Writing) Perspective

• Stories That Teach Us Lessons (Identity)

• Poetry (Power of Words)

• Informational Articles (Truth)

Independent Reading

Students will be expected to read an independent text each night for at least 20-30 minutes or aim to read 180 minutes a week. Students have a free choice in what they read for independent reading, but very often they are guided in their decisions.

At times, other texts will take precedence over a student's independent book, but the expectation of nightly reading will remain.

The Science 6 program uses the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). NGSS scientific and engineering practices/skills (what students do), cross cutting concepts (how students think) and core ideas (what students know) guide our science learning K-12. The NGSS provide a strong science program that equips students with the ability to think critically, explore scientific phenomena, ask questions, carry out hand-on investigations, analyze information and solve complex problems. In Science 6, the major units are Thermal Energy, Forces and Motion, Body Systems, and Ecosystems. 

The Middle School Physical Education program allows students to explore and participate in a range of sports and activities from around the world. The intention is for students to develop a lifelong love of sports and physical activity and to understand the benefits of an active and balanced lifestyle.

The Grade 6 physical education course is designed as a ‘taster’ of many different activities for students to engage in.  Students will study many units of work, including team sports, individual and lifetime sports, creative movement, aquatics, games, and fitness.  Students in grade 6 PE will also explore the critical conceptual elements essential in different types of games (invasion, net, striking etc.) through inquiry and create their own games utilizing these elements.  During the aquatics unit, Grade 6 students also complete a service learning project where they teach kindergarten students about water safety.  Examples of units include kickball, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, soccer, touch rugby, aquatics, 5km training and acro gymnastics, among other potential units, dependent on resources and availability.  The objective of the grade 6 course is for students to be able to have an introduction to a variety of sports, which they will further explore in grades 7 and 8.  In Grade 6 PE, students are assessed on their personal fitness, skill development, and movement concepts and principles.  Assessment varies and includes practical performance and gameplay, rubrics, observation, video analysis, and self and peer assessment.  

In Grade 6 Health, students will study the Health Triangle, which reminds us about the different aspects of our health. Physical health is all about our bodies and our daily choices concerning nutrition, exercise and sleep. Mental and Emotional health is all about our thoughts and feelings, which make us who we are. We focus on building a healthy self-esteem and learning how to express our emotions in a healthy way. Social health is all about relationships and we focus on school issues, such as Peer Pressure and Bullying. Another big component is the Grade 6 Health program is the inclusion of a Child Protection Unit, which the Middle School Counselor facilitates.  

Students are guided when discovering new knowledge and encouraged to inquire about developing new understanding and reflecting on their own lives and experiences. Through discussions in group and whole class settings, students can share their own unique learning process with their peers.  Students apply their learning through problem-solving numerous tasks and challenges.