Mandatory Classes

The sixth grade literacy curriculum extends the structures and strategies of the elementary program into the middle school setting. The curriculum emphasizes reading strategies, literature appreciation, and elements of fiction through a variety of shared texts and independent reading. Our goal is for students to develop a love for literature by exposing them to diverse texts and nurturing their reading lives through individual reading conferences, book talks and discussion groups. 

Our writing curriculum engages students in all aspects of the writing process. Student choice is incorporated into the prewriting and drafting processes to allow students to explore meaningful topics. Also, individual writing conferences address student writing needs while emphasizing meaningful revision and editing techniques. Students are exposed to a variety of writing experiences that include narrative, creative, and analytical writing. For a presentation, click here. 

6th grade science students will complete the following units:

Earth Science: We will begin our investigation of Earth Science by looking at the forces that shape Earth’s surface, including weathering, erosion, and deposition. We will look at how matter cycles during fast and slow changes on Earth’s surface.  We will also investigate how Earth’s strata tell a story of Earth’s history, climate, and life. Students explore Earth’s history by learning about the methods scientists use to determine the relative and absolute ages of rocks and the use of the geologic time scale to describe deep time.  We will also learn the structure of the Earth and the internal processes that account for important features of Earth’s surface and major geologic events.  Many Earth Science topics will be further reinforced through the natural geology of southeastern Missouri while students are at Sixth Grade Camp.

Ecology: All things are connected and affected by each other. Students explore the many interactions that result in the diversity of populations, communities and ecosystems. First, they will distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors in the environment. From there, they discover that many variables affect the size of each level of organization and it is not always easy to figure out how they will change.  Students will focus on an Missouri Ecosystem as the lens through which they learn about ecology.  

For a slide deck, click here 

Throughout the academic year, students will embark on a captivating journey that explores the interconnectedness of physical, human, and environmental systems shaping our planet. By delving into key thematic units, this course aims to foster critical thinking, spatial awareness, and a holistic appreciation for the diverse landscapes and cultures that make up our global community. 

6/7 Accelerated Math
6/7 Accelerated Math is the first course in a two course sequence that covers 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math Missouri Learning Standards. This course serves as an intervention to meet the specialized needs of students who require acceleration and compacting of curriculum to make continued growth in the area of mathematics. Curricula for 6/7 Accelerated Math addresses all 6th grade Missouri Learning Standards and some 7th grade standards with an emphasis on the Mathematical Practices of precision, problem-solving, perseverance, reasoning, and communication.  Daily instruction in 6/7 Accelerated Math involves a minimal review of prerequisite skills, is quicker paced, requires increased learner independence, and involves participation in grappling with novel problems and situations. 

Major topics of study in 6/7 Accelerated Math are organized in the following units of study that include both 6th and 7th grade standards 1) Area and Surface Area, (2) Ratios and Rates,  (3) Fractions and Decimals, (4)  Expressions and Equations, (5) Proportional Relationships, (6) Percentages, (7)  Positive and Negative Numbers, (8) Data Sets and Distributions.

Health (1 Quarter)
The sixth-grade Health curriculum includes Internet Safety (protecting personal information, digital footprint, and protection from online predators).  Violence prevention is a topic that is covered with a focus on victims, aggressors, and bystanders/upstanders related to bullying and cyberbullying.  Lastly, the human reproductive systems are studied with a focus on anatomy and physiology and how to keep the systems healthy. A letter will be sent home before this unit begins with more details on content, so as to prepare parents for potential questions or discussions that may take place at home. For more information, click here 

Spanish 6
The focus of 6th grade Spanish is on common conversational topics as well as cultural concepts.  Language skills focus on conversation, writing and basic grammatical structures.  Units of study include an introductory unit, reviewing greetings, and goodbyes, common conversational Spanish, including days, weeks, months, weather etc.  Unit 2 will be about describing yourself and others, likes and dislikes.  Unit 3 is about school, time, and schedules, and Unit 4 is about the family. Cultural components are taught throughout the year, focusing on Hispanics in the US, as well as the varying Spanish-speaking countries. Spanish is taught through games, hands-on activities, and projects.  This course is open to students who have had past Spanish experience, as well as students who are new to the language. We will read one novel in Spanish each semester as a class.