Big Ideas this year

Math

In Math we will continue to develop students' ability to accurately solve real-world problems accurately using mathematical constructs. This will be accomplished through daily lessons, small group practice, individual feedback and practice problems. Our big ideas include:

Computing fluently with multi-digit numbers and finding common factors and multiples
Dividing fractions by fractions
Begin to work with rational numbers (positives and negatives)
Apply and use ratios to solve problems
Begin to express problems using algebraic expressions and equations (variables)
Reason and solve using inequalities
Calculate area, surface area and volume
Develop and understanding of statistical variability.
Summarize and describe distributions.

Reading

In reading, we have been learning about ocean storms. We have daily class discussions, learn new vocabulary and analyze the text. Some skills we are focusing on are:

Author's Purpose
Citing evidence that supports the author's purpose
Analyze word choice & text features

Writing

This quarter, our focus will be on Argument Writing. Students will practice making a claim and finding evidence that supports it. They will learn how to choose reliable resources to use in supporting those claims and how to refute counterclaims. They will also engage in the writing process of brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

science

By the end of sixth grade, students apply their understanding of how matter and energy relate to atoms, the solar system, and ecosystems.

Students will develop an understanding of the nature of matter and the role of energy transformation. Students will also deepen their understanding of scales, patterns, and properties of matter, the solar system, and ecosystems.

Student investigations focus on collecting and making sense of observational data and measurements using the science and engineering practices: ask questions and define problems, develop and use models, plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, use mathematics and computational thinking, construct explanations and design solutions, engage in argument from evidence, and obtain, evaluate, and communicate information.

While individual lessons may include connections to any of the crosscutting concepts, the standards in sixth grade focus on helping students understand phenomena through patterns; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system models; and energy and matter.

History

Sixth grade's historical focus is on ancient civilizations and their development. Major civilizations we explore are Egypt, China, Rome & Greece. We explore commonalities and difference between these locations as well as to our world today.

For example, we look at why many civilizations developed in and around river valleys (Egypt near the Nile, Rome near the Tiber, etc.).

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