Grade 6 LC Quarter Two Newsletter

Welcome to the second quarter of Grade 6!

Here you will find brief overviews of the topics and themes that will be covered in the core classes this quarter. Should you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact the appropriate subject's teacher. General questions can be directed to the office or the team leads, Peter Gibson (pgibson@jisedu.or.id) or Adam Fox (afox@jisedu.or.id).

Please follow the JIS Middle School Social Media Accounts on Instagram and Twitter @msnaganaga.

MATHEMATICS

What have we done in Math?

After beginning the year with some welcome activities and organizational training for Google Classroom, which helps grade 6 students build independence with classwork, we quickly moved on to geometry, where students learned to apply their understanding of area to solve for surface area. Since then, we have turned our focus to Ratios, Rates, and Percentages. Beginning with an introduction to ratios, students participate in regular class concept-building activities and independent practice to help them develop and demonstrate their understanding and fluency. Furthermore, students are expected to begin to develop their reasoning skills around proportional relationships.

How can you help at home?

Ask your child to explain what they are learning about in math. Review their notebook and ask questions about what you observe. Focus on their process and reasoning, rather than solutions. We encourage parents to share their own methods while still encouraging students to learn other strategies from class if they ask for help. We want students to be open-minded to different ways of solving problems. Remind your child that a healthy amount of struggle helps their brain grow and celebrate learning from their mistakes.

ENGLISH

Our focus for quarter three will be on nonfiction reading and writing. The Grade 6 students will learn about the different ways writers organise nonfiction and develop strategies to use and analyse nonfiction texts. Students will write informational/explanatory texts, following the features and structures of this genre. Students will engage in research, which will inform their writing. Students will also continue to read independently. Parents can promote lifelong reading habits at home by ensuring students have a quiet space, access to books, and ample time to read. Please let us know if your child is having trouble finding suitable books to read.

SOCIAL STUDIES

How is it that different people can watch the same event unfold and recount the situation with opposing details? During the Quarter 2 unit, "Shaping Our Perspectives," students will explore the topics of bias and viewpoints to understand why people see and interpret world events differently.

Throughout the quarter, students will explore how “mass media” has evolved due to innovations in technology. They will practice looking at sources with a critical eye in order to determine whether a news report is objective, reliable, and factual. Later in the quarter, students will examine the past with a modern mindset, exploring historical events that may have been recorded in the past with bias or with one perspective told.

As we progress through the unit, please continue to have ongoing conversations at home about your child’s inquiry process and growing understanding. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teachers. The unit will end with an investigation about well-known historical figures. Students will learn about multiple perspectives, and will write a news article arguing whether or not certain statues should remain standing.

SCIENCE

During Quarter 2, students will be digging into Earth Science! We will learn about shapes and composition of the Earth’s surface and the processes and energy that cause these features to change over time.

We will

develop models to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
analyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of past plate motions
construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes.
describe how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact earth's systems.

It should be a rockin’ time!

Physical Education

Welcome to Grade 6 PE!

In Grade 6 Physical Education, students will participate in a variety of activity units throughout the year, including eight different units:

Surf or Turf (Aquatic strokes and Water safety)
To Infinity and Beyond (Bouldering and Wall Climbing)
Ultimate Invaders (Flag Football and Touch Rugby)
Space Invaders (Endball and Benchball)
Games of the East (Badminton and Smashball)
Strike Force (Striking and Fielding Games)
Body in Motion (Health-Related Fitness)
Invasion IQ (Korfball and Netball)

Throughout each unit, students will build a range of movement skills such as throwing, kicking, dodging, balancing, striking, and swimming. They will also learn how to apply strategies to solve movement challenges, work as a team, and take on different roles and responsibilities to support safety and cooperation. Students will be encouraged to adapt their skills to different games and situations, think critically, and reflect on how they can improve their performance.

In addition to game-based learning, students will explore concepts of health and fitness. They will learn how to monitor their heart rate, understand different activity intensity levels, and create a personal fitness plan that includes strength, endurance, flexibility, and body awareness. Across all units, students will be supported in developing confidence, resilience, and responsibility in physical activity. The goal is to help students enjoy being active, grow in their physical literacy, and build lifelong habits that support a healthy and active lifestyle.

How Can Parents Help from Home?

You can support your child’s success in Physical Education by helping them come to class prepared and ready to participate. Please ensure they get enough sleep the night before, bring a full water bottle, wear the PE uniform, and pack any additional items needed for specific units—such as swimwear and a towel for aquatics, or appropriate footwear and sunscreen for outdoor activities. If lessons are held outside, a hat and sunscreen are also recommended. Taking a few minutes to talk with your child about what they learned in PE or how they felt during an activity can help reinforce healthy habits and build confidence in their physical abilities.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Grade 6 PE teachers:

📧 rsetiawan@jisedu.or.id

📧 lclaydon@jisedu.or.id

English as an Additional Language:

David Schneer (wschneer@jisedu.or.id) will support EAL students.

Here are some resources that can help from home:

PowerSchool - Attendance and performance grades/comments are recorded here. It is recommended that you and your child review this together to assess their progress.

Google Classroom - Teachers use this to support learning in class. This is also a tool that students can refer to for support at home as well, as it will contain resources used in the lessons, as well as assignments and some student work. Parents, please ask your child to show you their Google Classroom.

Report abuse