This year's sixth grade home room teacher is Karen Sheaman.

Current Newsletter

Curriculum

BIBLE (Route 66 –Travel Through the Bible)

Students are involved in an Old and New Testament Survey.  They discover how the Bible’s divisions relate, what each book is about, and how each fits into God’s plan.  The purpose of this study is to accomplish the following: 
          to understand Scripture’s primary themes
          to lay a foundation for further study and growth
          to know where to locate key events and characters
          to apply basic Biblical principles
          to challenge students to make a commitment to Christ

MATHEMATICS (McDougal Littell, 2001; Mathematics Concepts and Skills – Course 1)

Topics studies include problem solving and reasoning, expressions and variables, powers and exponents, decimals, fractions and their operations, positive and negative numbers.

READING (Open Court literature and curriculum novels)

Covering literary types such as novels, short stories, and poetry, the sixth grade literature curriculum is drawn from the sixth grade Open Court literature reader and two novels.  Reading sources alternate each quarter with emphasis on identifying and evaluating the literary elements, (plot, character, setting, mood, conflict, climax, resolution, and theme), and the identification, decoding and understanding of literary techniques, (hyperbole, simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, very short sentences, style, mood, theme, and purpose).  Students participate in independent and cooperative reading and discussions, which identify and evaluate the literature themes on all levels of literal and critical thinking.  In response to the literature, students actively participate in independent evaluations in written form while learning to express clearly and thoroughly personal thoughts, and practical and intrinsic understanding.

POETRY

Students are introduced to various types of poetry throughout the year.  In evaluating the style and meaning of each, students are exposed to a wide variety – being challenged to interpret the figurative language used to express ideas about life, love, history and honor.  In order to encourage understanding of poetic form, students participate in writing personal poetry.  Five poems of various style and length are memorized and evaluated each year through daily accumulative review and weekly recitation.

VOCABULARY (Open Court literature text and curriculum novels)

Incorporating words related to weekly literature requirements, students evaluate root sources, word structures, context, specific definitions and possible synonyms for vocabulary word lists.  Practical understanding, application and evaluation of words, is achieved through writing practice, and auditory class interaction.

COMPOSTION / WRITING (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Using curriculum developed and published by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, sixth grade students build on their understanding of language and develop greater skill in writing in the style areas of expository and narrative, while incorporating the following units of study:
l  Note-making and Outlining
l Summarizing from Notes
l Summarizing Narratives
l Summarizing References (Expository)
l Writing from Pictures (Narrative)
l Library Research Reports (Expository)
l Creative Writing (Narrative)
l The Formal Essay (Expository)
l The Formal Critique

This program increases competence in organization, comprehension and writing success.  As part of their experience, students complete two research papers, four book critiques and several brief expository and narrative pieces incorporating complex usage of descriptive parts of speech, clauses, phrases and literary techniques to enhance interest and structure.

Practical writing practice provides opportunity for students to develop every-day writing skills through letters written to soldiers around the world, parents, the United States President and those who provide support for the classroom.

SPELLING (Houghton Mifflin Co.’s Write Source 2000)

Presented with word lists from Houghton Mifflin Co.’s Write Source 2000, students interact with words through sequential auditory, visual and kinesthetic practice – evaluating specific phonetic, structural and spelling rules for each list.  Students apply comprehensive understanding of list words through written, analogical, and skills-based applications.  Students have the opportunity to participate in a Spelling Bee held each year during the second quarter.  Additional spelling words are taken from current vocabulary lists relating directly to current literature.

HANDWRITING (Zaner-Bloser)

Cursive handwriting is reinforced with curriculum and daily work.  The goal is to achieve a clear and readable cursive handwriting that shows correct shape, size, spacing and slant.

SCIENCE (A Beka)

Observing God’s World takes students into many areas of our world.  Students will learn about plants, invertebrates, earth forces and space.  Each chapter involves section questions, note taking, quizzes, and a test.

SOCIAL STUDIES   (A Beka, Old World History & Geography)

Stepping back in time to ancient civilizations, students explore the beginning of civilization, the establishment of empires and the progress of various ancient cultures over the years.  Included in student study is a comprehensive overview of geography, and physical elements related to the continents and countries studied.  Students participate in group study and project assignments, building structures found in ancient cities and countries as well as constructing maps which span the rise and fall of each civilization.

SPANISH

Sixth grade students have Spanish three times a week. Assignments and study time focus on vocabulary necessary for conversation skills and recognition of basic elements in nature and society.  Students are well prepared for advancement to Spanish in middle and high school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Students participate daily in 30 minutes of PE. Activities include group games, which focus on team work and physical conditioning.  Included in the PE program are physical conditioning days during which students complete a series of physical activities for the purpose of developing physical strength and coordination.

MUSIC

Sixth grade students can participate in band, which involves weekly band and individual instrument lessons.  Students also participate in singing at weekly chapel times and in yearly open house programs which focus on a musical content.

ENRICHMENT

In May sixth grade students attend a week of an outdoor education program at Hume Lake Christian Camps.  They are involved in daily classes and activities related to nature and science.  Students also take other field trips through out the year.  They attend chapel weekly, occasionally participate in providing the chapel program and/or music, and are involved in Open House and Grandparents’ Day programs.

ART

Throughout the year, students participate in art-oriented projects which allow them to experiment with and experience various mediums.  Some projects incorporate historical information about artists throughout history and the unique styles displayed by each artist studied.