Grade 6
English Language Arts
Secondary English Language Arts teachers will be focusing on the 11 highest priority standards for student learning we have identified. This priority instructional content selected represents the standards most foundational to ELA instruction:
- Close Reading of Complex Texts, and
- Volume of Reading to Build Knowledge
The 11 priority content standards are:
Reading
- Students read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
- Students determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
- Students interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.
- Students analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
- Students read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Writing
- Students write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
- Students draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Speaking and Listening
- Students prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
Language
- Students demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
- Students demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
- Students acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases sufficient for reading, writing, speaking and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when encountering an unknown term important to comprehension or expression.
Sixth graders will be developing their knowledge and skills in these areas in part through their work with grade-level, complex text, which may include:
Math
In sixth grade, students are developing their math content knowledge with a problem-based approach. Each day's lesson is organized around a larger theme for the unit, and sixth graders will study the following units:
- Area and Surface Area
- Introducing Ratios
- Unit Rates and Percentages
- Dividing Fractions
- Arithmetic in Base 10
- Expressions and Equations
- Rational Numbers
- Data Sets and Distributions
Family materials with unit narratives, videos of lesson summaries, and sample problems.
Science
In sixth grade, students are developing their knowledge of the natural world through our FOSS curriculum. Students will engage with concept of systems within nature and organisms. The three units of study are:
- Weather & Water
- Diversity of Life
- Human Systems Interactions
History - Social Studies
In history, students will be continuing to develop their skills for engaging in evidence-based historical inquiry. In sixth grade, students are focusing on learning about ancient civilizations, and their teachers will be prioritizing adapted lessons from among the following units
- Origins of Civilization
- Civilizations and Peoples of the Fertile Crescent
- Ancient Egypt and Kush
- Early Civilizations of India
- Early Civilizations of China
- Ancient Greece
- Roman Republic
- The Roman and Byzantine Empires
