6th Grade Curriculum

Literature and Composition

Course Objective: To prepare students to be able to communicate and express themselves as Christians in an ungodly world; to examine different genres of literature.

Course Description: This course consists of five components: literature, composition, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. The literature component is built around selected books read by the class as a whole, as well as by using specific stories from the grade level literature book. Students are required to read daily and to complete a quarterly book report project. Composition assignments are taken from journal prompts and selected class discussions from literature books. The basic writing process (outline, rough draft, editing, and final draft) is practiced. Grammar and Vocabulary/Spelling alternate weekly.

Areas to be Evaluated:

  • Vocabulary – Spelling

  • Comprehension and expression

  • Compose written work that is articulate, clear, creative, grammatically accurate, and that has a meaningful purpose

  • Appreciation of literature

  • Oral speaking

Summer Reading:

  1. Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

  2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

  3. Class Readers

  4. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

  5. Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

  6. Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse

  7. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Course Content/Themes

First Quarter: Where I Belong/Autobiographies

Second Quarter: Growing Times: Biographies: Fiction: Poetry

Third Quarter: What’s Most Important: The Will to Win: Short Stories: Poetry

Fourth Quarter: To Strange Places: Science fiction: Drama: Poetry

Student/Teacher Resources and Texts:

  • Literature – The Reader’s Choice, Course 1: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill/2000 edition

  • God’s Gift of Language C: 3rd edition: A Beka Book; Pensacola, FL 2010 edition

  • Wordly Wise 3000 Book 6 2nd edition: Educator’s Publishing Service/2007/Cambridge, MA

  • Vocabulary from Classical Roots: 2006 edition: Educator’s Publishing Service/2000/Cambridge, MA

  • The Winston Grammar Program: Teacher edition only. Battleground, WA: Precious Memories Education Resources, 1982.

Math

Objective: The challenge of middle school mathematics course of study is to acquire a deeper understanding of math concepts, a proficiency in math skills, mastering all arithmetic functions, fractions, decimals and measurements; becoming fluent in rounding, estimating, interpreting data, using basic geometric terms and functions, problem solving techniques; and developing algebraic thinking.

Textbooks: Saxon Math, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Time Allotment: 60 minutes for 175 days

Course Content

(The Saxon program mixes math concepts throughout the year in a cyclical pattern for planned practice and repetition – the following highlights areas of emphasis):

First Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, analysis and probability, and problem solving

Second Quarter: Number and operations, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving, algebra

Third Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, problem solving, data analysis and probability

Fourth Quarter: Number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis and probability, problem solving

Areas to be Evaluated: Above course content and mathematical practices

Science

Objective: Students will develop an understanding that science is constant, historic, probabilistic, and replicable because God is sovereign over all the universe.

Textbooks: Observing God’s World, 4th Edition (A Beka Books, 2010)

Time Allotment: 35 minutes for 85 days

Course Content

(Approx. 3 weeks each unit)

  • Plants: their structures and processes that enable them to survive

  • Earth’s structures: constructive and destructive forces that affect and change Earth and its inhabitants

  • Earth in the universe: the seasons, tides, phases of the moon, gravity, space exploration

  • Matter: Properties and change – atoms and the effect on atoms through heat. Compare properties of substances – density, melting point, boiling point, etc.

  • Energy: Conservation and transfer

  • Ecosystems: Biomes – producers, consumers, decomposers – biotic and abiotic factors

Areas to be Evaluated: Class participation, tests, class assignments.

Social Studies

Objective: Students will recognize and honor God as the author of creation and the molder of history. Students will examine creation and Biblical / historical events from approximately 4004 BC to approximately 630 BC.

Textbooks: The Mystery of History, Volume I

Time Allotment: 35 minutes per day for approx. 85 days

Course Content

First Quarter: Creation to 1199 BC (Gideon)

Second Quarter: 1117 (Samson) – 629 BC The Rise of Athens and Sparta

Areas to be Evaluated: Course content through class participation, tests, quizzes, maps and projects

Physical Education

Objective: Students will develop competent motor skills, behavioral strategies to demonstrate responsibility, respect of self and others, and understand the importance of achieving and maintaining a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

Time Allotment: 45 minutes a day; 5 days a week for 175 days

Course Content

3 Weeks: Personal / Social Responsibility

11 Weeks: Motor Skills

11 Weeks: Movement Concepts

11 Weeks: Health Related Fitness

Areas to Be Evaluated: Participation as an individual and in a group, Teacher observation, Role-playing, Checklists / Fitnessgram / Assessments,

Quizzes