Grade 6 Curriculum
St. Thomas
Aquinas
School Curriculum
reflects the requirements outlined by
the Diocese of Manchester,
NH
…dedicated to the spiritual,
moral,
physical, and intellectual development of students
English/Language Arts
The students will focus on communications through oral presentation and the written language.
Language
Identify and correctly use: nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections.
Construct compound sentences.
Recognize and fix run-on sentences and fragments.
Diagram a simple sentence to analyze its structure.
Recall and correctly use commas, periods, colons, semicolons, and quotation marks.
Composition
Write logical, concise paragraphs.
Express dialogue with proper use of quotation marks.
Demonstrate ability to format both friendly and business letters.
Write brief reports with appropriate foci and logically organized supporting details.
Explore the use of figurative elements such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, simile, and metaphor.
Identify and describe the elements of a limerick poem and write a limerick according to form.
Literature
Identify foreshadowing clues, recognize figurative language, and analyze author’s use of dialogue and description.
Provide evidence from a story to support understanding of the plot, setting, character, conflict and theme.
Analyze elements of poetry including simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration and repetition.
Use novels within classroom setting to encourage independent reading.
Math
Problem Solving
Use and review all strategies that involve graphs, tables, lists, formulas, models, and classification.
Use plans to work backward, logical reasoning, and equations to solve problems.
Estimation
Reinforce and integrate estimation strategies.
Use these skills to solve equations mentally.
Number Sense and Operations
Reinforce rounding, comparing, and ordering of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions.
Introduce four basic operations of integers.
Introduce scientific notation and negative exponents.
Relate fractions to decimals.
Extend understanding of order of operations to include powers raised to powers and its relation to algebraic equations.
Fractions
Review basic operations of fractions and mixed numbers.
Master all addition and subtraction with regrouping and remaining.
Geometry and Measurement
Introduce construction of congruent, parallel, and perpendicular lines.
Use tools of geometry—protractor and compass.
Algebra
Define terminology such as equation, expression, order of operations, etc.
Evaluate expressions.
Solve one-step equations.
Graph ordered pairs and develop use of the coordinate plane.
Religion
The Religion Curriculum focuses on the theme of The covenant as a testament between God and Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures and is based on God’s saving love. The design of the curriculum will:
Establish an understanding of how God used prophets and kings to form the people of Israel into a community.
Enable students to understand that God chose leaders to help maintain this covenant.
Enable students to understand that the church is a community of people who have been called to acknowledge the lordship of Jesus.
Science
Earth Science
All Grade 6 students will:
Explore the physical features and landforms of the Earth’s surface.
Explain the theory of plate tectonics and its importance in the evolution of the Earth’s surface.
Investigate the Earth—shaping processes, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, erosion, and glaciers.
Describe the properties and formation of rocks and minerals.
Investigate the geologic history of the Earth.
Describe the formation of fossil fuels and explain the importance of conservation of natural resources.
Identify the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Explain the causes of and solutions to air pollution.
Observe the effect of the water cycle and winds on the Earth’s weather.
Use weather patterns to predict weather.
Identify climate zones and explain climate change.
Explain the relationship between ocean currents and weather.
Describe ocean and freshwater habitats.
List types of water pollution and discuss ways for controlling it.
Explain the motion of the Earth within the solar system.
Social Studies
Geography/History
The students of Grade 6 will develop a better understanding of World History.
Through the use of maps and globes, the students will gain a better understanding of where people live, their natural environments, how they use the land, and the personality of the place being researched.
Use of globes and maps to identify latitude, longitude, hemispheres, compass rose, read scales and specialized maps, such as population and historical maps.
Investigate the different regions and compare cultures at the same longitude and latitude measures.
Explore the River Valley Civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient China.
Explore the daily life, the culture, the geography of the region and the religious beliefs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the heritage of each civilization.
Investigate and explore the New Empires of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. The impact of the empires and their rulers, the terrain, the culture, the religion and long lasting contributions from each civilization will be analyzed.
Study Medieval Europe including the culture to gain an understanding of the time period.
Spanish
One-half hour 2 days per week
Review and reinforce material covered in Grade 5
Introduce:
Asking and telling what you want; the verb “querer”
Interrogatives and Inversion to ask questions
Expressions
Indefinite articles
Expressing feelings; the verb “estar” with adjectives
Special Projects:
¿Dónde está? (Where is?) cartoon
¡Yo quiero! collage
Get well/Congratulation cards using expressions
Charades using “estar” with feelings
Gestures as part of communication
Enhance:
Conversation
Vocabulary retention
Verb conjugation
Art
The Art Curriculum is one centered around self-expression. Students solve many artistic problems through creative critical thinking. They use a variety of drawing and sculptural materials including colored pencils, oil pastels and charcoal, papier mache, plaster and clay. Students begin to examine the inter-and intrapersonal ramifications of visual expression and self-reflection. Students understand how to translate their thoughts and feelings into the visual language through the use of symbols, theme, and attention to craftsmanship.
Students also learn about the artwork of many cultures in the world, with a focus on ancient societies. Through a concentration on design work, the student will hone drafting skills, resulting in familiarity with geometric shape, rhythm in pattern, delineation of space, and visual depth. The curriculum encourages students to take risks, overcome fear of judgment, and to take ownership of their personal expression.
Music
The Music Curriculum focuses on the following standards:
Students will sing a varied repertoire of music alone and with others
Students will improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
Students will listen to, analyze, and describe music.
Students will understand music in relation to history and culture.
Computer
The Technology Curriculum is designed to ensure that the student has mastered the appropriate beginning and intermediate computer knowledge and skills to accomplish tasks assigned in and outside the classroom. Learning/usage of skills is integrated into the classroom curriculum and instruction is taught in the lab.
Physical Education
The Physical Education Curriculum is designed to focus on the growth of each individual to reach his/her fullest potential. Through a variety of activities in the gymnasium and outdoors, the children will grow physically, cognitively, and socially. The objectives of our curriculum include the following:
Sport skills, team concepts, rules, and safety
Decision making
Principles of training and conditioning
Demonstration of responsible conduct
Beginning game strategies