Creative Arts Charter School
Sixth Grade

Sixth Grade

Language Arts

Sixth grade students inhale literature as they focus on a variety of novels, short stories and poems from traditional textbooks and from more contemporary sources. Selections from textbooks and novels are read in groups during literature circles, as well as read aloud daily in class. All units consist of a variety of comprehension based tasks, group work to be completed in class, homework assignments, and a host of art-integrated assignments and project ideas for students to choose that illustrate their final understanding of the text read.

Writing, grammar, and spelling are taught during writer's workshop where students have the opportunity to learn to write many different genres: research projects, essays, letters, stories, poems, plays and responses to literature. Using "Writers Workshop," students are actively taught strategies to improve their writing and editing skills and to increase their knowledge of genre. All writing begins with pre-writing strategies, undergoes numerous revisions, peer and teacher edits, and then is finally published. All writing work from conception to conclusion is saved so their writing progress may be easily identified. Students learn to revise and edit their work for form and content, and conference formally and informally with peers and the teacher.

In addition, 6th grade students specific spelling words that relate to spelling rules in addition vocabulary words that relate to their current study of science, math, literature or social studies. Words that students misspell are also collected throughout the week to contribute to their spelling lists.

Mathematics

In 6th grade, math is structured to enable students to progress at their individual skill levels and abilities. Math areas such as fractions, decimals, percents, division, geometry, pre-algebra and algebra are taught according to the needs of the individual student, where students progress as they master each subject area.

Math theory and history is tied to the students' study of and understanding of Ancient Civilizations. Students are exposed to Egyptian math during their study of Egypt, the Pythagorean Theory during the course of their study of Greece, as well as an understanding of Babylonian math concepts.

Mathematical concepts are revisited during our "Math Simulation" unit, which develops students' understanding of living in the "adult world." Through this simulation students will apply for jobs, write cover letters and resumes, search for housing according to their incomes, draw models of their apartments to scale, purchase cars, balance checkbooks, and budget for food, clothing and other expenses.

Social Studies

Sixth grade student social studies is almost entirely project based with the focus on the Ancient Civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Asia, and Mesopotamia. The last unit synthesizes student learning by allowing students to work in small groups to create their own cultures based on an ancient civilization that they chose to focus on.

Language Arts and Literature highly interact as students read literature that is relevant to the course of study. For example students focus on themed novels during Egypt, and read myths, drama, and write plays during the study of Greece. Writing and art is woven into each academic unit of study as students culminate their learning through large interdisciplinary projects that have students writing research essays and creating videos, sculpture, paintings, and three-dimensional projects.

Science

Sixth grade science focuses on the process of exploration in the understanding of the human body, and culminates in a unit on microscopy. Science units are interdisciplinary; art is integrated through individual lab reports, the creation of models, creating "digestive system machines," etc. We observe preserved human organs as we dissect animal organs procured for the students' learning needs. Whenever possible, GEMS units from the Lawrence Hall of Science are incorporated into the curriculum to encourage an enriching hands-on experience. Science-related field trips include workshops at the Lawrence Hall of Science as well as to the Exploratorium. Sixth grade science culminates in a "mini-science fair" where students choose an exhibit from the Exploratorium to construct and explain.