Middle School Grade 6 Curriculum

Religion

Part of the material is from the Old Testament and stresses the Bible as revelation of God’s saving love. The students are also made aware of different types of peer pressure and ways to resist and handle peer pressure. The Bible, directed lessons, discussion, maps, chapter stories, role playing, timelines, videos, and the D.A.R.E. program (provided by the Danvers Police Department) are all part of the experience.

Language Arts

Students will read selections in different genres. They will learn to recognize literary elements, read critically, and apply a variety of reading strategies to short stories and trade books. Comprehension strategies will aid them to analyze cause and effect while connecting literature to social studies and to life. Wordly Wise is also used for systematic, sequential vocabulary development.

Latin

Students gain proficiency in the Latin language by being exposed to an active approach to the language. Research has shown that students acquire a foreign language quickly and effectively by actively speaking, writing, and listening in the target language. Coursework facilitates the active approach to learning Latin by exposing the students graduated readings, using both familiar and unfamiliar vocabulary words. In addition to acquiring Latin vocabulary and grammatical structures, students will cover cultural topics such as, Roman history, mythology, Roman dining habits, daily life, and gladiatorial combat.

English

The program involves the study of grammar, spelling, and writing. Students review the grammatical concepts learned in grade five and add more terminology and syntax to their knowledge. Throughout the year, students frequently work in small groups to become involved with the concepts learned and to apply them to their writing. Significant practice is given in editing and revising skills. For spelling, students are divided into three groups based on a beginning-of-year assessment and work on mastering words anywhere from sixth to high school level. By the end of the year, students should be able to 1) parse a sentence using all of the terminology and syntax learned to date, 2) spell more than just the high-utility words needed for middle school and high school work, 3) write a coherent essay, report, and narrative, 4) revise and edit their writing.

Math

The program reviews and reinforces the concepts learned in Saxon Math up to Math 7/6. All four fundamental operations of arithmetic are addressed through regular inclusion in daily problem sets. Facts practice skills are continued and built upon to strengthen new skills based in algebraic operations and processes.   Students begin to build the skills required to complete operations in linear algebra, and continue to study and develop skills in geometry, number theory, problem solving, statistics, and probability that began in earlier Saxon Math levels.

Science

Students explore the Earth as the ever-changing dynamic third planet from the sun. The year begins with a look at how humans impact the delicate balance of the ecosystem with a trip to Stone Environmental School in Madison, NH. Here students explore the forest and pond ecosystems of the White Mountain area and learn about the close relationship between living and non-living parts of our environment and how we impact each of those in our daily lives. We continue to look at the planet and the delicate balance that created our planet and maintains it as the only one in our solar system that is able to support life. Through lab investigations we look at one of the most important resources, water, to learn lab procedures and the relationship of water and its life-giving properties so important to our world.

Social Studies

This grade’s focus, a world view, links the early beginnings of civilization to the phenomenal shifts experienced in modern day Europe, Asia, and Africa. The study of Eastern Hemisphere countries begins with ancient times, highlights the economic, intellectual, cultural, and religious influences of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Middle East, Greece, Rome, China, India, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. It includes modern day geographic and political changes. Maps, atlas, timelines, graphs, charts, diagrams, source material, literature, newspapers, guest speakers, videos, and slides are all part of the study of world cultures.