|
Sixth grade is all about IDENTITY -Thinking about who you are now; looking at how you got to be who you are now; and wondering who you want to be in your future.
Language Arts
The sixth grade language arts curriculum encompasses four main areas of study: grammar, vocabulary, literature, and composition. The focus this year in grammar is on parts of speech and sentence structure. Grammar skills learned are continually reinforced through written work. The emphasis behind the study of vocabulary is increasing students’ word bank, improving reading fluency and enhancing reading comprehension. A vocabulary unit is assigned every two weeks, and the students learn the part of speech, spelling, and definition of each word assigned; synonyms and antonyms are also discussed. Also, to further expand their vocabulary, the students are learning root words.
The literature and composition strands are intertwined throughout the sixth grade year. Currently, the students are reading the novel Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan. In conjunction with a subsequent unit of study on imperialism in Social Studies, the book chronicles the experiences of an English girl living in British East Africa after World War I.
Outside of class, the students are reading a biography or autobiography.
Social Studies
In Social Studies, the sixth graders are developing an understanding of the world around them. Using the five themes of geography as a foundation, the students are examining the history, geography, and culture of Europe from the tenth century through the early twentieth century. The students are using primary source documents, cultural artifacts, and expository texts as tools in their analysis of each era. The students have studied the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Presently, the focus is on the French Revolution. For each topic of study, the students are practicing the skills of independently reading expository text, identifying the main ideas in text, and creating two-column notes. The students also formulate essay responses, incorporating information from their notes. Throughout this unit, the students continue to develop a global perspective.
Every other Friday is "Current Event Fridays." The students are responsible for bringing in a typed summary of a news event they read in the newspaper or online OR heard on a news program.
Science
During January, we continued the Water Unit, investigating procedures for identifying contaminants in water, determining the source of contamination, and the steps involved in purifying water by removing the contaminants. Students also engaged in an in-class project where they utilized the engineering design process and a budget to build a device to safely deliver an egg from a two story window to the ground without breaking. The students really enjoyed this project and the majority of students were able to safely deliver their egg to the ground. We are continuing the water unit by learning about acid and base chemistry and experimenting with chemical reactions. In the month of March we will begin a new unit on energy. We will investigate the types of energy and how energy is transferred from one form to another.
|
Hebrew
We are concentrating on grammar and writing skills though Ivrit Esreh Bet, which facilitates oral skills and role playing through exercises and scenarios. We continue to read selected short stories from Madregot. Hebrew language is prevalent in all of our lessons and assignments. Students are acquiring new vocabulary, which is reinforced through speaking and writing.
Torah
The Book of Shemot (Exodus)
The Book of Shemot is dedicated to the First Galut (Exile) and to the redemption from it (Ramban). The students continue to explore the original text in Hebrew and English with reference to various commentaries. During the months of February, March and April, the following subjects are emphasized: Moses and Aaron’s first visit to Pharaoh; Pharaoh increases the Israelites burdens; the Israelites complain and Moses’s Petitions; G-d promises Israel’s deliverance by his “strong hand”; and the ten plaques cause and effect.
Tefilla and Trope
The students continue to improve their prayer skills, reciting the morning, afternoon and Shabbat prayers as well as chanting verses from the Torah.
Jewish Holidays
During the months of February, March and April, students will explore the significance of Tu B’Shevat (caring for Planet Earth), Purim (the festival of masks and miracles) and Passover (retelling our story of freedom). Students will learn about the beliefs, practices and customs that make up the historic faith of Judaism.
Math
We have just completed our unit on integers and rational numbers. This unit included performing all four operations with positive and negative numbers as well as obtaining an understanding of absolute value. Our next unit has the students taking a trip into the world of Algebra. Students will become more adept at understanding variables are numbers that can change and use them to write simple expressions. We will learn to simplify those expressions as we move toward solving equations and inequalities with one or more steps. We will then extend our knowledge of coordinate graphing by learning to graph equations. The following unit will start with ratios. Once a full understanding of ratios is obtained, we will look at the slope of the lines we know how to graph. Using ratios, we will also learn to write and solve proportions. Students will be able to use their knowledge of ratios and proportions to solve some real world situations.
|
