Grade 6

Religion

The sixth grade course works to help students understand their faith identity, their value systems, and their beliefs about God. The concepts covered are based on the foundational themes of the Catholic faith, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops “Renewing the Vision”, and Diocesan guidelines for catechism for young people. Students are engaged in many learning activities that involve them in discovery about how a relationship with God helps them develop the skills they need for Christian living. Students gain an understanding of the principles of Catholicism and the responsibility that true faith entails.

Earth Science

The sixth grade science course covers the topics of geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy. Students explore themes that integrate these areas and tie earth science concepts to other disciplines. Lessons are taught with a variety of approaches, including lab activities and hands-on classroom investigations.

World Geography

Sixth grade students learn about the global community through a conceptual approach to geography. Students learn basic social studies skills as they explore the cultural, economic and physical geography of the world. The complex relationships between people and the land are discussed and students are encouraged to investigate regions through a variety of projects, group experiences, current events activities, etc. Students participate annually in the National Geographic Geography Bee.

Language Arts

The sixth grade course emphasizes both reading and writing skills as students study grammar, composition, reading comprehension, vocabulary, spelling and literature. The grammatical skills covered are used to build upon a foundation of written mechanics. Students will be introduced to the basic steps of research writing. Silent reading time is built into the school day and is used to foster love of reading in conjunction with the summer reading requirements, the textbook literature themes, and the Accelerated Reader program. Recognition and understanding of literary devices, vocabulary and spelling are addressed through the stories and novels that are assigned. Students gain practice in speech by reading aloud and giving oral presentations as a regular part of the classroom routine. Novels are used as enrichment connections to other disciplines. Students participate in the school level spelling bee to earn the opportunity to advance to the GISA regional competition.

Math Applications

The sixth grade math course is designed to provide abundant daily content practice while using numerous activities to build student confidence and help them become competent problem-solvers. The course encourages the use of manipulative materials to increase students understanding of mathematical concepts and to enable them to master the necessary skills. This course begins the transition from arithmetic skills to the study of more advanced mathematical concepts. Students explore patterns and numbers, order of operations, relationships among fractions and decimals, ratio and proportion, geometry, statistics, and probability. Basic pre-algebra concepts are introduced as fundamentals are taught and reviewed.

Latin and World Languages

This exploratory foreign language course is a theme-based program that introduces the six most commonly taught foreign languages. Units of Spanish, French, and Latin are taught in a way that helps students focus on the concepts of language and prepares them for the language-specific courses that will follow. The course shows students the fun, adventure, and personal growth that can come from knowing and experiencing other languages and cultures.

Art

Sixth grade students are introduced to technical skills and visual awareness with lessons in drawing, painting, collage, and clay. The course focuses on developing student appreciation for the visual arts through the exploration of art history and the practice of art within the scope of a wide variety of materials and some three-dimensional projects.

Music

Middle School Music at Mount de Sales Academy represents a radical departure from typical models in both public and private schools in the United States. Research conducted over the past twenty years has shown the benefits of rigorous instrumental study. We want to ensure that each child receives a quality music program developed from principles of music education and based on educational research. Middle School students will be enrolled in one of the following courses:

Band 1(students new to instrumental instruction in grades 6 and 7)

In their first year at Mount de Sales Academy, most students will take this course. The choice of instrument is a combination of teacher recommendation and student preference. It is not necessary to have prior musical experience to be enrolled in this class. There is a financial obligation to rent an instrument for this course. Arrangements have been made for Mount de Sales parents to rent instruments at a reduced cost from a local instrument supplier. At the end of two months, students have the option to change their instrument to a recorder.

Technology

The ability to process information and use the internet in the 21st century is an important learning tool. Integrated cross-curricular learning modules are developed by each grade level teaching team that incorporate essential skills necessary for today’s student. These units are taught by the core subject teachers at each grade level.

Physical Education

The sixth grade PE curriculum teaches students the foundations and rules of basic games and sports; helps students develop individual physical skills; helps promote general fitness and emphasizes the importance of teamwork. Students are evaluated based on individual progression and participation in the President's Physical Fitness program rather than athletic ability. Basic health is offered as an enrichment. Students are presented with information about the role nutrition plays in fitness, the fundamentals of good hygiene and safety, and learn the basics of exercise physiology.