6th Grade

Overview: Grade 6 Reading Integrated Language Arts and Social Studies

Students in grade 6 receive reading instruction during a daily 110-minute Integrated Language Arts/Social Studies block referred to as ILS. A Readers Workshop model makes up the instructional framework used during ILS and integrates various modalities of literacy instruction. The workshop approach is characterized by explicit skill instruction, guided as well as independent practice and the use of authentic texts. Assessment-based planning based on the needs of the students is also at the core of this model. Reader?s Workshop includes modeling, shared reading, guided reading, conferring, independent reading,student discussion, and written response to reading.

Additionally, Readers Workshop allows for whole group, small group, and independent reading and writing instruction and practice.

Common Core State Standards

Illinois, along with 45 other states, adopted the Common Core State Standards to be used to guide teachers in what students at each grade-level need to learn in English/Language Arts. Each set of grade-level standards consists of literature, informational text as well as listening and speaking standards. The primary grades have standards for foundational skills. Grade-level standards build on knowledge and skills learned the previous year and create a stair-step progression across the K-8 instructional years.

Reading: Literature

6.RL.1 - Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
6.RL.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
6.RL.3 - Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
6.RL.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
6.RL.5 - Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
6.RL.6 - Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
6.RL.7 - Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
6.RL.9 - Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.
6.RL.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Reading: Informational Text

6.RIT.1 - Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
6.RIT.2 - Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
6.RIT.3 - Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
6.RIT.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
6.RIT.5 - Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
6.RIT.6 - Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
6.RIT.7 - Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
6.RIT.8 - Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
6.RIT.9 - Compare and contrast one author's presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
6.RIT.10 - By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

Writing

6.W.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
6.W.3 - Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
6.W.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade- specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
6.W.5 - With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
6.W.6 - Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
6.W.7 - Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
6.W.8 - Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
6.W.9 - Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
6.W.10 - Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and sequence.

Link to Common Core State Standards Website: http://www.corestandards.org

Mathematics

Big Ideas Math is a complete middle school math program developed with the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Content and Standards for Mathematical Practice as its foundation. Additionally, Big Ideas Math has been developed using learning and instructional theory to ensure quality math instruction takes place as learners’ progress through aligned math pathways. A combination of direct instruction and guided practice allow students to gain a deeper understanding of math concepts by narrowing their focus to fewer topics at each grade level. Students master content through inductive reasoning opportunities, engaging activities that provide deeper understanding, concise stepped-out examples, rich thought-provoking exercises, real-life examples and application, and a continual building on what has been previously taught. Big Ideas Math delivers a unique curriculum providing a balanced instructional approach of discovery and direct instruction through print and online supplementary materials. This approach opens doors to abstract thought, reasoning, and inquiry as students persevere to answer the Essential Questions that drive instruction.

Science

Life Science

Ecology

Physical Science

The Effect of Force on Motion
Interaction of Matter and Energy

Earth Science

Patterns and Interactions in the Universe

During the 2013-2014 school year, a science learning team will be launched to evaluate next generation standards.

By the end of 6th grade, students will be able to:

Construct food webs and analyze interdependencies and roles amongst organisms
Illustrate the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water cycles and explain why they are essential to the survival of living things
Identify an ecological problem and justify a solution based upon re search and evidence
Model moon phases and justify the apparent change in shape
Analyze data to explain the relationship between hours of daylight and the tilt of the earth on its axis; use this evidence to support the concept of seasonal change
Compare and contrast characteristics of inner and outer planets
Analyze the impact of gravity on planetary bodies (orbital motion, tides, and surface)
Diagram the life cycle of a star
Compare and contrast models and explanations of the formation and movement in the universe
Design and carry out scientific investigations to analyze the effects of earth's rotation
Analyze how forces affect motion
Analyze the motion of an object applying the concepts of potential and kinetic energy
Distinguish between the properties of matter: mass, weight, volume, density, color, odor, shape, texture, and hardness
Define atom, molecule, element, compound and describe the relation ships in and amongst the terms
Design and carry out investigations to investigate phase change and physical/chemical changes

Social Studies

Significant Questions: How do people come together to form a civilization? How are people within a society organized? What characteristics of society endure over time?

Through the study of societies of at the ancient and medieval worlds, students will gain an understanding of and appreciation for the characteristics that make up a society and have endured over time.

Across civilizations of Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Middle Ages, the following are examined:

Government/Politics (type of leaders, type of government)
Economics (currency, trade, jobs)
Religion (symbols, documents, practices, places of worship)
Communication (writing systems, language)
Geography (landforms, bodies of water, location)
Social Structure (role of individuals, boys, girls, women, men, citizenship, rights and responsibilities)
Culture (technology, ideas and philosophy, art, architecture, literature, music)

Physical Education

The physical education curriculum emphasizes fitness, movement, team building, and safety. Units of instruction include soccer, fitness, cross country, challenge education, team handball, flag football, speed-a-way, basketball, gymnastics, line dance, floor hockey, creative dance, badminton, volleyball, circuit training, track and field, softball, and tennis. Topics in health include nutrition, stress management, character education, healthy relationships, and sexuality.

Art

Basic foundation and preliminary exposure to drawing and painting are stressed in the sixth grade visual arts program. Projects enhance multicultural appreciation, art history and processes used by artists. Developing problem solving skills and becoming creatively independent within basic project guidelines are important goals.

Drama

Students will develop skills by working in the genres of drama games, pantomime, improvisation, puppetry, children's theatre, and creation of original theatre pieces. They will gain confidence and skill in speaking, performing, collaborating, and providing constructive feedback to others. They will learn about the history of the theatre and the role of drama in our culture and the culture of others. Students will take risks and develop responsibility in relation to their own role and as a member of a supportive ensemble.

Music

Students will explore melody, harmony, rhythm, tone, color, expressive qualities, and form through a variety of listening experiences. Special emphasis will be on world music beginning with the music of Africa. Tolerance and respect for other cultures and their music will be emphasized throughout this course. Students will construct instruments and research an assigned culture's music.

Family Consumer Sciences

Family Consumer Sciences in sixth grade provides an introduction to foods, nutrition, etiquette, clothing, and child care and safety. Experiences in food preparation and care of clothes in the Family
Consumer Sciences lab offers the students an opportunity to make a healthy choice when eating a snack and sew a button on a clothing item.

Digital Literacy

Students in Technology 6 will focus upon keyboarding, using Google Drive for productivity, and on digital citizenship. They will explore several web 2.0 tools for presentations and productivity.