Sixth Grade

Students take reading to new heights of reading comprehension by analyzing story elements, applying proficiency skills, and making text connections.  Short stories, class novels, and book clubs as well as non-fiction text are instructed throughout the year.  Students build analysis, critical thinking, and discussion skills as well as sharing written reflection,  

Novels:  Peak, Out of My Mind, Paperboy, Tangerine, City of Ember, Frozen Stiff

Writing 

Focus: Students focus on written and oral communication as they learn how to effectively organize an essay, write a powerful thesis statement, and use evidence to create strong paragraphs. Students write for various purposes including descriptive, narrative, expository, and argumentative writing. Students use the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing).  

Students also write for oral presentations. They present to individuals and in the classroom setting, as well as to the school community at the Peacemaker Wax Museum. They learn how to use technology to enhance their presentations. 

Textbook: Step Up to Writing 

Sixth grade math is a course designed to review and improve math skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with integers, fractions, decimals and ratios. Additional topics introduced include, but are not limited to algebra, proportions, percent, statistics, probability, geometry, spatial geometry, and displaying data. 

Students are grouped by ability into grade-level or accelerated classes. Students are placed into math classes based on standardized testing, previous class grades, and end and beginning of year placement test. This is done to ensure that all students are placed in a course in which they will master content and grow in confidence.   

Textbook: Big Ideas Series. 6th Graded Level (Advanced 1 – 10 Chapters), 6th Grade Advanced Pathway (Advanced 1 – 15 Chapters) 

The middle school earth science course begins with an overview of the NGSS strands including, but not limited to astronomy, meteorology, geology, oceanography, mapping, weather and erosion.  Students also learn how to implement the scientific method, use inquiry-based thinking and writing skills to complete coursework and labs.   

Textbook: Interactive Science Earth Science: Pearson Prentice Hall 

Sixth grade social studies incorporates project-based and simulation learning, as well as research, technology, writing, analysis, critical thinking, and presentation skills through learning about ancient cultures and world history. Units also include geography and current events. 

Textbook: Harcourt Ancient Civilizations 

The focus in sixth grade is on the Old Testament, however students spend time in both Testaments reading Scripture and preparing for Sunday Readings. Students learn about and lead School Mass. During Advent, students learn about Our Lady of Guadalupe and re-enact the story of Juan Diego.

There is an opportunity each week for sixth graders to volunteer at the Renewal Food Bank in Bellevue. Every sixth grader is required to complete two hours of volunteer service each trimester. If they serve six or more hours they earn the St. Margaret Mary Service Award. For more details, please visit our Middle School Service Page.

Textbook: Faith and Life Series: Following Christ, Family Life series 

Please visit Spanish Page for details.

Please visit our P.E. Page for details.

Sixth graders are assigned a homeroom teacher and they meet as a class daily for 30 minutes. Following are some of the activities that take place during homeroom period.

PowerSchool Checks

Once a week, students conference individually with their homeroom teacher about their academic progress. They print their current grades and a list of any missing assignments and write a plan for turning them in. Students also come up with weekly goals and show that they have been writing all assignments and extra-curricular activities in their planner. 

Study Skills

In sixth grade, students organize their binders and lockers, learn how to advocate for themselves through role-playing and writing emails to their teachers. They also learn how to split and tackle long-term assignments and use a rubric effectively. Each trimester, students write overall SMART goals for themselves.  

Homework Jumpstart

Two days a week, students work on homework, class work, long-term projects, or read an Accelerated Reader book. 

Kindergarten Buddies

Sixth graders are paired with kindergarten students and each month, there is a buddy activity (reading, art project, etc.) during homeroom class.

• IslandWood Outdoor School on Bainbridge Island – Students spend four days/three nights learning hands-on about the environment, stewardship and teamwork.  
• Peacemaker Wax Museum (a cross-curricular project incorporating language arts, religion, and history) – sixth graders read an autobiography of a peacemaker, write a speech to memorize, and then present to the school community in first person while dressed in character.
• Students participate in a day-long NET (National Evangelization Team) Ministries retreat at Camp Sambica. 

Please visit our Electives Page for details.