Anchor Lutheran School > K - 8

SIXTH GRADE CURRICULUM

RELIGION

Our religion class is based on the Route 66 Workbook which is a quick walk through all 66 books of the Bible. Memory work is used to reinforce the lessons of Religion class. Students first learn the books of the Bible in correct order to help them quickly find the verses we’re studying. Sixth-graders help in Chapel by collecting the offering. Once a year each grade prepares and presents a Chapel service for the school worship time.

COMPUTER

Sixth grade has a small computer lab in the classroom with approximately one computer for every two students. Students learn touch-typing by using typing software lessons. Our goal is to reach a speed of at least 20 words per minute. The Internet is used for certain research assignments. Internet use is supervised, and internet access is protected by website-filtering software. Students learn how to employ the internet to access online educational sites and our local library’s databases. Students are given lessons in word processing, spreadsheet, and PowerPoint. They use their word-processing skills to type their interviews and articles for the school newspaper, The Dolphin Splash.

SCIENCE

We use Scott-Foresman’s Science as our text. Students study various topics in life science, earth science, physical science, space, and technology. Worksheets, quizzes, and chapter tests help the students to master the material. Much of science is a study of relations and cause-and-effect. Students learn the world can be studied and understood. They learn the principles of science can be applied to their daily lives. Science is often a hands-on class and they will learn to use microscopes as part of biology. Simple experiments are assigned as homework. Students will perform simple chemical experiments in the classroom.

GEOGRAPHY

Geography class consists of a weekly worksheet on a selected area of the world. The worksheet has a map on which students label the nations and selected bodies of water, rivers, mountain ranges, plateaus, deserts, and other features. There are also questions about that area; questions may cover religion, climate, crops, vegetation, or other information. The Rand McNally Goode’s World Atlas is used as our main source of information. The students also learn how to read the atlas’ tables and maps as part of the class.

SOCIAL STUDIES

We use The World Past and Present from the Macmillan-McGraw-Hill company as our text. Sixth grade social studies cover the history of the eastern hemisphere. We begin with the earliest known civilizations, cover European and Russian history until modern times, and then study the history of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Worksheets, frequent quizzes, and unit tests are included as part of the students’ work. The material is partly coordinated with Geography class so students understand the geography of the areas they are studying. Critical thinking and deductive skills are developed as students learn the reasons behind historical events. Knowledge of Current Events is important to Social Studies. The major events of today have their roots in the past. Students read a weekly news magazine (Time for Kids) which highlights major events and issues of the present. The magazine is also used to develop reading comprehension skills and broaden the students’ vocabulary.

STUDY AND REFERENCE SKILLS

I use several methods to help sixth graders learn to study. They need to prepare for frequent quizzes in Science, Social Studies, and Geography. During the year I’ll help students find a method of studying that is successful for them. Reference Skills are taught both within other subjects and as a separate subject of its own. Students learn to get information from maps, atlases, indexes, dictionaries, web sites, databases, and specialized reference books such as concordances and thesauruses. During the year students will do two research papers: a biography, and a report on a nation of their choice. For these projects students must gather information from multiple sources, write the information in their own words on note cards, keep track of sources, prepare an outline of their report’s organization, and write or type the report into well-organized paragraphs.

MATH

We use Saxon Math Book #76 in sixth grade. Students complete the basic arithmetic skills this year: They cover addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, negative numbers, decimal numbers, and fractions. They learn to convert between decimals, fractions, and percents. There is a lot of emphasis on problem solving (word problems). Various geometry concepts are covered in this year. Students learn to measure with rulers and protractors.

SPELLING

We use Houghton-Mifflin’s Spelling and Language workbook. Weekly pre-tests and final tests help students expand their spelling abilities. The workbook pages also help develop vocabulary, dictionary and thesaurus skills, and phonics.

READING

We use the SRA Open Court Reading series. Sixth graders demonstrate competence in general skills and strategies vital to reading. Students read, analyze, evaluate, and respond to a variety of literary forms including short stories, novels, poetry, as well as newspaper and magazine articles. Through the readings, students will study vocabulary, metaphors, imagery, points of view, idioms, irony, compare and contrast, fact and opinion, story progression, character, setting, plot, mood conflict, climax, theme, and many other comprehension strategies.

ENGLISH

Our textbook for English is by Houghton-Mifflin. Students study grammar, parts of speech, punctuation, and writing. They analyze sentences by learning to find the subject, predicate, direct object, prepositional phrases, and so on. They learn to diagram sentences to help them analyze them. Students learn to apply what they’re learning as they use full sentences to answer questions in Science, Social Studies, and other areas. They sharpen their writing skills by writing interesting articles for the school newspaper.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS

Students meet twice a week for Physical Education class with the P.E. teacher. During the year they learn new skills and work on increasing their flexibility, strength, and endurance. After school students in grades 5th through 8th have the option of participating in our sports program. We offer soccer, basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and track-and-field. Students practice after school and compete against other schools. In both P.E. and sports, Christian behavior, cooperation and sportsmanship are emphasized and expected at all times.

MUSIC

Students participate in an all-school Christmas service and a musical production in the spring.

ART

Sixth graders have art class weekly. Students will use a variety of media during the year. They’ll learn to plan and create as they work on their projects.

SPANISH

Spanish is taught twice a week. They are introduced to Spanish vocabulary and practice using conversational Spanish in class. They are encouraged to practice their conversational Spanish skills at home. They also are introduced to Mexican culture through holidays, foods, etc.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Several times during the year students will attend performances at the Alaska Junior Theater. They will also attend a performance by the Anchorage Concert Association that has been designed for students their age.