March: What is Grade 6 Studying?

ELA

Module 3: American Indian Boarding Schools

Sixth grade scholars will take a deep dive into the topic of American Boarding Schools. Several texts and artifacts will be analyzed while exploring several themes that are presented in the featured novel Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac. EL Education curriculum will cover several skills throughout Module #3 Unit 1. Students will learn how to determine the author's point of view in a text and learn how  point of view contributes to the development of central ideas presented in various texts. Language and its usage in literature will be a key part of this unit of study; this will entail understanding of connotative meaning, and figurative language.  Students will practice paraphrasing as an additional strategy for language acquisition. The integration of related text will be used to foster critical thinking and promote thought provoking discussions among students. Assessments will be administered throughout the unit of study as students move towards mastering each skill in Module #3 of the EL curriculum.  

Math:

Illustrative Math: Unit 4: Equations and Expressions

In this unit, students learn to understand and use the terms “variable,” “coefficient,” “solution,” “equivalent expressions,” “exponent,” “independent variable,” and “dependent variable.” They begin to write coefficients next to variables without a multiplication symbol, e.g.10x rather than 10⋅x, and note that x is 1⋅x. They learn other situations in which the multiplication symbol can be omitted, e.g. 6⋅(3+2) can be written 6(3+2). They work with expressions that have positive whole-number exponents and whole-number, fraction, or variable bases, using properties of exponents strategically to evaluate these expressions, given a value for the variable. They find solutions for linear equations in one variable and simple equations that include exponents, e.g.2 to the power of x =32  and 100=x to the power of 2. They use these terms and representations (including expressions with two variables) in reasoning about real-world and geometrical situations, understanding that some values of variables may not make sense in a given context. They represent collections of equivalent ratios as equations and use and make connections between tables, graphs, and linear equations that represent the same relationships.

Science: 

Weather and Climate

Weather is a complex system that affects our daily lives. Understanding how weather events, such as severe rainstorms, take place is important for students to conceptualize weather events in their own community. In the role of student forensic meteorologists, your students will investigate severe rainstorms in a fictional town called Galetown, which serves as the anchor phenomenon for the unit. They investigate how water vapor, temperature, energy transfer, and wind influence local weather patterns and how these factors can lead to severe rainstorms. Using physical models, a digital simulation, and hands-on activities as well as information gathered from data and science texts, students will investigate the mechanisms by which a warm weather rainstorm can be generated, through the lens of energy transfer. Building on their understanding of the sun as a source of energy, coupled with their knowledge of evaporation and condensation as mechanisms by which water transfers energy to the atmosphere, students will investigate multiple variables that contribute to rainstorm severity. From their investigations, students will learn about how differences in the amount of water vapor, temperature, and air pressure can affect the amount of rain. The unit concludes with a Science Seminar, in which students use what they have learned in the unit to analyze evidence and participate in a discussion about whether one large rainstorm or several moderate-sized rainstorms are responsible for the damage done to the fictional Carson Wilderness Education Center.

Social Studies: 

Comparative World Religions

Embark on a global journey of understanding with "Comparative World Religions Passport," your guide to exploring the key beliefs, practices, and historical contexts of major world religions, allowing you to compare and contrast their similarities and differences while gaining a deeper appreciation for diverse faith traditions across the globe.