Children in Grade 6 at Gillispie receive a middle-school education in a nurturing, small-by-choice elementary school setting. Teachers make a point of providing purposeful work that children thrive on at this age, such as spearheading community service projects, leading as Student Council officers, and corresponding with authors. Sixth graders study ancient civilizations and learn about Africa past and present. Special field trips include the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and a team-building overnight; the year culminates in a spring retreat to develop a sense of independence as they approach graduation. Pre-algebra, geometry, and data studies are the focus of mathematics; response to literature is written or discussed at “Socratic tables”; frequent writing is a hallmark of the program with the expectation that it will be revised and improved.
Curriculum Benchmarks
By the end of sixth grade, students will be able to–
Language Arts
- Explain how authors create imagery, suggest mood, and sustain readers’ interest.
- Read books for pleasure, information, and knowledge.
- Provide written response to literature.
- Read variety of texts, including poetry, novels, short stories, myths,
- Use reference books and online resources for research.
- Identify poetic purpose, style, and type.
- Compare and contrast several authors’ styles.
- Draw inferences, conclusions, and generalizations about text.
- Recognize first, second, or third person point of view.
- Make and verify predictions about text.
- Identify whether a given passage is narrative, persuasive, or expository.
- Deliver planned oral presentation using language and vocabulary appropriate to the purpose.
- Ask probing questions and provide feedback to speaker.
- Write for multiple purposes, self- expression and reflection, critique, persuasion, and poetic composition.
- Write selected compositions in final form using proper sentence and language structure, proper punctuation and spelling, and thoughtfully supported, well-constructed paragraphs.
- Identify parts of speech and sentences and diagram sentences at sixth grade level.
- Compose narrative, informative, and persuasive writing.
- Write research report demonstrating clear ideas, focus, coherence, and organization.
Mathematics
- Solve problems using four-step plan: explore, plan, solve, examine.
- Use “order of operations” to solve problems.
- Apply least common multiple and greatest common factor.
- Calculate fractions using like and unlike denominators.
- Define ratio and percentage.
- Convert between decimals, fractions, and percentages.
- Round decimals up or down to different place values.
- Solve problems using scale drawings.
- Solve problems using percent proportion.
- Compare and estimate weight, length, and area.
- Calculate perimeter and area of regular and irregular shapes.
- Write and solve two-step equations using algebra.
- Identify and find radius, diameter, and circumference of circles.
- Classify angles, polygons, triangles, and quadrilaterals.
- Create and identify patterns using translations, reflections, and fractals.
- Convert metric and customary measures within the same measurement system.
- Create and interpret various graphs.
Social Studies
- Explain the differences between prehistory and history.
- Describe what is known of prehistoric humankind through archeological studies and artifacts.
- Define the characteristics of a civilization.
- Discuss and analyze the Mesopotamian empires.
- Discuss, analyze, and compare ancient Egypt, Kush, and Canaan.
- Discuss and analyze the ancient Hebrews and the origins and beliefs of Judaism.
- List ways India’s varied landscape affected India’s ancient settlements.
- Discuss and analyze India’s first settlement and the origins of Hinduism, and Buddhism.
- List and explain seven great achievements during India’s Golden Age.
- Explain the ways China’s five geographic regions affected ancient settlements.
- Describe the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
- Describe the geographical features of ancient Greece.
- Explain the rise of democracy, the spread of Greek ideas, and the legacy of ancient Greece.
- Explain the founding of Rome and the influences of the Greeks and Etruscans.
- Discuss and analyze how the Roman republic grew into a mighty empire and the consequences of this expansion.
- On timelines, locate and identify eras of early humans and the ancient civilizations listed above.
- Locate and identify Africa, its surrounding oceans, and at least five present -day African countries on a globe and map.
- Research and describe significant physical features in Africa, including landscape, natural disasters, and waterways.
- Compare and contrast the physical area that comprised ancient Egypt with present day North Africa.
