Grade 6

• Revisit and become more efficient with fractions, decimals, and percents
• Further develop geometry and measurement skills
• Investigate and apply rates, ratios, proportions, tips and discounts
• Develop more sophisticated, efficient problem-solving skills and strategies
• Investigate and apply statistical measures

• Grow as an active and reflective reader
• Practice and apply reading comprehension skills
• Make connections between reading material and real-life situations
• Engage in cross-disciplinary thinking between literature and history
• Identify and understand elements and stylistic features of literature
• Write creatively, analytically and persuasively with increased independence and autonomy.
• Grasp the function and mechanics of non-fiction and expository writing
• Identify basic parts of speech and understand how they should be used

• Understand and explain connections between plants and animals in our local ecosystem
• Learn basic cartography, architecture, and research skills
• Understand how the sun, moon, and Earth interact in our solar system
• Investigate force and motion and use observations to design and improve prototypes
• Learn to use meteorological tools to forecast the weather

• Focus on ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome to explore the critical question of, “What makes a civilization?”
• Further develop reading for content and highlighting text for information
• Introduce note-taking skills
• Expand experience organizing and writing historical-based essays and reports
• Reinforce research skills through multiple research projects and presentations
• Further develop organization skills of time management, study techniques, and test-taking strategies

• Begin formal instruction of Spanish grammar, including verb conjugation of regular and irregular present tense verbs
• Work on incorporating accurate structures into speech and writing
• Expand vocabulary in order to speak about all that one does in a typical day
• Develop fluency and oral presentation skills
• Read from authentic sources such as newspapers and magazines
• Explore Spanish and Hispanic culture

• Students attend IDI twice per week (each class is 50 minutes)
• In-depth exploration of design thinking and engineering with real-world problem-solving
• Proficiency in troubleshooting and finding unique solutions
• Extensive use of fabrication equipment and innovative technologies
• Heightened engagement with out-of-school assignments focused on student driven topics
• Students receive letter grades
• Focuses: Digital Citizenship, Electrical Engineering, Passion-Driven Projects

• Expand experience with digital and printed media types while working on various writing genre such as professional letters, student-authored picture books, and newsletters.
• Extend multimedia capabilities by adding hyperlinks and action buttons within presentations.
• Develop an enhanced ability to draw conclusions from data as students explore more advanced spreadsheet functions in Numbers (e.g., average)
• Expand video editing tools, combining still images, video, and audio in varied presentations.
• Use Chromebooks, desktop computers and iPads to assess skills in areas like reading and math.
• Continue to develop research and critical thinking experience using online resources

Middle School students meet on Wednesday mornings for Community Program class. Topics range from student clubs to DEI work and practice, plus grade-specific meetings led by homeroom teachers and class representatives.

All students in grades 6–8 will have a Skill-Building Academic Class each trimester, including: 

• Metacognitive Strategies  This class will enable students to think about their own learning more explicitly by teaching specific strategies for planning, monitoring, and evaluating their learning.
  • Grade 6  Trimester 1  
     
• Humanities Workshops  These classes will introduce students to the tools they need to be successful in their academic disciplines including arts, literature, languages, history, society, and culture. These tools range from writing, research, debate, oration, and more. While they will discuss some historical context, the emphasis is on practice and skills.
  • Grade 6  Trimester 2
  • Grade 6  Trimester 3

• All Upper School students sing in the chorus. Students focus on part singing and engage in standard choral repertoire, multi-cultural music and folk songs.
• Additionally, students may participate in the a cappella Towerettes and Boys Band.

Students in grade 6 will divide into thirds and rotate per trimester between Mr. Field’s woodshop, Mrs. Donworth’s art studio and Mr. Shepard’s music studio. In woodworking, students will build/design small furniture. Mrs. Donworth will teach a sculpture unit in visual arts.

At the end of each day, all middle school students have an opportunity to meet with teachers for extra support or as a checkpoint to ensure understanding of materials and preparedness for homework completion.

• Develop relevant skills connected with the sport played
• Learn and enjoy the benefits of physical activity
• Develop a high level of sportsmanship and school spirit
• Develop leadership skills and an appreciation for the value of teamwork
• Seek personal levels of excellence
• Experience playing on a competitive team
• Identify the correlation between hard work and improvement

The drama program offers opportunities for burgeoning actors and crew to spread their theatrical wings. Under the guidance of the drama directors, students are responsible for all aspects of the production; acting, singing, dancing, costume design, set design, stage tech, and booth tech. Our goal is for students to develop confidence in themselves, while challenging themselves to reach in new directions. Our productions are designed to highlight our middle school students' talents in order to create a show that our entire school community can enjoy.

Service Learning is an integral part of school culture, and for good reason. Serving others in our communities helps students feel connected, engaged and involved, building empathy and a sense of generosity. The entire middle school will participate in Day of Service at one of several pre-arranged locations.