Social Studies

 

First Quarter

 

We focus on the five themes of geography.  We then put our attention how the five themes of geography affect the world’s people.

 

·       The use of the five themes of geography to study the world and its people

         and the landscapes they create.

·       The tools geographers use to study the world and the people that inhabit it.

·       The six essential elements of geography highlight important ideas.

·       The different branches in geography and their role in studying the world.

·       Physical geography focuses on landforms and other physical features.

·       Human geography focuses on people and their cultures.

·       Earth’s movement affects the amount of energy we receive from the sun.

·       Earth’s seasons are caused by the planets tilt.  

·       Water cycle and the use of salt and fresh water on our world.

·       Various landforms that and forces within our planet that help shape our

         world.

 

 

Second Quarter

 

We will focus on climate, environment and resources. We also study the countries of Central and South America.

 

·       The amount of sun at a given location is affected by Earth’s tilt, movement

        and shape.

·       Wind and water move heat around the Earth.

·       Geographers use temperature, precipitation, and plant life to determine

        climate zones.

·       Culture is a set of beliefs, goal and practices a group of people share.

·       Population patterns help geographers learn about the world and its trends.

·       Governments include democracy, dictatorship, and communism.

·       Maya culture built great cities linked by trade, social structure, religion, and

        achievements in science and arts.

·       The Aztec built a rich and powerful empire in central Mexico.

·       Inca created an empire with a strong central government in South America.

·       Mexico was influenced by the Olmec, Aztec and the Maya.

·       The study of Central America and the surrounding Caribbean Island and

        their history of colonization.

 

Third Quarter

 

We will focus on the civilizations of South America.  We will then move to the North America and Canada.  

 

·       Spanish conquest and the blend of Native and Spanish cultures shaped

        many South
        American countries history and culture.

·       South America has a rich diversity of natural resources such as oil.

·       The countries of Pacific South America share history with the Inca and

        Spanish influences.

·       The countries of South America are striving to build a stable economy.  

·       North America is a diverse continent that has four distinct regions and is

        home to many cultures.

·       Hohokam and Anasazi cultures thrived in the Southwest.

·       The United States is world’s first modern democracy.

·       The United States has a diverse population and numerous natural

        resources.

·       The United States has four distinct regions.

·       Early Canadians survived by using what the environment provided them.

·       Beginning in the 1600’s, Europeans settled in the region that would become

        Canada.

·       Canada is democratic country with a diverse population    

 

Fourth Quarter

 

We will focus on the Western and Northern Europe.

 

·       Early Greek culture saw the rise of the city-state and advancements in

        government, art, and philosophy.

·       Greek culture spread throughout the World by Alexander the Great.

·       Roman Republic was a time of great achievements and the spread of

        Christianity.

·       The Christian church influenced all aspects of life during the middle ages.

·       The Renaissance was a time of new learning, new ideas and new advances

         in art, literature and science.

·       Scientific Revolution was time of discoveries and inventions along with the

        expanded knowledge of life in Europe.

·       During the Enlightenment, new ideas about government took hold.

·       Industrial Revolution sparked growth in Britain’s labor force and economy.

·       World War 1 brought about great political and territorial change in Europe.

·       World War ll broke out when Germany invaded Poland.

·       Northern Europe’s culture had been shaped by invaders.

·       British culture, such as government and music influence much of the

        world.     

 

Science

 

First Quarter

 

We follow the National Science Education Standards.  In the sixth grade we focus on Earth Science.  Our quarter incorporates the earth and the minerals that are found on Earth.

 

·       Describe the structures of the Earth and two main groups of minerals.

·       Identify seven ways to determine the identity of a mineral.

·       Compare two types of mining and two ways to reduce the effects of

        mining.

·       Describe different uses for metallic and nonmetallic minerals.

·       Describe the Rock Cycle and how man has used rocks.

·       Describe formation and texture of igneous rocks.

·       Describe origin and three categories of sedimentary rocks.

·       Describe metamorphic rocks and their mineral composition.

·       Describe difference between foliated and nonfoliated metamorphic rock.

·       Compare uniformitarianism and catastrophism. 

·       Use of relative dating on geology.

·       Explain radioactive decay and radiometric dating.

·       Explain the use of index fossils and they are used to date rock layers.

·       Explain geologic column and geologic time scale.

 

Second Quarter

 

We will volcanoes and earthquakes as landforms.  We will begin to study microorganisms, fungi, and plants.

 

·       Identify layer of Earth by their composition and physical properties.

·       Describe tectonic plates.

·       Describe Wegner’s theory of continental drift.

·       Explain sea-floor spreading and magnetic reversals.

·       Describe the theory of tectonic plate boundaries.

·       Two types of stress that deform rock.

·       Describe three types of folds and faults.

·       Explain where earthquakes take place.

·       Explain how the energy from earthquake’s travel through the Earth.

·       Explain how earthquakes are detected and locate epicenter.

·       Determine methods of forecasting earthquakes and ways to safeguard

        buildings.

·       Describe the six characteristics of living things.

·       Explain asexual and sexual reproduction.

·       Explain why organisms need food, water, air, and living space.

·       Describe the chemical building blocks of life.

·       Describe the characteristics of bacteria and how it reproduces.

·       Explain how life on Earth depends on bacteria and how it is both useful

        and harmful.

·       Explain how viruses are similar to and different from living things.

 

 

Third Quarter

 

We will focus on microorganisms, fungi, and plants.

 

·       Describe the characteristics of protists and they get food and reproduce.

·       Describe how protists can be organized into three groups based on their

        shared traits. 

·       Describe characteristics of fungi and how to distinguish between the

        four main groups of fungi.

·       Identify the four main characteristics plants that all plants share.

·       Describe the four main groups of plants.

·       List three nonvascular plants and three seedless vascular plants.

·       Describe the relationship between seedless vascular plants and coal

        plants.

·       Compare angiosperms and gymnosperms and describe their

        environmental importance.  

·       List the functions of roots and three functions of stems.

·       Identify the parts of a flower and their functions.

·       Describe photosynthesis and why it is important.

·       Describe pollination and fertilization in flowering plants.

·       Describe how some plants respond to light and changes in season.

 

Fourth Quarter

 

We will focus on introducing matter, sound, and light.   

 

·       Describe the two properties of all matter.

·       Identify the units used to measure volume and mass.

·       Explain relationship between mass and inertia.

·       Identify the six physical properties of matter.

·       List six examples of physical changes and what happens during a physical

        change.

·       Describe examples of chemical properties and what happens during

        chemical change.

·       Describe the properties shared by particles of all matter.

·       Describe the changes in states of matter and what happens during change.

·       Identify the two changes that can happen when a substance loses or gains

        energy.

·       Describe the characteristics of elements and how they can be identified.

·       Explain the elements that make up a compound and how they can be

        broken down into elements.

·       Describe three properties of mixtures.

·       Explain how a colloid differ form a solution and suspension.

·       Explain how the atomic theory has changed as scientists have discovered

        new information about the atom.

·       Describe the size of an atom and name its parts.

·       Describe the relationship between numbers of protons and neutrons and

        atomic number.

·       Explain how elements are arranged in the modern periodic table.

·       Compare metal, nonmetal, and metalloids based on their properties and

        their location on the periodic table.

 

Math

 

First Quarter

 

Number sense is important to the understanding of mathematics.  We will focus on a solid understanding of place value of whole numbers and decimals.  We will focus on the properties of multiplication and division, estimating products, exponents and scientific notation.

 

·       Use place value to explore whole numbers through trillion and decimals

        through millionths.

·       Use exponents to write whole numbers and decimals in expanded form.

·       Compare and orders decimals through millionths.

·       Round whole numbers through trillionths and decimals.

·       Use rounding and front-end estimating to estimate decimal sums.

·       Add and subtract decimals through thousandths and money amounts.

·       Add three or more decimals through ten thousandths and subtract two

        decimals through thousandths.

·       Translate word expressions into mathematical expressions.

·       Evaluate addition and subtraction expressions.

·       Solve problems by writing an equation.

·       Use multiples of 10, 100, 1000 to develop patterns with whole numbers.

·       Round to estimate products of whole numbers decimal, and money

        amounts.

·       Use short multiplication to multiply numbers and use distributive property

        to multiply whole numbers.

·       Write numbers in scientific notation.

·       Solve problems using simpler numbers.

·       Use short division to find quotients of whole numbers and money

        amounts.

·       Use compatible numbers to estimate whole number quotients to 4 digits.

·       Divide whole numbers by 2 & 3 digit numbers to 4 digit quotients.

·       Divide decimals to millionths by 10, 100, and 1000 in scientific notation.

·       Divide decimals and money amounts by whole numbers.

 

Second Quarter

 

In the second quarter we will focus on long division algorithms that extend to 3 digit divisors. Students will begin using order of operation and how to translate word expressions to numerical or algebraic expressions. Integers will be introduced using real life situations. 

 

·       Use patterns to divide whole numbers and decimal by tenths, hundredths,

        thousandths.

·       Use compatible numbers to estimate decimal quotients.

·       Divide decimals by tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.

·       Divide decimals by writing zeros in the dividend or quotient.

·       Write and evaluate multiplication and division expressions.

·       Round decimal quotients to the nearest thousandths or cent.

·       Solve problems involving division by interpreting the remainder.

·       Use order of operations to compute whole numbers, decimal and    

        exponents.

·       Translate word phrases into numerical or algebraic expressions.

·       Write word sentences as equations and inequalities.

·       Write addition and subtraction equations using the Subtraction and Addition

        Property to solve.

·       Use formulas to solve problems with missing dimensions.

·       Locate integers and their opposites.

·       Add and subtract integers with like and unlike signs.

·       Use inverse operations of multiplication and rules to divide integers.

·       Evaluate expressions and write and solve equations.

·       Apply addition, subtraction and estimation of integers to Celsius and

        Fahrenheit.

·       Solve problems by making a table. 

 

Third Quarter

 

Students will focus on fractions and decimals. They will be able to add and subtract fractions.  Student will focus on algorithms for multiplying and dividing fractions.

 

·       Use divisibility rules 2-10.

·       Identify prime and composite numbers.

·       Find equivalent fractions.

·       Find GCF of 2 or 3 sets of numbers.

·       Express fractions in simplest form.

·       Read and write mixed numbers and rename as improper fractions.

·       Determine if a fraction is closer to 0,1/2,2.

·        Find the LCM of 2 or more numbers.

·       Compare and order fractions and mixed numbers with like and unlike

        numbers.

·       Rename fractions and mixed numbers as decimals.

·       Express fractions and mixed numbers as terminating decimals.

·       Identify, compare and order rational numbers. 

·       Solve problems by finding patterns.

·       Relate addition properties of whole numbers to addition of fractions.

·       Add and compare fractions of unlike denominators.

·       Add and subtract mixed numbers with like and unlike denominators.

·       Explore strategies for adding and subtracting fractions mentally.

·       Solve problems by working backwards.

 

Fourth Quarter

 

Students will focus on multiplying and dividing fractions.  They will gather, record, and organize statistical data to draw critical conclusions of charts and graphs.

 

·       Use multiplication properties to multiply fractions by whole numbers.

·       Multiply mixed numbers by mixed numbers and by fractions.

·       Estimate quotations with fraction and mixed-number divisors.

·       Divide fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers.

·       Apply order of operations to computation of fractions.

·       Multiply and divide money amounts by fractions.

·       Find the probability of an event by using a tree diagram.

·       Find permutations or combinations using the Counting Principle.

·       Use theoretical and experimental probability.

·       Interpret the results of surveys

·       Make and interpret frequency tables.

·       Determine the mean, mode, and median of data.

·       Make and determine box and whisker charts.

·       Analyze graphs and statistics to determine if they are misleading.

·       Make and determine histograms and interpret circle graphs.

·       Use the strategy of making on organized list to solve problems.

 

Language Arts

 

Our literature series consist of a variety of themes.  For example, we explore fantasy, problem solving, mythology, ecology, families, and the benefit of persistence.  Throughout each story we incorporate writing and vocabulary terms.  The objective of our students is to become a more skillful reader, writer, speaker, and listener.

 

Students will understand:

 

·       Understand plot and theme.

·       Write a story, a description, an opinion, an explanation and a narrative

        piece.

·       Understand problem and solutions, cause and effect and sequence of

        events.

·       Use word origins and synonyms.

·       Retell a story dramatically.

·       Prepare a visual, written and oral report.

·       Understand characterization and conflict.

·       Make predictions of outcomes.

·       Write, advertise, and perform a skit and a song.

·       Understand narrator’s point of view.

·       Take a survey and interpret data.

·       Understand character and theme.

·       Write to give an opinion based on research.

·       Use origins to understand word meanings.

·       Prepare a public announcement.

·       Understand theme and character: major and minor.

·       Use paraphrasing and summarizing to understand author’s purpose.

·       Use prefixes and suffixes.

·       Enact a role-play or discussion.

 

Grammar

 

First Quarter

 

Grammar consists of specific parts of speech.  We will focus on nouns, pronouns, and verbs.  Students will understand

 

·       Singular and plural nouns.

·       Possessive nouns

·       Nouns and their jobs

·       Subject, Object, and possessive pronouns.

·       Reflexive and intensive pronouns.

·       Interrogatives and demonstrative pronouns.

·       Pronoun-antecedent agreement.

·       Indefinite pronouns

·       Action verbs and objects.

·       Linking verbs and predicates.

·       Irregular verbs

·       Simple and perfect tenses.

 

Second Quarter

 

We will focus on adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, subject-verb agreement, capitalization, and punctuation. Students will understand:

 

·       Predicate Adjectives

·       The uses of other words used as adjectives

·       Making comparisons and avoiding double negatives.

·       Using prepositions and prepositional phrases.

·       Using conjunctions and interjections.

·       Phrases between subjects and verbs.

·       Indefinite pronouns as subjects and subjects in unusual positions.

·       Capitalization in first words and titles, places and transportation,

        organizations.

·       Use of periods, commas, punctuating quotations, semicolons and colons,

        hyphens and dashes and apostrophes.

 

Third Quarter

 

We will focus on the sentence and all its parts. Students will understand:

 

·       Complete sentence and predicates

·       Simple subjects and predicates.

·       Compound sentence parts and four kinds of sentences.

·       Subjects in unusual order

·       Compliment subjects and objects.

·       Identification and correction of sentences fragments and run-ons.

 

Fourth Quarter

 

We will focus on the various writing aspects. Students will incorporate:

 

·       The five steps of the writing process.

·       Creating good paragraphs using descriptive narrative and persuasive essays.

·       Writing the introduction, body and conclusion of a composition.

·       Introducing elaboration, sensory details, adding facts and creating visuals

        into writing.

·       Writing a variety of essay incorporating the six traits of good writing. 

·       Write a persuasive essay, expository essay, descriptive essay and a         

        narrative piece using the six traits of writing. 

 

Our vocabulary series consists of fifteen units that focus’ on definition, part of speech, pronunciation, and correct spelling.  We focus on synonyms, antonyms and the use analogies.  The students incorporate their vocabulary words in the writing process.  We complete four units and a review unit per each quarter.