Grade 6

List of 13 items.

• A Sample Day in Grade 6

  Students can arrive as early as 7:30 AM and spend time with friends in the Dining Commons. 
  
  The school day starts promptly at 8:25 AM. In Grade 6, the day begins with either Homeroom or Advisor meetings and a typical day may include:
  
  

  • Mathematics
  • Humanities
  • Spanish
  • Snack & Recess - students bring their own snacks
  • Health & Wellness
  • Drama
  • Lunch & Recess - the School provides lunch
  • Visual Arts
  • Science
  • Latin

  
  Sixth graders are dismissed at 3:35 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and at 12:30 PM on Tuesdays.
  
  Students in Grades 5-8 also have the option of being part of our intramural athletic teams which have practice and games after the end of the school day (M, W, Th, F until 4:50 p.m.).
  
  We offer a number of fee-based External Programs that allow students to stay as late as 5:30 PM.

• English and Social Studies in Grade 6

  English: 

  How are the themes of change, choice, and identity reflected in literature? How do these themes play a role in our own lives?

   

  Topics of Study: 

  Personal Narratives • Critical Reading Strategies • Novel Study • The Writing Process • Literary Analysis Essay • Short Stories • Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage • Vocabulary Study

   

  Social Studies: 

  Who writes history? Where do we get our information and how can we trust our sources? What groups of people are often left out of our history? What are the major categories of civilizations? How does our desire for power and structure contribute to robust civilizations? How might the role that women play in each society influence their structure and success? How can we connect these civilizations and their experiences to change, choice, and identity? What were The Civil War and Reconstruction? What impact do their events have on today's society? What is the legacy of The Civil Rights movement?

   

  Topics of Study: 

  Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, Social Structure of: Mesopotamia • Ancient Egypt and Africa • The Reconstruction Era to Civil Rights 

   

  Skills We Teach: 

  Developing critical thinking and assessing information • Written analysis and form • Revision and constructive criticism of peer-to-peer work • Oral communication and debate • Metacognitive awareness • Research skills and methods • Vocabulary building skills • Collaborating with peers • Analyzing sources of information

  
  

• Latin in Grade 6

  How does Latin differ from English? Why is it important to discover Classical history and mythology?

  
  Topics of Study:
  Word order and sentence patterns for simple Latin sentences • Basic functions of nouns, verbs, adjectives • Functions of pronouns • Present tense • English vocabulary derived from Latin • Art and geography of the ancient world • The Roman Empire ca. AD 64 and Daily Life in Rome across socio-economic statuses

  
  Skills We Teach:
  Comprehension of simple Latin sentences through practice in reading • Translating Latin to English and English to Latin • Memorization of vocabulary and recognition of derived English words • Making connections between Latin passages and cultural information sections • Comparing/contrasting diverse cultures and civilization contemporaneously and across the centuries

• Mathematics in Grade 6

  How can I use math models to organize and make sense of real world information?
  
  Topics of Study:
  Looking at Data • Using graphs • Concepts and operations with decimals • Introductory Algebra • Understanding similar shapes • Proportional reasoning: ratio, proportion and percent • Exploring patterns 
  
  Skills We Teach:
  Finding mean, median and mode of data • Creating graphical representations • Converting among multiple forms of representing rational numbers • Computing with fractions, decimals and percents • Representing relationships using tables, graphs and equations • Using similar figures and scaling • Order of operations • Expressing patterns and change using variables • Deciding when answers are “reasonable” • Developing problem solving strategies

• Science in Grade 6

  Earth and Environmental Science
  
  What makes Earth “the living planet”? Do other planets and moons have conditions that might support life? How can we take care of Earth?
  
  Topics of Study:
  Birth of Earth and a brief history of our planet • Plate tectonics • Engineering for earthquakes • Volcanoes • Deep sea vents and life at extremes • Life beyond Earth • Mission to Mars • Robotic chariots • Earth’s atmosphere • Weather, climate, and climate change • Engineering wind power • Environmental passion projects
  
  Skills We Teach:
  Developing a science vocabulary • Formulating questions • Making scientific predictions • Collaborating on engineering projects • Graphing • Designing and building models • Making observations • Analyzing evidence • Drawing conclusions • Sharing results via presentations

• Spanish in Grade 6

  How does studying Spanish help us better understand and communicate with others locally and globally? What connections can be made between Spanish and other languages? How do family and school customs in the US compare with those of many families and students in the Spanish-speaking world? 

  
  
  Topics of Study:
  Seasons and weather • Introductions, meeting and greeting • Describing physical characteristics and personality traits • The family and household • School and after school activities • Food and eating habits
  
  Students will be able to:
  Use numbers 1-100 in different contexts • Identify days of the week, and months of the year • Talk about the seasons and weather • Identify and describe people and academic classes • Identify Spanish speaking countries and capitals and tell where someone is from • Describe families and pets and talk about the home • Discuss what kids do in school and after school • Identify foods and talk about meals • Order food and drinks at a café or restaurant • Compare and contrast eating habits in some Spanish speaking countries with their own

• Drama in Grade 6

  Why explore Shakespeare? How do actors bring Shakespeare's text to life? Why are strong choices essential to interpreting a drama or theatre piece? What makes musical theatre a powerful, unique art form? How do actors integrate singing, dancing, and acting?
  
  Topics of Study:
  Creative Shakespeare •  Shakespeare in performance •  Musical Scene Study
  
  Skills We Teach:
  Taking direction • Memorizing and performing Shakespeare while incorporating the techniques of dramatic acting and comic timing

• Technology in Grade 6

  At Nashoba Brooks School, educational technology is meaningfully integrated into all content areas to enhance student learning.

  
  
  Skills We Teach:
  

  Using G Suite for Education, computer software, and iPad applications across content areas to support learning • Managing a device • Problem solving • Using Google Classroom • Developing programming skills with robotics • Creating and editing videos • Collaborating digitally across platforms • Increasing understanding of netiquette and digital footprint

   

  
  

• Health & Wellness in Grade 6

  How can we use our knowledge of health to promote our optimal well-being? How can students build confidence in themselves in order to cope with the challenges of adolescence? How can we make responsible choices for our health and well-being?
  
  Topics of Study:
  

  Transition to Grade 6 and Executive Function • Sleep • What is Normal? Dismantling Stereotypes • Self-Empowerment • Nutrition • Friendship • ThinkGive • Digital Citizenship • Human Sexuality

• Library in Grade 6

  Use of the library in Grade 6 is incorporated into subject area classes.
  Evaluating books for bias • Citing sources • Creating a works cited page • Finding and using the most appropriate resources for research • Using digital resources for research with increased independence

• Music in Grade 6

  Our Musical Journey: Storytelling in Music
  
  Topics of Study:
  

  Elements of music • West African folk music •  Instrumental Ensemble as part of a theatrical productionSongwriting • Musical scene study • Advancing choral arts • 2 and 3 part harmonies and vocal technique

  
  Skills We Teach:
  

  Singing techniques • Harmonic and melodic composition • Reading iconic notation and performing on instruments • Understanding musical patterns

• PE in Grade 6

  As we continue to explore new physical activities, how are personal growth and team play affected?
  
  Topics of Study:
  Cooperative activities • Volleyball • Pickleball • Softball • Create a game • Track and Field • Futsal • Basketball • Frisbee golf • Tennis • Fitness • Cooperative games • Media portrayal of the female athlete and Title IX
  
  Skills We Teach:
  Pass and set • Learn racket handling, footwork, skills and rules for singles Pickleball • Sprint, hurdle and jump for distance • Hit grounders, place hits and prevent scoring in softball • Use knowledge of motor and locomotor movement • Equipment and strategies to create a game for a specific grade • How to incorporate fitness into everyday life

• Visual Arts in Grade 6

  How can the natural world influence art?

  
  Topics of Study:
  

  Researching, observing, and using nature as a theme for artmaking • Observational, imaginative, and stylized drawing • Mask making • Clay sculpting• Designing for laser-cut artwork • Artist study

  
  
  Skills We Teach:
  Drawing and painting using line and value • Designing and building a mask using cardboard, plaster, and acrylic paint • Using additive and subtractive building techniques with clay sculpture • Mixing and blending colors