the Grosse Pointe Academy
SIXTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
Sixth grade language arts focuses on literature, composition, grammar concepts, vocabulary study, and research skills. Much of the literature studied is integrated with the content of the social studies program. Students use writing, vocabulary and research skills to study in science, math and social studies; grammar skills are reinforced through the literature.
Literature
Students will read and discuss a variety of literary pieces throughout the course of the year including novels, poetry, and selections from their literature anthology
Reading skills: setting a purpose for reading, skimming, scanning, distinguishing fact and opinion, activating prior knowledge, visualizing, responding, interpreting, and drawing conclusions.
Literary elements: narrator, point of view, chronological order, tone, bias, argument, mood, poetic devices, dialogue, conflict, plot, characterization, clarifying, comparing, contrasting, identifying main idea and supporting details.
Additionally, each month, students will read a book of their own choice, complete a Book Mark Book Review and participate in an in-class oral Book Share.
Vocabulary
Students will work with the WordWeb Vocabulary series -- a prefix, suffix, and root based vocabulary program. They will understand the meaning of each prefix, suffix, and root word and how to use it effectively in the English language.
Speech/Communication
Students will deliver speeches and presentations, as well as share their writing, on a regular basis.
Students will examine pieces of literature from the following categories: myth, legend, folktale, fable, and fairy tale, identify a topic they would like to research further, design a workshop, and present to our younger students.
Students will create and present a PowerPoint presentation based on an assigned area of research from social studies using critical thinking skills to answer questions that relate to their topic.
Students will participate in debates by investigating a particular side of an argument, identifying pertinent information, categorizing it to fit with the points of their arguments, and presenting their side of the debate to their class.
Students will explore their childhood and identify an object that played an important role, compose a story that explains the history, and design and construct a piece of art in art class that represents their object.
Students will explore their creativity, applying it to their portrayal of a character in their performance of a scene from the screenplay Cheaper By the Dozen based on the book by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
Forensics is available as an extracurricular activity for interested students.
The Writing Process
Students will write on a daily basis throughout the year. Students will learn how to effectively write the classic five-paragraph essay using the power writing technique supported by 6+1 Writing Traits: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, Conventions, and Presentation. In addition, students will create and submit an advertisement, an object-based narrative, a compilation of poetry, and a variety of other writing pieces.
Using the Writer’s Workshop approach – prewriting, drafting, revision, editing, and publication – students will engage in mini lessons on various writing techniques, peer collaboration, and weekly one-on-one meetings with their teacher to discuss their individual writing strengths and areas that are in need of further development.
Research
Students will undertake a collaborative language arts and social studies research project based on a specific area of study in social studies. The research focuses primarily on one particular area of influence such as music, art, dance, medicine, science, etc. Students will give an oral presentation supported by a PowerPoint presentation complete with sources, note cards, outlines, MLA citations, and a works cited page.
SIXTH GRADE MATHEMATICS
Middle School mathematics begins the preparation to more advanced mathematics, such as algebra and geometry, while reinforcing general arithmetic skills. Mathematical modeling, collaborative use of manipulatives, and real life problems allow students to understand the increasingly abstract concepts presented and to adapt their skills to a variety of situations.
Areas of Study – Regular Program
Whole Numbers and Patterns
Introduction to Algebra
Decimals
Number Theory and Fractions
Fraction Operations
Collecting and Displaying Data
Proportional Relationships
Geometric Relationships
Measurement and Geometry
Measurement: Area and Volume
Integers, Graphs and Functions
Probability
Areas of Study – Honors Program
Algebraic Reasoning
Integers and Rational Numbers
Applying Rational Numbers
Patterns and Functions
Proportional Relationships
Percents
Collecting, Displaying and Analyzing Data
Geometric Figures and Transformations
Measurement: Two-Dimensional Figures
Measurement: Three-Dimensional Figures
Probability
Areas of Study – Advanced Program
This is a program designed for students with exceptional mathematical skill. We tailor this course to meet their unique learning style. Our usual sequence is pre-algebra, algebra I and then algebra II.
SIXTH GRADE SCIENCE (BIOLOGY)
The sixth grade science course is an inquiry, discovery based program. Using the scientific method, students learn to think critically, solve problems, relate concepts, make observations, draw conclusions, and interpret data in a collaborative lab environment.
Through indoor and outdoor lab experiences, experimentation, and simulations, students develop their understanding of classification, ecological concepts and anatomy.
Classification
Trees
Students use the school campus and a dichotomous key to identify 40 trees, comparing and differentiating characteristics of each species. Each student assembles a collection of leaves from each specimen.
Mammals
Students create a dichotomous key for mammals using study skins of 25 common mammals in Michigan.
Students simulate the annual cycle of birds in a three-day outdoor lab.
Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish
Students distinguish adaptations of reptiles, amphibians, and fish using live specimens. They compare the internal anatomy of a frog and fish through dissection.
Invertebrates
Students discover and classify invertebrates using microscopes and collected aquatic samples from local sources. They use detailed lab drawings to record discovered invertebrates.
Ecological concepts
Students use their knowledge of tree and mammal identification to discover the interdependence between the most common mammal and tree on the school campus.
Students participate in simulations that demonstrate basic ecological concepts of food webs, energy and matter movement through the environment, and biological magnification, among others.
Anatomy
Students use experiments to interpret effects of various forms of pollution and human activities on aquatic and land ecosystems while relating basic ecological concepts.
Students discover plant and animal cells and tissue using microscopes and video. Students use prepared slides, microscopes, and plant samples to identify and locate internal and external plant tissue. Technical readings combined with class discussions provide the resources for understanding processes of imbibitions diffusion and other plant processes.
Students use frog and fish dissections to identify and locate organs and systems. They use lab drawings to record data. Technical reading and class discussion provides the resources for understanding functions of organs and system.
All simulations and experiments require scientific writing, technical reading, and class discussion for comprehension.
SIXTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
Sixth grade social studies focuses on the general concepts and tools of geography as well as the history spanning from the Stone Ages to the Age of Exploration. Teachers integrate many social studies themes across the sixth grade curriculum through units with language arts, world languages, art, and music. Students are taught to think critically, to collaborate on their projects and research, and to effectively communicate their ideas in a variety of media.
Geography
General Concepts
Movement of Earth
Continents formation and different landforms
Weather, climate, and their influence on the Earth
Population:
. Density, growth, distribution, rural living, and urbanization
. Birthrate, death rate, life expectancy, and the Green Revolution
. Migration, immigration, and the “push-pull” theory
. Population pyramids: making, reading, and interpreting
Five Themes of Geography (applied to each area of study):
. Location
. Movement
. Place
. Region
. Human Environment Interaction
Tools of Geography
The Globe
Maps
. Different types of map projections (with concepts of scale and distortion caused by flattening of globe)
. Parts of a map or TOADLS (Title, Orientation using compass rose, Author, Date, Legend or key, Scale)
. The Equator, Hemispheres, Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of Cancer, Latitude and Longitude lines.
History: Areas of Study
Ancient Civilizations
Ancient Egypt and Nubia
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Middle East and Islam
Europe in the Middle Ages
New Age in Europe, the XIV and XV Centuries
Current Events
3, 2, 1 Format – three details, two main ideas, and one question
Critical Thinking Skills
Reading in the content area - using the text, vocabulary, headings, visuals and indexes for different purposes:
. Scanning
. Skimming
. Reading for detail and understanding
Levels of questioning:
. Literal – “right there”
. Concept – “think & search”
. Application – “applying concepts to new situations”
Problem Solving and Inquiry
Investigations
Public Discourse
Decision-Making
Citizen Involvement
Research
Locating
Organizing
Summarizing data
Use of databases
Drawing conclusions
Interdisciplinary Projects
History and Art Connections:
. Lascaux Caves, pyramids, Cathedrals of the Middle Ages, Renaissance art
History and Language Arts Connections:
. Ancient Greece, Medieval Times project and banquet
Students apply learned writing and research skills on all assigned work.
MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGES
The Grosse Pointe Academy offers a choice of studying one of three world languages: Chinese, French, or Spanish. Our small class sizes lend themselves to an immersion environment where both teachers and students speak their world language on a regular basis. At the eighth grade level, students speak French and Spanish almost exclusively.
The courses provide an introductory study of the four components of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students work as a class, independently, and in groups to explore the intricacies of their selected language and gain knowledge in the four components. Students will develop the skills that enable them to understand the written and the spoken language and to communicate both verbally and compositionally.
Students study different facets of their language’s culture while comparing and contrasting it with their own familiar milieu.
Texts
Chinese
Happy Chinese/Kuaile Hanyu Volume 1. People’s Education Press, 2004
Happy Chinese/Kuaile Hanyu Volume 2. People’s Education Press, 2004
Happy Chinese/Kuaile Hanyu Volume 3. People’s Education Press, 2004
French
Discovering French Nouveau! 1 Bleu. McDougall Littell, 2007
Discovering French Nouveau! 2 Blanc. McDougall Littell, 2007
Spanish
Realidades Level A. Pearson, 2008
Realidades Level B. Pearson, 2008
Students graduating from our world language program will have a solid foundation for continuing study of the language at a second year or honors second year high school level.
GRADE 6 MUSIC/PERFORMING ARTS
The sixth grade general music program provides students of all levels of musical experience and knowledge with a differentiated standards-based curriculum that incorporates musical performance such as choral and instrumental music. In the process of becoming fluent in the language of music, students learn to read music notation, improvise and compose using concepts learned, and analyze and evaluate music through a variety of listening experiences. Music studied is global, varied in historical period and genre, and experienced in relation to other arts such as theatre, as well as considered in relation to culture and history.
Singing
Variety of choral styles appropriate to grade level and developmental ability.
Public ensemble performances in service to the community.
Musical theater performance, which incorporates singing with other performing arts skills such as acting and movement. All aspects of set design, costuming, and scene production will be student-led.
Basic vocal/choral skills such as: singing posture and alignment, vowel and consonant placements, diction, breath support, matching pitch, choral tone and resonance.
Instrumental Playing
Simple to complex rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic patterns through sight-reading and performance literature in both choral and instrumental music.
Hand chimes and Orff instruments.
Ensemble performance in a variety of time signatures.
Reading Music Notation
Theoretical knowledge of staff reading and notation
Solfege as a tool for reading vocal music notation.
Critical Listening to and Evaluating of Music Performances
Performance etiquette and ability to evaluate quality and effectiveness of music performances and compositions, applying the criteria in personal listening and performing.
Listen regularly to a wide variety of recorded music as well as live music such as peer performances.
Written and verbal evaluation and observation as part of the critical thinking experience.
Improvising and Composing Music
Improvisation and composition of music within specified guidelines, once given the tools of music notation.
Aural and visual presentation of musical material to the class.
Analyzing Music As It Relates to Culture and History
Analysis and description of music, using appropriate musical terminology, demonstrating knowledge of the basic elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, tonality, dynamics, timbre, texture and form, and their effect on the listener. Students will also explore the effect of lyrics on the listener.
Distinguishing characteristics of music genres and styles from a variety of cultures and time periods.
Study of the basic elements of music as they progressed and changed from the Middle Ag
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHRISTIAN LIFE
The Christian Life program of The Grosse Pointe Academy strives to enrich the developing faith of our students in the God who loves them through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. We teach basic Christian beliefs that foster values of love and respect for all people as well as form the foundation for moral decision-making and behavior.
We offer opportunities for development of a personal prayer life through classroom prayer and weekly chapel services. Our community service program encourages our children to reach out in faith towards those who need their help.
Sixth Grade
The sixth grade program is designed to help the students determine right from wrong based upon God and His Word as the standard for making right moral choices. It is based on a four-step process for making the right choices related to issues about:
. Honesty
. Purity
. Love
. Justice
. Mercy
. Respect
. Self-control
The use of workbooks, skits, games, and Scripture study help the students learn to apply the “making-right-choices” process to their everyday lives.
Seventh Grade
The seventh grade students study prayer in depth in order to become more familiar with different types of public and private prayer. They study the Lord’s Prayer as an example of the perfect prayer. In order to understand the prayer traditions of the major world religions, the students study the historical, cultural, and theological differences and similarities of:
. Christianity
. Judaism
. Hinduism
. Islam
Eighth Grade
The eighth grade Christian Life program focuses on helping the students to:
. Focus on the qualities of Jesus as reflected in the Gospels
. Clarify their understanding of who Jesus was
. Deepen their personal faith in Jesus
An in-depth study of the Beatitudes, an introduction to the life of Mother Teresa who lived the Beatitudes in the modern world, and a study of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount serve to launch the students into high school with a good understanding of Christian moral teaching and how it should look in their lives.
The students’ prayer lives are expanded beyond classroom prayer by experiencing guided meditative prayer and taking part in the preparation of their Baccalaureate service at graduation.
