6th Grade Curriculum
Sixth Grade
Sixth grade at Holy Redeemer is a transition year for the students. The students remove themselves from the self contained classrooms, and venture from room to room learning new material. The sixth grade students are introduced to a variety of helpful information during this year. Learning concepts such as organization, time management and responsibility help the students prepare for the increased work load they will receive in years to follow. The sixth grade also takes time out from the classroom to travel on field trips, which highlights and enriches the material they have learned throughout the year. By the end of sixth grade, students have grasped and embraced the changes of Upper School. They look forward to the next year where they can be exceptional models for the incoming sixth grade.
Middle School Language Arts
The 6th grade Literature curriculum is primarily novel based and reviews a variety of genres. Students will focus on word recognition, fluency, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and literary response and analysis. Throughout the year students will explore these ideas and understand how to utilize specific techniques to enhance their writing.
The 6th and 7th grade Grammar and Vocabulary curriculum is established to help students develop their writing, paying close attention to the structure and developmental process of their papers. Students will focus on parts of speech, types of writing and expanding their vocabulary. These ideas will aid in a better understanding between grammar and successful writing.
Middle School Science
In middle school science, students will study a wide variety of topics ranging from cells to volcanoes to the universe. Each grade is narrowed down into a specific discipline (Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science). We heavily utilize technology and focus on student creations. Students have many opportunities to participate in fun and engaging activities, such as: edible cells, shoebox planetariums, growing plants, growing crystals, making a natural disaster video, creating pop-up books to share with the children in the lower school, making and testing “rocket launchers”, testing acids and bases, using microscopes, and much more. Each middle school student participates in the Holy Redeemer Science Fair which takes place in the spring. Students work on their own individual projects and then share them with others in the evening during the Science Fair.
Middle School Social Studies
In 6th grade social studies we will be covering Western Civilization World History and the many individuals, societies and cultures that helped shape the world. We will begin our study of Western Civilizations in Ancient Greece. After Greece we will move on to the development of the Roman Empire and rise of Christianity. After the fall of Rome we will move to the medieval societies that develop in Northern Europe and the establishment of feudal systems. We will then study the Crusades and analyze how they opened up many different trade routes. The newly developed routes will lead to new opportunities and cause the rise of the Renaissance. The Renaissance will lead us into the Age of Exploration, where we will follow the European explorers across the Atlantic and into the New World. The last civilizations we will study this year will be the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan. In addition to studying the many different histories of the cultures and societies we will encounter, we will also learn about geography and how humans interact with the land and how this affects history. Another important aspect of history that we will focus on will be government and economics.
Holy Redeemer Upper School Math Program
The Upper School Math Program at Holy Redeemer utilizes the Saxon Math Series for all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. The program emphasizes the use of incremental instruction of basic math concepts with continual, daily practice. Every assessment is cumulative and, thereby, reinforces and monitors progress on a regular basis. Facts practice, Warm-Ups, and Hands-On demonstrations are also incorporated into lessons. There are adaptations to the program for special needs students on all math levels.
6th Grade Math – Course 1
7th Grade Math – Course 2
8th Grade Math – Course 3
*Numbers and Operations
*Algebra & Algebra Topics
*Geometry
*Measurement
*Data Analysis & Probability
*Problem Solving
Algebra 1
*Algebra Foundations
*Functions & Equations
*Polynomials
*Quadratic Equations
*Radical Expressions & Functions
*Systems of Equations & Inequalities
Middle School Religion
The sixth grade course of study centers on the Old Testament preparation for the coming of Our Savior. This year, students will be exposed to the structure and content of the Bible and specifically the Old Testament, as it tells the story of creation, God’s call to man(i.e. mankind), and man’s response. Revelation unfolding through time forms the backdrop of all that we will study this year. Key concepts for the year include creation, original sin, covenant, forgiveness, faith, commandments, Providence, Messiah, heaven, hell, Purgatory, prayer, and sacrifice, among others. We will encounter individual figures that were key in the history of the Chosen People and are our ancestors in faith. Among these people are included: Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Deborah, Ruth, Samuel, Saul, Solomon, Nathan, Elijah, Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. There is a wealth of material!! There are abundant rich examples of people who tried to respond to God’s prodding, sometimes succeeding and sometimes not, and of a God who does not ever abandon His people. At the end of this year, students should have a firm grasp of what has preceded the foundation of Christianity, and possess an understanding of God’s invitation to each of us to follow Him and do His will.