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Curriculum Overview
Language Arts
In alignment with the State frameworks, the 6th grade Language Arts students will learn to think, read, write, and speak with greater clarity and confidence. This is achieved in a variety of ways:
Language
Students practice and advance their independent use of basic language skills, including spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and usage. Discussion and performance skills are developed through frequent opportunities for sharing opinions and ideas in large and small groups.
Literature
Students read and respond to a wide variety of literary genre: novels, articles, drama, mythology, short stories, essays, biography, and poetry. Students are also taught specific comprehension strategies for reading for information.
Composition
The value of the writing process - organizing, drafting, conferencing, and editing - continues to be emphasized. Students are taught specific organizational strategies for different purposes.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
English language learning students (ELLs) learn the same curriculum as all other students. Teachers in the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools are trained or in the process of being trained in Sheltered English Instruction (SEI), which enables them to make the mainstream curriculum comprehensible to English language learners as they learn English. All content in the core subjects of language arts, math, history/social studies, and science is taught in English, using SEI strategies to make the material accessible and the learning environment welcoming, stimulating and inclusive for learners from different cultures and languages. The language arts curriculum is supplemented by English language development (ELD) classes taught by ESL teachers and is aligned with the Massachusetts “English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes for English Language Learners” and “English Language Arts Frameworks”.
Mathematics
Building on basic skills already learned, Island sixth graders extend their mathematical understanding by meeting objectives as stated in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks:
Number Sense and Operations
· All operations with decimals, fractions, percents, & integers
· Positive Exponents
· Number theory concepts
· Order of operations
· Solving equations with inverse operations
Patterns, Relations and Algebra
· Arithmetic and geometric sequences
· Uses math properties to solve equations
· Evaluates expressions
· Solves linear equations using tables, charts Rate of change and equations
Geometry
· Identify polygons based on their properties
· Identify three-dimensional shapes based on their properties
· Graph points on Cartesian coordinate plane
· Find the distance between two points on a number line
· Symmetry and transformational geometry
· Congruent shapes
· Matching 3-D shapes to their nets
Measurement
· Classify and construct triangles and quadrilaterals
· Area and perimeter/circumference of circles and polygons
· Surface area, and volume of rectangular prisms
· Sum of the angles of a polygon
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
· Measures of central tendency
· Construct and interpret different types of graphs
· Probability of simple events
· Determine fairness of games
· Use tree diagrams
History/Social Science
The 6th grade curriculum , as stated in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, focuses on World Geography. Understanding and clear communication of ideas is taught through a variety of projects, discussions, and activities.
Geography
· Use map/globe skills (relative and absolute location, direction, distance, etc.)
· Identify and use geographic terms correctly
· Interpret geographic information from a graph or chart
· Use an atlas to locate and label places on maps
History
· Identify when selected countries became independent nations
· Describe major events that have shaped a region or nation's history
Economics
· Explain the system of international trade
· Identify and use economic terms correctly
· Give examples of goods and products that are imported and exported.
· Compare and contrast the standard of living in different nations
Civics and Government
· Define what a nation is and give examples of how they are formed
· Identify major ethnic groups and religious groups in selected nations
· Describe cultural influences and contributions of different populations
Science
6th Grade students in the MVPS participate in the required components of the Science Curriculum as stated in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Students engage in the following units through research, experimentation, inquiry, and project-based learning:
Life sciences
· life processes
· cell biology
· anatomy (body systems) (not at Tisbury or West Tisbury)
· ecology (at West Tisbury, energy transfer, life cy les; Edg: biodiversity, living things and their environments)
Chemistry
· matter/atoms
· periodic table of elements
· compounds and mixtures
Physics
· heat and the transfer of heat
· phase changes - freezing, boiling, condensing, melting, and sublimation
Earth Science
· gravity
· earth’s layers
· plate tectonics (Edgartown does heat transfer in earth’s systems)
· Planets
World Language: Spanish
Sixth grade Spanish students focus on listening comprehension, speaking in sentences, and writing short texts in Spanish. Using a variety of activities, including skits and dialogues, they continue to build vocabulary and add verb conjugations.
Areas of focus include:
· classroom objects and commands
· verbs and their formation/subject agreement
· weather
· clothes/shopping
· body parts
· food/meals in South America
· sports and leisure activities
· adjectives and their noun agreement
· time/age/date/numbers
· letter writing
· basic geography and culture of the Spanish speaking world
Computer Technology/Media
The 6th grade technology course provides students with instruction in high tech means to sharing information with each other, the community, and the world. The students learn by integrating written data, sound, digitized images, and interactive video across the curriculum. Students continue to advance in development and mastery of the following skills and concepts:
· touch typing
· word processing and spreadsheets
· graphic arts - painting and drawing programs
· internet research skills
· music, digital photo & digital video programs
· incorporating multimedia programs to present academic content (iMovie, Keynote)
· database creation
Art
Painting
Students paint on canvas for the first time with acrylics. The paintings are a first introduction to techniques such as color gradation, sgraffito, and transparent overlays.
Drawing
A first serious pencil portrait using a value scale , a fantasy piece, and still life. Color pencil, ink and collage techniques are included in the drawing unit.
Three Dimensional Study
Several opportunities are given in both sculptural and functional clay work. Texturing and carving incorporate design elements. In fiber arts a personal tapestry or small soft sculpture figure is produced.
Advertising Art
Study of advertising art using island themes to create cover art for the Chamber of Commerce's phonebook, an annual all-Island 6th grade competition.
Music
Sixth graders develop further understanding of a variety of general musical concepts, including pitch/melody. harmony, rhythm, form, listening, and creativity. Basic themes include:
· Singing
· Reading and Notation
· Playing Instruments
· Improvisation and Composition
· Critical Response
Industrial Arts
Sixth grade Industrial Arts classes teach design techniques, safe use of power and hand tools, and construction and transportation technologies. All 6th grade IA students learn about electricity and solar power when they design and build entries for the annual solar car race in the spring. Each Island school offers students a variety of hands-on projects using different basic materials such as:
· wood
· cork
· paper
· cardboard
· styrofaom
· plastic
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Physical Education
Basic Gross and Fine Motor Sports Related Skills
· throwing, catching, hand and foot dribbling
· introduction to striking tennis, volleyball, softball, etc,
· defensive moves from opponent
Basic Fitness
· flexibility, strengthening, and cardiovascular conditioning
· individual exercise regimens and team regimens
Personal and Social Competency
· offensive and defensive strategies; team and individual
· active inclusion of all members of class
· purpose and benefits of team and individual sports in society
Health/Social-Emotional Learning
This course, which goes by different names in different Island schools, provides a wide range of life skills education and support:
· social skills
· communication skills
· teambuilding
· friendships / popularity
· accepting differences in others
· internet safety
· self-improvement / image
· conflict resolution / violence prevention
· growth and development
· decision-making
· Camp Alton Jones outdoor awareness trip
Family and Consumer Science
The Family and Consumer Science Program is based on both the National Standards and the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Frameworks. The following are some of the topics covered in this class:
· Nutritional awareness based on the USDA Food Pyramid
· Career knowledge and personal finance
· Family and child development
· Housing and consumer economics
Home/School Connection
Keep informed of your student’s progress by: taking time each day to talk with your student about school; attending parent conferences, Open House, and other school activities.
Help your child develop good study habits by: establishing a regular routine for completion of homework; offering encouragement and help in completing assignments as needed;
Develop attitudes that encourage learning by: providing books, newspapers, and magazines; using television and computers in educationally appropriate ways, getting involved in your local PTO, and visiting your child’s class. |
