Grade Six

On the cusp of adolescence, the sixth grader experiences a new feeling of weight and gravity in their bodies. Alongside the physical changes, you can expect to see stronger objective reasoning and critical thinking skills. They are curious about cause and effect, and they expect straightforward responses to their questions and observations.

The sixth graders seek balance between their own individuality and their desire to belong and as they become more grounded in who they are, they begin to look out into the world to see what it asks of them.  At this age, the teacher aims to work with the children’s growing orientation toward the outer world. Their dawning critical faculties are directed towards observing the natural world from a scientific standpoint and their increasing interest in social relationships provides many opportunities for the children to take responsibility for their own class community.

The twelve year old’s world is delineated in absolutes and “cause and effect” thinking so the curriculum focuses on strong guidelines and clear differentiation concepts.

Our curriculum responds by teaching Astronomy, Geometry, Business Math and the Roman Empire at this age, which all emphasize unity and lawfulness.  The students’ increasing awareness of their physical bodies makes it opportune time to study the physical “body” of the earth in geology. Students study rock formations and the forces that change the shape of the earth’s surface. After their attention has been drawn down deep into the earth, it is lifted to the heavens. In astronomy, the students study the relationship of the earth to the stars and planets, starting from a geocentric perspective, just like astronomers of old.

Your sixth grader will learn