Curriculum Detail - Grade 6

Sixth Grade

Sixth Grade Curriculum-at-a-Glance

Through interdisciplinary work, Sixth Graders study Classics and Classical Studies. The year focuses on Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, West Africa, and worldwide sustainability. During science class, girls dive into units in physical, chemical, biological and earth sciences. Throughout the year, students put their course work into action and participate in multiple immersion experiences such as the Greek Olympics, competing as different City States, and Space Week, which focuses on designing a colony on Mars. The year culminates with the entire Sixth Grade studying and performing a play in community and collaboration with their work in English, Social Studies and Performing Arts.

Humanities 6A
- Practice basic literary analysis through historical fiction considering the rights and responsibilities of rulers and their subjects and the themes of activism and social change
- Explore resource use and scarcity through a variety of short stories and dystopian and utopian speculative fiction especially in the context of climate change
- Read plays and, in collaboration with the Dance and Drama class, stage an end-of-year production
- Write creatively and analytically to review and practice conventions of formal paragraph writing with short essays and research papers
- Master vocabulary through class texts, and grammar through texts, writing, and explicit exercises
- Representative texts may include The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Windeby Puzzle, Children of Blood and Bone, Greenglass House, A Rover’s Story, We Dream of Space, The Last Beekeeper (Cartaya), selected plays, and Shakespeare’s Secret.
Humanities 6B
- Study ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and West Africa and explore the rights and responsibilities of rulers and their relationships with the people
- Examine various forms of government that existed in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and West Africa, and their corresponding social structures
- Trace how political and social change arises, focusing on climate change and its impact on human geography
- Simulate real-world stage negotiations, conducting a Model UN simulation
- Use frequent visits to the Cleveland Museum of Art as a inspiration for historical research and writing
Intermediate Mathematics 1
- Ponder how to use mathematical evidence to support problem-solving strategies
- Examine mathematics as a series of logical steps applied to theoretical and real-world problems
- Discover how to prove solutions using mathematical thinking and evidence
- Employ number lines to show rational numbers and interpret inequality
- Factor numbers
- Evaluate numerical expressions with exponents
- Understand positive and negative numbers and the absolute value of a number
- Use ratios to convert units and use ratio and rates to solve real-world problems
- Evaluate algebraic expressions
- Use variables to solve problems
- Write equations to express one quantity in terms of another
- Locate positions on a coordinate plane
- Make tables and plot pairs of values
- Use measures of central tendency to analyze data sets
Intermediate Mathematics 2
- Ponder how mathematical evidence supports problem-solving strategies and answers
- Discover that mathematics can be proven Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve theoretical and real-world problems
- Apply and extend operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers
- Construct and describe geometric figures and the relationships between them
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
- Model with mathematics
Integrated Mathematics
- Ponder how mathematical evidence supports problem-solving strategies and answers
- Discover that mathematics can be proven
- Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve theoretical and real-world problems
- Apply and extend operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply and divide rational numbers
- Construct and describe geometric figures and the relationships between them
- Recognize and apply the Pythagorean Theorem geometrically and algebraically
- Identify numbers that are not rational and approximate their value using rational numbers
- Investigate chance processes and develop and evaluate probability models
- Use random sampling to draw inferences
- Apply the slope-intercept form to analyze and solve linear equations
- Evaluate and compare functions
- Employ functions to model relationships
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively
- Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
- Model with mathematics
Science 6
- Use scientific methods to answer questions and solve problems and run experiments using proper lab equipment
- Recognize why it is important to communicate scientifically using evidence and scientific reasoning to support claims
- Create and interpret graphs, including misleading graphs
- Find forms of energy in a system and use the Law of Conservation of Energy to describe how energy flows and is transformed in systems
- Measure and describe physical and chemical properties of matter; describe the relationship between mass, volume and density; find the density of a material; identify phase changes; articulate the composition of substances; understand and describe different chemical reactions
- Apply Newton’s Laws of Motion to everyday situations and properly calculate work and force using appropriate equations
- Identify the components and origins of the universe and use solar system models to explain and predict eclipses, lunar phases and seasons
- Analyze and interpret data from weather maps to predict local weather patterns and conditions
- Understand and explain the evidence for continental drift and plate tectonic theory; correlate geographic features, earthquakes and volcanoes to plate boundary types
French 1B
- Discover that everyday products and practices can reflect cultural differences and that shared experiences and combining and elaborating on learned patterns improves communication skills
- Learn approximately 500 words and a range of products and practices, and use vocabulary for everyday topics and themes
- Describe habits and choices, conduct a simple transaction, and exchange information about housing, food, activities, and clothes; produce simple statements.
Humanities 6
- Understand the forms of government, the rights and responsibilities of rulers and the relationships with those they govern by diving into ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and West Africa
- Trace how political and social change arise, focusing on climate change and its impact on human geography
- Practice basic literary analysis, considering the rights and responsibilities of rulers and their subjects and the themes of activism and social change
- Develop close reading skills, including understanding of author’s craft, literary devices, genre distinctions and word choice/tone
- Explore resource use and scarcity through a variety of short stories and speculative fiction
- Read plays and, in collaboration with the performing arts courses, stage an end-of-year production
- Write creatively and analytically to develop critical-thinking and mechanical skills through writing formal paragraphs, short essays and a research paper
- Master vocabulary and grammar through class texts, writing and explicit exercises
- Read texts that reflect individual curiosities, identities, and passions to foster a love for and an independence of selecting texts that pique personal interests
Spanish 1A
- Discover that Spanish uses an inflected system for verbs and nouns and accent marks to emphasize syllables
- Learn and practice words and phrases on everyday topics; use regular and irregular inflections in the present tense
- Converse, give and ask for contact information; conduct introductions; and exchange information about family, school and activities
Spanish 1B
- Discover that everyday products and practices can reflect cultural differences and that shared experiences and combining and elaborating on learned patterns improves communication skills
- Learn approximately 500 words and a range of products and practices, use vocabulary from everyday topics and compose basic compound sentences
- Describe habits and choices; conduct a simple transaction; exchange basic information about housing, activities, and clothes; produce simple statements
Latin 1A
- Learn vocabulary for a range of cultural products and practices from the Roman world, as well as core grammatical and syntactic structures
- Consider what different cultures can teach us about our own way of living and what the impact of learning one language has on accessibility to other languages
- Explore the relationship of Latin to French, Italian and Spanish; examine the foundational role Latin plays in English and its vocabulary; and increase understanding of English grammar through the study of Latin grammar
- Discover mythology and the ancient Roman world
Visual Arts 6
- Learn to apply the elements of art and principles of design
- Access a wide range of materials and resources to explore artistic interests and goals
- Develop artistic skills through repeated practice with techniques and materials
- Interpret and analyze works of art to develop critical-thinking skills to discuss and evaluate artwork
- Explore the historical and cultural contexts of art.
- Understand how art can be used for self expression and to communicate ideas, and use these skills to create unique and meaningful works of art.
- Make connections between art and other subjects, such as science, math and language arts
Physical Education 6
- Demonstrate movement skills and patterns in a variety of individual performance activities and lifetime physical activities while using critical elements of specialized manipulative skills in a variety of settings
- Apply tactical concepts and performance principles in game-like settings
- Perform specialized skills using critical biomechanical principles properly
- Exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others with the ability to apply rules and procedures to class activities
- Communicate effectively with others in a way that promotes respect and conflict resolution
- Understand the impact physical activity has on one’s physical, emotional and intellectual health
Band 6
- Learn proper technique, air support, tone production and position
- Work as a team to play together, read music and respond to the conductor
- Instruments welcome: flute, clarinet, trumpet, french horn, trombone
- Piano/string instrumentalists will be directed to join Choir to strengthen aural skills
- String players can enter Instrumental Ensemble starting in Seventh Grade
- Pianists can enter Chamber Ensemble starting in Ninth Grade
Choir 6
- Learn proper vocal technique, starting with the breath and body
- Discover how to produce beautiful sounds, layer harmonies and articulate words
- Dive into traditional choral repertoire and songs from around the world, including study of culture and musical influences
- Students who are high-level pianists may have opportunities to collaborate with the choir as well as sing in it

6-8 Curricula

Faculty

Abigail Bole

Science Teacher

Education: Allegheny College - B.S.
John Carroll University - M.Ed.

aBole@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2010
Sarah Brown

Middle School Science Teacher

Education: Brigham Young University - B.S.

sBrown@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2022
Joy Dalby

Visual Art Teacher, Middle School

Education: University of Georgia - B.S.Ed.

jDalby@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2017
Dennis Ficklin

Spanish Teacher, Upper and Middle School

Education: Baldwin Wallace University - B.A.

dFicklin@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2023
Elana Glasner

Mathematics Teacher, Middle School; Learning Strategies Coordinator

Education: Hunter College - M.S.
Barnard College - B.A.

eGlasner@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2020
Kristin Hicks

Sixth Grade Dean, Middle School Mathematics Teacher

Education: Cleveland State University - B.A.

kHicks@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2018
Ian Lanney

Physical Education Teacher, Middle School

Education: Bethany College - B.A.

iLanney@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2022
Candace Maiden

Director of the Middle School; Director of Community Belonging

Education: The Ohio State University - B.A.
Dallas Baptist University - M.A.
Liberty University - M.A.T.

cMaiden@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2017
Joel McDaniel

Music Teacher, Primary & Upper Schools; Theater Technical Support

Education: Baldwin Wallace University - B.M.E.

jMcDaniel@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2017
Veronica McDowell

Latin Teacher, Middle School

Education: John Carroll University - B.A.

vMcDowell@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2024
Ilissa Pearlman

School Psychologist, Grades K-5

Education: University of Michigan - B.A.
Ohio State University - M.A.
Ursuline College - M.A.
Case Western Reserve University - Ph.D.

iPearlman@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2005
Karen Redmond

Technology Innovation Specialist & Maker Mentor

Education: Kent State University - B.A.
Ohio State University - M.A.
Ursuline College - M.Ed.
Baldwin Wallace College

kRedmond@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2002
Kristen Sector

Performing Arts Chair, 6-12; Music Teacher; Middle School, Upper School

Education: Syracuse University - B.Mus.
Kent State University - M.Mus.
Conservatoire National de Strasbourg

kSector@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2019
Alec Stott

World Languages Teacher

Education: University College - B.A.

aStott@LaurelSchool.org

Hired: 2023