6th Grade
Select a class from the list on the right to read the description.
Language Arts
Reading- Novels, biographies, short stories, poetry, articles, student’s work
- Poetry
- Short stories
- Speeches
- Research reports
- Plays and skits
- Letters
- Eight parts of speech
- Correct punctuation and capitalization
- Sentence structure
- Functions of words in a sentence
- Pronoun use – subject and object pronouns, possessive, relative, demonstrative, and interrogative
- Current reading materials
Listening and Speaking – integrated fully into the student’s academic life
Math: Standard Group
- Sets – language and theory
- Place value – review
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions
- Order of operations
- Properties, variables, equations
- Powers and exponents
- Divisibility rules, multiples and factors
- Prime and composite numbers
- Ratios and proportions
- Percentages - introduction
Math: Accelerated Group
Teacher: Linc Merwin- Sets, set theory, number lines, Venn Diagrams
- Metrics – equivalents, measuring, estimating
- Expanded notation, and other number bases
- Review of Roman Numerals and exploration of other numbering systems
- Number Theory – divisibility rules, factor trees
- Negative Numbers – introduction
- Computing integers, negative decimals, negative fractions
- Exponents
- Percentage
- Radicals and irrational numbers
- Trigonometry of right triangles
- Statistics and Probability – introduction
Science
Teacher: Marty Smith – 45 minute classes, three times a week- Sound and Light
- Electricity and Magnetism
- Force, work, energy and motion
Foreign Language
FrenchTeacher: Isabella Tamburrino-Schreiber – 40-minute classes, 4 times a week
- Functions – greet; ask and say name and age; express likes, dislikes and preferences; discuss student life including sports, pastimes and school subjects; describe things, family, home and neighborhood; tell time; describe weather; tell what belongs to you and others; food; describe future events
- Grammar – usage of articles, numbers 0-1000, the plural, articles, nouns, adjectives, agreement of adjectives, contractions, possessive adjectives, demonstrative adjectives, adverbs of frequency, present verb tense, negation, question, the imperative
- Culture and Civilization – French education system, French speaking world, French holidays, French art, films, books, and educational software
- Cultural projects – pen-pal correspondence with partner school in France, research project, national French contest sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French
Teacher: Betty MacNamee – 40-minute classes, 4 times a week
- Vocabulary building – greetings and introductions, school-related expressions, descriptive adjectives, numbers 0 – 30, days of the week, action verbs
- Grammar – gender and number of nouns, definite and indefinite articles, subject pronouns, infinitives, subject-verb and noun-adjective agreement, present tense, irregular verbs, expressing plans and obligations, negation, telling time, asking questions
- Culture – Spanish speaking countries and cultures, songs (holiday and others), use of formal and informal “you”, films and books
Health
Sydney Fox – Three 30 minute classes a week – one term- Health, scientists and disease control
- Research
Developmental Workshop and Human Development
Linda Kamel, Guidance Counselor supports Human Development classes- Goal setting
- Planning for the future
Religion
Teacher: Patricia Walsh-Collins – Two 30 minute classes a week - one term- Testimonies of Quakerism
- Other Christian Religions
Art
Teacher: Patricia Walsh-Collins – One 30 minute and one 40 minute class- Composition of design, abstract art, creative and personalized interpretation of art
- Expression and understanding of the language of art
Shop
Teacher: Sydney Fox – 40 minute class, once a week- Tools- uses and misuses, maintenance
- Pre- project information – selection, planning, Nautical blue prints
- Project information – design of box or tray
- Sawing with accurate measurements
- Sanding and planing
- Drilling
- Joining materials
- Construction
- Post-project information
- Check of construction
- Staining or other types of finish and its application
- Grading
Music
Teacher: Maria DeVore – 40 minute classes, twice a week- Rhythm terms – pulse, tempo, metronome, andante, moderato, allegro, presto
- Instrumental families of the orchestra
- Young person’s guide to the orchestra
- Hand chime instruction
Physical Education
Teacher: Colleen McAteer – 40-minute classes, 2-3 times a week- Team games and game strategies
- Basketball, volleyball, softball
- Cooperative games
- Track and field –standing broad jump long jump, triple jump, Frisbee throw, softball throw, 50 yard dash, cross country, base running, lacrosse skills,
Library
Teacher: Hillary Spitzer – 40 minute class, once a week- Enjoyment and appreciation of literature
- Reading Olympics
- Author study
- Research skills, internet search skills
- Library use as needed
Technology
- All 6-8 graders use personal Apple PowerBook laptop computers in a state-of-the-art wireless school environment. Computers are carried to and used in all academic classes as an educational tool.
- Training in computer use: software, internet use, producing documents, presentations, audio / video programs
Class Trips
- Washington D.C. – four days, three nights
- Overnight camping trips
- Overnight ski trips
- Museums (varies)
- Opportunities for two-week home-stay JEM international travel to partner schools in Russia, India, China, Australia, France, Spain, Hawaii and Amazon rainforest in Ecuador
School Wide Activities
- Assembly – once a week
- Meeting for Worship – once a week
- Recess – twice a day
- Track and Field Day
- Gardening Days
- After-school sports and clubs