Grade 6

The theme in Grade 6 is Art's Impact on the World. Students create original works of art reflecting personal choices and increased technical skill. Painting, charcoal drawing, and a study of color form important lessons. Construction activities with three-dimensional materials help the students build spatial awareness, inventiveness, and sensitivity to structure in their environment. The students grow in understanding that artists are innovators and discoverers who use their experiences, perceptions, and ideas to express and influence civilization and culture.

In Grade 6, English classes are dynamic and cooperative. Students build more advanced reading and writing skills to support the demands of middle school academics. During the year, students learn techniques to support analysis, self-reflection, and discussion of both fiction and nonfiction texts. Students delve deeply into the theme Heroes and Villains in both classic and contemporary literature. Writing instruction starts with a focus on complex and varied sentences, followed by planning and creating well-structured and detailed paragraphs. Formal study of grammar and vocabulary continues.

Grade 6 mathematics makes use of two different sections to offer a range of curricula. Students are placed based on their retention of math concepts from previous years as demonstrated on several measures. The goals of all Santa Catalina Middle School math classes are to build skills, confidence, and habits to enable success in high school math no matter the level. Students work toward mastery and retention of concepts in the following courses:

• Math 6 Standard
• Math 6 Accelerated

Grade 6 music provides a variety of musical opportunities and experiences twice per week. Students develop their music fundamentals such as rhythm, melody, form, tempo, dynamics, and harmony. They incorporate these fundamentals through exploration of vocal technique and Orff instruments, ear training and sight singing, music theory, stage presence, and general musicianship. All students participate in two musical concerts a year.

In Grades 6 through 8, P.E. is five days a week during first period so students can begin their day with physical activity, helping them to be awake and alert for their academic classes that follow. The curriculum follows a five-week rotation to allow students to participate in a variety of units that cover swimming, field sports, court sports, and dance. Additionally, students are periodically tested on multiple components of the California Physical Fitness Test as well as basic swim safety. Students who choose to participate on an after-school sports team or the dance team practice during P.E. two days per week.

Grade 6 religion, meeting twice per week, focuses on God’s plan as revealed through salvation history. Students study the Hebrew Scriptures, which tell the stories of God’s people. Along with our study of the Old Testament, the course supports the Grade 6 history curriculum, with an introduction and overview of Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Students read and reflect on Scripture as the word of God. These enduring lessons and truths provide a basis for a better understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. Santa Catalina supports each student in discovering their place and purpose in the world, to know that they matter, and that they belong.

Grade 6 science meets four times a week and uses the Cambridge Physics Outlet (CPO) program to study Earth science. Students learn content through hands-on investigations using the scientific method and engineering design process. The curriculum includes understanding the Earth and human impacts on our local environment. Students build underwater robots to learn about engineering design, electronics, mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, and how to study an environment we cannot see directly. Later, students learn about the geology involved in shaping our land and sea. Students learn through experiences with local experts and through various field trips to add meaning to the content. 

Using the Teachers' Curriculum Institute (TCI) program, Grade 6 students study ancient civilizations in an interactive and collaborative way. Four times a week, students examine the world’s past from the beginning of human history through the fall of Rome. Students learn the study skills needed to examine historical data: academic writing, note taking, test preparation, test taking, and research.

Grade 6 Spanish is offered in two separate sections to offer grade-level and accelerated paths for students. Students are placed based on past Spanish experience and a placement test. Both paths work to develop student listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in an immersion classroom where Spanish is spoken most of the time. The goal of the Middle School Spanish program is to produce students with the study skills, vocabulary, and grammar needed for placement in Spanish 2 or above at the high school level.

Technical Arts is a class that blends technology, design, and engineering. In Middle School, students strengthen their understanding of the tools and concepts of digital literacy and creative use of technology. Students further their confidence with challenging, collegial, and often self-directed projects while actively engaged in various technical practices such as sketching, image editing, computer programming, 3D modeling, CAD modeling, 3D animation, and digital fabrication.

Throughout the year, students develop the skills of innovation, collaboration, prototyping, and testing ideas to increase creativity in the technical arts and other areas of school life. Their efforts guide them to become “adaptive” learners, capable of embracing a mindset that will prepare them to become creative lifelong learners.