6th Grade Education Overview and Lesson Plans

6th Grade Education Features

What Will the Curriculum Include?

To know exactly what classes your child will be taking, you should check with the school. However, there are a few typical courses that you can expect your 6th grader to take. In math class, students will likely learn about ratios, proportions and basic statistics. In English, students will learn to read a piece of literature closely. Finally, across all content areas - including social studies and science - students will develop the ability to craft a well-organized, logical piece of writing.

Electives are classes that students choose to take. In many schools, 6th graders are able to choose electives for the first time. At some schools, art and music may be electives. Other electives you're likely to encounter are home economics, wood shop and foreign languages, like Spanish or French.

Will the Lesson Plans Be Different?

Although lesson plans will differ based on individual teachers' methods and styles of teaching, all lesson plans must support state standards. As a result, you can expect English lessons to include comparative literature and text citation. Students may be asked to connect the themes in literature to their own lives. Similarly, you can expect math classes to include real-world connections through complex word problems using rates.

What Will My Child's School Day Be Like?

In elementary school, your child probably had one classroom teacher that he or she saw for most of the day. In the 6th grade, however, it's more likely that your child will have a different teacher for each academic subject. It's also likely that each subject will be in a different room or even a different area of the school. Students typically have three or four classes before lunch and then two or three in the afternoon. It's also possible that your 6th grader will have a study hall where he or she can study and complete assignments.

What Can My Child Do After School?

There will likely be much more homework in the 6th grade than there was in elementary school. Middle school teachers start giving more homework because the concepts require outside reading and practice. Keep in mind that middle school teachers are prepping students for high school.

Many middle schools have clubs and sports teams that your child can join. For this reason, your son or daughter may become busier and will have to learn time management skills.