NOTE: This is a compilation of skills and facts a child should be able to complete and understand at the end of sixth grade. The list of skill sets here will be learned during the sixth grade year.

Language Arts

Art

• Study visual arts like painting, ceramics, sculpture and photography
• Learn of different cultures and time periods
• Learn more about famous artists and styles
• Study and create landscapes, portraits, sculptures, and collages
• Explore various art materials like pastels, clay, watercolors, or papier-mâché
• Learn principles of art like color, line, shape, texture, and space

Music

• Learn and develop understanding of pitch, melody and rhythm
• Sing, play instruments, and explore creative movement
• Sing traditional and folk songs from around the world
• Sing rounds, singing partner songs (When the Saints Go Marching In’)
• Continue to learn about famous musicians
• Develop recognition of musical notation
• Practice drawing treble clef symbol, staff and other musical symbols
• Learn about various musical styles like jazz, classical, Caribbean, and Latin, march and a ballad

Reading

• Uses evidence from the text in order to summarize the plot, make inferences about and analyze the text, and determines the central theme or themes in a text
• Understands and explains the point of view in a text; understands the significance of certain words and passages in a text
• Understands and relays the main idea or claim of a non-fiction text and its supporting evidence
• Reads and compares different texts and genres that address the same topics
• Can participate in a group discussion expressing the ideas and skills learned
• Practices a variety of vocabulary skills, including using the context in which a word is found to determine the meaning or words, recognizing roots of words, and using dictionaries, thesauruses, and glossaries
• Gains an understanding of and the ability to explain figurative language in a text

Spelling

• Work on commonly misspelled words (crystal, larynx, judgment)
• Work on root words, prefixes, and suffixes
• Finding and fixing spelling errors
• Continue to work on challenging words
• Continue to work on phonics and spelling rules learned

Writing & Grammar

• Writes using more complex vocabulary and about more complex content
• Writes over extended periods of time, such as weeks, used for writing long-term pieces
• Writes for short amounts of times, such as in one sitting
• Writes a variety of genres for a variety of audiences
• Writes structured and well-organized option, research, and informative pieces
• Writes well-structured narratives (both fiction and non-fiction)
• Plans, revises, and edits writing, and takes guidance from teachers or peer-reviews
• Writes pieces that display the reading skills achieved (comparisons and claims, developing arguments using specific evidence)
• Expand on ability to type and length in one sitting

Mathematics

• Using ratios to represent relationships between different quantities, sizes, and values
• Solving word problems with ratios by plotting them on charts, graphs, and tables
• Calculating percents
• Dividing fractions by fractions
• Understanding negative numbers and plotting them on number lines
• Finding X (the missing value) in equations as prelude to algebra
• Solving real-world math problems involving area, surface area, and volume
• Learning the basics of statistics

Other Suggested Subjects

Geography & Social Studies

• Focus is on the ancient world
• Learn the geography, politics, culture, and economic systems of ancient civilizations
• Learn about regions of the world and the societies that formed there
• Study past civilizations and peoples, how they lived and interacted
• Study world maps

History

• Focus is on the ancient world
• Study how different periods in history affected progress

Science

• Learn about matter and its interactions
• Learn about molecules to organisms, structures and processes
• Energy- kinetic and potential
• Earth systems (fossils, minerals, rocks, soil, continental shapes, seafloor structures, etc.)
• Life science- learning all about cells

Social Development & Behavior

• Ability to understand others opinions and points of view increase
• Ability to use and understand more complex language
• Influence of peers is higher in this age range
• Able to handle more responsibilities in home, school, and with peers
• More aware of social circles and cliques
• Able to read others facial expressions and body language better
• Able to show empathy better
• Read more about the development of sixth-graders

Additional Resources & Sources:

Check out government standards for your state

TGTB has LA placement and a math placement test. While it does go along with their curriculum, it also can help you identify where your child needs more work. You can also learn more about TGTB.

Sources: Scholastic, Great Schools