St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School
Private School in Thousand Oaks, CA - Conejo Valley Kindergarten through 6th Grade
SIXTH GRADE
Our 6th Grade program at St. Patrick's is incredibly unique. We can say with the utmost confidence that your child's sixth grade year at St. Patrick's will be a time to cultivate growth, learning, and leadership that will prepare them for the rest of their educational career in middle school, high school, and university. As a leader at the school, your child will have opportunities that sixth graders in a middle school simply do not have. All of this is achieved while simultaneously giving your child one more year of the freedom and innocence of an elementary school campus. Sixth grade at St. Patrick's is life changing and life shaping.
ACADEMICS
Mathematics
This is a pre-algebra course that begins with a review of basic skills, fractions, and decimals. Students are taught problem-solving strategies through algebraic concepts and methods. Topics include ratio and proportion, percents, statistics, basic geometry, integers, exponents and square roots, coordinate graphing and measurement in metric and standard systems.
Science
The sixth grade science program focuses on the earth science topics of environmental science, traditional and alternative energy sources, soil and landforms, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The methodology used in this program is based on hands-on activities and discovery-based lessons that utilize the scientific method. Each fall the sixth grade students participate in an outdoor education trip that parallels the earth science curriculum.
Outdoor School
One of the many exciting learning opportunities planned for the sixth grade class this year is a three-day outdoor education program facilitated by the Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation. The program is held on Santa Cruz Island and is designed to integrate the science and social studies lessons learned in the classroom with hands-on activities and explorations in an outdoor environment. Part of the sixth grade science program is the study of ecosystems and habitats and specifically the historical and environmental changes that have taken place on Santa Cruz Island over the last one hundred years. Students see and experience firsthand the content of their studies. In addition, sixth graders are challenged to develop independence, confidence, and interpersonal and leadership skills through a series of guided activities. It is a memorable bonding experience for all.
Literature and Language Arts
The language arts curriculum includes basic reading skills taught through the reading of short stories as well as literary analysis through the reading of class novels. In addition, there is a strong grammar component to the course that reinforces the parts of speech, proper usage and grammar rules. Sixth graders have weekly spelling and vocabulary lists through which they learn spelling rules, Greek and Latin roots, recognizing meaning through context, and how to incorporate these words into their writing.
Expository Writing
The sixth graders work on developing their skills in the writing of different types of essays such as the narrative, the descriptive, and the persuasive essay, and how to answer an essay question on a test. In addition, they continue to develop their understanding of the structure of language, tools of expression, and forms of written communication in all subject areas.
Social Studies
The sixth grade social studies program includes world geography and map skills, the history of ancient cultures, and a basic introduction to economics, political systems, the development of tools and technology and the beginning of world religions. These concepts are covered through a chronological approach to history, beginning with prehistoric peoples to the Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. At the end of the year, the students write and produce a play based on their study of Greek mythology.
SERVICE LEARNING
The sixth grade service learning project involves collecting donations for and working at the Mad Attic Thrift Store located on Skyline Drive in Thousand Oaks. The Mad Attic is a non-profit, volunteer-run, outreach of St. Patrick’s church that serves the community by providing low-cost shopping and by making monetary donations to local charities.
RECREATIONAL P.E.
In addition to their regularly scheduled Physical Education classes with Coach Russel, our sixth graders are also exposed to recreational activities such as archery, bowling and yoga. This is an incredible experience for the students as they get to try out new hobbies and games and hone their skills.
LEADERSHIP
An important part of the sixth grade program is the development of leadership as a personal quality. The sixth graders are given various duties, positions and projects at the school that allow them to learn and practice the attributes necessary to lead effectively through action and words. Public speaking is a key component of our leadership training.
STUDY SKILLS
Integrated into all areas of the sixth graders’ experience is learning and using a variety of study skills such as note-taking, time management, organizational techniques, test taking skills, reading context clues, analogies, outlining and using technology as an effective learning and study tool.
