Departmental

Language Arts
This year we have a Language Arts textbook. The large literature book will be used Monday through Thursday and will focus on the components of literature and various responses to literature writings. The grammar aspect of the Language Arts program is found in the Writers Choice workbook. This grammar workbook is used throughout the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Holy Rosary. The students will learn material from this workbook and be tested on it following the completion of each unit. Students will be reading from one novel every Friday. The novel reading will include vocabulary from each chapter or section, phonetic spellings, and comprehension questions- all of which will be included on a bi-monthly quiz (every other week). In addition, each student in sixth grade will be required to read two Accelerated Reader (A.R.) novels per quarter. After reading the novel students will take a quiz over the novel, these quizzes are part of their Language Arts grade. The combination of all these areas of Language Arts will be considered for each student's Language Arts grade.

Science
Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students share a series of text books which includes Life Science, Earth Science and Physical Science. Diocesan teachers chose the chapters in each book that are appropriate for each grade level. The sixth grade curriculum consists of one semester of Life Science (first semester) and one semester of Earth Science (second semester). Students will participate in class activities and labs, complete homework worksheets, and take quizzes. A "daily work" average will be figured from scores in these areas and will count as 1/3 of students' final grade. Tests will be taken approximately every 2-3 weeks and will count 2/3 of students' final grades.

Math
All students will be proficient in numbers and operations, algebraic thinking, geometry, probability, and problem solving. Grades will come from homework, quizzes and tests.

Social Studies
The social studies curriculum includes the study of world cultures. Students are assigned daily quizzes and homework. This daily work will count as 1/4 of their final grade. Tests will be given weekly and make up the other 3/4 of the final social studies grade. Sixth grade students will also have the opportunity to participate in class plays and reports.

Music
History of music in the United States is the focus of the sixth grade music program. Grades are figured by averaging student scores, 1/3 paper work, 1/3 tests and 1/3 class participation. A major project in music this year allows students the opportunity to design and produce their own music video using music from the 1950's and 1960's.

Art
Grades in Art are based upon effort in class and in the student's sketchbook. The art curriculum is based upon study and review of the elements and principles of art. A variety of projects are used to explore those elements and principles. In the sixth grade these include drawing faces, painting, figure drawing, yarn painting, Aboriginal art, plaster casts and icosahedrons and more!

Physical Education
P.E. will be taught t sixth grade students for three of the four quarters of the school year. P.E. grades are based on participation (including dressing in the gym uniform), attitude, and occasional written work. The third quarter students will engage in the Health curriculum. Health grades will be based on written work and tests.

Religion
The sixth grade religion curriculum focuses on the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. Religion grades are based on participation in weekly Mass (singing, praying, behavior), daily class activities, written work, projects and tests.