Grade 6 Curriculum

MATHEMATICS

The middle school math program is designed to:

• Have students strive to be honest, responsible and self-confident; develop good study habits; put forth their maximum effort; develop a sense of humor and recognize their strengths;
• Develop the students' awareness of the value of math in our society and its place as a science;
• Have all students reach a level of proficiency with math that will enable them to apply what they know in every day life;
• Have most students reach an additional understanding of theoretical math and an appreciation of the logical and orderly development of math concepts;
• Have all students increase their future success in algebra and geometry;
• Strengthen the students' ability to read in the content area and to question, reason and attack new problems;
• Promote the integration of mathematics with other disciplines in the curriculum;
• Promote the integration of mathematics with available technology (calculators and computers.)

During a typical math class, a lesson is presented, notes are taken, and an assignment is usually given. There is often time for the student to start this work in the class period. The unfinished assignment automatically becomes homework. This assignment is corrected and discussed in the next class period. Friday assignments are kept at a minimum. No parent should have to introduce new material to a student.

The sixth grade will take an MCAS for mathematics. Our ‘Daily Tune-Ups’ (DTU) will serve as a preparation and review.

Math League is an activity open to any interested student in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. It meets five times a year. In our subdivision, our students compete with teams from surrounding towns. The Carlisle Team has consistently placed in the top half of the Eastern Massachusetts Math League. Participation in Math League promotes accuracy, sharpens reasoning, builds confidence and poise, and provides experience for future testing and competition.

CONTENT
Concepts
Topics are taught within the context of problem solving activities in which concepts are developed and computation is reinforced. Computation using whole, fractional and decimal numbers and integers, rounding and estimation, comparing and ordering, inverse operations, numeration systems, exponentiation, ratios, proportion and percent, number properties and theory, pre-Algebra, graphing, probability and statistics, geometry, technology using calculators and computers, time, money, measurement, and problem solving/applications.
The honors grade six program allows for some more in-depth study of irrational numbers and the real number system, exponents, scientific notation and more about square roots.

Problem Solving
Problem solving strategies are integrated into the curriculum. The following problem solving steps will be consistently applied:
1. Understand the Problem
2. Devise a Plan of Action
3. Carry Out the Plan
4. Look Back and Validate

For grade 6, the problem solving steps above will be taught using the following problem solving strategies:

• Estimate and Check
• Draw a Picture
• Make an Organized List of Known Factors
• Make a Data Table
• Look for Patterns
• Use Logical Reasoning
• Choose the Appropriate Arithmetic Operations
• Write and Solve Elementary Algebraic Equations
• Solve a Simpler Example Problem
• Work Backwards from the Data

As part of the problem solving curriculum, all students will participate in the Continental Math League (CML). Five times a year students work out 6 problems in a 30 minute time period. They will then discuss the different strategies used to solve the problems.

MATERIALS

• Passport to Mathematics, Book 1 or Book 2, McDougal Littell
• The Problem Solver 6, Creative Publication
• Daily Tune Ups (DTU)