PO Box 560 / 90 Alexander Lane, Solomons, Maryland 20688
Phone (410) 326-3171 | olssschool@comcast.net | Fax (410) 326-9478
OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL
Mrs. Therese Frederick
Mrs. Frederick received her bachelor's degree in Child Development from California State University, Sacramento and a master's degree in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Mathematics from NOVA Southeastern University. Mrs. Frederick has been an educator for 24 years and taught in both California and Maryland. She spent 17 years teaching for St. Mary’s County Public Schools in grades 1-7. This is her 4th year teaching 6th grade at OLSS.
Email: grade6@olsss.org
MATH
Series used: Saxon Math
Grade Six Math prepares students for upper-level algebra and geometry. Students learn concepts such as compound interest functions, coordinate graphing, exponential expressions, divisibility concepts, and prime factorization. The Saxon math curriculum constantly reviews concepts taught in previous lessons, which reinforces and monitors progress.
1) Number Sense: Students compare and order positive and negative integers, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers. They convert between and two representations of numbers (fractions, decimals, and percents).
2) Computation: Students solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers, and problems involving fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions, and percentages.
3) Algebra & Functions: Students write verbal expressions and sentences as algebraic expressions and equations. They evaluate algebraic expressions, solve simple linear equations, and graph and interpret their results.
4) Geometry: Students identify and classify the properties of plane and solid geometric shapes and the relationships between them. They identify vertical, adjacent, complementary, and supplementary angles.
5) Measurement: Students further study the measurement of plane and solid shapes, and use this to solve problems. They calculate with temperature and money, and choose units of measure for length, area, volume, weight, time, temperature, and angle sizes.
6) Data Analysis & Probability: Students compute and analyze statistical measures for data sets. They determine theoretical and experimental probabilities and use them to make predictions about events. The compare mean, median, and mode for data sets.
7) Problem Solving: Students use strategies, skills, and concepts to approach mathematical problems. They analyze problems by identifying relationships and relevant information, sequencing and prioritizing information, and observing patterns. They apply strategies from simpler problems to solve more complex problems.
ADW 6th Grade Math Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS
READING:
1) Word Recognition, Fluency, & Vocabulary Development: Students use their knowledge of word parts and word relationships, as well as context cues, to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary, and to understand the precise meaning of words. They identify and interpret figurative language, words with multiple meanings, and recognize common foreign words used in English.
2) Reading Comprehension: Students connect the essential ideas of text by using their knowledge of text structure, organization, and purpose. They identify the structural features of popular media and use them to obtain information (e.g. a key word search). They read a variety of narrative and expository texts. Various forms of book reports are assigned throughout the year.
LITERATURE:
3) Literary Response & Analysis: Students read works from many classic writers, and identify various genres including short stories, fiction, oral tradition, and poetry. They draw conclusions from the passage they read, and identify the theme, setting, and plot for each piece of literature. Students discuss characters by comparing and contrasting. Students produce written works such as persuasive essays, advertisements, newspaper articles, and personal narratives.
WRITING & SPELLING:
4) Writing Process: Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays of 500-700 words. They progress through the stages of the writing process and proofread, edit, and revise writing.
5) Writing Applications: Students write narrative, expository, persuasive, and descriptive texts of at least 500 words. They write for different purposes, adjusting tone and style as appropriate. They use their knowledge of writing strategies to write narratives, descriptions, explanations, comparison and contrast papers that are clear and organized.
6) Written English Language Conventions: Students write using Standard English conventions. They use simple, compound, and complex sentences, and clearly organize their ideas to express complete thoughts. They identify indefinite pronouns, present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect verb tenses, and ensure that verbs agree with compound subjects. They use prepositional phrases, appositives, main clauses, and subordinate clauses. They learn the correct use of colons, semicolons, and commas.
LISTENING AND SPEAKING:
7) Skills, Strategies, & Applications: Students evaluate the content of oral communication, and deliver focused, coherent presentations that convey ideas clearly. They analyze the use of rhetorical devices including rhythm and timing of speech, repetitive patterns, and the use of onomatopoeia for intent and effect.
ADW 6th Grade Language Arts Standards
SOCIAL STUDIES
1) History: Students begin to study the histories of regions outside the US, focusing on:
a) Civilizations and societies in Europe and the Americas to 700AD, focusing on the cultural achievements, governing systems, religious beliefs, influences, and interactions of ancient civilizations in Europe, Mesoamerica, and the Eastern Roman Empire. The development of the Incan, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations are explored in depth.
b) Medieval History Period and the Renaissance to the 16th century, including the feudal system, the influence of religion on medieval societies, and the developments in science the arts, and literature that occurred during the Renaissance.
c) Exploration, Colonization, and Post-Colonization to the 19th Century, including the outcomes of European colonization on the Americas, the impact of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe and the Americas.
d) Europe and the Americas in the 19th to 21st Centuries, specifically the impacts of industrialization, and the influence of competing political ideologies of Europe and the Americas.
2) Civics & Government: Students analyze the foundations and functions of government in Europe and the Americas. They compare early Greek and Roman forms of representative government with that of the US, and move on to learn about socialist, communist, and democratic governments.
3) Geography: Students identify countries and use latitude and longitude to locate capital cities in Europe and the Americas. They locate major mountain regions, bodies of water, deserts, and climate regions.
4) Economics: Students learn how trade has affected the history and development of countries in Europe and the Americas, and compare the standards of living between those countries using a variety of data (e.g. Gross Domestic Product).
ADW 6th Grade Language Social Studies Standards
SCIENCE
1) Nature of Science & Technology: Students understand the Scientific Method, focusing on the need for scientific inquiry. They design investigations, collecting and analyzing data, and explaining their findings. They learn that technology is essential to science.
2) Scientific Thinking: Students collect information, calculate, and analyze data. They prepare tables and graphs to summarize data and identify relationships. In computation and estimation, they find means and medians of data sets. They organize information in tables and graphs to convey their findings.
3) The Physical Setting/Earth & Space Science: Students collect and organize data to identify relationships between objects, events, and processes. Earth Science topics include weather, climate, identifying rocks & minerals, erosion, the water cycle, motions of ocean waters, fresh water, salt water, and seasons. When studying the Universe, students learn the size, composition, and surface features of the planets. Students gain an understanding of forces of nature, and the impact of human activities on the planet.
4) The Living Environment: Students learn that plants and animals obtain energy in different ways, and describe some internal structures of organisms related to this. They use microscopes to observe cells and recognize them as building blocks of life. They learn that organisms may interact in a competitive or cooperative relationship.
5) The Mathematical World: Students apply mathematics in scientific contexts, and use math ideas and the use of logical reasoning in the representation and synthesis of data.
ADW 6th-8th Grade Earth & Space Science Standards
ADW 6th-8th Grade Engineering Standards
ADW 6th-8th Grade Life Science Standards
ADW 6th-8th Grade Physical Science Standards
RELIGION:
Sadlier Religion’s “We Believe” series is comprised of four units: “Forming the Covenant”, “Building the Covenant Nation”, “Redefining the Covenant People”, and “The Covenant Fulfilled in Jesus”. 6th grade religion curriculum focuses the Old Testament from Creation, through the Exile to the time of the major prophets, to the reign of King David, and culminates with the life of Christ. Students are given an opportunity to coordinate the weekly Liturgy on a rotational basis, being responsible for choosing the music, acting as lectors, song leaders, and gift bearers.
ADW 6th Grade Religion Standards
PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
1) Movement Forms: Students have mastered locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills by 6th grade. Movement forms become more complex and are combined to be used in more specific game and performance situations.
2) Motor Skills: Students begin to apply concepts of conditioning and practice to improve movement skills and build greater levels of fitness. They learn how practicing movement skills improves performance.
3) Physical Activity: Students learn about the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of healthy lifestyle activities.
4) Responsible Behavior: Students are taught to show understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activities.
Skill developing is worked on through soccer, football, basketball, hockey, badminton, paddleball, volleyball, lacrosse, and softball-type games. Additional physical activities include jump roping, frisbee, parachute play, scooter play, and tag games.
ADW 6th PE Standards
SPANISH:
Students engage in written and spoken conversations on a variety of topics, and participate in conversations emphasizing previously learned material. They expand their vocabulary and improve their reading skills in Spanish. They explore cultures of Spanish speaking countries, and examine the relationships among the practices of another culture and their own.
ADW 6th Grade Foreign Language Standards
MUSIC:
Students sing a variety of repertoire, independently and in ensembles, with attention to breath control, pitch, tone quality, and dictation. They explore music history beginning with Medieval, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic time periods, and focus on composers, famous compositions, and historical events. Advanced musical concepts of syncopated rhythms, compound meters, and score reading/notations are developed, along with a foundation of harmony and chord progressions using harmonicas. Students may choose to participate in chorus in the spring.
ADW 6th Grade Music Standards
ART:
Students observe, select, and utilize a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas in their work, and produce artwork that reflects their personal ideas, experiences, and emotions. They apply elements and principles of design in their work, discriminating between types of shape, colors, textures, space, balance, and the use of proportion, rhythm, variety, repetition, and movement. A variety of art media is explored, including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and mixed media.
ADW 6th Grade Visual Arts Standards
TECHNOLOGY
ADW Technology Standards
6th GRADE ACADEMIC STANDARDS & CURRICULUM
Archdiocese of Washington Academic Standards define what students in Catholic Schools should know and be able to do at each grade level.