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Sixth Grade
| Teacher | Years Teaching |
|---|---|
| Ms. Kim Cairns | 27 |
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Mercyhurst College. Certified in Middle School Math.
"I teach in a Catholic School because being Christ-centered in teaching citizenship, good manners, etc. is far more meaningful when it accompanies the teachings of the Lord. "WWJD" carries greater weight than "That's not a nice thing to do (or say)."
What we're learning
Ms. Cairns welcomes you to sixth grade! The curriculum features concentrated studies in mathematics and science plus integration of language arts and social studies.
At this level the students learn about their ancestry and what life was like hundreds of years ago. They read The Great Ancestor Hunt by Lila Perl, and discuss the sacrifices their ancestors must have made to immigrate to the United States. The students research their family trees and make personal time lines highlighting important events in their own lives.
In social studies, students focus on the ancient eastern hemisphere civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. From there the students travel to Greece and Rome to learn how civilizations continued to develop and expand.
In religion classes, they study Old Testament history to trace the roots of their Christian heritage. The teachers hope to bring a better appreciation of God’s love for us and the history of Catholicism to the sixth graders. They use prayer, reflection, and reading of the Bible to guide their growth in their faith. Students demonstrate their religious beliefs and knowledge of the Christian faith through planning of liturgies, posters, reports, poems and much more.
Language Arts classes help students develop excellent oral communication skills. They practice by writing and presenting three weeks of closed-circuit morning news shows that are broadcast throughout the school. They write persuasive essays and present oral presentations. Monthly book reports encourage students to read and report on their books through a variety of creative projects. Students are challenged to stretch their imagination and grow academically.
Science classes cover a vast assortment of new and exciting projects. As sixth graders explore the world, Newton’s Laws of Motion provide some interesting activities. Gravity, motion, energy, and forces are some of the concepts studied. Other topics include cells, structure of matter, heredity and fossils. Several field trips are planned to extend and enhance classroom learning. Spring science projects reflect what the students have learned.
Math is filled with decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, pre-algebra and exponents to challenge the minds of sixth graders. Teachers prepare students for more complicated equations by building up from basic concepts. Fun activities such as "buying" a Thanksgiving dinner within a budget encourage critical thinking. Sixth graders will be mathematicians! It is a busy and exciting year.
5A -- 5/6 Grade Science, 5th Gr. Religion & Social Studies
5B -- 5/6 Grade Language Arts, 5th Gr. Religion & Social Studies
