Sixth Grade Benchmarks

Humanities

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Reading

The student:

• Reads grade level material with full comprehension.
• Reads for pleasure and knowledge and understands plot, setting, theme, character development, points of view and some figurative language.
• Recognizes different genres with the goal of increased understanding of literary devices such as antagonist, climax, conflict, context, dialogue, foreshadowing, irony, metaphor, mood, antagonist, protagonist, and symbolism. Increasingly reads with an eye on writing and audiences.
• Gains insight or explores how and why an author introduces a new character at a given point of a novel, etc.
• Supports ideas, interpretations or opinions with specific or concrete information from a passage or chapter.
• References an author or a quote to back up comments or hunches.
• Works on long-term assignments by reading books and preparing various presentations/projects.

Writing

The student:

• Writes in complete sentences.
• Learns and uses new vocabulary words.
• Independently proofreads writing with goal of improving editing and revising skills.
• Uses writing to illustrate understanding of literary devices such as character development, tone, point of view, theme, etc.
• Uses an outline independently.
• Gains confidence and skill in research methodology and technique.
• Writes a strong paragraph with topic sentence and supporting details.
• Gains understanding and ability to write multi-paragraph essay which clearly articulates one’s ideas.
• Locates, organizes, and interprets written information for a variety of purposes, including research, decision making, and presentations.

History

The student:

• Demonstrates increasing understanding of a Democracy.
• Begins to question the meaning of liberty and its impact on our world, present and future.
• Begins to wrestle with the relationship of cause and effect from a historical and personal point of view.
• Understands the events and the causes and effects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
• Demonstrates awareness of how the southern economy and slavery versus the northern economy and industry lead the country to a civil war.
• Understands and interprets the timeline of events from the American Revolution to the Civil War.
• Uses primary sources in researching and writing about the 19th century.
• Uses multiple sources when researching new topics.
• Finds, interprets and creates maps using information from its title, compass rose, legend, latitude and longitude.
• Increasingly uses and understands words and documents related to government: words like suffrage, rights, freedom, Constitution, Preamble, Declaration of Independence. Articulates differing perspectives on controversial topics.

Mathematics

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Number Sense

The student:

• Recalls and uses math facts with relative ease.
• Works efficiently and accurately with whole numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
• Uses the order of operations to solve expressions without variables.
• Can find the GCF and LCM of a pair or set of numbers.
• Expresses exponents in standard form.
• Works efficiently and accurately with fractions (equivalent, fractions, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
• Works accurately with mixed numbers (improper ↔ mixed, addition, subtraction with and without borrowing, multiplication and division).
• Works accurately with decimals (equivalence with fractions and percents, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division with whole number and decimal divisors).
• Uses the relationship between fractions, decimals and percents to compare and order numbers.
• Expresses percents as fractions and decimals.
• Calculates a percentage of specific amounts.
• Understands place value expressed to the thousandths.
• Compares and orders integers according their value.
• Adds and subtracts integers.

Measurement & Geometry

The student:

• Selects and uses appropriate units/abbreviations to make measurements of length, area, perimeter, weight and volume.
• Uses the correct vocabulary when identifying the relationships among lines, line segments, angles and different shapes.
• Calculates accurately the perimeter and area of regular and irregular polygons.
• Calculates the circumference and area of a circle.

Problem Solving

The student:

• Interprets a problem and identifies the key information needed to solve the problem.
• Determines the appropriate operations to solve a problem. Is beginning to determine the most efficient strategies for problem solving. Is beginning to use multiple strategies to solve problems.
• Communicates mathematical thinking coherently and clearly in both oral and written forms.

Pattern & Algebraic Thinking

The student:

• Identifies and describes similarities and patterns among elements in a group.
• Identifies an algebraic expression and can evaluate a basic equation.

Data Collection & Analysis

The student:

• Collects, organizes, records and communicates data appropriately.
• Analyzes and/or interprets meaning of graphs and results.
• Constructs coordinate graphs and plots ordered integer pairs.
• Accurately predicts the outcomes of simple probability.

Mathematical Reasoning

The student:

• Uses estimation and number theory to evaluate the reasonableness of answers.
• Understands and can explain the meaning and effects of arithmetic operations with fractions, decimals, and integers.
• Begins to use the relationships between units, within the same system, to solve problems.

Science

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives

Inquiry-Based Skills

The student:

• Understands the steps of the scientific method.
• Uses scientific vocabulary when appropriate.
• Writes directions and lab reports in an expository fashion.
• Uses models to accurately depict scientific properties or principles.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the structure and function of animal and plant cells.
• Gains familiarity with the characteristics of all living organisms.
• Identifies the main categories of taxonomic classification.
• Gains understanding of the adaptations of different species from several phyla to aquatic environments.
• Manipulates a compound microscope and accurately identifies its main parts.
• Follows detailed instructions in order to successfully complete a dissection. 
• Understands the basic structures and behaviors of atoms and molecules.
• Gains understanding of the basic information found on the periodic table.
• Understands the difference between acids, bases, and neutrals.
• Understands and explains the various chemical and physical properties of water.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the water cycle with respect to local watersheds.
• Discusses the importance of water and conservation from a local to a global scale.
• Identifies and explains the functions of the various parts of the human male and female reproductive system.
• Gains introductory knowledge of the difference between human and rabbit reproductive cycles.

Spanish

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill Development
The student:

• Uses listening and reading strategies to facilitate understanding (i.e. inference by context; identifying cognates and key words).
• Identifies main ideas of written materials.
• Exchanges familiar information and opinions orally.
• Verbally describes illustrations or pictures using correct syntax and grammar.
• Spells and correctly uses new vocabulary words.
• Writes guided stories using correct syntax and grammar.
• Compares and contrasts the social patterns of other cultures with one's own. 

Participation
The student:

• Actively and positively participates in class activities and discussions.
• Listens carefully to both peers and adults.
• Responds to questions and follows verbal instructions.
• Speaks and reads aloud with appropriate intonation and pronunciation. 
• Completes written assignments and in-class activities.
• Initiates help when needed.

Physical Education

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill & Concept Development
The student:

• Demonstrates an understanding of movement concepts and the use of motor skills. 
• Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior. 
• Demonstrates the ability to use effective interpersonal skills. 
• Demonstrates the ability to use the decision-making skills of appropriate goal setting, risk taking and problem solving. 
• Demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and skills needed to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. 
• Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction. 
• Demonstrates an understanding of and respect for differences.  

Skill Development
The student:

Participation
The student: 

• Uses class time productively. 
• Puts forth effort and perseverance. 

Art

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Skill Development
The student:

• Completes projects which demonstrate objectives. 
• Completes projects which demonstrate confidence/experimentation. 

Participation
The student: 

• Uses class time productively.
• Puts forth effort and perseverance. 

Music

These benchmarks represent end-of-year objectives.

Sixth Grade

Skill & Concept Development
Rhythmic Competency
The student:

• Maintains steady beat while singing, moving, and playing instrumental pieces that include syncopation and dotted rhythms.  

Vocal Competency
The student:

• Uses voice in an expressive way, maintains accurate pitch and demonstrates healthy vocal technique while singing alone and singing within the group.

Ensemble
The student:

• Performs in front of an audience as part of an ensemble. 
• Demonstrates basic African drumming technique.  

Musical Literacy
The student:

• Sight reads simple melodies on the treble clef staff while playing the soprano recorder.       
• Demonstrates intermediate technique on the soprano recorder. 
• Demonstrates beginning technique on the alto recorder.  

Movement
The student:

• Performs dances independently with a refined sense of style, posture and group shape. 

Creative Expression
The student:

• Composes tuneful melodies and notates them on the treble clef staff. 
• Improvises comfortably using tri-chords. 

Classroom Attributes
The student:

• Consistently focuses during lessons and explanations. 
• Participates fully and shares musical idea.

Seventh & Eighth Grade

Skill Development

Instrument Competency

The student:

• Demonstrates beginning to intermediate technique on applied instrument.

Ensemble

The student:

• Performs as part of an ensemble and works with other members of the group.

Aural Skills and Analysis

The student:

• Demonstrates an analytical ear and is able to identify instrumentation, style, and the main ideas of a work.

Aural Recognition

The student:

• Is able to identify excerpts from the selected repertoire.

Music Theory

The student:

• Demonstrates an understanding of basic music fundamentals and terminology, including an understanding of music notation.

Rhythmic Competency

The student:

• Maintains a steady beat while singing and/or playing an instrument.

Participation

The student:

• Maintains focus during lessons and uses class time productively.
• Shows respect for the instruments and equipment.
• Participates fully and shares musical ideas.

Drama

These benchmarks represent end-of-the year objectives.

Ensemble

The student:

• Performs in front of an audience as part of an ensemble.
• Is supportive and empathetic of other students
• Participates fully as performer and audience member.
• Follows and incorporates directions.
• Gives constructive feedback.

Creative Expression

The student:

• Contributes ideas to the group.
• Uses body and voice expressively.
• Takes risks.
• Expresses character through movement and voice.

Classroom Attributes

The student:

• Is polite and has positive attitude.