There are many curricula, but the lesson plan should be designed with one curriculum in mind. Sixth grade students should have a short review of grammar, such as nouns, parts of speech, adverbs and adjectives. This year it will expand into prepositions, conjunctions, dangling modifiers and more complex grammar. Suggested reading materials consist of Call of The Wild, Oliver Twist, The Diary of Anne Frank and other classics. An effective teaching tool is to assign book reports or dioramas for each book.
Mathematics gets more complex in sixth grade. Students should have mastered simple multiplication and division before starting the sixth grade but a review is necessary to gauge the student's math proficiency. Long division, fractions, problem solving, logic, geometry, percents and integers are included in the lesson plan.
Science lessons include life, physical and earth science. Experiments are a key component to teaching science. It keeps the student interested and teaches important information. Most curricula include examples of experiments such as using a microscope to identify cells or the students' blood type, designing an electron magnet or classifying minerals.
Social Studies will consist of World History and Geography. In history, students will study about the early civilizations, the ancient world, the new empires, middle ages and the changes with the Americas and the Renaissance and Reformation. Geography lessons should include maps, graphs, charts and locating places on a map. Students should learn all the continents, states, the capitals and where they are on the map. History-related field trips are important during the sixth grade school year.
Electives are important to the sixth grade student because these classes are usually decided by the student. Examples of elective classes are computer, drama, art and music. Computer teachers should test to see what the student knows before going over simple lessons. Many sixth grade students know the basics to operating a computer. Adding a typing program to the computer lesson is a valuable learning tool. Students should learn how to use common computer programs, such as Microsoft Office. Music lessons can be general music or instrument-based, such as guitar and piano. Art classes should go over art concepts and some art history. Let the students be creative and use different art mediums, for example clay sculptures and finger painting on canvas.
Lesson plans should be written out so that the students, teachers and parents all have a guideline on what to expect from the sixth grade year. These can be done for the entire school year, after each report card or before each chapter.