The Waldorf School of St. Louis
Sixth Grade

In sixth grade, children’s sense of self grows as do their egocentric concerns. While a student’s world is rooted in absolutes, they are in the midst of change as they connect their inner experiences and monologue with the outer world.  The sixth grade curriculum focuses on strong guidelines, clear differentiation concepts, and the morality of right and wrong. Classroom teaching relies heavily on the method of “compare and contrast.”

In world geography, the study of unfamiliar lands, people, and cultures counterbalances the sixth grader’s natural focus on self.  The focus on self often encompasses a focus on Earth, and the study of astronomy challenges students’ Earth-centric perspective. In language arts, students continue to hone their research and writing skills and compose subject-based papers on a foreign country.  Physics is introduced and students gain insight into the properties of acoustics, optics, heat, cold, light, and electricity. In math, sixth graders learn exact geometric construction using compasses and straightedges.  They also learn business math and practice applying it in real-world scenarios. In physical education, students work on overcoming obstacles through exercises designed to challenge them.

Main Lesson Topics:  biography, drama, creative writing, active and passive voice, fact and opinion, decimals, percentages, business math, metric conversion, charts and graphs, geometry, ancient Rome, medieval history, world geography, geology, physics, astronomy

Special Subject Lessons:  French, German, singing, recorder, orchestra, watercolor painting, black and white drawing, charcoal drawing, pen and ink, soft pastels, sewing/felting, wood working, physical education, nature exploration