Mathematics

Mathematics Curriculum—Sixth Grade Course Overview

Written by

Professor C.O. Nalley

This year-long course is the first part of a two year in-depth investigation of the fundamentals of arithmetic and geometry that will lead to a student proficiency level sufficient for entrance to introductory algebra in the eighth grade.   The course uses a two fold approach for mastery of fundamental principles—classroom investigations and independent practice, using two diametrically different texts to aide in the accomplishment of course goals.   The inquiry based reform text series Connected Mathematics is the primary source for thorough classroom discovery.  The traditional reference style text Saxon Math is used for independent practice and home study.

Students will arrive at and use the fundamental theorem of arithmetic by a logical progression in this course.   Students will develop skills in identification and classification of shapes as well as the properties of those shapes in plane geometry and elementary solid geometry.   Additionally, students will gain the rich base vocabulary required to work maturely in their mathematical progression in secondary school.

• Course objectives include:
• Working with prime and composite numbers
• Fraction arithmetic
• Decimal arithmetic
• Integer arithmetic
• Classification of numbers into real number sets
• Identification, classification, and properties of plane and solid geometrical figures
• Similarity of geometric figures
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  Scaling in arithmetic and geometry

• Measurement within and conversion between the US Customary and Metric Systems
• Measures of central tendency
• Representations of statistical data
• Computing elementary probability 

Students will be individually monitored and assessed in accordance with a set of 163 proficiencies on a continuous basis throughout the two-year sequence.