Curriculum Overview (click to view)

 

 

In ELA your child will...

This year in ELA, students will explore thought-provoking themes through engaging texts and diverse writing assignments. Students will engage in debates, literary analysis, and argumentative essays, fostering independent thinking. The curriculum encourages collaboration, real-world connections, and differentiated learning, ensuring all students build strong communication and analytical abilities.

 

Learn more about the units for this grade level.

Unit 1 Characters Who Change and Grow

Essential Question: How are people changed through their relationships and experiences?

Knowledge Building: character development in literature through dialogue, plot, and literary devices; thematic development

Reading and Writing Skills:

• Tracking theme development 
• Citing text evidence to support analysis 
• Analyzing how and why characters change and how this affects plot 
• Central idea development 
• Breaking down a prompt 
• Writing a complete paragraph 
• Selecting relevant evidence
• Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

 

Unit 2 The Recipe for Success

Essential Question: What does it take to achieve success?

Knowledge Building: the psychology of achieving goals via goal setting, mindset, and practice

Reading and Writing Skills:

• Synthesizing a central idea 
• Analyzing the development of ideas 
• Analyzing how text structure adds to idea development 
• Adding strong reasoning 
• Developing an informational presentation on what it takes to be successful 

 

Unit 3 The Giver By Lois Lowry

Essential Question: Which matters more: safety or freedom?

Knowledge Building: the elements of dystopian literature; how writers use the elements of dystopian literature to build meaning in a novel

Reading and Writing Skills: 

• Analyzing how structure develops theme 
• Analyzing how plot and setting influence character change 
• Analyzing point of view development 
• Writing introductions 
• Writing conclusions 
• Conducting peer review
• Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

 

Unit 4 Our Changing Oceans

Essential Question: How are changes in the world’s oceans affecting people and animals? How can we be better stewards of our oceans and waterways?

Knowledge Building: the crises that our oceans face today: climate change, plastic pollution, sea level rise, overfishing

Reading and Writing Skills:

• Analyzing and summarizing the central idea 
• Analyzing how a specific section contributes to meaning 
• Synthesizing information presented in different media 
• Paraphrasing central idea and supporting evidence 
• Conducting research and synthesizing information across texts
• Creating an Infographic

 

Unit 5 The Forces that Shape Us

Essential Question: What shapes who we are?

Knowledge Building:  the factors that shape an individual’s identity; social-identity and self identity

Reading and Writing Skills:

• Comparing and contrasting across texts 
• Transitions to compare and contrast 
• Revising for sentence variety
• Writing a Literary Analysis Essay

 

Unit 6 The Power of Play

Essential Question: How can we make recess work for middle school?

Knowledge Building: the debate around recess and its benefits to students; the benefits of play, unstructured time, and exposure to nature

Reading and Writing Skills:

• Analyzing the development of central idea 
• Analyzing the connections between ideas in a text
• Analyzing data and infographics 
• In-text citations and Works-Cited page
• Using descriptive examples and images to persuade 
• Introducing expert knowledge and research
• Writing an Argumentative Essay

 

Is there an online platform or app available?

• Yes! The CommonLit app is in your child’s Clever portal.

 

How can I support my child at home?

• Book Discussions: After your child reads independently, talk about the book’s themes, characters, and their opinions to deepen comprehension.
• Variety of Genres: Encourage exploring different genres, such as biographies, fantasy, or nonfiction, to broaden their interests and understanding.
• Set Reading Goals: Help your child set achievable reading goals, like finishing a book each month, to motivate consistent reading habits.
• Shared Reading: Read the same book as your child and discuss it together to model critical thinking and engagement.
• Support with Challenging Texts: Assist with understanding new vocabulary or concepts in more complex books, boosting their confidence and skills.
• Offer Writing Tips: Support your child’s writing development by providing feedback on what they are writing in class

 

Additional Information about our core resources:

CommonLit 360

Develops effective reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking habits 

The CommonLit 360 curriculum emphasizes a student-focused and student-led exploration of thought-provoking texts and topics across a wide variety of units. By engaging students in effective habits of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking, the curriculum cultivates self reliance and independent learning. Throughout the curriculum, students engage in significant collaboration and reflection, developing the skills necessary to analyze complex ideas and communicate their understanding effectively. Integrating these skills further enhances students' understanding, as success in one domain often leads to success in others. The curriculum's structure and content are designed to foster the development of lifelong learning habits that students can carry with them beyond the classroom.

 

Promotes a learning environment centered on cooperation, peer interaction, and strong communication 

The CommonLit 360 curriculum encourages a learning environment that emphasizes cooperation, peer interaction, and the expression of diverse perspectives. Students participate in cooperative tasks, working together to analyze sources and engaging in authentic research and argumentation to refine their viewpoints. This collaborative approach to learning helps students develop critical interpersonal skills, fostering a sense of community within the classroom and promoting a deeper understanding of each unit’s content. 

 

Fosters authentic, real-world connections 

The CommonLit 360 curriculum fosters genuine, real-world connections, enabling students to build rich, conceptual knowledge of the world around them and apply their learning in substantial, practical ways. By incorporating diverse texts, multimedia resources, and project-focused learning opportunities, CommonLit 360 helps students make meaningful connections between their lives and the content they are studying. This approach prepares students for success beyond the classroom, empowering them to navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence and critical thinking skills. 

 

Supports learners with diverse needs 

The CommonLit 360 curriculum is specifically designed to best serve students who are within two years of grade-level proficiency and ready to comprehend and analyze grade-level texts, write clear and well-organized work, listen attentively, and speak effectively according to grade-level standards. To ensure inclusivity and access for diverse learners, the curriculum includes resources for teachers to support students who may struggle to engage with grade-level content and skills. Efficient scaffolding and supports provide resources necessary to foster an inclusive learning environment that values every student's unique level of readiness. 

 

Empowers teachers to concentrate on impactful instruction through streamlined program design

The CommonLit 360 curriculum integrates the core pillars of secondary English Language Arts education — reading, writing, listening, and speaking — throughout all academic activities. With a focus on easy-to-follow, streamlined tasks, CommonLit 360 empowers educators to confidently guide their students towards a deeper mastery of English Language Arts within a rich learning environment. Teachers use data from comprehension checks, formative assessments, and culminating tasks to guide timely and impactful instruction, adapting their approach to best meet student needs through the use of strategic supports, supplemental resources, and student choice. 

 

Provides flexible implementation for local communities 

The CommonLit 360 curriculum is designed to be adaptable to the specific needs and preferences of local communities: it allows teachers to customize instruction to meet the unique characteristics of the community, to include texts and materials that are relevant to student communities (via choice boards, supplemental texts, and independent reading opportunities), to use different and appropriate teaching methodologies, to incorporate timely, local resources, and to adjust the pacing and rigor of instruction to meet student needs. Teachers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the specific needs of their students and local communities and use their pedagogical expertise to adapt the curriculum accordingly. 

 

Ensures efficacy 

CommonLit is committed to delivering a curriculum that supports student learning through high quality, authentic materials and rigorous instruction. To ensure that our approach is effective, we work closely with partners and researchers to conduct ongoing efficacy studies and make necessary revisions based on the results. Our dedication to efficacy is reflected in our track record of success, which you can read about in our latest report.

 

In math, your child will:

• Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.

• Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.

• Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.

• Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.

• Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.

• Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.

 

Is there an online platform or app available?

• Yes! Dreambox is a personalized math program that builds students' confidence and competence.  Learn more about how to support the program at home.
• Big Ideas online platform is available for students in their Clever portal.

 

Additional Information about our core resource:

• If you would like to preview a portion of the curriculum, please visit Big Ideas Learning.

 

District 58 incorporates an inquiry-based approach. Students engage in inquiry through rich discussion, questioning, research using various resources, and summarizing their understanding with a project for an audience. DG58 started inquiry with social studies and embeds it throughout other content areas. Ultimately, District 58 staff light the way for students to engage in a path of exploration and discovery.

 

The gradual release process of inquiry.

 

In Social Studies your child will…

• Explore disciplinary concepts through a study of history and ancient world civilizations.
• Engage individually and collaboratively in inquiry within four disciplinary concepts; civics, economics, history, and geography.
• Gather and evaluate sources
• Develop claims and use evidence
• Communicate conclusions
• Take informed action to demonstrate understanding

 

Additional Information about our core resource:

For more information on our National Geographic curriculum resource.

 

What is inquiry?

Simply put, inquiry-based learning is founded on an "essential question". In our sixth grade studies resource, each lesson introduces an an essential question to spark the inquiry process. Then, reading and activities guide students through investigation to answer the essential question. In the end, students complete an inquiry project to demonstrate learning and understanding. 

The inquiry process, according to C3, includes 4 stages:  

• Developing Questions and planning inquiries
• Applying the disciplines (civics, economics, geography, history)
• Evaluating resources
• Communicating conclusions and taking informed action

To learn more, watch this quick and helpful video.

 

How can I support my child at home?

As parents, it can be hard to see our children struggle. However, by not giving the answer, through "failure" (F-first, A-attempt, I-in, L-learning), children learn and build self-efficacy. 

 

Below are helpful ideas to easily incorporate inquiry into your home.

• Learn along with children through books, TV programs, and learning hobbies, such rock collecting.
• Visit museums, zoos, aquariums, and historical sites with children. The Downers Grove Public Library has museum passes available. Downers Grove also has a rich history. To learn more, visit the Downers Grove Historical Museum.
• Explore quality television programs like PBS, the Discovery Channel, and the History Channel.
• Subscribe children to magazines.

 

1. Bring Inquiry into Your Home

Meet a question with a question. Our first instinct when a child asks a question is to provide an answer. This can prevent a golden opportunity to learn about how to learn. So, next time your child asks you a question (“How do you spell ….?” “What are the types of energy?”), instead of supplying the answer, try responding like this:

Great question! How could you find that out? What resource could you use to discover that? 

 

Be prepared to inquire together. Sometimes, when you meet a question with a question, you get an “I don’t know”. That is an invitation to a great teachable moment! If your child doesn’t know how to find out on their own or what resource to use, you can respond with:

Let’s figure it out together. Maybe we can try this….Let’s see if this resource has the answer…

 

Ask the magic question – “What do you notice?”. No matter what subject – the secret ingredient to inquiry is asking learners to think about what they notice. That one question works every time, and can be followed up with “what else do you notice?”.

You don’t have to be an expert, just be a learner. It is okay to not know. That presents an opportunity to model your own approaches to learning. Confidently to say, “I don’t know”.  Follow it up with, “But now I want to know, so here is how I am going to find out!” or, “Let’s figure this out together!”

 

2. Encourage Reflection

Get them thinking about their thinking. There are two magic questions you can ask your child to help them think deeper – any subject:

 

How do you know?

What makes you say that?

 

3. Support your child’s agency 

Invite their voice. Give space for children to articulate what they like and don’t like about learning. Listen to what they care about and what matters to them and try to understand and find ways to support it.

Respect and support their choices. Be aware of choices you make for your child that they could make themselves. Choices may include when, where, and how they learn. Teach  the decision-making process (What choice are you making for yourself?). Then follow up with a reflection (How did that choice work out for you? How do you know? What will you choose differently next time?).

Emphasize ownership. Sometimes learning can get misrepresented as something done to learners. These phrases build that sense of ownership over their learning:

 

It’s your learning.

You’re in the driver’s seat.

Your learning, your choice. 

*Credit: makinggoodhumans.wordpress.com

In Science your child will study...

• Life Science: Where Have All the Creatures Gone? Organisims and Eco Systems
  • This ecosystem unit focuses on organisms’ needs for survival and what happens when those needs are not met. Throughout the unit, students investigate a specific population change: the decrease in the trout population in the Great Lakes from 1930 to 1990. Because the sea lamprey, as an invasive species in the Great Lakes, is such a fascinating organism, this particular case of population change engages students in learning core science ideas that they can then apply to changes in their local environments or elsewhere. Over the course of their investigation, students learn why food is important, what structures different organisms have in order to eat and reproduce, what the possible relationships are between organisms (e.g. competition, predator/prey, producer/consumer), and what abiotic factors affect ecosystems. All of these pieces help students to invest in developing an evidence-based scientific explanation and engaging in argumentation about why the trout population decreased so dramatically, employing a key scientific practice as they learn core science ideas.

 

• Earth Science: How Does Water Shape Our World? Water and Rock Cycles
  • To contextualize core ideas about the water and rock cycles at the middle school level, this unit focuses on selected national parks in the United States and the study of features common and unique to each. In groups, students take on the task of collaborating to develop a visitors’ guide that explains how water has shaped the landscape of a single park. To complete this task, students must understand how water moves through the park, what types of rock are present, and how the water and rock have interacted to shape the land. Students learn where water can be found on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. They learn how water moves and is transformed in the water cycle by investigating evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, and flow. Students also explore how rocks are formed and the properties of different types of rock. Finally, they examine the effects of water on the land by investigating weathering, erosion, and deposition. To do so, students engage in relevant scientific practices, address crosscutting concepts, and build an understanding of energy and the particle nature of matter as both apply in the study of Earth science.

 

• Physical Science: Can I Believe My Eyes? Light, its role in sight and its interaction with matter
  • The unit begins with a contextualizing activity in which students view optical illusions that make them uncertain of what they are seeing. They spend the next several weeks investigating light waves and their interaction with matter. To do so, students engage in several scientific practices, with an emphasis on constructing and using models to explain and predict phenomena. Each new investigation causes students to realize that the model they developed to fit one situation does not fit the new one, requiring revision based on new evidence. This practice enables students to engage in modeling in ways similar to those in which scientists develop, use, and revise models they use to explain and predict real-world phenomena. Students continually delve into core science ideas, gaining a deeper understanding of how light moves through space, what happens when it meets matter, how eyes detect light, how colors of light can be perceived, and that some light is non-visible. A conceptual understanding that “light can make things happen” sets the stage for understanding energy, a crosscutting concept revisited in future IQWST units in physics, chemistry, life science, and Earth science and central to all future science learning.

 

District 58 utilizes the Second Step program to support students’ social emotional learning through a holistic approach to building our school communities. Children benefit from social-emotional learning (SEL) at any time, but today it’s especially important to help them develop the skills they need to connect and thrive. Second Step® Elementary is a leading research-based SEL curriculum

 

In Second Step your child will… 

•  Practice strategies when learning new things and how our brain works
•  Practice skill for empathy and how our brains work
•  Learn about recognizing and responding to various types of bullying
•  Learn and practice goal-setting skills 
•  Practice problem-solving and calming strategies when dealing with conflict
•  Preparing for challenges faced in middle school

 

How can I support my child at home?

If you are interested in learning more about the Second Step curriculum and approach, please visit their website at SecondStep.org.

Art

In Art your child will…

• Learn to create self-portraits to express our self-identify
• Learn about 3D at
• Engage in the inquiry process to learn about social issues and logos through art

 

How can I support my child at home?

To inspire your child, visit museums, art shows, and the Downers Grove Public LIbrary where there is exposure to a variety of artwork. The library offers museums free passes that you can check out. Build inspiration for art, by learning about local and historical artists. As you drive around town, see if you can identify various forms of art, whether sculptural or other modes. Finally, have a variety of art materials available at home, such as clay, playdough, paint, colored pencils, fun paper, and more. Many stores have small and large art kits available to encourage children tap into their creativity.

 

Is there an online platform or app available?

Seesaw is a resource our art teachers rely on the most. Through Seesaw, we connect with parents and share a window into your child’s creative side. At the beginning of each year, your child’s teacher will send you an invitation to their Seesaw class, which will automatically connect you to their art class. Once there, families can see updates, helpful videos, assignments and more.

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Music

In sixth grade music your child will…

• Learn about multiple musical eras and the development of music throughout history.
• Study characteristics and components of modern music genres and their cultural impacts culminating in a final composition of that genre on GarageBand.
• Continue learning to play the soprano recorder.

How can I support my child at home?

• Attend various styles of musical performances, play music at home, encourage your child to demonstrate what they are learning about in music, or encourage a variety of musical experiences.

Is there an online platform or app available?

• Your child has an account in our music app Quaver that they can access through Clever on their iPad. They can review past activities, explore new games, quizzes, or listen to their favorite songs from class.
• In addition to Quaver, 6th Graders have access to GarageBand. They can create new compositions with all the instruments and sound effects on the app. GarageBand also has a variety of different genres of music that students can choose from to create their compositions.

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Physical Education (PE)

In physical education your child will learn:

•  Cardiovascular endurance
•  Muscular endurance
•  Flexibility
• Muscular strength
• Speed and Agility
• Power and Balance Skills
• Coordination andReaction time
• Understanding of Heart Rate

 

How can I support my child at home?

• Encourage active play: Encourage your child to be physically active every day. Activities such as running, jumping, climbing and playing outdoor games are great for students this age. 
• Make physical activity a family event. Engage in physical activities as a family. Plan trips to the park, nature trails, or the park distinct where everyone can participate in activities like hiking, booking, swimming, or playing sports together. 
• Limit screen time: Set limits on screen time. Excessive screen time can negatively affect a child’s physical activity levels. Encourage your child to engage in more hands-on activities instead. 
• Create a supportive environment: Create an environment that supports physical activity in your child’s daily routine. Provide your child with access to sport equipment, bikes, and other active equipment.  

 

Is there an online platform or app available?

Shape America. Their website offers resources and ideas for parents to support physical education at home and in the community. Website: https://www.shapeamerica.org/MemberPortal/events/parents.aspx

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Library

In Library your child will…

Build an appreciation of literature through a variety of genres that represent neurodiversity and cultures. In Library, students explore the Illinois State Award books, engage in research, and learn how to navigate the library to access books and information online. The library curriculum follows the Association of Illinois School Library Educators standards to engage students in an exploration of genres and modes of media.

 

How can I support my child at home?

Reading and discussing books with children of any age has the most impact on a child’s motivation and ability to read. You can even read the same book that your child is reading. Visit the Downers Grove Public Library to expose your child to a variety of genres and reading materials and even establish a relationship with the local librarian. The library also has free museum passes. The night before your child’s school checkout, brainstorm books or topics they might explore.

 

Is there an online platform or app available? 

Common Sense Media offers helpful resources, articles, videos and digital citizenship parent tips: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles

Visit Destiny to explore books available at your child’s school.