Sixth grade Curriculum - Field Trips

Sixth Grade Curriculum - Field trips

Field trips can be an important part of your child’s sixth grade curriculum. Field trips do not need to be long, involved, expensive excursions to pricey destinations. Field trips are important because they provide another pathway for your child to learn besides a classroom, or a book, or the computer. It is a way to get physically engaged with subject matter, and help secure information into long term memory, not to mention that field trips are just plain fun! For short field trips that can be accomplished in a small amount of time, consider something like a trip to your local pet store. The purpose would be to see animals from different biomes and ecosystems, and discuss habitat, and specific adaptations. Similarly, a garden center is a short field trip that will allow your child to see plants in different stages of growth, and from different environments. Allow your child to do research on the internet to back up what they saw. Don’t forget to take field trips to your local historical sites. Almost every part of the country has a unique history that is expressed in the architecture of local homes, historic monuments such as battle fields, or state museums. More elaborate field trips might include overnight, or vacation travel to museums, activities, or celebrations out of your local area. Take advantage of the flexibility your might have as homeschoolers and use field trips to make your lessons come alive.

Sixth grade Curriculum - Physical Education

Sixth Grade Curriculum - Physical Education

Some homeschool curriculum for middle school require that your child have a physical education credit in sixth through eight grade. Other curriculum do not specify, but with the rising rate of obesity in the United States, it is not a bad idea to get your child into some regular physical activity. Some homeschool parents feel the need to put their student in group sports like soccer, football, baseball, or basketball. There are benefits to doing this and I would not say that it is a bad thing. Any physical activity is good, particularly at this age as their bodies begin to change. The downside of organized group sports is that they require others to do them, and they are not necessarily something your child will continue as they grow older. The alternative to team sports might be something more like a solitary sport, or pair sport. Tennis, martial arts, and swimming are examples of these types of activities. Students can continue any of those three into later years, and at least for martial arts and swimming, can be done without having to depend on the participation of other people. If your curriculum does not prescribe a specific physical education activity, then choosing activities for your child to participate in will be dependent on preferences and availability. Check with YMCAs, community centers, and your local park and recreation organization to find out what is of interest to your child and fits into your budget and time constraints. It is important for your child to move, not just for school, but for health. Allow time in your day for them to get in some physical activities.