GRADE 6 ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
26-27
The International School of Brussels
The International School of Brussels
INTRODUCTION The Lower School at ISB is where children ages 2.5-12 years learn by exploring the world with curiosity, and by asking questions and developing skills in problem solving and interpretation. Further consolidating the understanding, skills, and knowledge necessary for a lifetime of learning, students develop independence and self-reflection as they grow from children to young teens. The key elements are the academic and specialist subjects, the engaging learning environment, and the highly-qualified and caring faculty and staff. Our Academic subjects build the foundational knowledge and skills for understanding our world, but also provide opportunities for extensive challenge. The Specialist programme provides a wide breadth of experiences for all students, supporting them in being performers, artists, language learners and building the habits of life-long physical activity. The age-appropriate learning environment provides flexibility and adaptability to a wide range of configurations for teaching and learning. Our faculty are all specialists in working with and supporting lower school-aged children. The ISB curriculum is based on a set of content standards selected from national systems and educational institutions. Standards are selected to align with ISB’s mission and vision to provide the foundation for our international curriculum which is accredited by The Council of International Schools and The Middle States Association (USA). Those standards are listed and linked below.
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS Advisory: International School Counsellor Association
Mathematics: Common Core Standards
Arts: National Core Arts Standards
PE & Health: National Physical Ed Standards
Digital Citizenship: Common Sense Education
Science: Australian Curriculum
Language Arts: Common Core Standards
Social Studies: Education For Global Citizenship
Languages: The Common European Framework
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CAPSTONE PROJECT & EXHIBITION The final year of elementary education culminates in a student-led "capstone" project, marking the transition from guided learning to independent thinking. Students investigate real-world issues they are passionate about, such as environmental conservation or technological innovation, moving beyond memorisation toward true mastery. This rigorous process builds essential future-ready skills, including critical thinking, selfmanagement, and confident communication. By synthesising complex information and presenting solutions to adult audiences, students demonstrate their academic and social readiness for Middle School. Ultimately, this experience celebrates student growth and responsibility, proving they are prepared to make a meaningful impact on the world.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
LANGUAGE ARTS Reading In sixth grade, students are aware of the author's craft and purpose. They are able to adjust their purpose, pace and strategies according to difficulty and/or type of text. Students continue to reflect on their skills and adjust their comprehension and vocabulary strategies to become better readers. Building on skills from Grade 5, students delve more deeply into teen literature and begin to use the Upper School library to broaden their independent reading choices.
Non-Fiction Reading
Theme Novel Study
The unit employs various non-fiction texts to equip students with strategies for comprehending nonfiction, determining word meanings, and integrating information from diverse sources. Culminating assessments gauge their ability to use context clues, analyse text structure, and synthesise information. The unit emphasises key ideas, text structure and knowledge integration through focused reading and notetaking activities.
This unit enhances reading comprehension and analytical skills through the close reading of a chosen novel. The aim is to build a strong foundation in literary analysis, including aspects such as theme, encouraging students to think critically about the texts they read and understand the choices authors make. Novel titles include: ‘Harbour Me’ and 'Brown Girl Dreaming’.
GRADE 6
Media
This unit digs into the stereotypes presented in media. By exploring a range of print and digital medias from different time periods, students critique the underlying biases, messaging and subsequent impacts on our beliefs of ourselves and others.
Human Rights Novel Study
This unit explores important global issues through the lens of literature. Students develop skills in effective literature discussions,understan ding and appreciating writer’s craft, and recognising symbolism. The unit aims to foster empathy and encourage students to consider the relevance and significance of human rights issues beyond the classroom Novel titles include: ‘Refugee’, 'Nowhere Boy’, ‘Threads’, ‘Shadow’, ‘Secrets of the Fire’.
The International School of Brussels
Writing In Grade 6 students develop strong writing skills and confidence. They explore narrative, informative, and opinion writing, participate in dynamic activities, and receive tailored guidance from teachers. This programme nurtures writers and thinkers, fostering an appreciation for the art of writing.
Units
Discussion
Explanation
Narrative
This unit provides a comprehensive guide to crafting effective discussion papers. It emphasises the importance of presenting both sides of an argument with an open mind and using clear, organised structure with an introduction, pro and con paragraphs, and a conclusion. The unit also highlights the importance of vocabulary, especially the use of precise verbs and the concept of nominalisation to create a more formal tone. Connecting information is another key focus, using text connectives and conjunctions to ensure smooth transitions and coherence as well as modality, which adds levels of probability, certainty or obligation.
This unit focuses on how to write explanatory texts, focusing on cause and effect relationships. The unit introduces the concept of "consequential explanation" and the importance of identifying a phenomenon and its related consequences. It emphasises the use of topic sentences, nominalisation, and techniques like "compact and carry" to improve writing flow and sophistication. Furthermore, the significance of text connectives and sentence structures in clearly showing cause and effect is highlighted.
This unit is designed to enhance students' storytelling abilities. The unit covers essential elements such as plot, character, setting, and theme, alongside the use of descriptive language and sensory details. It also addresses dialogue, narrative structure, and techniques for revision and editing, ensuring coherence and clarity in their writing. Furthermore, the students analyse descriptive settings and plan character and plot, as well as understanding the impact of different settings and moods in a story.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
MATHEMATICS The ISB mathematics programme is designed to develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts while nurturing critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Below are the key elements to our approach: Developing students’ concrete-pictorial-abstract thinking to build a solid foundation by connecting abstract concepts to tangible experiences Engaging students in hands-on activities, manipulatives, and interactive games to foster a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts Presenting real-world problems or open-ended questions to encourage students to think critically, apply mathematical concepts, and develop problem-solving skills Using visual representations such as diagrams, charts, and models to help students visualise abstract concepts, making them more accessible and easier to comprehend Providing multiple entry points to concepts, and offering support tailored to individual needs Cultivating a growth mindset towards learning math by emphasising effort, perseverance, and the belief that mathematical abilities can be developed through practice and learning from mistakes
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
Data & Statistics Students develop an understanding of statistics by identifying and generating statistical questions, collecting and organising data, and representing class data with a variety of displays. They explore measures of center and measures of variability, and describe spread qualitatively. Students compare different representations of data and different statistical measures to make decisions about which to use to describe data, including finding the mean, median, and interquartile range. Rates & Ratios This unit delves into rate and percent, comparing rates by using common units and multiple representations and developing new strategies for reasoning about ratio relationships. A special rate called a unit rate is introduced, where the first quantity is related to one of the second quantity, and unit rates are used to solve problems. Students investigate a variety of ratio relationships, learn about ratio language and connect ratio to percent. Students investigate equations using tape diagrams, double number line diagrams and ratio tables. The Number System Locating rational numbers, including whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, on the number line, and extending to numbers to the left of zero (negative numbers), students make sense of when negative numbers might be used in the real world, and use inequality statements to compare numbers. Students explore relationships between opposites and absolute value and use a coordinate plane to graph points in four quadrants. Fractions Students extend previous understanding of adding and subtracting fractions and decimals. Students multiply fractions and decimals, and divide whole numbers and decimals, making connections between conceptual understanding and algorithms. Exploring Equality & Inequality Students investigate relationships between two defined variables, representing these as equations, tables, and graphs. Students learn that a solution of an inequality or equation makes the statement true and use substitution, inverse operations, or other methods to solve equations, justifying their solutions. Students grapple with the idea of variable as a quantity in a relationship that can change. Students express situations with numerical expressions, including those involving exponents or the distributive property. They simplify numerical expressions using the conventional order of operations, and describe numerical expressions using mathematical vocabulary. Geometry Students find the area of polygons in mathematical and real-world contexts by decomposing and rearranging them into other shapes. Students find the volumes of right rectangular prisms with fractional edge lengths, justifying solutions to each problem by clearly showing formulas, calculations and correct units of measures
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
SCIENCE The ISB Science programme offers students the chance to explore essential science concepts and processes, understand the methods used to develop scientific knowledge, and appreciate science's role in our culture, society, and daily lives. The curriculum equips students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to make informed decisions on various issues. It also fosters the joy of scientific investigation and discovery and nurtures their innate curiosity about the world around them.
OFFERED IN FRENCH OR ENGLISH Physical Sciences: From flipping on a bedroom light to powering a smartphone, modern life relies on an essential concept: electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and generated from a variety of sources. In this unit, students will build and test complete circuits—experimenting with conductors, insulators, switches, and components—to investigate how electrical energy is transferred and converted into light, heat, or sound. As examples of how electricity is generated on a larger scale, students will explore how natural forces like wind and flowing water turn turbines or how solar panels convert sunlight into usable electricity. Biological Sciences: A shade-loving moss drying out under the midday sun, yeast bubbling into action in warm water, or a desert fox thriving in blistering heat all highlight a central ecological truth: the growth and survival of living things are affected by physical conditions of their environment. In this unit, students step into the roles of environmental scientists to investigate how factors like temperature, moisture, soil composition, and light determine what kind of life prospers where. Controlled classroom experiments bring these environmental dependencies to light: students may design fair tests altering variables like salinity, soil nutrients, or moisture to track plant growth. Earth & Space: How can a single shift deep underground reshape a coastline in minutes, or a prolonged period without rain transform a fertile landscape into dust? Investigating these rapid transformations uncovers a powerful planetary reality: sudden geological changes and extreme weather events can affect Earth’s surface. In this unit, students step into the roles of geoscientists and hazard response engineers to investigate how intense planetary forces reshape landforms, impact ecosystems, and alter human communities. Students may model plate movement to simulate earthquake shocks and tsunami waves and investigate historical floods or droughts and their impact. They will trace how technological tools used to observe these phenomena have evolved, for example from Zhang Heng’s 2nd-century seismograph to modern satellite networks. Chemical Sciences: Why can dissolved salt be recovered by evaporating water, while a rusted iron nail can never be turned back into shiny, raw metal? Investigating these everyday transformations uncovers a fundamental rule of matter: changes to materials can be reversible or irreversible. In this unit, students investigate how energy transfer alters the physical and chemical properties of everyday substances. Controlled laboratory investigations bring these transformations to light: students may separate mixtures and reverse physical state changes through heating and cooling, then contrast these with irreversible chemical reactions (like rusting, baking, or acid-base interactions) that create brand-new substances. They measure mass before and after transformations to track matter.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
SOCIAL STUDIES Social studies are essential for helping children understand the world around them and their place within it. The Lower School Social Studies programme encompasses history, geography and civics providing students with a broad perspective on human experiences. Through social studies, students learn about different cultures, historical events, the functioning of governments, the interconnectedness of global communities and the importance of active engagement in society.
OFFERED IN FRENCH OR ENGLISH Human Rights The Human Rights unit poses fundamental questions about laws and universal human rights. Case studies, such as Apartheid in South Africa and education equality for girls, are investigated. Furthermore, the unit addresses sustainable solutions and basic human needs and prompts students to examine global inequality through videos and data analysis. A final project examines individuals and movements throughout history that have upheld and defended human rights. Students also take part in Community Engagement projects. Allowing them to understand the actions being taken in our local and global community to make the world a better place. Key Knowledge in this unit: The content of the Declaration of Human Rights & the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The history of how the Declaration of Human Rights came about and how it has changed. Wealth distribution plays a huge role in human rights issues. All countries have examples where human rights are not upheld A statistical question is one that addresses differences in a population. The way in which we represent data affects its shape. This potentially leads to different interpretations being made from it. Creativity Students explore how creativity can flourish as a result of both internal (attitude, imagination and knowledge) and external (culture, habitat and resources) forces. Students investigate a key period of creativity, the Renaissance, in comparison to the Middle Ages before it and through the case study of Leonardo da Vinci. Students then apply the 'creativity engine' to a creative icon. Key Knowledge in this unit: Components of societal structure and beliefs in the Western European Middle Ages Societal and economic changes in the Renaissance, including the rise of merchant class and growing trade Philosophical shifts around concepts of humanism and individualism Impact of the printing press on knowledge sharing Impact of competition for resources, in the context of artists and patrons
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS Visual Arts
Students explore the elements of art through both 2D and 3D media. They used line and expressive mark-making to capture human gestures in life drawing studies and sculpted clay figurines to express emotion. Students also delve into color theory, experimenting with tints, tones, and shades through multi-faceted representations of giant gemstones. Additionally, they hone their watercolor techniques in personal sketchbooks, which they created using traditional bookbinding methods. Throughout the year, relevant artists are discussed to deepen students' understanding and inspire their creative expression. Performing Arts Students in Grade 6 continue on from choices made in Grade 5 or if a new student chooses one of the following. Drama rotations occur throughout the year. Band During the first half of the year, students focus on basic notes and rhythms, playing music with multiple parts instead of in unison, and different elements of music such as dynamics and articulation. Sixth-grade students are encouraged to practice at home for 20-30 minutes on days without Band to reinforce lessons, improve instrument familiarity, and enhance music comprehension. In the 2nd half of the year, Grade 6 students advance their individual and overall musicianship skills. They transition from playing songs in unison to playing music with multiple parts, improving their aural skills by listening to similar instruments or parts.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
Strings Students focus on ensemble skills, playing together to create a cohesive group. They learn new techniques such as slurs, more difficult rhythms, and new notes, while working on playing more in tune. These complex skills require daily practice for 10-15 minutes to reinforce muscle memory. In the 2nd term, Grade 6 strings students learn to transition from pizzicato to using the bow, which improves their bow hold position and sound quality. They tackle tricky rhythms and fast tempos, aiming for accuracy.
Voiceworks Students learn musical elements such as rhythm, beat, pulse, pitch, tempo, and dynamics through singing exercises and repertoire. They work on vocal techniques like breathing, projection, and tone quality. Studying music theory, including the major scale and its intervals, helps them understand melodic and harmonic structures. In the 2nd term, Grade 6 VoiceWorks students continue singing in multiple parts in a choir setting, focusing on diaphragmatic breathing, projection, blending, and dynamic contrast. They discuss genre and compositional styles and arrange songs to be sung in small ensembles, exploring harmonising techniques.
Drama In our drama course for Grades 5 & 6, students embark on an exciting journey where they can test their creative ideas and shape them into a captivating performance. They dive into the fun process of creating unique characters, memorizing lines, and adding simple production elements to bring their stories to life. Through engaging activities, students explore how to use their physicality and voice to convey meaning, and discover the powerful effects of music and lighting on the audience's experience. It's all about having fun, expressing themselves, and learning the magic of theater in a supportive environment!
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
PHYSICAL EDUCATION & HEALTH The Physical Education & Health programme fosters the development of motor skills, coordination, and balance. Beyond the physical benefits, it also promotes mental well-being and supports selfesteem. By participating in a variety of physical activities, children learn the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which can lead to lifelong habits of physical activity.
In our Fitness and Wellbeing unit, students explore key components of fitness, healthy choices with nutrition, and heart-rate analysis to inform lifestyle and movement decisions. Along with invasion games such as basketball, hockey, and soccer, we focus on offense and defense strategies in small sided games. Building on striking, fielding, and net games skills, students are introduced to complex movements and strategies required for success, including applying knowledge in unfamiliar situations and understanding sport-specific rules. In gymnastics and parkour, students recognise individual strengths, build confidence, and combine skills to support performance. In the climbing unit, students belay and climb different routes, set goals, and create plans to accomplish them.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
LANGUAGES Multilingualism and cultural understanding is a key part of being an International Citizen.
Students, who have demonstrated proficiency in English, access our French language programme. Additional languages are offered as part of the ISB+ programme, based on demand. ISB follows the Common European Framework for Languages.
English Proficiency
French Foundations A1 Intermediate A2 Independent B1 / C1
Grades 5 & 6 Science & Social Studies in French option
ISB+ Plus Languages Open to all regardless of English Proficiency
HOME LANGUAGE CLASSES Students who speak Hebrew, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Dutch or Swedish have access to one hour a week of a home language class. For Prekindergarten and Kindergarten this has an oral language focus. For students in Grade 1 and beyond this has a focus on the development of literacy skills.
Hebrew
GRADE 6
Spanish
Japanese
Korean
Dutch
Swedish
The International School of Brussels
Francophone Celebrities (Francophones Célèbres) Drawing on current and past figures from the world of arts, sports, science and politics in Francophone culture, students develop the vocabulary and language features to describe an important figure of their choice. Some learning targets in these units: Foundational Engage in basic social exchanges Recite simple vocabulary Write about matter of personal relevance using simple words and basic expressions Intermediate Understand everyday conversations with peers Catch the main point in short clear, simple messages and announcements Describe what they plan to do at the weekend or during the holidays
A Trip with Folon (Un voyage avec Folon) Linking with Human Rights study in the Homeroom, students explore the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon focusing on his life and interests and the vocabulary to describe his artworks and its symbolism. Some learning targets in this unit: Foundational can describe concrete objects while showing them use simple words and phrases to write simple descriptions express opinions Intermediate follow a simple, well-structured presentation provided it is illustrated with examples or diagrams and spoken slowly and clearly give a short, rehearsed presentation on a familiar subject write a series of simple clauses and sentences Independent understand factual reports or short talks / lectures including descriptions find specific information in newspaper articles and non-fiction texts compare perspectives and express own opinion using subject specific vocabulary
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
My Story (Mon journal) As students begin the transition to Middle School, they reflect back on their Elementary School years identifying highlights, challenges and how they have grown. Some learning targets in this unit: Foundational understand simple information being explained in a predictable situation can describe themselves & what they like doing write about matter of personal relevance using simple words and basic expressions Intermediate understand the main points in short, simple stories can discuss what they are good at and not so good at write short recounts Independent understand narratives, including the main points and important details express dreams, hopes and ambitions write narratives & recounts which include descriptions of feelings and reactions Story of a child of war (Le journal d’un enfant pendant la guerre) - Independent only Linking to the unit in the homeroom, students learn about events that took place during World War 2 and study what children's daily life looked like in Belgian and French cities. They create a fiction character whose life is described in a diary. Independent Understand film narratives, including the main points and important details Find specific information in newspaper articles and non-fiction texts Compare perspectives and express own opinion using subject specific vocabulary
HOME LANGUAGES
In our Home Languages classes, students are supported to acquire and accurately use a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases for reading, writing, speaking and listening. Working towards reading grade-level appropriate text for comprehension is a priority for both fiction and non-fiction, supporting students to maintain and progress in their home language. (Language offerings, dependent on enrolment: Dutch, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Swedish and Hebrew)
KEY KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS analyse the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs and larger portions of the text relate to each other and the whole text. assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text. interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including technical, connotative and figurative meanings, and analyse how specific word choices shape meaning and tone.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
FOUNDATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT Reading Students develop their letter and phonic knowledge to build their reading skills. They progress from simple to more complex texts to read fluently with meaning and purpose. They apply comprehension and vocabulary strategies to a variety of narrative and informational text. Students build and demonstrate comprehension by participating in small group discussions, writing responses to comprehension questions and prompts , and using evidence from text to support their thinking. Writing Our authors write for a variety of purposes, using a range of forms. Students apply grammar and vocabulary practiced in short written exercises, to longer written pieces. Students use the writing process to revise and improve their work. Handwriting and Typing skills are practiced throughout the year. My Family and Me Students use basic action verbs to talk about daily activities and family routines. They will learn to describe habits using the simple present and ongoing actions with the present continuous. The unit will also introduce vocabulary related to family members and subject pronouns. Additionally, students will use the verbs "to have" and "to be" to describe people. By the end of the unit, they will be able to talk about their families and daily routines with confidence. Realistic Fiction Students will learn key vocabulary related to fiction text features and story elements. They will explore characters, setting, plot, and theme to understand how stories are structured. Students will practice oral and written retells to improve comprehension and storytelling skills. They will also learn to identify the main idea of a story and support it with details. By the end of the unit, students will be able to discuss and summarise fiction texts. Personal Narrative Students explore the structure of personal narratives. They will practice using past tense verbs to describe events and add circumstances to explain when, where, or how actions happen. Students will also develop their writing by using simple and compound sentences, descriptive noun groups, and correct punctuation. Through reading personal narrative mentor texts, they will analyse how writers share experiences and apply these techniques to their own writing. By the end of the unit, students will be able to write clear and engaging personal narratives.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
Fiction - Mysteries Students explore narrative genre features and vocabulary to deepen their understanding of different types of fiction. They will analyse the plot by identifying key events, conflicts, and resolutions. Students will practice making predictions based on textual evidence and inferring meaning from clues provided by the author. They will also use the future tense to discuss possible outcomes and character developments. Opinion Writing Students learn to clearly state their opinions and support them with strong reasons and researched examples or facts. They will use the stoplight paragraph structure to organise their ideas effectively and practice using connectives and sentence starters for sequencing. Emphasis will be placed on precise vocabulary to strengthen their arguments. As an extension, students will develop their opinions into full argumentative essays. The unit will conclude with a debate, where students will present and defend their viewpoints using persuasive techniques. Nonfiction Students explore text features to help them navigate and understand informational texts. Students practice skimming and scanning techniques in guided lessons and independent practice to locate important information quickly. They will also learn to find text evidence to support their understanding and determine the importance of details within a passage. As an extension, students will practice paraphrasing to express ideas in their own words while maintaining the original meaning.
SKILLS Students who require consistent learning support have access to smaller group support during a Skills Learning support class which happens three times per week, instead of French and during Language Arts and /or Mathematics blocks. During this time, students have access to additional curricular support aimed at improved student access and success. In addition to this, students receive targeted support for their individual learning goals as part of their individual learning plan.
GRADE 6
The International School of Brussels
ADVISORY
The Advisory programme, led by the Lower School counsellor, builds the social and emotional understanding and skills of our students. Learning over the year is structured around the following strands: Social-Emotional Development, Global Perspectives, Academics, & Future Goals and Planning. In the sixth grade, we engage critically with Social Emotional Learning throughout the academic year, integrated within our Advisory lessons to support our broader educational goals. We explore advanced topics such as enhancing our social skills, fostering positive relationships, and effectively resolving conflicts. By understanding behaviour and emotional regulation and the biological underpinnings of our behavior, we gain a deeper comprehension of ourselves. Our curriculum includes discussions on personal and digital safety and current social media influences. We examine the importance of embracing personal identity and diversity, in our community as well as globally. We explore how we can equip ourselves to handle transitions and changes with resilience and confidence.
LIBRARY In grade 6, understanding how to support their reading and research through using the library catalogue becomes a greater focus. Reinforcing questioning and effective research skills are developed over the year. As students move into more complex children’s literature, targeted book talks and collection exploration is highlighted to reinforce a strong foundation of reading skills.
TECHNOLOGY Students transition from basic block coding to designing complex, multi-step projects using variables, functions, and advanced logic—building critical computational thinking skills along the way. Alongside tech creation, students explore responsible digital citizenship by managing healthy online screen time, evaluating clickbait and online news, and learning how to navigate digital friendships safely and respectfully.
GRADE 6
Kattenberg 19, B-1170 Brussels, Belgium +32 2 661 42 11 www.isb.be