Sierra Canyon School: 6th Grade

6th Grade—a pivotal year in Learning forward

The 6th grade year is an especially exciting and challenging time in your child’s development. We offer a one-of-a-kind, transitional program that gives your child the intellectual, emotional, and social tools they need to thrive in Middle School.

In their final year on our Lower Campus, students thrive in a dedicated learning environment led by faculty who specialize exclusively in sixth grade. With a strong foundation in academic rigor and intellectual curiosity, students engage in immersive experiences that include field research in Washington’s Olympic National Park to historic analysis of ancient civilizations. A full year of Latin strengthens cognitive flexibility and prepares students for advanced world language study. Throughout the year, students deepen their analytical thinking, build productive work habits, and develop greater independence—setting the stage for success in the next phase of their academic journey.

Equally important, as a mentor and example for their younger Lower School peers, 6th grade students build confidence and leadership abilities that serve them well in Middle School and throughout life.

Students emerge from 6th grade more capable, self-assured, and self-reliant than many other students their age—ready to fully own and shape the rest of their Middle and Upper School journey.

Advice for new sixth grade students...

“Always have a good attitude, and school will be a lot more fun and engaging.”

– Oliver V. “Just be yourself and don’t change yourself for anybody else.”

– Callie P.

Deep learning, Real-life experiences • Investigating ecosystems in Olympic National Park, a temperate rain forest in Washington State • Conducting a mock trial of a literary character • Making an Egyptian mummy mask, Greek temple, and an early human cave with your classmates while learning about ancient civilizations • Working in a small group to build a solar car from scratch • Learning about mythology and Ancient Rome and realizing you can read and translate a full page of Latin by year’s end • Celebrating Pi Day with activities, games, contests, and pie

An exceptionally secure campus At Sierra Canyon, your child’s safety is our top priority. Every car entering campus stops at a locked gate, where a security guard verifies visitor information and runs a background check using the visitor’s driver’s license.

Our school perimeter is gated and enhanced by video monitoring, and during drop-off and dismissal, we help your child in and out of the car.

From sixth grade students.

“Put yourself out there to try new activities, clubs, or sports. You never know what you will enjoy until you try!”

– Juliet S. “Listen to your teachers, try your best, and don’t doubt yourself.”

– Maxwell J.

Upper Campus bound and ready for success Our 6th grade program develops your child’s independence, accountability, and self-advocacy. We give students extensive training in organization and time management so they can take on increasingly challenging courses and activities while maintaining a healthy life balance. Students emerge from 6th grade more capable, self-assured, and self-reliant than many other students their age—ready to fully own and shape the rest of their Middle and Upper School journey.

Our comprehensive, experiential 6th grade curriculum ensures subject-area mastery while inspiring your child to keep digging deeper.

SCIENCE

This program is a hands-on, inquiry-based learning opportunity. Students expand their understanding of the scientific method and how to participate in a laboratory setting through observation, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. The year concludes with the study of renewable energy culminating in a solar car race, where students design and build their own solar cars.

L ATIN

Meeting four to five days per week, the course includes the study of mythology, ancient Rome, gladiators, and more.

Students learn grammar, syntax, and common Latin phrases, which serve as a foundation for both English vocabulary development and second language learning in Middle and Upper School. At the end of the year, they take the National Latin Exam.

ENGLISH

English is a rigorous and writing-intensive program in which students are challenged to hone the craft of writing, read a text closely, and foster a lifelong love of literature. Students participate in activities such as Mock Trial, Socratic Seminars, and creative literary-focused endeavors.

HISTORY

This course covers history from early humans to ancient civilizations. Students learn valuable skills such as notetaking, time management, and test-taking strategies and understand why the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is quintessential to life-long learning.

MATH

Our math program fosters mathematical literacy while nurturing students’ confidence and genuine interest in applying mathematical thinking to real-world contexts.

Through differentiated instruction and a focus on conceptual understanding, students build strong foundational skills and develop the ability to apply them flexibly across a range of situations. For those who qualify, Foundations of Algebra offers an accelerated pathway in sixth grade, providing early access to advanced mathematical concepts.

ART

This course provides students with a rich opportunity for creative expression and artistic growth. Working with a variety of media—including watercolor, acrylic, printmaking, sculpture, and stop-motion animation—students explore techniques while developing their own artistic voice. Art history is thoughtfully integrated throughout the curriculum, allowing students to study influential artists and movements that inform and inspire their work.

THEATER

Sixth grade students can take participate in both Lower and Middle School theater productions. These experiences not only build confidence and creativity, but also foster collaboration, public speaking skills, and a deep sense of community.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

This course focuses on creating technology rather than consuming it. Students learn the latest techniques in film making, song composing, stop-motion animation, website building, digital animation, coding and robotics, and digital art. Additionally, students hone their typing skills, learn email etiquette, and master the basics of word processing and presentation graphics. Most importantly, digital citizenship and cyber safety lessons are proactively and explicitly taught throughout the curriculum.

MUSIC

Our music program offers the opportunity to create music on a wide variety of instruments including violin, viola, cello, ukulele, drums, xylophone, voice, and piano. Students will learn how to read music as well as how to practice and perform together in an ensemble. Those students who want to pursue the instrument further can enroll in enrichment classes before and after school—Suzuki strings for beginner and intermediate string players or SC Chamber players for advanced musicians.

OLYMPIC PARK INSTITUTE

Each February, sixth grade students embark on a weeklong journey to the temperate rainforest of Port Angeles, Washington. This immersive experience brings science to life through inquiry-based learning in the field. Students hike nearby peaks, explore tidepools, paddle Salish-style canoes, and study the complex ecosystems of old-growth forests— building scientific observation skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND TEAM SPORTS

Our 6th grade PE program is designed to mirror the structure and spirit of our championship varsity athletics. All students have the opportunity to experience the values of teamwork, competition, and sportsmanship through a vibrant interscholastic athletics program. (Sierra Canyon has a no-cut policy for athletic teams through 12th grade.) Our competitive program is organized into three athletic seasons, allowing students to participate in up to three different sports each year. During each season, teams compete against other local independent schools, providing a meaningful introduction to interscholastic athletics in a supportive, developmentfocused environment. For students seeking a noncompetitive option, we proudly offer Active Lifestyle Lab in each season.

This innovative PE curriculum emphasizes personal fitness, wellness, and recreational sports. From resistance training and cardio conditioning to more modern PE activities like Disc Golf, Ultimate Frisbee and Geocaching, Active Lifestyle Lab is all about helping students build confidence, explore new activities, and foster a lifelong love for movement. Whether through team sports or Active Lifestyle Lab, our program empowers every student to grow as an athlete, a teammate, and a leader.