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Sixth Grade

Sixth grade is the year that every PDS boy has waited for — to be the king of the castle. Now the oldest students, sixth-grade boys are called to synthesize all of their experiences and emerge as the leaders of the school.

Sixth graders, as the leaders of the school, engage with early childhood students as mentors.

Giving speeches, acting as tour guides, and serving as buddies to our younger students are all ways our sixth graders lead by example. Beyond leadership, our sixth-grade boys are focused on learning how to be a godly man. Taking time away from school to attend mentor retreats at Victory Ranch and attending the annual St. Louis trip are highlights of the sixth-grade year. The sixth-grade boys are able to choose elective courses based on their personal interests. While the courses vary year to year, cooking, woodshop, Model UN, and ceramics always seem to be favorites. PDS sixth graders graduate with a great sense of accomplishment knowing they are well-prepared for whatever academic or personal challenge comes their way.

Language Arts

  • Appreciate and respond to literature during Reader’s Workshop
  • Integrate comprehension strategies while reading to gain understanding of text
  • Analyze and apply literary elements and techniques
  • Apply metacognitive skills while reading independently
  • Apply the six traits of writing to all written texts
  • Use the writing process effectively to write an organized story narrative, expository paper, MLA-formatted literary essay, and personal speech
  • Rehearse and deliver a speech focusing on voice control and stage presence
  • Identify the eight parts of speech, understand their functions, and use them effectively when writing
  • Analyze sentence structure and edit writing samples for proper use of clauses, complements, prepositional and verbal phrases
  • Examine word choice to develop accuracy and precision of language
  • Complete analogies and state their relationships

Math

  • Solve operations with decimals, fractions, percentages, and integers
  • Convert fractions, decimals, and percentages
  • Compute using order of operations
  • Identify perfect squares and their roots and estimate the root of non-perfect squares
  • Identify rational and irrational numbers
  • Understand and solve ratios, rates, and proportions
  • Differentiate between algebraic expressions and equations
  • Solve 1-step and 2-step equations and 1-step inequalities
  • Interpret the slope of a line
  • Investigate geometric concepts such as Pythagorean Theorem, planes, transformations, angles, figures, and polygons
  • Understand the Metric measurement system and use formulas to find perimeter, area, circumference, and volume
  • Collect data and use data-analysis skills to relate data to real-life situations

Social Studies

  • Investigate diplomatic relationships with countries today
  • Make connections from the past to the present and possibly the future
  • Explore history through controversial concepts such as Isolationism vs. Expansionism, Neutrality vs. Involvement, Cold War vs. Hot War, and Values and Morals vs. Violence and Terrorism
  • Read for understanding and summarize historical events
  • Conduct internet research
  • Determine main ideas and worthy conclusions within texts and take informative notes
  • State a claim and support it with historical data
  • Apply understanding of vocabulary and sentence structure to write an essay featuring content and opinions of American history
  • Use critical and creative-thinking skills to write a reflection on historical topics

Science

  • Explore chemistry by studying the characteristics of matter, atomic structure, the periodic table, and formation of compounds
  • Balance chemical equations
  • Recognize the difference between an acid and a base
  • Understand that cells are the smallest structural unit of plants and animals
  • Observe that most cells share similar structures and have organelles that perform important functions within the cell
  • Identify the parts of the cell
  • Understand the role genetics plays in determining personal features
  • Identify the components of a DNA molecule
  • Compare characteristics of personal features
  • Correctly complete a Punnett Square
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We intentionally educate and nurture the heart, soul, mind, and body of each boy.

Guiding Principles

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We know, nurture, and love each boy as a unique child of God.

Guiding Principles

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We teach the Bible and model the Christian faith to our boys.

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We aren't just teachers; we are life-long learners and students.

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We push students to engage as thinkers.

Guiding Principles

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In an increasingly connected world, our curriculum has a global perspective.

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Flexible teaching strategies seek to maximize learning for each boy.

Guiding Principles

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Our assessments aren't just a way to measure learning — we want our boys to demonstrate understanding.

Guiding Principles

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We seek to enroll boys from diverse backgrounds.

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We seek balance and excellence in all we do.

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We aren't just boy-friendly; we're boy-specific.

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Our program sets a foundation of learning that will help boys thrive beyond PDS.

Guiding Principles

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We take time to make sure our faculty and staff are growing spiritually.

Guiding Principles

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We hold high standards for ourselves, pushing ourselves to reflect, renew, and grow.

Guiding Principles