St. Thomas More Cathedral School

6th Grade

St. Thomas More Cathedral School follows the Curriculum Guidelines of the Diocese of Arlington Catholic Schools. The core curriculum consists of instruction in the following subjects: Religion, Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Spanish

Students also participate in the following special classes: Art, Library Skills, Technology, Physical Education

A variety of instructional methods are used including cross-curricular units, cooperative groups, direct instruction, discovery learning and hands-on activities. Homework is assigned to review lessons and practice skills.

An optional instrumental band program during the school day and an after-school choir program supplement music instruction. The instrumental band program is offered for grades 4 - 8 and the choir program is available for grades 3 - 8.

The instructional program is supported through the following: Title I Program, Resource Program, Educational Field Trips, Guest Speakers, Community Service

A word from the teacher about 6th grade...

First year in middle school
First time to change classes every 45 minutes
First time to have 4 academic teachers
First time to participate in a Service Day

6th graders are responsible for the Safety patrol – which helps every day with arrival and dismissal

We study:

Old Testament in Religion
Lots of fractions and geometry in Math

Ancient World in Social Studies –

One of the most fun things we do is to have our Greek Day in the spring to culminate our study of Ancient Greece. We study Ancient Greece for about a month and have been grouped in city-states (which we learn all about) – we dress in chitons (basically Greek togas!), perform plays for Pre-K through 5th grade which are student-written (based on Greek myths), have ancient Greek activities in all of the classes (play strategy games, do labyrinths, make kaleidoscopes, perform ancient Greek science experiments), have a traditional Greek buffet lunch (each student is responsible for bringing in something), and finally participate in the Olympics (with the city-state groups competing against each other).

We study mythology in Reading (during our study of Ancient Greece and Rome).

Our big field trip is the Kayaking Field Trip – at Ft. Washington Marina where we learn a lifelong sport.

Sixth Grade students will also have the special opportunity to visit the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab on St. George Island, MD, in mid-May to study the health of the Bay.

6th grade text book - Prentice Hall Ancient World book

Ms. Loughlin

Mrs. Meehan

Middle School Science

nmeehan@stmschool.org

School Notes

My name is Nancy Meehan and I proudly hail from Indiana

My husband and two children are all graduates of St. Thomas More! My son Danny will be a senior at Bishop O’Connell in the fall and my daughter Katie will be a sophomore at James Madison University.

I currently teach math for the 6th and 7th graders, 8th grade algebra, and 6th grade social studies and religion and have a 6th grade homeroom’

Because I have a degree in History and Political Science with a minor in Math, I am fortunate that I get to teach all of the subjects that I love! I have taught at St. Thomas More for 8 years but have been here since my daughter started kindergarten in 1995 – serving on the PTO board, co-chairing the STM auction, serving as a Brownie and Cub Scout leader

I love to cook and try to cook and bring in food that relates to each of the cultures we are studying so that the students get an idea of what the food was in ancient times (barley for Ancient Egypt, lentils for India, rice for China).

I am the organizer of the Middle School Service Days – which we schedule 2-3 times a year. The Middle School teachers strongly believe that students need to learn how important it is for all of us to help those less fortunate in our world. Service Days serve as reminders to treat others as Jesus treated all people and as he wants us to treat everyone in the world.