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6th Grade Math Curriculum
By sixth grade math, many students have a solid handle on the basics and are ready for algebra. These math skills also start to appear in other core subjects, like chemistry and geography!
Sixth graders expand their math skills through fractions and decimals, ratios, negative numbers, and beginner algebra, like one-step equations and inequalities. They’ll also dive into coordinate plane graphs, basic geometry, and data and statistics to build critical thinking and problem-solving confidence.
6th Grade Math – 73 Objectives
Learning objectives are clear statements of what your child should know or be able to do by the end of a lesson. These objectives show exactly what your child is working toward, and show how we break up a big subject into manageable, trackable steps.
Numeracy: Whole Numbers
- Identify the GCF of two numbers
- Identify the LCM of two numbers
- Write a number as its prime factorization
Numeracy: Fractions and Decimals
- All introductory fraction vocabulary
- Simplify fractions to lowest terms
- Define and identify a reciprocal fraction
- Convert between fractions, decimals, and percents
- Introduce percentages as another method of representing part of a whole
- Convert between fractions, decimals, and percents
- Compare and order fractions, decimals, and percents
Numeracy: Negative Numbers
- What are negative numbers?
- Comparing and ordering numbers, including both positive and negative integers, fractions, and decimals
Operations: Simple Addition/Subtraction
- Add and subtract fractions
- Add and subtract multi-digit decimals
Operations: Simple Multiplication/Division
- Understand why we multiply by the reciprocal to divide fractions
- Multiply and divide fractions
- Multiply and divide multi-digit decimals
- Calculate the percentage of a number and use percentages to solve real world problems (such as discounts, sales tax, and tips)
Operations: Order of Operations
- Apply GEMS, the order of operations, to simplify expressions with grouping symbols and exponents as well as the four basic operations
Operations: Exponents
- Understand exponents as repeated multiplication
- Evaluate whole number exponents
- Use the order of operations (GEMS) to evaluate complicated expressions involving exponents
Operations: Absolute Value
- First introduction to absolute value
- Define absolute value as the distance from 0
- Calculate the absolute value of a given number
Geometry: Shapes and Their Properties
- Define and identify faces and edges of 3D figures
- Identify 3D figures from a given net: square prisms, rectangular prisms, triangular prisms, square pyramids, rectangular pyramids, triangular pyramids (equilateral base)
Geometry: Perimeter
- Rectangles
- Parallelograms
- Triangles
- Composite Figures
Geometry: Area
- Develop and apply the formula for calculating the area of a rectangle using base and height
- Parallelograms
- Develop and apply the formula for calculating the area of a triangle using base and height
- Composite Figures
Geometry: Surface Area
- Connect the surface area of an object to its net
- Calculate the SA of a prism (square, rectangular, triangular base) by calculating the area of each face
- Calculate the SA of a right pyramid (square, rectangular, or equilateral triangle base) by calculating the area of each face
Geometry: Volume
- Prisms
- Pyramids
Measurement, Data and Probability: Representing and Interpreting Data
- Differentiate between statistical and non-statistical questions (ie, determine what kinds of information can BE data!)
- Define and differentiate between a population and a representative sample
- First introduction to the idea that bias and perspective impact data
- Design, scale, create, and read histograms
- Define and calculate the mean, median, mode, and range of a data set
- Define quartiles and the interquartile range of a data set
- Calculate the IQR of a data set
- Design, scale, create, and read box plots
- Calculate the mean absolute deciation as a way to tell how spread out data is
- Compare data sets/distributions using the measures of central tendency and variability
- Use measures of center and variability to make comparitive inferences about two populations
Number Sentences: Expressions
- Understand that variables can be used to stand in for an unknown number
- Substitute a constant for a variable (and evaluate)
- Identify different-looking equivalent expressions using the properties of numbers: commutative property, associative property, distributive property, identity property
- Distribute an integer to a binomial that uses addition and has a variable term with a coefficient of 1 (ex. 3(x + 4))
- Translate between “math” and “English” expressions: for example, the sum of x and 2 translates to x+2
Number Sentences: Equations
- Solving one step equations with positive numbers only (whole numbers and decimals)
- Writing equations to represent real world scenarios
Number Sentences: Inequalities
- Identify solutions to inequalities
- Solve one-step inequalities (no symbol flipping)
Graphing: The Number Line
- Graph the solution to an inequality on a number line
- Learn that the number line goes beyond 0 into negative numbers
- Plotting positive and negative rational numbers on the number line
Graphing: The Coordinate Plane
- Learn the four quadrants
- Plotting points in all 4 quadrants
- Find the horizontal and/or vertical distance between points on the plane by counting
Relationships Between Values: Ratios and Proportions
- Define a ratio as a relationship between two quantitites
- Work with part:part and part:whole ratios
- Define rate and identify how it differs from ratio
- Define unit rate
- Calculate unit rate and use it to make predictions
- Compare rates and ratios by using unit rates
Relationships Between Values: Functions
- Use ratios to find missing values in a ratio table
Course Information
6th Grade Math Curriculum (Math: Level G)
Our sixth grade math curriculum teaches with a spiral approach, continually building off previously learned skills to build student confidence and prepare them for learning new skills.
The curriculum begins with a deep dive into fractions and decimals, covering concepts like prime factorization, operations with mixed numbers, and conversions. Students then explore percentages, ratios, rates, algebraic expressions, one-step equations and inequalities, negative numbers, coordinate planes, geometry, and data.
Sample Lesson
6th Grade Math Activity PDF
Our courses also come with printable PDF extension activities, perfect for hands-on practice away from the screen. Prefer not to print? Select courses also offer full-course workbooks, giving your student a ready-made, all-in-one resource for extra practice and review.
Miacademy’s Online 6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum
Miacademy’s sixth-grade math curriculum is expertly designed to help students master essential math skills through a meaningful and engaging learning process. The program builds a solid understanding of algebra and geometry foundations while also introducing students to new concepts like ratios.
Plus, one of the best things about our sixth-grade curriculum is homeschooling with flexibility! You get full customization over your lesson plans and assignments to fit your child’s unique learning needs. Students can skip what they already know and dive into new challenges!
Whether you homeschool full time or are looking to supplement a public school education, we’re here to support you! Wondering if Miacademy’s sixth-grade homeschool curriculum is a good fit for your student? Start a chat with one of our friendly customer service agents below! They’ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
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