About the Teacher

Ms. Grimes

Sixth Grade Teacher

Salem Lutheran School

Ms. Grimes believes that children at religion based schools receive more parental support which fosters a secure environment to enable students to feel free to take an active role in their education.

She is a native of the San Gabriel Valley and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies. She has seven years teaching experience. She enjoys writing and has had some of her poetry published.

Curriculum & Information

Sixth Grade is a year of growth and maturity, critical thinking, and learning the value of working hard through a varied, project-oriented curriculum. Ms. Grimes keeps kids challenged and promotes fun. From learning square dancing to making paper mache globes to tackling tricky math problems, students will be prepared both academically and socially for any seventh grade they may attend.

Sixth graders at Salem also have the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to learn more about our nation’s capitol. It’s a much anticipated trip that students work hard toward, enjoy while they are there, and forever cherish the memories.

 
Subjects covered in sixth grade include, but are not limited to:

Science

Students will investigate science through in-depth reading and hands-on activities. They will perform experiments with plants and molds using the scientific method, explore heredity, and look at cells using a microscope. They will learn about atoms and elements, bones and muscles, geology, the solar system, flight and some basic physics. Students will also participate in the Science Olympiad and Salem’s annual Science Fair.

Physical Education

Sixth graders attend P.E. class in the gym three times a week. Fitness, health, and sportsmanship are taught through games, exercise, and the basketball team.

Social Studies

Students will learn about ancient civilizations, world geography, longitude and latitude, supply and demand, budgets and job finding, and World War I and II. Sixth graders will do research on a country and present the material. They will also participate in the National Geography Bee.

Math

Using Saxon Math material, sixth graders will improve on multiplication and division, and work extensively with fractions, decimals, and percents. They will be introduced to integers, solving equations, square roots, and exponents. Geometry with one, two and three-dimensional shapes will be introduced. Students will also participate in the Continental Math League, a math problem solving competition.

Music

Children in grades first through sixth will develop skills in singing, playing instruments and movement.

Spanish

Sixth graders are exposed to Spanish twice a week through reading, vocabulary expansion, and activities.

Art

Salem art classes are relevant, fun and challenging. Students will develop artistic awareness and hands-on skills by using a variety of tools and mediums. Ms. Grimes encourages artistic expression in many of his projects, and finds ways to incorporate art in other areas of the curriculum.

Computers

Sixth graders expand on computer usage in Salem’s computer lab once a week. Students will be proficient in all aspects of word processing, Internet use and PowerPoint. Sixth graders will confidently use the Internet as a research tool by making efficient searches for information. They will also understand spreadsheets by entering data, making charts, using formulas and using the calculator.

Language Arts

Reading and Language Arts are taught using the Open Court Curriculum. Sixth graders will be required to read a number of books and create a monthly book report in oral or written form. Students will write an adventure story, a mystery, and prepare an autobiography in newspaper form. They will experiment with different types of poetry and write essays. Through expanded vocabulary, spelling, drills on the parts of speech, and improving punctuation usage, students will improve their writing in all areas.

Bible

Classroom studies focus on a greater understanding of real faith in Jesus Christ as a gracious, loving, ever-present Savior and model for living. All students (Junior Kindergarten through sixth grade) attend chapel services each Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. conducted by the School Chaplain. Parents are always welcome to attend chapel.

More information is available about the General Curriculum used at Salem.