Seeking autonomy. Pushing boundaries. Emerging logical reasoning. Craving fairness and consistency.

The sixth grade model for learning is truly a Trinity distinctive. Understanding that sixth graders are caught between childhood and adolescence, Trinity has designed a unique program that fosters positive growth during these confusing pre-teen years. As a result, sixth grade is a hybrid of sorts; students spend part of their day in the lower school and part of their day in the middle school. By combining the comfort of the elementary setting with the excitement and challenge of a middle school setting, we believe our sixth graders get the best of both worlds.

Bible is both devotional and curricular, and students are guided through both aspects by their homeroom teacher. Students take a close look at Paul’s missionary journeys, learning how God’s gift of salvation was extended to the Gentiles and spread throughout the world. They then gain insights into how to share the gospel message through the examples of Peter, Paul, and others, and increase their understanding of how everyday people are used to build God’s kingdom. In addition to their study of Colossians, students take a general look at the letters the apostles wrote to the early church.

Sixth grade students spend a portion of their day with a core Humanities teacher. The classical method of content integration plays a key role as teachers craft lessons overlapping subject areas. In History, students study the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and more. In Literature, novels are linked to historical eras, and in English, students craft essays and creative writing projects that often revolve around the historical era being discussed. When studying Rome, for example, students read , a novel set in Palestine under the rule of Roman leader, Tiberius; students will then be asked to write an essay from the protagonist’s perspective, and present their ideas to the class to spark lively debate and interest. This layered approach helps create long-term connections between subject areas while also generating a more interesting classroom dynamic. By the end of sixth grade, students will have covered several hundreds of years of ancient history, used the skills of dictation, imitation, and style to create solid writing pieces, diagrammed countless numbers of complex sentences as foundational to Grammar, and been exposed to literally hundreds of vocabulary terms taught in context.

When our sixth grade students are not learning from their Humanities teacher, they can most likely be found in their Math and Science block. The sixth grade Math and Science instructor has tremendous teaching experience, and as such, really understands what her students need to master before tackling further math in the upper grades. By combining games, logic, and skill practice, sixth graders move through the sixth grade math curriculum in an environment of both challenge and fun. In Science, students spend the year studying the Earth. Specifically, plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, climate, weather, and natural resources are the focus of their studies. Additionally, students receive supplemental lessons for half of the year in Robotics, provided on-site by an outside institution called IMACS.

Art is taught by our Upper Grades Art instructor in a middle school setting and students attend Art class two days a week for half of the year. Students explore the following: color theory, positive and negative space, focal point, impressionism, silk painting and more. Taught by an incredibly gifted and caring instructor, our middle grades’ art students improve technical skills in an atmosphere of fun and challenge.

Sixth graders attend Music twice a week under the direction of our enthusiastic Lower School Music teacher. Students learn about Music History and Theory in an atmosphere that is anything but dull! From dancing to singing and playing games, our Kodaly-certified Music teacher keeps kids laughing and learning during each class. Students also have the option of joining the Trinity Academy Children’s Choir as an extra-curricular activity; choir practices take place once a week after school and do not interfere with sports’ practices. The choir is often asked to perform at community and school events, and even takes a fun-filled adventure each Spring to Busch Gardens, Virginia, for a competition that always earns them high marks (and includes roller coaster riding after the big event!)

A true differentiator, sixth graders at Trinity Academy join middle school athletic teams for PE credit. Each student must play on one middle school sports’ team during their sixth grade year, and many choose to play on more than that. As part of a year designed to bridge the elementary and middle school years, this is one important way that sixth graders begin to build strong connections with their middle school peers. All students “make” a team, so participation is guaranteed. It may be that a student’s skills earn her a spot on the ‘A’ team, or sometimes it means a developmental year on a ‘B’ team. In either case, students gain skill and enter into competition with other teams. According to the kids, though, the best part is making middle school friends and getting to play for knowledgeable, experienced, fun, and Godly coaches! See the athletics tab for specific middle school athletics’ offerings.

Bible

Bible is both devotional and curricular, and students are guided through both aspects by their homeroom teacher. Students take a close look at Paul’s missionary journeys, learning how God’s gift of salvation was extended to the Gentiles and spread throughout the world. They then gain insights into how to share the gospel message through the examples of Peter, Paul, and others, and increase their understanding of how everyday people are used to build God’s kingdom. In addition to their study of Colossians, students take a general look at the letters the apostles wrote to the early church.

Humanities

Sixth grade students spend a portion of their day with a core Humanities teacher. The classical method of content integration plays a key role as teachers craft lessons overlapping subject areas. In History, students study the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and more. In Literature, novels are linked to historical eras, and in English, students craft essays and creative writing projects that often revolve around the historical era being discussed. When studying Rome, for example, students read , a novel set in Palestine under the rule of Roman leader, Tiberius; students will then be asked to write an essay from the protagonist’s perspective, and present their ideas to the class to spark lively debate and interest. This layered approach helps create long-term connections between subject areas while also generating a more interesting classroom dynamic. By the end of sixth grade, students will have covered several hundreds of years of ancient history, used the skills of dictation, imitation, and style to create solid writing pieces, diagrammed countless numbers of complex sentences as foundational to Grammar, and been exposed to literally hundreds of vocabulary terms taught in context.

Math & Science

When our sixth grade students are not learning from their Humanities teacher, they can most likely be found in their Math and Science block. The sixth grade Math and Science instructor has tremendous teaching experience, and as such, really understands what her students need to master before tackling further math in the upper grades. By combining games, logic, and skill practice, sixth graders move through the sixth grade math curriculum in an environment of both challenge and fun. In Science, students spend the year studying the Earth. Specifically, plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, climate, weather, and natural resources are the focus of their studies. Additionally, students receive supplemental lessons for half of the year in Robotics, provided on-site by an outside institution called IMACS.

Art

Art is taught by our Upper Grades Art instructor in a middle school setting and students attend Art class two days a week for half of the year. Students explore the following: color theory, positive and negative space, focal point, impressionism, silk painting and more. Taught by an incredibly gifted and caring instructor, our middle grades’ art students improve technical skills in an atmosphere of fun and challenge.

Music

Sixth graders attend Music twice a week under the direction of our enthusiastic Lower School Music teacher. Students learn about Music History and Theory in an atmosphere that is anything but dull! From dancing to singing and playing games, our Kodaly-certified Music teacher keeps kids laughing and learning during each class. Students also have the option of joining the Trinity Academy Children’s Choir as an extra-curricular activity; choir practices take place once a week after school and do not interfere with sports’ practices. The choir is often asked to perform at community and school events, and even takes a fun-filled adventure each Spring to Busch Gardens, Virginia, for a competition that always earns them high marks (and includes roller coaster riding after the big event!)

PE

A true differentiator, sixth graders at Trinity Academy join middle school athletic teams for PE credit. Each student must play on one middle school sports’ team during their sixth grade year, and many choose to play on more than that. As part of a year designed to bridge the elementary and middle school years, this is one important way that sixth graders begin to build strong connections with their middle school peers. All students “make” a team, so participation is guaranteed. It may be that a student’s skills earn her a spot on the ‘A’ team, or sometimes it means a developmental year on a ‘B’ team. In either case, students gain skill and enter into competition with other teams. According to the kids, though, the best part is making middle school friends and getting to play for knowledgeable, experienced, fun, and Godly coaches! See the athletics tab for specific middle school athletics’ offerings.

Trinity Academy Distinctives

In addition to the classes above, students are exposed to:

Formal Latin instruction is offered four times a week in sixth grade. Emphasis is given to mythology and history. Taught by a teacher who takes great care to differentiate her lessons, students with all learning styles can thrive in her care. From quiet reading to partner games to drama presentations, sixth grade students look forward to seeing Latin on their daily schedule!
Because our classical philosophy includes the idea that students must be well versed in the art of public speaking, students are taught the tenets of rhetoric in each grade level, and one grade level builds on the next. By sixth grade, students are capable of delivering tremendous poems, speeches, and memory verses in verbal form. Eye contact, voice inflection, poise, appropriate gestures and clear dictation are all emphasized during the sixth grade year. A highlight of the year occurs when all TK-6 grade students present a classical piece from memory in our annual spring “Poetry and Prose Competition.”
In sixth grade, students take on the daunting but attainable task of completing the memorization of the Westminster Shorter Catechism in English. Written in 1646, the catechism is an overview of basic theological tenets that provide a solid foundation for their faith. As students mature and begin to take on other classes in Bible, Religion, Ethics, and Apologetics later on in their Trinity career, the foundational ideas can be recalled and reviewed for further in-depth study.
Latin
Formal Latin instruction is offered four times a week in sixth grade. Emphasis is given to mythology and history. Taught by a teacher who takes great care to differentiate her lessons, students with all learning styles can thrive in her care. From quiet reading to partner games to drama presentations, sixth grade students look forward to seeing Latin on their daily schedule!
Oration
Because our classical philosophy includes the idea that students must be well versed in the art of public speaking, students are taught the tenets of rhetoric in each grade level, and one grade level builds on the next. By sixth grade, students are capable of delivering tremendous poems, speeches, and memory verses in verbal form. Eye contact, voice inflection, poise, appropriate gestures and clear dictation are all emphasized during the sixth grade year. A highlight of the year occurs when all TK-6 grade students present a classical piece from memory in our annual spring “Poetry and Prose Competition.”
Memorization
In sixth grade, students take on the daunting but attainable task of completing the memorization of the Westminster Shorter Catechism in English. Written in 1646, the catechism is an overview of basic theological tenets that provide a solid foundation for their faith. As students mature and begin to take on other classes in Bible, Religion, Ethics, and Apologetics later on in their Trinity career, the foundational ideas can be recalled and reviewed for further in-depth study.