6th Grade Lessons

In this section you will find a range of 6th grade lessons for various subjects. Many of the Language Arts and Math lessons are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. These lessons are the work of talented teachers from our Teacher.org community -real teachers with real experience. We will continue to add more lessons to this section as more teachers share their work. Contact us if you have some lessons that you would like to share. You have the power to inspire our future!

6th Grade Arts Lesson Plans

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Fairy Tale Fun

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

In this performing arts lesson, students will rewrite a well-known fairy tale to include a great deal of dialogue and then act out that fairy tale (creation of props is optional as is taping the performance).

Kwanzaa Art

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will discuss the 7 principals of Kwanzaa and then draw pictures of an example of each.

Making a Menorah

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will make a beautiful vibrant menorah using art supplies while learning about the background.

Mini Diorama

Length of Time: Several Class Periods

This visual arts lesson will allow students to share some personal interests in the form of a diorama. Sample rubric included.

Painter's Tape Art

Length of Time: 40 minutes to 2 hours depending on grade level

This lesson will allow students to practice creating art by marking off what will not be painted. This requires planning prior to mixing the first color.

Paper Mache Zoo

Length of Time: Varies depending on grade level and depth of project

In this visual arts lesson, students will create zoo animals (or any animals) using paper mache. The ‘zoo’ can be displayed in the classroom or in a localized area of the school.

Theater in Action

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will write and perform a scene from the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Upside Down Art

Length of Time: 20 minutes to 2 hours depending on grade level

This lesson will allow students to practice creating art from a unique perspective while learning about Michelangelo.

6th Grade English/Language Arts Lesson Plans

Analogy Creation

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

Students will create analogies using randomly chosen grade-appropriate words.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

Students will read an article from a newspaper, magazine, or other similar content, identify main idea, and create a headline for the story.

Nothing but the Truth

Length of Time: About five 45 minute sessions

This lesson will allow students to practice reading out loud and determining how point of view affects the action of a story.

Parts of Speech BINGO

Length of Time: 10 Minutes/Game

Students will recognize and identify basic parts of speech: preposition, noun, verb, adjective through a simple game.

Reducing Every Day Plastic Use

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.

Theater in Action

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will write and perform a scene from the story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

What Year Did That Happen?

Length of Time: About 2 - 3 Class Periods

Students will practice rewriting and summarizing paragraphs, paraphrasing the information, facts, and other details in a writing sample.

Writing to a Photograph

Length of Time: About 45-60 Minutes

Students will develop a plan for a fictional story based on a picture.

6th Grade Environmental Lesson Plans

Biosphere

Length of Time: 30 - 45 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to create a self sustaining biosphere.

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Ozone Layer

Length of Time: 1-2 Class Periods

Students will think about how people affect the environment and what they can do to help it and prevent further damage.

6th Grade Math Lesson Plans

Comparing Decimals Game

Length of Time: 40 - 60 Minutes

Students will play a game in which they choose cards and choose the best place to put the number they have chosen in order to get the highest answer possible.  This should not be the first introduction to the topic.

Fractions, Decimals, Percents, & Graphs

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to explore fractions, decimals, percent’s, and graphs with TRIX cereal.

Order of Operations

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to help students solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

Prices and Percentages

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

Using a current list of prices for food and clothing, the students will practice math skills related to percentages.

Roll the Dice - Probability & Statistics

Length of Time: Two 45 minute periods

Students will learn about probability and statistics while rolling dice and flipping a coin carefully recording their results.

Silent Geometry

Length of Time: About 1 - 2 Class Periods

The students will practice using geometry formulas measuring items in the classroom to find area and volume, radius and circumference, and identify the types of angles.

6th Grade P.E. Lesson Plans

Aces and Exercise

Length of Time: 1 class period

Using a deck of playing cards, the students will pick the number of reps for various exercises.  

And Freeze!

Length of Time: As Desired

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Basketball Relay

Length of Time: As Desired

Students will practice teamwork, dribbling, and shooting a basketball.

Music Movement

Length of Time: 1 class period

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

PE Immigration

Length of Time: 2-3 Class Periods

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Trust Me

Length of Time: 20 - 30 Minutes

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.

6th Grade Science Lesson Plans

Camouflage and Environment

Length of Time: 30 Minutes

Students will make butterflies of various colors and then they will experience the advantage that butterflies that are the same color as their environment have against predators.

Controversial Environmental Issues

Length of Time: 2 Class Periods

Students will research and debate multiple topics in the topic of environmental health. The class will take sides on whether they are for or against the controversial issue.

Debate an Environmental Issue

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read an article about the sale of tropical fish. Students will analyze the information given and discuss their opinion based on facts from the article.

Engineering Design

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

This lesson is designed to generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Mystery Boxes

Length of Time: One to two 45-minute class periods

Using different sized “mystery boxes” the students will attempt to guess the item inside each box.

Reducing Every Day Plastic Use

Length of Time: Multiple Class Periods

Students will research and write a persuasive essay about the effects of plastic in every day use. They will be encouraged to send these letters to officials who could make a difference.

The United States of Matter

Length of Time: About 45 minutes

Observe various substances to recognize different characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases.  The students will work in pairs.

6th Grade Social Studies Lesson Plans

A City Saved by a Volcano

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Students will learn how the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy preserved two Roman towns.

A Day in the Life of a Roman Girl and Boy

Length of Time: 3-4 Class Periods

Students will research the topic of daily life for children of ancient Rome.

Comparing Countries

Length of Time: Twp 45-minute class periods

Students will research information on places in the world, outside their own country, compile the info and create a display to show the info compared to other countries.

Exploring the West

Length of Time: 3 class periods

The lesson will teach the students why there was an expansion to what is now the western half of the United States, as well as the displacement of Native Americans.

History of Hanukkah

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will read a passage about the history of Hanukkah and “talk to the text” to understand the story better. Students will answer questions individually and then with a partner to understand the text better.

It’s a Wonder – Filled World

Length of Time: About 2 Class Periods

Students will learn about the list of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World compiled by the ancient Greeks.

Kwanzaa Socratic Seminar

Length of Time: 30 - 40 Minutes Each

Students will discuss the cultural roots of Kwanzaa and analyze why the holiday has been brought to the United States.

The Articles of Confederation

Length of Time: 2 to 3 class periods

The students will research the “first rules” of the United States, the Articles of Confederation.

The History of Thanksgiving

Length of Time: 30-40 Minutes

Students will research the history of Thanksgiving based on the perspective of the Native Americans and the Pilgrims and then interview each other to learn about each story.

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