Grade 6 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 math in the Alberta Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number: Work with positive and negative whole numbers and decimals to thousandths, add and subtract integers, use prime factorization and powers, and multiply and divide decimals with standard algorithms.
- Fractions and ratios: Relate fractions to division, add and subtract fractions, multiply a fraction by a whole number, and use unit rates, equivalent ratios and percents.
- Algebra: Evaluate expressions with powers, use the commutative, associative and distributive properties, and solve one- and two-step equations.
- Patterns: Study functions through tables of values, increasing and decreasing sequences and algebraic expressions.
- Geometry: Analyze shapes through reflection, rotation and symmetry, and use the Cartesian plane to describe location and transformations.
- Measurement: Find the area of parallelograms, triangles and composite figures, and the volume of prisms.
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes.
- Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student.
- Estimate first (the bill, the trip time), then check with a calculator.
- Keep a tricky-problems list and revisit it every few days instead of re-doing everything.
What each unit covers
Integers & Decimals
Meeting negative numbers on a number line, comparing and ordering integers, decimals and fractions, working with thousandths, and rounding decimals.
Adding and Subtracting Integers
Using a number line to add and subtract positive and negative integers, additive inverses, comparing integers and winter temperature changes.
Factors & Primes
Using divisibility rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, telling prime from composite, and writing a number as a product of prime factors.
Powers and Common Factors
Reading and writing powers such as 3⁴, evaluating them, order of operations with powers, writing prime factorizations with exponents, and finding common factors and the greatest common factor.
Decimal × and ÷
Multiplying and dividing decimals, estimating to check where the decimal point goes, and solving shopping and measurement problems.
Fractions
Adding and subtracting fractions that have different denominators, and multiplying or dividing whole numbers by fractions such as 2/3.
Percents & Ratios
Finding 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25% and 50% of a number in your head, and solving ratio, rate and percent problems.
Equations
Using the order of operations (brackets, then × and ÷, then + and −) and solving one-step equations like 6n = 42 with inverse operations, including writing equations for word problems.
Patterns & Graphs
Describing growing and shrinking patterns with rules like 3n + 2, using tables and graphs to predict values, and reading change over time from line graphs.
Symmetry and Congruence
Lines of symmetry in regular and irregular polygons, rotational symmetry and turn angles, congruent shapes, which moves keep a shape congruent, and tiling a surface.
Transformations
Translating, reflecting and rotating points and shapes on a coordinate grid, and combining two transformations in a row.
Perimeter & Area
Finding the perimeter of L-shapes and other polygons, and the area of triangles (b × h ÷ 2), parallelograms (b × h) and trapezoids ((a + b) × h ÷ 2), including working backwards to a missing measurement.
Volume & Capacity
Finding the volume of rectangular prisms, converting between litres and millilitres, and connecting volume to capacity (1 cm³ holds 1 mL).
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Alberta report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 6 child with math?
Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 6 math in Alberta?
The Alberta Curriculum Grade 6 math units include integers & decimals, adding and subtracting integers, factors & primes, powers and common factors, decimal × and ÷, fractions.
Free printable Grade 6 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.