What your child learns in 6th grade in Minnesota
6th grade is the start of middle school in many Minnesota districts. Math moves to ratios, rates, negative numbers, expressions and equations, and unit conversions. Science is Earth and space science: the solar system, plate tectonics, rocks, Earth's history, resources and climate. Social studies is “Minnesota Studies”: the land and water, the Dakota and Anishinaabe nations and their sovereignty, territory and statehood, the US–Dakota War of 1862, industry and immigration, and Minnesota's government.
6th grade subjects in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Patterns and relationships: ratios and rates, dividing fractions, integers, and expressions and equations
- Spatial reasoning, data and probability: area, surface area and volume, unit conversions, and statistics
- Mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
17 units, including Facts & Factors, Mixed Numbers & Ratios, Decimal × and ÷, Percents & Budgets.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading: central idea, citing evidence, and author's purpose
- Writing, speaking and listening: argument writing, and judging media messages
- Language: building vocabulary and using grammar, spelling and punctuation
12 units, including Point of View, Connotation & Tone, Make Your Case, Agreement.
Science
Focus areas
- Earth and space science: the solar system, plate tectonics, rocks, Earth's history, resources and climate
- Science and engineering practices: analyzing data and building models
- How science connects to people and communities in Minnesota and beyond
7 units, including Our Solar System, The Rock Cycle, Plate Tectonics, Earth's Moving Surface.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Theme: Minnesota Studies
- Minnesota's land, water and regions
- The Dakota and Anishinaabe and Tribal sovereignty
8 units, including Sources & Evidence, Minnesota's Land & Water, Dakota & Anishinaabe Nations, Fur Trade & Treaties.
Printable 6th grade sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments about organization, explaining reasoning in math and writing with evidence.
Minnesota has no statewide report-card scale in 6th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
6th grade students also take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). Read the state tests guide.
Minnesota's social and emotional learning competencies apply in every grade. Read about Social emotional learning.
The four practice steps in 6th grade
- Beginning
- Practice shows a first understanding of the learning standards. Most answers still need a hint or a second try.
- At home: Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Practice shows a partial understanding of the learning standards. Some answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practicing the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try.
- At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Practice shows a deep understanding of the learning standards, including harder, unfamiliar questions.
- At home: Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Ready for 6th grade?
6th grade builds on what your child practiced in 5th grade. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: Numbers to a Million, Multiply, Divide, Equivalent Fractions, Decimals
- English Language Arts: Plot and Conflict, Figurative Language, Purpose and Structure, Context Clues, Greek and Latin Roots
- Science: Solutions & Mixtures, Solid, Liquid, Gas, Changes of State, Physical or Chemical?, Measuring Matter
- Social Studies: The Thirteen Colonies, Colonial Trade & Work, Road to Revolution, The American Revolution, Building a Government
Common questions
6th grade covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards. 6th grade is the start of middle school in many Minnesota districts. Math moves to ratios, rates, negative numbers, expressions and equations, and unit conversions. Science is Earth and space science: the solar system, plate tectonics, rocks, Earth's history, resources and climate. Social studies is “Minnesota Studies”: the land and water, the Dakota and Anishinaabe nations and their sovereignty, territory and statehood, the US–Dakota War of 1862, industry and immigration, and Minnesota's government.
Minnesota has no statewide report-card scale in 6th grade, so Gradelings describes practice in four steps: Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. Students in 6th grade also write the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA), which is separate from the report card.
Practice shows a solid understanding of the learning standards. Most answers are right on the first try. At home: Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
6th grade builds on 5th grade. In math, that means Numbers to a Million, Multiply, Divide. In English language arts, that means Plot and Conflict, Figurative Language, Purpose and Structure.
About 15 minutes a day of short practice works better than long sessions, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Read what they are interested in: graphic novels, sports pages, series. Then talk about it. Praise effort, and stop on a success.
Practice 6th grade skills with Gradelings
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