At FreedomHomeschooling.com, we list several free all-in-one-curriculum programs. These programs include every subject your 6th grader will need. Homeschoolers often choose all-in-one programs because of the simplicity they provide. They take care of the planning and curriculum selection for you.

However, many homeschoolers, myself included, prefer to choose a separate curriculum for each subject. This allows us to customize our children’s education, choosing materials that fit their learning styles and individual needs in each subject area. Also, I’ve always enjoyed the variety that a more eclectic approach provides. Using the same approach and materials for every subject can become monotonous for some students.

If you’d like to piece together your own customized 6th grade curriculum, visit FreedomHomeschooling.com’s main page, and choose a subject area to explore from the menu. On that subject’s page, you will find a list of links to free curriculum resources.

Below, I’ve provided a sample 6th grade Christian curriculum. This sample curriculum is intended to give you an idea of what a 6th grade curriculum could look like. Feel free to make substitutions as needed. If you have other children, you may prefer to study some subjects, like Bible, history, and science, together as a family.

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Math

MasterMath teaches middle school math through video-based lessons. Each lesson includes a video lecture, printable worksheets, an online quiz, and links to other websites for practice and further discussion of the lesson’s concept. To complete this math curriculum, the parent will need to add additional worksheets or online practice for each concept. While the author recommends an IXL math subscription, IXL is not free. Instead, you can print free worksheets at Dad’s Worksheets or have your child practice online at Khan Academy. For more information on using MasterMath, be sure to read their instructions for homeschoolers. Keep in mind that if your child plans to take Algebra I in 8th grade, rather than 9th, they’ll need to work through MasterMath’s middle school curriculum at a quicker pace.

 

Literature

For literature, use the following novel study guides. While these lesson materials are free, you will need to obtain the necessary books. You may click/tap on the book’s title to purchase the book on Amazon. Or, to save money, borrow them from your library or buy used books.

• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell – This novel study, created by Reed Novel Studies, includes comprehension questions, vocabulary lessons, language arts assignments, and extension activities. This is the only novel guide that Reed offers for free, and it is in a long list of novel guides that are for sale. Scroll almost halfway down the alphabetical list, and you’ll find the guide.
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – The C.S. Lewis Foundation provides an educator’s guide for the book. It includes vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, critical thinking questions, writing prompts, and art projects.
• Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry – Mr. Telles’s website provides a study guide that includes discussion questions for each chapter. This study guide is the first item listed under “links.”
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan – Rise to Reading has comprehension questions for each chapter of the book.
• The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare – Rise to Reading has comprehension questions, vocabulary words, and writing prompts. For a more in-depth study of the book, you might want to add parts of Homeschool Share’s unit study. It includes lessons related to the book in language arts, history, geography, science, food preparation, and more.

For additional reading, you can use Elson Reader: Book 6. This reader includes both fiction and nonfiction reading. Classic stories from famous American authors are also included, along with biographies on each author. The reader includes discussion questions and vocabulary words.

 

Grammar & Writing

Plain and not so Plain offers a downloadable workbook for 6th grade English that covers grammar and writing. Each lesson starts with a short explanation of the concept being taught. Then there’s a practice exercise or writing assignment. The workbook contains 147 pages, so you will need to do 4 or 5 pages per week to finish the book in a typical school year. For more information about the Plain and not so Plain curriculum, I recommend that you watch the author’s video. If your child needs extra practice or review in grammar, you can print additional worksheets here. The grammar book and most of the literature guides include writing assignments. However, if time allows you may like to use Hammermill’s Paper is Power writing curriculum for additional writing assignments. This downloadable textbook teaches writing and editing. It includes sections on fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. It also highlights three famous authors: Lucy Maud Montgomery, Frederick Douglass, and Wilfred Owen.  

 

 

Spelling

AAASpell.com offers 30 weeks’ worth of spelling word lists for 6th grade. The word lists are grouped by phonics rules and are based on McGuffey’s Eclectic Spelling Book. There are several online activities for practicing each word list. If you find that the 6th grade lists aren’t challenging enough for your child, consider moving up to the 7th or 8th grade lists.    

 

 

Bible

God’s Hand in Our Lives offers 59 downloadable Level 3 (4th to 6th grade) Old Testament Lessons. Each lesson includes a thorough teacher’s guide, opening and closing prayer, Bible story, worksheets, discussion questions, memory verses, and a hymn. If you are unfamiliar with the hymn, most of them can be found on YouTube. This curriculum was written for use in Lutheran Sunday Schools, but its layout also works well for homeschool use, and most of the content should work for members of other Protestant denominations. Aim to complete about two lessons per week to finish this curriculum in one school year.

This video from Simply Charlotte Mason describes an easy to use system for memorizing scripture using index cards to organize Bible verses. You may want to consider using this system with your entire family together, not just your 6th grader. You can choose verses from the God’s Hand in Our Lives lessons or what your child learned this week at church.

Science

In Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Zoology course, your child will learn about the main branches of the animal kingdom. They will study animal habitats, behaviors, diets, and adaptations. They will also study endangered species, classification, mimicry, camouflage, ecosystems, and food webs. The course uses readings, videos, and a variety of online activities. The material is scheduled in 180 daily lessons. Easy Peasy offers this course at two levels. Your 6th grader will be in the upper level, which is designed for 5th through 8th graders.

 

History

In Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Ancient History course, your child will study the history of mankind from ancient Egypt through the Renaissance. Some of the topics covered are ancient Egypt, ancient China, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Maya, Indus Valley, Greeks, Romans, Vikings, middle ages, feudal Japan, Mongols, Renaissance, Reformation, and early explorers. Geography and current events are also incorporated into the lessons. The material is scheduled in 180 daily lessons.

 

Art

In Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Art – Ancient course, your child will study art throughout history, from ancient cave paintings through the Renaissance. They will study the art of various cultures, including Egypt, China, India, Greece, Rome, Japan, and Viking. They will also learn about line, color, motion, and perspective. This art course coincides with Easy Peasy’s Ancient History course. The material is scheduled in 36 once a week lessons.

Music

In Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s Music – Ancient course, your child will listen to music from ancient times through the Renaissance. They will study the development of instruments and how music was used in different cultures. They will also learn about wind, string, and percussion instruments and the basics of note reading and rhythm. This art course coincides with Easy Peasy’s Ancient History course. The material is scheduled in 36 once a week lessons.

 

Life Skills

FoolProof teaches financial literacy and consumer skills. It focuses on the power of skepticism and how to identify and neutralize misinformation. Their goal is to instill habits in children that will counter some of the marketing industry’s efforts. The middle school program is made up of nine video-based modules. So, this is a short unit, rather than a year-long curriculum. To register for a free account, click “sign up” on the middle school page. Within 24 hours, someone from FoolProof will email you. They will ask a couple of questions to verify that you’re a homeschool parent. After you reply, they’ll set up your account.

The remainder of this year’s life skills focus is on gardening. This is a project the entire family can work on together. How much time and energy you choose to devote to this will depend a lot on the space you have available and the climate where you live. Here are some resources and ideas to consider:

• The article, How to Start a Garden – 10 Steps to Gardening for Beginners, is a good place to start.
• The Smiling Gardner offers a free video-based Organic Gardening Course. Please note: The article at the end of the course, “When Gardening Organically, You Need to Think Differently,” discusses evolution and the age of the earth. Some families may wish to skip this part.
• Your child can use Garden Supply Company’s free online tool to plan their garden’s layout.
• My Frugal Home’s printable garden planner may also be helpful.
• If you have little or no outdoor space, your child could plant a container garden instead.
• If you’d like to start a compost as part of this gardening project, read Teaching Kids to Compost and Its Benefits.
• Your child could also borrow books from the library about gardening or watch documentaries about farming and food production.

 

Computer Skills

GCF’s Computer Basics course teaches hardware and software basics, internet use, computer safety, computer maintenance, and more. The course includes 23 lessons and a final quiz. GCF’s Basic Computer Skills course teaches basic computer skills, computer set up, installing & uninstalling software, and more. This course is also made up of 23 lessons but does not include a final exam. To finish both courses in one school year, your student should do one to two lessons per week. Most of the lessons are fairly sort and are made up of text and image-based tutorials. Some also include videos.

If your child doesn’t know how to type yet or needs more practice, use Typing.com. This website teaches touch typing through interactive lessons. Your child may start at the beginner, intermediate, or advanced level. The program tracks progress and provides additional lessons for frequently missed keys.

Physical Education, Recess, and Health

Make sure your child gets plenty of free time for active play and exercise. If you would like some ideas, Chapter 3 (page 46) of Physical Activity for Everyone from the Center for Disease Control provides information about how much exercise children need, as well as, numerous suggested activities. If your child plays a sport or takes dance, karate, gymnastics, swimming lessons, etc., these can also be considered part of your physical education program.

Operation Fit Kids’ curriculum for 6th through 8th graders teaches the importance of physical fitness and proper nutrition. The downloadable lessons include activities, worksheets, journal pages, and more. This curriculum only has seven lessons, making it a short unit that could be completed at any point during the school year, rather than a complete year-long program.

 

Other Grades

I hope this sample curriculum has been helpful. If you’re looking for guides for other grades, you can find them here.

 

Related Posts

• 6th Grade Reading List
• Free Math Resources
• Free Ebooks
• Free Audiobooks
• Homeschool Science With YouTube
• Homeschool History With YouTube
• Free Virtual Field Trips
• 12 Tips to Ease the Transition from Public School to Homeschool

 

 

Note: This post was originally published on November 28, 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.