Look at the Leadership Years: Spotlight on 6th Grade

Sixth grade is a very special year in a child’s life and our program is specifically designed to make the most of this important developmental moment and help students blossom into independent thinkers and strong leaders. 

Developmentally, 6th graders have sharp critical thinking skills and are solidifying their individual identity in the context of larger groups. Their world is rapidly expanding as they seek to build connections with peers and community beyond what they already know. Choice is key for 6th graders and learning is more meaningful when students have autonomy and agency. Freedom within limits is a core tenet of the Montessori approach and particularly as students enter adolescence, having the chance to make their own choices is so important. 

Our 6th grade Montessori curriculum is intentionally designed to give students freedom within a carefully planned structure, help them connect to a larger community and expand their thinking and perspectives, all while forming a healthy and strong sense of self.  

Some specific examples of how we nurture this in our 6th grade students are:

Capstone Projects 

All 6th graders choose a capstone project to take on for their entire 6th grade year. Whether it is the Billion Oyster Project, Montessori Model UN, Spelling Bee, or Math League, students meet with their group and dive into specific, hands-on work while connecting with other students and organizations across the city and country. These capstone projects are also a special and important opportunity for our students to expand their thinking and confidence as presenters.

• 6th graders in Montessori Model UN join thousands of other students from around the country as they represent a nation at the Montessori Model UN Conference. 

• Our students in Math League practice and attend regional and state competitions. Last year, two of our students represented BHMS at the Math League National Finals in Houston, Texas! 

• Students in Spelling Bee learn about the history and rules of spelling bees and practice their technique throughout the year to compete in a live Bee in front of the whole school. 

• And our students in the Billion Oyster Project conduct research on different environmental issues affecting New York Harbor and present their work at the Student Symposium on Governors Island in the spring. Last year, three of our students were given an Exemplary Project Award for their outstanding presentations!

Overnight Trips 

Over the course of the year, 6th graders participate in an awesome three-part wilderness experience in the Catskills. Early in the fall, students take a day hike where they meet the Nature Guides they will work with throughout the year, get their bearings in the forest, and start to think about what it means to be leaders in the Upper Elementary community. 

In October, students spend one night backcountry camping with their teachers and guides and then the final trip takes place in June, where students camp for two nights. Through these experiences, students learn camping essentials, navigation skills, and collaborative problem solving. They also learn more about the environment - local geology and ecosystems - in an up-close, immersive way. 

These trips are a chance for students to face new challenges and figure out how to work together in different ways. Students are asked to think about what it means to be independent, while also being part of an interdependent, connected community. This lays the foundation for thinking about the interdependency of systems in nature, which they will further explore in middle school - particularly in their weeklong overnight stay working on a farm.

Bridging Into Middle School 

To expand their social world and strengthen their connection with their older peers, 6th grade students begin to spend more time as part of the middle school experience. In Visual & Performing Arts, students choose a specialized area to focus on each trimester, and their classes are mixed with 7th and 8th graders. Sixth graders take Spanish class with the middle school Spanish Teacher and the 6th grade leadership class is also taught in the middle school. In our after school athletics program, many of the sports teams combine 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. In many ways, the 6th grade year is an intentional transition between programs: on the one hand, wrapping up a student’s elementary experience as a role model and leader for their 4th and 5th grade peers, and on the other, beginning their middle school experience, learning alongside their 7th and 8th grade peers.