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Grade 6 · Quarter 3 · Week 21 · Thursday

Roman Religion & the Imperial Cult

The Roman Empire & the Pax Romana — Augustus and the long Roman peace.

Week standards: 6.SP.B.4 · 6.SP.B.5 · RI.6.7 · W.6.2 · MS-LS2-3 · C3 D2.Civ.6.6-8

Suggested timing

8:30 Morning meeting · 8:45 Social Studies · 9:30 Math · 10:15 break · 10:30 ELA · 11:30 Science · 12:15 lunch · 1:00 specials & wrap-up

Social Studies

40 min

From Jupiter to deified emperors; tolerance of local gods.

Learning target: I can from Jupiter to deified emperors.

Step-by-step

  1. Warm-up (5 min): one-question opener tied to yesterday's lesson.
  2. Together (10 min): From Jupiter to deified emperors.
  3. Independent practice (12 min): tolerance of local gods..
  4. Closure (5 min): students name one thing they learned and one question they still have.

Check: Exit ticket: name two specific details (place, person, date, or cause) and explain why they matter.

Home tip: At home, ask: "Where on a map would you find what you studied today?" Have your child point it out and tell you one cause and one effect from "From Jupiter to deified emperors".

Homework: Read tonight's textbook section (10–15 min) and add three new facts to your notebook timeline.

Resources to teach from

  • Textbook / OER reading: OpenStax World History Vol. 1 (full free textbook) — OpenStax — Rice University (https://openstax.org/details/books/world-history-volume-1)
  • Article: World History Encyclopedia — search — World History Encyclopedia (https://www.worldhistory.org/)

Math

50 min

Compare distributions using box plots and dot plots (6.SP.B.5).

Learning target: I can compare distributions using box plots and dot plots.

Step-by-step

  1. Number talk (5 min): mental-math warm-up tied to today's concept.
  2. Mini-lesson (12 min): worked example of "Compare distributions using box plots and dot plots (6" with the teacher modeling thinking out loud.
  3. We do (10 min): class works two problems together; students explain each step.
  4. You do (15 min): students try 4–6 problems independently or with a partner; teacher confers.
  5. Closure (5 min): one student presents a solution; class critiques the reasoning.

Check: Exit ticket: 2 problems — one procedural, one word problem — graded for accuracy and reasoning.

Home tip: Ask your child to teach you tonight's idea in 60 seconds: "Show me one example of compare distributions using box plots and dot plots (6." Teaching it back is the fastest way to lock it in.

Homework: Practice set: 6–8 problems mirroring class work. Show steps; circle the answer.

Resources to teach from

  • Textbook / OER reading: Illustrative Math 6 — Unit 8 'Data Sets & Distributions' — Illustrative Math (https://im.kendallhunt.com/MS/students/1/8/index.html)
  • Interactive / simulation: Plop It! — build distributions — NCTM Illuminations (https://www.nctm.org/Classroom-Resources/Illuminations/Interactives/Plop-It!/)
  • Textbook / OER reading: Illustrative Mathematics — Grade 6 (free, CCSS-aligned) — Illustrative Math (Kendall Hunt OER) (https://im.kendallhunt.com/MS/students/1/index.html)
  • Video: Khan Academy — Grade 6 math — Khan Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth-grade-math)

ELA

45 min

Draft body paragraphs of informative essay.

Learning target: I can draft body paragraphs of informative essay.

Step-by-step

  1. Bell-ringer (5 min): a sentence-level grammar warm-up or quick-write prompt.
  2. Read-aloud / shared reading (12 min): "Draft body paragraphs of informative essay" — students follow along and annotate.
  3. Discussion (10 min): turn-and-talk on a focus question, then share out with text evidence.
  4. Writing (15 min): students respond in writer's notebook — one paragraph minimum, citing the text.
  5. Share (3 min): two volunteers read a sentence they're proud of.

Check: Exit ticket: one quoted sentence from today's text + one sentence explaining what it shows.

Home tip: Ask: "Who is the main character or speaker in what you read today, and what do they want?" Then have your child read aloud one favorite sentence from "Draft body paragraphs of informative essay".

Homework: Independent reading 20 min + log title, pages, and one sentence of reaction.

Resources to teach from

  • Article: ReadWorks — Grade 6 informational passages — ReadWorks (free) (https://www.readworks.org/)
  • Article: Newsela — Grade 6 leveled news (free tier) — Newsela (https://newsela.com/)
  • Article: CommonLit — Grade 6 free reading library — CommonLit (https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts?grade_levels%5B%5D=6)
  • Article: ReadWorks — Grade 6 passages + questions — ReadWorks (https://www.readworks.org/find-content#!q:/g:6/t:/dt:/sb:relevance)

Science

45 min

Compare aquatic and terrestrial energy pyramids.

Learning target: I can compare aquatic and terrestrial energy pyramids.

Step-by-step

  1. Phenomenon (5 min): show an image, video, or demo and ask, "What do you notice? What do you wonder?"
  2. Mini-lesson (10 min): teacher introduces the science of "Compare aquatic and terrestrial energy pyramids" with a labeled diagram.
  3. Investigation (20 min): students gather data — observe, measure, model, or run the lab.
  4. Sense-making (8 min): students record a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning response in the lab notebook.
  5. Share-out (2 min): one group presents data; class compares results.

Check: Exit ticket: one claim + one piece of evidence from today's investigation, with units where relevant.

Home tip: Ask: "What did you observe today, and what do you think it means?" Encourage your child to draw a labeled sketch of "Compare aquatic and terrestrial energy pyramids" on a sticky note.

Homework: Finish lab notebook entry (sketch + CER paragraph) if not done in class.

Resources to teach from

  • Textbook / OER reading: OpenSciEd 7.4 'Matter Cycling & Photosynthesis' — OpenSciEd (https://www.openscied.org/instructional-materials/7-4-matter-cycling-and-photosynthesis/)
  • Interactive / simulation: Food Web simulation — PBS LearningMedia (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.eco.foodweb/food-web/)
  • Interactive / simulation: PhET — Forces and Motion: Basics — PhET (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/forces-and-motion-basics)
  • Video: Newton's Laws (Crash Course Kids) — Crash Course Kids #19.1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn34mnnDnKU)

Materials & worksheet checklist

Bring every day

  • Sharpened pencil & eraser
  • Day's notebook (one section per subject)

Social Studies

  • Timeline strip

Math

  • Graph paper

ELA

  • Lined paper

End-of-day reflection (student)

One thing I learned today:

One question I still have:

SixthGrade · Quarter 3 · Week 21 · ThursdayPrinted for classroom use

Part of the K–6 Homeschool Curriculum series · Grade 6 · Eastern Hemisphere & Ancient Civilizations