Class 6 Aims

Alongside an introduction to geometry, the work with percentages and ratios, the study of the home continent and the Roman Empire, Class 6 begins investigating quantifiable facts.

The Sixth Year – Introducing a Scientific Approach

Human laws, engraved on Rome’s public tablets, are encountered in history; laws of nature are studied in a first look at physics and geology.

Scientific subjects now turn the attention of Class 6 away from the ancient cultures’ focus on the spirit realm and towards the study of its material garment: the physical environment.

This change is in step with the onset of puberty that brings a sense of heaviness to the body, feelings of doubt to the soul, and a need for rational enquiry to the mind.

The harmonious balance of the Class 5 child, achieved in overcoming its crisis of the ninth year, is about to be upset anew.

The Class 6 Crisis

The twelfth year sees the formerly unquestioned unity of body and mind separate into a keen awareness of inner and outer self.

These two selves are often experienced as incongruous, which results in questions and problems regarding self-worth, self-acceptance and sexuality.

Training the Mind

In lessons, employing the faculty of logic helps to create a calming distance to the newly turbulent emotional life.

Introduced to accurate constructions with compass and ruler, the pupils hear the story of geometry: How this sacred art of Ancient Egypt, used to stake out fields and build temples, became beloved for its own sake by Greek philosophers.

Thales, Pythagoras and Euclid explored, compiled and taught the axioms they are learning.

But Pythagoras also declared the earth to be a sphere, and Eratosthenes calculated its circumference in a superb feat of applied logic, needing nothing more than a known distance, shadows at the summer solstice and the laws of angles.

The Lay of the Land

The geography of the home continent with its most important land and water features, its climate and vegetation zones is approached through a study of physical, political and topical maps.

Quizzes help to learn capital cities and flags.

Alongside, each student works independently on a project, researching one country for a presentation to the whole group and an invited audience of family members.

History’s Heritage

In Europe, this geography block sets the scene for the first of two blocks on Roman History.

First we study Rome’s mythical beginnings, the time of its kings, the idealism and strength of the new republic with its standing army and the rule of law.

Later in the year come the power struggles that led to the downfall of the Roman Republic, the age of emperors and their conquests, the persecution of Jews and early Christians, the Colosseum’s gory games …

This age group craves drama, and Rome provides it.

A study of history’s dramatic events usually helps to put that day’s feelings of personal crisis into perspective.

Homework

Regular homework, set according to the teachers’ weekly plan, is worked out across the subjects to avoid overload.

Not every piece of homework is due the next day, and this creates the need for responsible time management.

Creative Writing

The ongoing study of the native tongue is extended with an introduction to the concept of editing.

This enables Class 6 to progress from the childlike attitude of “I wrote it – isn’t it wonderful!” to the more mature “I drafted it – now let’s see how it could be improved.”