Building deeper skills and bigger ideas.
Sixth grade at The Hudson School builds on the foundation of 5th grade—fostering academic growth, intellectual independence, and the analytical and collaborative skills that prepare students for the upper years of middle school.
Literature that connects—history that transforms.
In Language Arts, students learn to read closely, write analytically, and think critically about the world through a diverse literary canon—including Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game, John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Paul Fleischman’s Seedfolks—developing empathy through diverse perspectives. History explores the Medieval and Renaissance eras: the fall of Rome, the Crusades, the Reformation, and the Age of Exploration, culminating in a trip to The Cloisters. Coordinator: Henry Wagner.
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From Earth systems to algebra’s first steps.
Mathematics balances work with fractions, decimals, percents, geometry (solid figures, π, circle area), and the number line extended to negatives with an introduction to variables and algebraic methods. Science explores Earth’s evolution: water, carbon, and rock cycles; tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquakes; lunar phases and cosmology. Field trips include Sterling Hill Mine, Hawthorne Valley Farm, and a Mission to the Moon simulation at the Buehler Challenger Science Center.
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Creative risk-taking in every discipline.
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Visual Arts: Individual Style
Projects include furnishing imaginary rooms, tessellations, 3D letter designs, visual puns, simulated stained glass, Celtic knot drawings, marbleized paper, Mola-inspired collages, and group photography projects—all emphasizing individual style and artistic risk.
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Theater: Collaboration and Production
Students develop character, conflict resolution, and ensemble skills, then apply them to set construction, lighting, and a full-scale production drawn from history and literature class.
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Music: Genres and Theory
An exploration of diverse music genres and theory gives students a broad musical vocabulary and a deeper understanding of music as a form of cultural expression.
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Real-World Field Experiences
Learning leaves the classroom regularly: The Cloisters, Sterling Hill Mine, Hawthorne Valley Farm, and the Buehler Challenger Science Center all serve as living extensions of the curriculum.
Discover what 6th grade looks like at Hudson.
Schedule a visit and speak with the faculty who bring our 6th-grade curriculum to life every day.
Schedule a Visit