Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 6 Language Arts
This course develops advanced literacy skills through an exploration of diverse perspectives in literature and media. Students refine their ability to analyze complex texts, craft purposeful writing, and engage in collaborative discourse to build empathy and critical thinking.
01The Power of Story: Narrative Craft and Identity
Students examine how authors use literary devices to build characters and explore themes of personal identity.
Analyzing how characters respond to challenges and how their internal struggles drive the plot forward.
Identifying common character archetypes across different narratives and discussing their roles.
Examining how secondary characters highlight traits of the protagonist and advance the plot through their interactions.
Exploring how the physical and social environment influences the mood and events of a narrative.
Investigating how specific historical periods or cultural contexts shape a story's themes and characters.
Evaluating how a first-person narrator's perspective shapes the reader's understanding of the story.
Comparing different third-person perspectives (limited vs. omniscient) and their effects on storytelling.
Identifying and articulating the central message or insight about life conveyed in a story.
Examining the elements of plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) and how conflicts are resolved.
Identifying and analyzing how authors use foreshadowing to build suspense and engage the reader.
Interpreting the meaning of symbols within a story and how they contribute to theme.
Examining how specific word choices and vivid imagery enhance the narrative and evoke reader emotions.
Students plan and draft a narrative, focusing on developing a clear plot with rising action and resolution.
Students practice writing realistic and purposeful dialogue that reveals character and advances the plot.
02Uncovering Truth: Informational Texts and Media
Students learn to navigate non fiction by identifying central ideas and evaluating the validity of claims.
Identifying how authors organize non fiction texts using cause and effect to communicate complex ideas effectively.
Analyzing how authors use compare and contrast structures to highlight similarities and differences between topics.
Exploring how authors present problems and their solutions in informational texts to inform and persuade.
Distinguishing between the main point of an informational text and the evidence that supports it.
Developing the critical thinking skills necessary to distinguish between fact, opinion, and propaganda.
Identifying common propaganda techniques and understanding how they are used to influence audiences.
Learning to combine information from various formats (text, audio, visual) to create a comprehensive understanding of a topic.
Practicing the skill of concisely restating the main ideas and key details of an informational text.
Identifying why an author wrote a particular text (to inform, persuade, entertain) and how it impacts the content.
Learning strategies to comprehend specialized vocabulary in various informational texts.
Formulating focused research questions to guide inquiry into a topic.
Students learn to organize gathered information logically using outlines or graphic organizers.
Students draft informational paragraphs, focusing on clear explanations and supporting evidence.
Understanding the importance of citing sources and practicing basic citation methods.
03The Art of Persuasion: Argument and Rhetoric
Students practice the craft of building logical arguments and using rhetorical devices to influence an audience.
Learning to state a clear position and support it with relevant, logical reasoning.
Identifying and evaluating different types of evidence used to support an argument.
Analyzing how speakers use credibility to persuade their listeners.
Examining how emotional appeals are used in persuasive texts and speeches.
Identifying and evaluating the use of logic and reason in arguments.
Developing the verbal skills (pace, tone, volume) required to deliver a compelling oral presentation.
Understanding the role of body language, gestures, and eye contact in public speaking.
Learning to tailor a message and delivery style to suit different audiences and rhetorical purposes.
Students learn to acknowledge opposing viewpoints and construct effective rebuttals.
Crafting compelling introductions that state a clear claim and conclusions that summarize and leave an impact.
Deconstructing advertisements to identify rhetorical appeals and persuasive strategies.
Developing skills for respectful and effective participation in debates and group discussions.
Interpreting the persuasive messages and satirical elements in political cartoons.
04Poetic Echoes: Meaning Through Metaphor
An exploration of poetry and figurative language as tools for expressing complex emotions and observations.
Identifying and interpreting metaphors and similes in various poetic forms.
Exploring personification and hyperbole as tools for vivid description and emphasis in poetry.
Analyzing how poets use specific imagery to evoke physical sensations and create vivid mental pictures.
Analyzing how alliteration and assonance contribute to the musicality and impact of a poem.
Identifying different rhyme schemes and understanding how meter contributes to a poem's rhythm.
Exploring the characteristics and expressive potential of different poetic forms like haiku and free verse.
Discovering universal themes within classic and contemporary poetry.
Interpreting recurring symbols within poetry and understanding their cultural significance.
Developing skills to perform poetry aloud, conveying its meaning and emotion through vocal expression.
Students write original poems, focusing on using figurative language to express complex emotions.
Exploring the relationship between poetic expression and other art forms, such as visual art and music.