Reading Materials for 6th ELA, 2022-2023

6th Grade Course Materials (in chronological order by unit)

Primary Textbook and Major Works
Amplify ELA
https://amplify.com/programs/amplify-ela/
I. 1st Term- Narrative Writing Techniques: Creating a moment
“Charles” by Shirley Jackson
The Boy by Roald Dahl
Excerpts from other Dahl texts include: James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory, BFG, The Wish
“The Jacket” by Gary Soto
The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

II. 2nd Term- Analyzing information and Creating an Argument & Mysteries with
Sherlock Holmes
The Secret of the Yellow Death by Suzanne Jurmain
The Speckled Band by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Red- Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
III. 3rd Term- Collecting information and Research, The Chocolate Collection & Greek
Mythology
The Chocolate Collection- by Amplify ( A collection of historical references of the history of
chocolate)
D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths by  Ingri d'Aulaire

Prometheus
Excerpts from The Odyssey by Homer
Arachne
The Story of Daedulus
Common Lit: Theseus & the Minotaur
 Common Lit: Chiron, the Wisest Centaur
Common Lit: The Hero’s Journey
Common Lit: The Story of David & Goliath
Common Lit:Welcome to the Underworld
Common Lit: Athena & Poseidon’s Contest for Athens
Summer of Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Excerpts from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon

Movie Clips from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief movie ( the Cyclops, Aunt Em’s Emporium
Lotus Vegas)

IV. 4th Term: Culminating tasks, Poetry and the Titanic Collection

Sinking of the “ Titanic” Most Appalling Ocean Horror by Jay Henry Mowbray

Excerpts from A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

Excerpt from Women of Children First from Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea disasters

Lessons we can learn from Ted Talks:

“TRY SOMETHING NEW FOR 30 DAYS” BY MATT CUTTS

“HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?” BY LIZZIE VELASQUEZ

 “THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY” BY BRENÉ BROWN

“THE NERD’S GUIDE TO LEARNING EVERYTHING ONLINE” BY JOHN GREEN

“THE FRINGE BENEFITS OF FAILURE” BY J.K. ROWLING

“WEIRD, OR JUST DIFFERENT?” BY DEREK SIVERS

“INSIDE THE MIND OF A MASTER PROCRASTINATOR” BY TIM URBAN

“HOW TO SUCCEED? GET MORE SLEEP” BY ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

 “5 WAYS TO LISTEN BETTER” BY JULIAN TREASURE

“WHERE GOOD IDEAS COME FROM” BY STEVEN JOHNSON

V. Possible supplementary reading for skills and independent learning throughout the year
include:

IXL www.ixl.com
Flocabulary www.flocabulary.com
Readtheory www.readtheory.org

Readworks.org www.ReadWorks.org
Inheritance of Traits
Focus: Understanding How the Brain Works
Malala Yousafzai
Meet the Microbes
Where Do Hummingbirds Get All That Energy?
The Time Camille Stole a Car
In Art Class
Another One Bites the Dust
The Run Series (#1-7 including Alternative Ending)
Buzz Off
Greek Geography & Ancient Greek City States
Ancient Greece-Greek Drama
Malai’s Mission
Killing Fields
Elephant Tales
Debate: Are Zoos Bad News?
A Day at the Zoo
Brave New Zoos
Heart Sick
Bear Care
The Mexican Border and Immigration in the 19th and 20th Centuries
North America – Things You Should Know About Mexico
Aztecs, Incas, & Mayans—The Aztec Empire
 The Aztec Religion
Aztecs, Incas, & Mayans—Tenochtitlan
The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Paul Curtis
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Loser by Jerry Spinelli
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Clips from Love and Bananas documentary

*other texts are available through the online library in Amplify. The library texts are
not prescribed or assigned by teachers unless those texts are listed here.