Grade 6 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 math in the Newfoundland and Labrador Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number sense and number theory. Students will demonstrate number sense and apply number theory concepts.
- Operation sense. Students will demonstrate operation sense and apply operation principles and procedures in both numeric and algebraic situations.
- Patterns and relationships. Students will explore, recognize, represent and apply patterns and relationships, both informally and formally.
- Measurement. Students will demonstrate an understanding of and apply concepts and skills associated with measurement.
- Spatial sense. Students will demonstrate spatial sense and apply geometric concepts, properties and relationships.
- Data management. Students will solve problems involving the collection, display and analysis of data.
- Probability. Students will represent and solve problems involving uncertainty.
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes.
- Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student.
- Estimate first (the bill, the trip time), then check with a calculator.
- Keep a tricky-problems list and revisit it every few days instead of re-doing everything.
What each unit covers
Thousandths to Billions
Reading, writing, comparing and rounding numbers from thousandths (0.001) up to billions, including multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000.
Facts & Factors
Quick recall of multiplication and division facts, plus factors, multiples and prime numbers, the greatest common factor (GCF) and least common multiple (LCM), and word problems that use them.
Mixed Numbers & Ratios
Switching between improper fractions (like 13/5) and mixed numbers (2 3/5), placing them on a number line, and writing and using ratios such as 3:4 in tables and word problems.
Decimal × and ÷
Multiplying and dividing decimals, estimating to check where the decimal point goes, and solving shopping and measurement problems.
Percents & Budgets
Finding percents of amounts, working out sale prices and savings, comparing unit prices to find the better buy, and planning a simple budget and savings goal.
Patterns & Graphs
Describing growing and shrinking patterns with rules like 3n + 2, using tables and graphs to predict values, and reading change over time from line graphs.
Equations
Using the order of operations (brackets, then × and ÷, then + and −) and solving one-step equations like 6n = 42 with inverse operations, including writing equations for word problems.
Perimeter & Area
Finding the perimeter of L-shapes and other polygons, and the area of triangles (b × h ÷ 2), parallelograms (b × h) and trapezoids ((a + b) × h ÷ 2), including working backwards to a missing measurement.
Angles & Triangles
Estimating and classifying angles (acute, right, obtuse, straight, reflex), finding missing angles on a line and in triangles, and classifying triangles by their sides and angles.
Volume & Capacity
Finding the volume of rectangular prisms, converting between litres and millilitres, and connecting volume to capacity (1 cm³ holds 1 mL).
Transformations
Translating, reflecting and rotating points and shapes on a coordinate grid, and combining two transformations in a row.
Probability
Writing probabilities as fractions for spinners, dice and marbles, comparing theoretical probability with experimental results, and making predictions from data.
Quadrilaterals & Grids
Properties of quadrilaterals (symmetry and diagonals), top and front views, coordinates in all four quadrants, and combining slides and flips.
Line Graphs & Data
Practises choosing ways to collect data (questionnaires, experiments, observations), reading and labelling line graphs, finding the range, and drawing conclusions from a graph.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Not Yet Achieving
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Good
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Excellent
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Newfoundland and Labrador report card guide.
Common questions
Look for fractions, decimals and percentages in sale signs, sports statistics and recipes. Ask your child to explain a problem to you as if you were the student. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Curriculum Grade 6 math units include thousandths to billions, facts & factors, mixed numbers & ratios, decimal × and ÷, percents & budgets, patterns & graphs.
Free printable Grade 6 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.