Grade 6 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 math in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- B1 Number Sense: Demonstrate an understanding of numbers and make connections to the way numbers are used in everyday life
- B2 Operations: Use knowledge of numbers and operations to solve mathematical problems encountered in everyday life
- C1 Patterns and Relationships: Identify, describe, extend, create, and make predictions about a variety of patterns, including those found in real-life contexts
- C2 Equations and Inequalities: Demonstrate an understanding of variables, expressions, equalities, and inequalities, and apply this understanding in various contexts
- C3 Coding: Solve problems and create computational representations of mathematical situations using coding concepts and skills
- C4 Mathematical Modelling: Apply the process of mathematical modelling to represent, analyse, make predictions, and provide insight into real-life situations This overall expectation has no specific expectations. Mathematical modelling is an iterative and interconnected process that is applied to various contexts, allowing students to bring in learning from other strands. Students’ demonstration of the process of mathematical modelling, as they apply concepts and skills learned in other strands, is assessed and evaluated. Read more about the mathematical modelling process.
- D1 Data Literacy: Manage, analyse, and use data to make convincing arguments and informed decisions, in various contexts drawn from real life
- D2 Probability: Describe the likelihood that events will happen, and use that information to make predictions
- E1 Geometric and Spatial Reasoning: Describe and represent shape, location, and movement by applying geometric properties and spatial relationships in order to navigate the world around them
- E2 Measurement: Compare, estimate, and determine measurements in various contexts
- F1 Money and Finances: Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions
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
Integers & Decimals
Meeting negative numbers on a number line, comparing and ordering integers, decimals and fractions, working with thousandths, and rounding decimals.
Factors & Primes
Using divisibility rules for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, telling prime from composite, and writing a number as a product of prime factors.
Fractions
Adding and subtracting fractions that have different denominators, and multiplying or dividing whole numbers by fractions such as 2/3.
Decimal × and ÷
Multiplying and dividing decimals, estimating to check where the decimal point goes, and solving shopping and measurement problems.
Percents & Ratios
Finding 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 25% and 50% of a number in your head, and solving ratio, rate and percent problems.
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.
Algebra Moves
Combining like terms such as 3x + 5x, evaluating expressions, and finding values that make an inequality true and showing them on a number line.
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.
Data & Graphs
Telling discrete data (counted) from continuous data (measured), reading histograms and line graphs, finding the range, and spotting misleading graphs.
Probability
Writing probability as a fraction, decimal and percent, and finding the probability of two independent events by multiplying.
Quadrilaterals & Grids
Properties of quadrilaterals (symmetry and diagonals), top and front views, coordinates in all four quadrants, and combining slides and flips.
Transformations
Translating, reflecting and rotating points and shapes on a coordinate grid, and combining two transformations in a row.
Angles, Area & Surface
Converting metric units, finding unknown angles, finding the area of trapezoids, rhombuses and L-shapes, and the surface area of boxes and pyramids.
Money Plans
Comparing ways to pay, setting financial goals, understanding interest and fees, and the difference between trading, lending, borrowing and donating.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- 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 Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 6 child with math?
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.
What does my child learn in Grade 6 math in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 6 math units include integers & decimals, factors & primes, fractions, decimal × and ÷, percents & ratios, patterns & graphs.
Free printable Grade 6 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.