The MECCA Business Learning Institute (MBLI) Public Charter School

Welcome to the MECCA Business Learning Institute’s (MBLI) Curriculum Details page! Here, students experience an education designed to empower them with knowledge, skills, and real-world insights that will set them on the path to success. Our curriculum aligns with Maryland and national standards, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive education grounded in academic rigor and practical application.

6th Grade English Language Arts Curriculum

Overview
Our English Language Arts curriculum builds literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills aligned with the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards. Through reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities, students explore diverse themes, analyze texts, and develop their ability to express ideas effectively.

Curriculum Highlights

• Quarter 1: Childhood and Personal Narratives
  Standards: RL.6.1 and W.6.3
  Focus: Students explore themes of growing up and write personal narratives about meaningful experiences.
  Sample Activity: Students write a personal narrative based on a significant childhood event, crafting characters and setting to reflect personal growth.

• Quarter 2: Human-Animal Connections
  Standards: RI.6.1 and W.6.2
  Focus: Students investigate human-animal relationships, using informational texts to conduct research.
  Sample Activity: Students complete a research project on animal welfare, creating an explanatory essay based on their findings.

• Quarter 3: Technology in Society
  Standards: RI.6.8 and W.6.1
  Focus: This unit explores the impact of technology, teaching students to evaluate arguments and construct their own.
  Sample Activity: Students debate the positive and negative effects of technology, supporting their arguments with evidence.

• Quarter 4: Imagination and Storytelling
  Standards: RL.6.3 and W.6.3
  Focus: Students dive into creative writing through fiction, learning to develop plot and character.
  Sample Activity: Students write and present short stories, focusing on plot structure, character development, and theme.

6th Grade Math Curriculum

Overview
MBLI’s Math curriculum integrates foundational math skills with business applications, making learning relevant and practical. Aligned with Maryland State Math Standards, the curriculum covers ratios, geometry, algebraic thinking, and data analysis.

Curriculum Highlights

• Quarter 1: Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages
  Standards: 6.RP.A.1 and 6.RP.A.3
  Focus: Students explore ratios and percentages, applying them to business contexts like budgeting and pricing.
  Sample Activity: Students create a business budget, calculating percentages to manage expenses, savings, and profits.

• Quarter 2: Number Systems and Business Operations
  Standards: 6.NS.B.2 and 6.NS.A.1
  Focus: Emphasis on operations with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions to understand business finances.
  Sample Activity: Students run a class store, managing revenue, profit, and expenses while practicing decimals and fractions.

• Quarter 3: Geometry and Measurement
  Standards: 6.G.A.1 and 6.G.A.4
  Focus: Students learn about area, perimeter, and volume, applying them to product design and packaging.
  Sample Activity: Students design packaging using nets, calculating surface area and dimensions for effective product displays.

• Quarter 4: Algebraic Thinking and Data Analysis
  Standards: 6.EE.B.6 and 6.SP.B.5
  Focus: Students develop algebraic thinking and data analysis skills, applying them to real-world scenarios.
  Sample Activity: Students analyze sales data to calculate mean, median, and mode, supporting business insights.

6th Grade Science Curriculum

Overview
The MBLI science curriculum emphasizes inquiry and hands-on learning. Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), it covers Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Curriculum Highlights

• Quarter 1: Foundations of Science and Engineering
  Standards: MS-ETS1-1 and MS-PS1-1
  Focus: Students learn lab safety, scientific inquiry, and basic engineering design.
  Sample Activity: Students participate in the "Paper Airplane Challenge," applying engineering principles to improve their designs.

• Quarter 2: Matter, Energy, and Earth’s Systems
  Standards: MS-PS1-4 and MS-ESS2-1
  Focus: Emphasis on properties of matter, energy transformations, and Earth’s systems.
  Sample Activity: In the "State Change Lab," students explore how thermal energy affects states of matter.

• Quarter 3: Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Human Impact
  Standards: MS-LS2-3 and MS-ESS3-4
  Focus: Students investigate ecosystems and the importance of sustainable practices.
  Sample Activity: Students design "Conservation Proposals" to address local environmental issues.

• Quarter 4: Advanced Physical Science and Engineering
  Standards: MS-PS3-5 and MS-ETS1-4
  Focus: Principles of energy transformation, matter, and engineering applications.
  Sample Activity: Students conduct an "Energy Audit" of classroom resources, learning about energy conservation.

6th Grade Social Studies Curriculum

Overview
The Social Studies curriculum combines history, geography, and economics, focusing on global cultures and the economic impact of resources. Aligned with Maryland Social Studies Standards, it provides students with a deep understanding of world societies and economic principles.

Curriculum Highlights

• Quarter 1: Geography, Government, and Economics
  Standards: 3.0 – Geography, 1.0 – Civics, and 3.0 – Economics
  Focus: Students learn the themes of geography and types of government and economic systems.
  Sample Activity: Mapping Activity where students explore human-environment interactions across different regions.

• Quarter 2: Asia - Resources, Trade, and Technological Influence
  Standards: 3.0 – Geography and 1.0 – History
  Focus: Examines Asia’s cultural and economic development, including the Silk Road.
  Sample Activity: "Trade Simulation" where students role-play as Silk Road traders, understanding cultural exchange and economic growth.

• Quarter 3: Europe - Cultural and Economic Impact of Historical Events
  Standards: 1.0 – History and 3.0 – Geography
  Focus: Explores European history and how geography influenced historical events.
  Sample Activity: Viking Longship Design Study, where students design ships and learn about exploration and trade.

• Quarter 4: Africa - Resource Utilization and Cultural Influence
  Standards: 2.0 – Culture and 5.0 – Economics
  Focus: Emphasizes Africa’s empires, resources, and cultural exports.
  Sample Activity: "African Music Analysis Project," where students research the global influence of African music.

6th Grade Business Curriculum

Overview
Our Business curriculum provides students foundational knowledge in personal finance, economics, entrepreneurship, and technology. It aligns with the Maryland State Financial Literacy Standards (MSFLS) and National Business Education Association (NBEA) Standards, emphasizing practical applications and career readiness.

Curriculum Highlights

• Quarter 1: Foundations of Money and Personal Finance
  Standards: MSFLS Standard 1 and Standard 2
  Focus: Basics of financial literacy, including budgeting and goal-setting.
  Sample Activity: Students create a mock personal budget to practice financial decision-making.

• Quarter 2: Introduction to Economics and Entrepreneurship
  Standards: MSFLS Standard 3 and Standard 4
  Focus: Introduction to economic principles and entrepreneurship basics.
  Sample Activity: "Mini Shark Tank" where students develop and pitch business ideas to their classmates.

• Quarter 3: Financial Institutions and Career Exploration
  Standards: MSFLS Standard 5 and NBEA Career Development Standards
  Focus: Covers banking basics and career exploration.
  Sample Activity: "Banking Basics Simulation" where students learn about savings, interest, and financial services.

• Quarter 4: Business Technology Skills and Capstone Project
  Standards: NBEA Technology and Communication Standards and MSFLS Standard 6
  Focus: Development of technology skills and completion of a capstone business project.
  Sample Activity: Students work in teams to develop a business idea, apply budgeting, market research, and data analysis, and present it to a panel.

MBLI’s curriculum goes beyond textbooks, combining standards-aligned instruction with interactive, hands-on activities to make learning engaging and relevant. These sample activities represent just a glimpse of the dynamic experiences awaiting students—activities that are designed to inspire, educate, and prepare them for a successful future.

*Note: Curriculum details