For students: the Important Files (documents and power points) are located at the bottom of the page
Overview of 6th Grade Science
GOALS: In general there are four goals for 6th grade science: 1. to develop scientific inquiry skills, 2. to learn about the layers of Earth, plate tectonics and the effects of plate movement on Earth, 3. to learn about rocks and minerals and their role in weathering and erosion, 4. to learn about the definition of matter and its states, changes, and its tools and units that allow us to measure it, and 5. to learn about forces and motion with applicaiton of math skills of calculations and graphing.
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND LABS: In the beginning of the year, 6th grade becomes introduced to the process of scientific inquiry. They learn what it means to be a scientist and begin to learn scientific skills such as asking scientific questions, forming a hypothesis, identifying variables, making observations and collecting data, analyzing data, and making inferences while drawing conclusions about their data. They then apply these skills in labs that are performed throughout the year. In labs, a question is posed about content we are covering in Earth, Life, or Physical science. PREPARATION is big emphasis, for the students must read and summarize the experimental procedures the day before the lab. Students must also complete the pre-lab or they will not be allowed to participate in the lab. Mature conduct is expected during labs. Lab reports are due the next class after a lab. Students may discuss their answers in their groups but they may never copy word for word another student's answer. Lab reports are a large grade, slightly smaller than a test grade. During last trimester, students pose a scientific question regarding one topic we leanred in class so far this year, and perform an experiment on their own, collect data, draw conclusions, and present their findings to the class as an end-of-the-year project.
EARTH SCIENCE: We begin the year studying about the wonders of Earth-- how the land and continents are constantly changing and in motion. We study plate tectonics and their effects such as continental drift, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. We study what minerals and rocks are, their properties, and how they are related. We study how the processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition work together to form many of Earth's features we see today and make predictions of how these features will change in the future! Finally, we take a look at Earth's natrual resources and why they are important.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Physical science begins by introducing matter--how it is measured and how it is arranged in its different states. Math is integrated into this unit since we use tools to help us calculate volume, mass, and density of solids and liquids. We then study forces-- what they are, how they are measured, and how they are diagrammed. We then delve into different types of forces-- in particular friction and gravity. We continue the topic of forces by exploring applications of motion, speed, and velocity. The unit ends with the study of Newton's Laws of Motion and their applications. Graphing skills are practiced and emphasized as we learn to graph and display the data collected during experiments for various situations involving forces and measurements of matter.
LIFE SCIENCE: We touch on life science at the end of the year but do not study this branch of science in depth because we will study it all year in 7th grade. However, the idea of cells and cell discovery is introduced as well as the classification of living things.
SETUP OF CLASS: Students will take notes in a graphic organizer or outline form. This may be from PowerPoint, overhead, or discussion. There will be at least one or two quizzes per section in the text. Homework will be work with the vocabulary, workbook, or other questions/handouts. There will be a lab at least once a chapter for which the students complete a lab report.
Important Files
13.1 What is Matter? Power Point 13.1-Matter-and-its-Properties.ppt
13.2 States of Matter13.2-Changes-of-State.ppt
Directions for Final Lab Report Project Order-of-Components-for-Formal-Lab-Report.doc
15.3 Motion Power Point 15.3-Motion-PP.ppt