6 th Grade Science

Course Description:

6th grade science takes an integrated phenomena based approach. Students will have the opportunity to explore aspects of each of the scientific domains: Life, Earth and Space, and Physical Science. Each unit within the domains begins by posing a problem which will guide student learning. Specific areas of study include: Light and Matter, Thermal Energy,, Traits and Reproduction, Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate, Weather Patterns, and Earth’s Changing Climate. Additionally, students will develop their skills in the science and engineering practices which include analyzing data, developing models, carrying out investigations, engaging in arguments from evidence, constructing explanations, and evaluating information.

Essential Learning Goals:

Students will develop their skills in the science practices:

• Analyzing data

• Developing models 

• Planning and carrying out investigation

• Using computational thinking

• Engaging in arguments from evidence

• Constructing explanations

• Evaluating information.

Students will deepen their understanding of core science concepts specific to the unit of study:

• Light and Matter: Students will show their understanding of how light behaves when interacting with matter. 

• Thermal Energy: Students will show their understanding of temperature being a measure of the average kinetic energy which increases when objects come in contact with warmer objects and decreases when in contact with cooler objects, depending on each objects’ masses through the use of scientific practices. 

• Traits and Reproduction: Students will learn that genes are inherited randomly from parents and those genes code for proteins which are responsible for the traits we have by using the science practices. 

• Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate: Students will explore how  the average temperature of a location is impacted by its latitude, proximity to water, prevailing winds, and direction of ocean currents, through the use of the science practices. 

• Weather Patterns: Students will be able to show that rain can happen when an air parcel cools enough for water vapor to condense. Factors affecting the amount of rain include how warm the parcel is and how high it rises, which will be shown through the science practices. 

• Earth’s Changing Climate: Students will explain how carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere redirect energy leaving the Earth’s surface back down, and will show rises in carbon dioxide and methane correlate with rises in the Earth’s average temperature through the science practices.

Major Assessments and Success Criteria:

• Each unit of study concludes with an End of The Unit Assessment and a written assessment to gather evidence of student learning

• During the unit progression, students have numerous opportunities to receive feedback on their progress towards developing their skills in the science practices.

Key Course Learning Experiences:

Each unit of study poses a specific problem. Through their exploration of articles, hands-on modeling activities, peer collaboration, virtual simulations, videos, etc., students deepen their understanding of core science principles necessary to understand the phenomena.