Grade 6

Physical Science

Physical science topics include forces and motion, energy, and thermal energy. For the forces and motion unit students learn about speed, momentum, balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and Newton’s Laws of Motion. For the energy unit, the focus is on understanding the difference between potential and kinetic energy, identifying the many different forms of energy, and how these many types of energy are a part of our everyday lives. During the thermal energy unit students learn about the three types of heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation), insulators and conductors, and the difference between temperature and heat. 

Life Science

Life Science topics include an introduction to cells as the basic building blocks of life. Students will also learn about marine ecosystems and ocean animals of the Gulf of Maine.  

Earth and Space Science

Earth and space science involves a study of the atmosphere and weather factors. Students learn about the importance of the atmosphere for life on earth. This includes the composition of the atmosphere and air pressure. We also delve into a study of weather factors such as the heating and cooling of earth’s surface, how wind forms, and the factors that affect climate.

Nature of Science and Engineering

Throughout the year we also use science inquiry skills such as making observations and inferences, identifying different variables in a controlled experiment, analyzing data, and making conclusions. Students are also introduced to the engineering design process by doing several STEM challenges. Students work cooperatively to brainstorm and problem solve, and to design and construct a model while given certain criteria and constraints.