Science – 6th Grade

COURSE OVERVIEW

The sixth grade Science curriculum consists of the implementation of thematic units through the incorporation of instructional lessons, cooperative learning activities, scientific experiments, and individualized projects allowing students to build advanced critical thinking skills through scientific concepts/skills and to learn about the world around them-past, present, and future- through life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences. The scientific areas of focus are earth science, astronomy, physics, and chemistry. 

The students will be able to:

• demonstrate an ability to utilize the Scientific Method
• utilize appropriate process skills to carry out an experiment
• embrace use of technology to record and communicate procedures and results
• verbalize ways in which science process skills are used not only in laboratory conditions, but also in everyday life.
• identify the various forms of energy
• explain energy conversions
• identify and create basic types of circuits
• identify and model examples of short circuits
• understand the relationship amongst volts, watts, and amps
• recognize the properties of magnets
• describe the Earth as a giant magnet due to its polarity
• understand that light travels in waves
• describe the components of the electromagnetic spectrum
• list the colors of the visible light spectrum
• understand how color affects absorption and reflection
• identify and describe how light can be reflected,  absorbed,  and/or transmitted
• distinguish amongst transparent,  translucent,  and opaque
• explain what occurs when light is reflected off rough and smooth surfaces
• define and demonstrate refraction
• identify and examine concave and convex lenses and mirrors
• distinguish between a real and virtual image
• distinguish between mobile and stationary robots and provide uses for each
• utilize formulas to calculate necessary information for successful robotic operations
• utilize hardware and software to manipulate various sensors
• work productively in a cooperative

• provide details of theories of Earth’s movement over time
• describe factual evidence to support sea-floor spreading and Plate Tectonics Theory
• differentiate amongst the three major types of volcanoes
• identify and describe types of earthquake faults
• identify and describe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes

• identify, label, and describe the major components that make up the male and female reproductive system
• distinguish between actions that are risk behaviors for HIV transmission and those that do not transmit the virus
• diagram healthy T-cells vs. T-cells infected with the HIV virus
• utilize Punnett squares to determine the offspring of plants and animals
• trace the beginning studies of genetics by researching facts and information related to Gregor Mendel

Science Process Skills

•  Observation lesson using bubbles
•  Data gathering using The Bouncy Ball Lab
•  Communication using Excel to graph lab results
•  Observing and Details using the Apple Activity
•  Use of dichotomy keys

Electricity and Magnetism

• Creating series circuits
• Creating parallel circuits
• Wiring switch into a circuit
• Identifying short circuits
• Energy transformations
• Creating schematic diagrams using flashlights
• Effects of a magnetic field
• Earth as a magnet

Using Light and Color

• Luminous vs. Non-luminous objects
• Identifying colors by wavelength
• The electromagnetic spectrum
• Wavelength vs. frequency
• Light travels in straight lines
• Light covers larger areas as it gets further from its source
• Translucent-Transparent-Opaque objects cause light to behave differently
• Use of colored lenses
• Concave and Convex mirrors
• Concave and Convex lenses

Robotics

• Creating robots using printed directions and diagrams
• Forward and Reverse movements
• Moving a specific measured distance
• Making different types of turns
• Using sensors to accomplish robotic tasks
• Using formulas to calculate movements
• Measuring diameter/circumference/radius of wheels

Catastrophic Events

• Theories over time
• Sea-floor spreading and Plate Tectonics Theory
• Evidence of Pangaea and its separation
• Types of volcanoes
• Active/Dormant/Extinct volcanoes
• Identifying types of earthquake faults
• Thunderstorms, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes

AIDS Education / Human Body / Genetics

• What HIV and AIDS acronyms represent
• How HIV enters the immune system and attacks T-cells
• Ways that the HIV virus can and cannot be transmitted amongst humans
• Activities that help keep the human body safe and healthy
• How to use Punnett squares to determine the offspring of living things (plants and animals)
• How genes/chromosomes determine human traits / Inheritance
• Mitosis and Meiosis
• How Genetic Studies began with Gregor Mendel