Course Title: |
Timeline | Unit(s) | Learning Outcomes and Standard Indicators |
Start of School Year - End of August | Nature of Science | All students will… - Examine the characteristics of scientific knowledge and how such knowledge came about.
- Learn how studying science in this way builds scientific literacy (i.e. understanding science concepts and making informed decisions about various issues).
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End of August - Mid September | Science Practices | All students will… - Learn what scientists use to investigate the natural world and to build models/theories that explain natural phenomena.
- Examine how scientists ask questions, analyze data, engage in argument from evidence, and communicate information and results.
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Mid September - Mid October | Ecology (Part I)
Photosynthesis and Energy Flow | All students will… - Explain the process of photosynthesis. (MS-LS1-6)
- Construct an explanation for the role of photosynthesis in the flow of energy into and out of organisms. (MS-LS1-6)
- Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy in an ecosystem. (MS-LS2-3)
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Mid October - Mid November | Ecology (Part II)
Relationships and Interactions | All students will… - Define and give examples of interactions between organisms in an ecosystem, such as competition, predation, or symbiosis. (MS-LS2-2)
- Predict patterns of interactions among organisms. (MS-LS2-2)
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Mid November - End of First Semester | Ecology (Part III)
Impact of change on ecosystems | All students will… - Gather evidence for the effect of resource availability on organisms and populations within ecosystems. (MS-LS2-1)
- Support, using evidence, the argument that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. (MS-LS2-4)
- Evaluate design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecological systems. (MS-LS2-5)
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Start of Second Semester - Mid January | Experimental Design | All students will… - Define words commonly used in experimental design, such as variable, control, and hypothesis.
- Describe the purpose of an experiment and identify steps to undertake while performing an experiment.
- Evaluate example experiments for strengths and weaknesses.
- Design and conduct an experiment under the guidance of the teacher.
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Mid January - Mid February | The Solar System | All students will… - Define gravity as appropriate for a 6th grade level. (MS-ESS1-2)
- Use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions of objects within solar systems and galaxies. (MS-ESS1-2)
- Analyze data collected from a variety of instruments (Earth-based or stellar) to determine the nature of solar system objects. (MS-ESS1-3)
- Compare the size and scale of solar system objects, including such things as surface features and orbital path. (MS-ESS1-3)
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Mid February - Mid March | Earth, Sun and Moon | All students will… - Develop a model showing the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon. (MS-ESS1-1)
- Describe the cyclic patterns of the seasons, lunar phases, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon. (MS-ESS1-1)
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Mid March - Mid April | Waves (Part I)
Characteristics of Waves | All students will… - Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model of a wave. (MS-PS4-1)
- Show how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave. (MS-PS4-1)
- Use models to show how waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. (MS-PS4-2)
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Mid April - End of Second Semester | Waves (Part II)
Waves as Communication | All students will… - Gather scientific and technical information about how waves can be used for communication. (MS-PS4-3)
- Support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to send information than analog signals. (MS-PS4-3)
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Curricular Materials |
Curriculum Resources | Manipulatives/Tools Resources | Internet-Based Resources |
- Lab Aids (previous primary resource)
- McGraw Hill (anticipated future adoption)
- Previously Adopted Workbook Resources
- Previously Adopted Textbook Resources
- Teacher-Made Worksheets & Assessments
- IDOE 6th Grade Science Standards
- IDOE State Resources
| - Lab Materials - Chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, vinegar, other household chemicals, etc)
- Lab Materials - Instruments/Tools (graduated cylinders, pipettes, balances, dissection kit, etc.)
- Classroom Materials - Consumables (pencils, colored pencils, tape, glue, etc.)
- Classroom Materials - Instruments/Tools (rulers, scissors, basic calculators, etc.)
| - YouTube (Science Tutorials)
- YouTube (Science Demonstrations)
- Google Classroom
- Google (Search Engine)
- Google Docs
- Google Sheets
- Google Forms
- Pear Assessments (formerly Edulastic)
- Kahoot
- PhET Simulations (Univ. of Colorado-Boulder)
- BrainPOP
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