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Grade 6 Science
The sixth grade science curriculum covers a diverse array of topics across physical science, life science, earth science, and technology/engineering. Students tackle scientific writing and are introduced to writing claims, and providing evidence and reasoning. Students engage in hands-on activities and project-based learning throughout the year. Topics include: waves and digital signals; mixtures and properties of matter; thermal energy and chemical reactions; cells; human body systems’ fossils, evolution, and geologic time; Earth, Moon, and Sun systems and gravitational forces; and the engineering design process.
Unit | Timeframe | Driving Questions | Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
Engineering and Design Processes | 2 weeks (August & September) | How can we use science to solve unique problems? | Students will engage in Engineering and Design practices to design and build a ferris wheel |
Fossils and History of the Earth | 5 weeks (September & October) | How and why has Earth’s crust changed over time?
| Analyze fossil records to determine mass extinctions, rock layers, continent shapes, and plate tectonics Write a claim and provide supporting evidence and reasoning that explains how the continents have moved over time into their current positions |
Evolution | 3 weeks (October) | How have changes to Earth’s environment caused changes in organisms over time? How do anatomical commonalities between modern organisms indicate ancient relationships? | Whale Evolution Investigation: examine how whale fossils have changed over time; draw conclusions from fossil evidence |
Particulate Matter & Density; Mixtures | 4 weeks (November) | How does the space between particles in matter affect the density? How do properties of matter determine how a material is used? What are the best ways to separate mixtures? Solutions? | Calculate density by determining the mass and volume of solids and liquids Separate mixtures using a variety of tools |
Thermal Energy and Chemical Reactions | 3 weeks (December) | What is a chemical reaction? Why do some chemical reactions result in something hot, while others result in something cold? | Investigation exploring types of chemical reactions Thermal pack project: Create a hot or cold pack and pitch the product. |
Waves and Digital Signals | 3 weeks (January) | How do waves move through different media? How is the energy of a wave related to its characteristics? How is information transmitted digitally in today’s world? | Use diagrams to demonstrate properties of waves and how the properties relate to one another. Model waves through different materials |
Earth, Sun & Moon Systems and Gravitational Forces | 6 weeks (End of Jan. to Mid-March) | Where is Earth in the universe? What patterns are caused by the Earth, Sun, and Moon system? What causes changes to gravitational force? | Illustrate the positions of Earth, the Milky Way, and other galaxies Develop and use models to explain lunar phases and eclipses. Use evidence to demonstrate the connections between gravity and mass |
The Cell and its Functions | 4-5 weeks (Mid-March – April) | What does it mean to be a living thing? What are we made of? How does the structure of parts of the cell (organelles) determine how they function? What are the key differences between plant cells and animal cells? | Cell Organelle Diagrams Cell City Project: create a model that compares a cell to a city Mystery Cell Project: observe cell features to determine the kind of cells |
Human Body Systems | 6 weeks (May & June) | How do body systems work together to carry out essential functions of life? | Chicken Wing Dissection: explore the relationship between structure and function |