Science (Grade 6)

Student Learnings: What students should know and be able to do

Conduct a controlled experiment

• Given a topic, use relevant information to generate a hypothesis or frame a question.
  
• Define the control(s), variable and sample size (or number of repetitions).
  
• Set up a method to test the hypothesis.
  
• Determine how to record and organize data.
  
• Conduct experiment and record data.
  
• Analyze data and evaluate hypotheses.
  
• Identify areas for further investigation.
  

Gather information from direct observations

• Frame a question
• Collect and record data
  
• Display data in appropriate format (e.g., graphs, charts, diagrams).
  
• Look for patterns in observable data.
  
• Relate findings to new situations or large group findings.
  
• Answer question or present a position using data.
  
• Identify areas for further investigation.
  

Understand the fundamental laws and concepts of the physical world, earth systems, and living systems

• Scientific Method/Thinking:
  • Safety
    
  • Nature of science
    
  • Inquiry scientific methods
    
  • Observation/inference
    
  • Qualitative/quantitative observations
    
  • Organizing and analyzing data
    
  • Communication of results
    
• Living Characteristics and Cells:
  • Life processes/characteristics
    
  • Basic cell structure
    
  • Types of cells
• Animal Behavior:
  • Responses to stimuli
    
  • Instinctive/learned behavior
    
  • Communication
• Electricity and Magnetism:
  • Static electricity
    
  • Electrical currents
    
  • Electrical circuits
    
  • Magnetic properties
    
• Chemical Building Blocks (Introduction to Matter):
  • Chemical and physical properties and changes
    
  • Introduction to the Periodic Table
    
  • States of matter
  • The Atom
    
  • Metric System

   

Instructional resources used for this curriculum:

Copyright 2002, Prentice Hall Publishing
Science Explorer Series: Cells & Heredity; Animals; Electricity & Magnetism;
Chemical Building Blocks