6th+grade+Science+Curriculum+Map

Curriculum Map

Throughout the School Year

Essential Learnings EL 1 Students will apply science inquiry processes to solve problems, make predictions, conduct experiments, and explain observations (Ongoing)

Units

__What is Science - Scientific Measurements - Tools of Science - Scientific Inquiry__ Science Standards: 1:1-1:6, 5:1, 5:4


 * Topics: What is Science, What is Earth Science, Using the Metric System, & Steps of Scientific Inquiry
 * In Class Activities: 1) Keeping a Science Journal: Observations, Inferences, Predictions, etc., and, 2) "Confection Connections" & "Penny Observations" activities
 * Labs: Measuring Mass & Volume, Determining Density

September - December

Essential Learnings EL 2 Students will identify, compare, and predict how Earth's surface changes over time

Units

__Geology; Textbook = Prentice Hall "Inside Earth"__ Science Standards: 1:1-1:5, 4:1-4:6, 5:2, 5: 3, 5:4, 5:5


 * Topics: Layers of the Earth; Theories/Observations of How the Earth gets its Form; Earthquakes & Volcanoes; Rocks & Minerals; The Rock Cycle
 * InClass Activities: 1) Modeling the Earth's Interior & Exterior, 2) Examining Rock Layers Around MSMS, 3) Demonstrating Plate Movements and Landform Features that Result, Computer simulations of Earthquakes & Volcanoes; 4) Identification & Classification of Rocks & Minerals
 * Labs: 3 Types of Heat Transfer Using Sand, Air, & Water; Mapping Locations of Earthquakes & Volcanoes; Identification & Classifications of Rocks/Minerals around MSMS

January - March

Essential Learnings EL 3 Students will identify how atmospheric changes and interactions create weather EL 4 Students will identify & judge various ways humans interact & affect the environment EL 6 Students will explore their own model of the water cycle including how it affects oceans, glaciers, rivers, groundwater, drinking water, and the atmosphere

Units

Meteorology = Water Cycle, Weather, & Climate; Textbook = Prentice Hall "Weather & Climate" Science Standards: 1:1-1-5, 4:7-4:12, 5:1-5:5

Topics: Properties of Water; Changing States of Water; Water Cycle Steps; Atmospheric Composition; Energy Changes in the Atmosphere; Air Masses & Fronts; Predicting the Weather; Climate patterns, regions, and global changes; Seasons InClass Activities: 1) Computer and/or Student-created simulation of the Water Cycle, 2) Measuring atmospheric changes, 3) Computer simulations of Air Masses, Fronts, and Storms That Result, 4) Reading/Creating Weather Maps, 5) Debate about global climate changes Labs:

April - May

Essential Learnings EL 5 Students will explore the interactions and connections within our Solar System & Universe

Units

Astronomy; Textbook = Prentice Hall "Astronomy" Science Standards: 1:1-1:5, 4:13-4:16, 5:1-5:5

Topics: Sun, Earth, & Moon Relationships; Seasons, Eclipses, & Tides; Planets, Moons, & Asteriods of the Solar System; Space Exploration InClass Activities: 1) 4 Investigations Rotations, 2) Computer simulations of motions & orbits of bodies in space, 3) Building Stratoblaster Rockets