6th Grade Science Overview

Course Description:
The theme for Sixth Grade Science is Scale, with Relative Position as an  underlying concept. Sixth graders should begin to relate to the incredible size and distance of objects in the solar system, galaxy, and universe, as well as compare their world to the minuscule scale of microorganisms. Students will also understand how relative position affects such events as the appearance of the moon and the changing of the seasons. Students will experiment with heat, weather patterns, and ecosystems.

Objectives:
• Students will understand that the appearance of the moon changes in a  predictable cycle as it orbits Earth and as Earth rotates on its axis.
• Students will understand how Earth’s tilt on its axis changes the length of  daylight and creates the seasons.
• Students will understand the relationship and attributes of objects in the solar system.
• Students will understand the scale of size, distance between objects, movement, and apparent motion (due to Earth’s rotation) of objects in the universe and how cultures have understood, related to and used these objects in the night sky.
• Students will understand that ecosystems are an essential part of our world.
• Students will understand the attributes of weather patterns.