6

toc =Sixth Grade Course Description= In this course, the focus will be on scientific inquiry, hands-on-activities through multi-sensory methods, student-to-student interactions, discourse and reflective thinking, reading, and research. Students will develop the skills of observation, comparison, communication, and inference. Students will explore physical science units: Measurement and Graphing, Force and Motion, Electronics, and Chemical Interactions.

=Vocabulary=

= Concept Maps =

=Topic List=

Measurement, Graphing & Scientific Process
In this unit the first focus will be on using appropriate graphs to present the data gathered including the use of mean, median and mode. The second focus will be on measurement tools and equipment including developing the skills to competently use them whenever the situation requires them. The third focus will be the implementation of the scientific method and written reports of scientific results.


 * Graphing and data (pie/circle - for graphing parts of a whole, bar/column - comparison, line - data over time and trends)
 * Mean, Median, Mode, Range
 * Linear Measurement (ruler; mm ---> km)
 * Mass (triple-beam balance; mg ---> kg)
 * Area & Volume (graduated cylinder; displacement & formula methods)
 * Temperature (thermometer; °Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin)
 * Additional Lab Equipment (beakers, flasks, Bunsen burner, etc.)
 * Lab Safety
 * Chemical Interactions
 * Mystery Mixtures (analyze & identify substances by properties)
 * Elements
 * Particles
 * Kinetic Energy
 * Energy Transfer (hot ---> cold)
 * Three Phases/States of Matter

Forces and Motion
Students observe how forces make things move, or make things change their motion. The two natural forces students will examine are the force of gravity and electromagnetic force. Students will begin to uncover explanations for why things work in the ways we expect them to work.


 * Change of Position (motion, d = xf-xi)
 * Speed (v = d/Δt)
 * Comparing Speeds (speed slope graphs)
 * Acceleration (a = Δ//v///Δt)
 * Force (push & pull, Newtons)
 * Newton's Law's of Motion
 * Friction (static, fluid, rolling, sliding)
 * Gravity
 * Momentum (p = m//v//)

Electronics
Students observe how forces make things move, or make things change their motion. The two natural forces students will examine are the force of gravity and electromagnetic force. Students will begin to uncover explanations for why things work in the ways we expect them to work.


 * Electromagnetism *
 * Forms of Energy (electrical, mechanical, light, heat)
 * Uses of Electricity
 * Schematic Diagrams
 * Resistors
 * Ohm's Law (V = IR)
 * Electronics Dissection (taking apart different electronic devices to study components)

__ ** Notes: ** __ *Non-essential subtopic *May be covered in a non-essential mini-unit on Energy and Equilibrium at the beginning of the year to introduce overarching themes.