Grade 6 Science Curriculum
Family-facing version of the grade 6 Science curriculum
Goals
The purposes of scientific investigation and discovery are to satisfy humankind’s quest for knowledge and understanding and to preserve and enhance the quality of the human experience. Therefore, as a result of science instruction, students will be able to achieve the following objectives:
- Develop and use an experimental design in scientific inquiry.
- Use the language of science to communicate understanding.
- Investigate phenomena using technology.
- Apply scientific concepts, skills, and processes to everyday experiences.
- Experience the richness and excitement of scientific discovery of the natural world through the collaborative quest for knowledge and understanding.
- Make informed decisions regarding contemporary issues.
- Develop scientific dispositions and habits of mind.
- Develop an understanding of the interrelationship of science with technology, engineering and mathematics.
- Explore science-related careers and interests.
Quarterly Overview of Grade 6 Science
The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.
Units and Details
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that the solar system is organized and the various bodies in the solar system interact.
- Investigate and understand that there is a relationship between the sun, Earth, and the moon.
Students will understand:
- With the development of new technology, our knowledge of the solar system has increased substantially.
- Gravity acts everywhere in the universe and plays a role in its organization.
- The position of Earth in relation to the sun and moon has an impact on life on Earth.
- The solar system consists of many different bodies, each with their own characteristics.
- Models provide a way of visually representing abstract concepts.
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive Full-Time Advanced Academic Services engage with these extensions.
- Understand Earth’s patterns, cycles, changes, and Earth and Space Systems.
- Understand the patterns of various elements within a system and evaluate the interdependence of each element within the system.
- Evaluate scientific discoveries and their impact on modern day society.
- Explain how systems interact with each other.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand the role of solar energy in driving most natural processes within the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and on Earth’s surface.
- Investigate and understand that there are basic sources of energy and that energy can be transformed.
- Investigate and understand that air has properties and that Earth’s atmosphere has structure and is dynamic.
Students will understand:
- The distribution of solar energy throughout the atmosphere and on Earth’s surface causes change in weather and climate.
- The relationships between air pressure, humidity, and temperature drive predictable weather patterns.
- Earth’s atmosphere has a specific composition, but it can be changed by natural and human causes, which impacts weather and climate.
- Weather follows predictable patterns based on scientific evidence, and these patterns impact living things.
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive Full-Time Advanced Academic Services engage with these extensions.
- Understand Earth’s patterns, cycles, changes, and systems.
- Identify a concept or “Big Idea” that supports interdisciplinary connections e.g. change, systems, patterns, relationships, etc. to analyze real-world problems.
- Design, perform, and report on the results of experiments related to a given problem.
- Understand the various patterns within a system and evaluate the interdependence of each element within a system.
- Recognize and describe how natural events and human actions can cause changes in Earth’s atmosphere.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that all matter is composed of atoms.
- Investigate and understand that water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment.
Students will understand:
- The connections between water resources and agriculture, power generation, and public health dictate the need for water conservation.
- Matter is made up of atoms that interact in a predictable way to form all substances in the universe.
- Water has unique chemical properties that make it essential to life.
- Careful and systematic investigations lead to an understanding of the natural world.
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive Full-Time Advanced Academic Services engage with these extensions.
- Understand Earth’s patterns, cycles, changes, and systems.
- Identify a concept or “Big Idea” that supports interdisciplinary connections e.g. change, systems, patterns, relationships, etc. to analyze real-world problems.
- Design, perform, and report on the results of experiments related to a given problem.
- Understand the various patterns within a system and evaluate the interdependence of each element within a system.
- Explain energy efficiency and its role in conservation.
- Understand energy transformations.
- Recognize and describe how natural events and human actions can cause changes in Earth’s atmosphere.
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices.
- Investigate and understand that there are basic sources of energy and that energy can be transformed.
- Investigate and understand that humans impact the environment and individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment.
Students will understand:
- Energy is continuously transferred from one place to another and transformed among various forms.
- There are advantages and disadvantages to using any energy source. These advantages and disadvantages may affect the environment and have economic implications.
- Humans impact the environment and individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment.
- Natural resource management and health and safety issues related to the use of resources should be considered in the development of public policy.
Extended Standards
In addition to the Virginia Standards of Learning above, students who receive Full-Time Advanced Academic Services engage with these extensions.
- Understand ways energy transformations within a system.
- Explain energy efficiency and its role in conservation.
- Analyze various energy sources in terms of safety, cost efficiency, and appearance.
- Analyze changes that occur during energy shifts.
- Analyze the concept of systems by applying cause and effect relationships to other systems.
- Describe strategies that will ensure sufficient and affordable energy.
Assessments
Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.
- Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
- Check for understanding
- Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
- Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for the next steps in instruction.
For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.
In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), grade 3 tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.
