Grade 6

Marking Period

MSU course

1

September – November

1. Science practice and materials. Students will do and activity “Oobleck –what scientists do?” Oobleck is a green, oozy substance (from “outer space,” in this fictional account) that both begs and eludes description as it initiates students in the nature of inquiry and definition and sparks vigorous debate about its properties.

2.Student study energy transfer by constructing a Windmill. They will learn the fundamental parts, how different rotor designs affect performance, and how energy is transferred from wind into usable mechanical energy.

2

November – January

1.Students explore and deepen their understanding of many aspects of the “sandy shore,” from grains of sand to commonly found animals to more complex biological and ecological interactions. Cooperative activities include Beach Bucket Scavenger Hunt, Build a Sandy Beach, and Oil on the Beach. The unit includes artwork depicting many animals and plants.

2.Students begin the lead activity described below

3

February – April

1.Lead-Quest – this web quest starts with sick cats and a large fish kill – students determine the causes of ill felines, a puppy and a rabitt. There are also dead swans and a large fish kill. They examine: lead levels and availability to animals in the environment; bio-assays; water chemistry, survival of aquatic organisms and food web interactions.

4

April – June

1.Students learn about the Earth, gravity, and astronomy. Sections focus on the shape of the Earth and gravity; moon phases and eclipses; and the stars. In activities that involve real-world sky gazing, students observe and record changes in the sky and create models to explain their observations.

2.Students make meteorological measurements at their school; learn to make video forecasts for school events.

3.Students do acid-rain web quest – to investigate the causes and effects of acid rain on structures, vegetation, fish and people. They will make pH measurements, create “fake lakes “and suggest solutions to this problem.