Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: September Topic: Surface Tension / Scientific Method Page 1 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
What is the Scientific Method? How does the Scientific Method guide scientists to solve problems? What is Surface Tension? Can you create a square bubble? Can a paper clip float? Water on wax Paper Pepper and soap How many drops of water fit on a penny? MST: Building Boats	Hypothesis Materials Procedure Observations Conclusions Surface Tension Adhesion Weight Distribution Barge	Drop of Water by Walter Wick Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.iit.edu/~smile/ch9406.html http://www.iit.edu/~smile/ch9215.html http://www.wgby.org/edu/lessonplans /ntti/archive/water.html Possible Science Trips To Consider: None Pipe Cleaners – Paper Clips – Pennies – Wax Paper – Soap – Pepper – Bubble Solutions – Toothpicks – Droppers – Paper Towels – Aluminum Foil – (Boat Building Materials)	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: September / October Topic: Chemistry (Structure of Matter) Page 2 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
What is matter? What is the difference between a physical and chemical change? How is matter classified? Is Air Matter? Frosty Can Atom Models Molecule Models	Matter Physical Properties Chemical Properties Physical Changes Chemical Changes Atoms Elements Molecules Periodic Table States of Matter	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.sweethaven.com/ chemele/pertab01.html http://www.iit.edu/~smile/cheminde.html http://www.webelements.com/ http://www.howe.k12.ok.us/~jimaskew /pclasify.htm Possible Science Trips To Consider: None Periodic Tables – Gumdrops – Toothpicks – Tin Cans – Salt – Ice – Newspaper - Balloons	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: November Topic: Chemistry (Chemical Reactions) Page 3 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
What is the difference between compounds and mixtures? What is a chemical reaction? How do acids and bases differ? Vinegar and Baking Soda Hydrogen Peroxide and Potato Steel Wool Test Solutions (Litmus Paper) Scientific Equipment Vinegar and Egg Independent Chemistry Project	Compounds Mixtures Chemical Formulas Chemical Equations Chemical Reactions Acids Bases pH	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.chem4kids.com/files /react_equilib.html Possible Science Trips To Consider: None Vinegar – Baking Soda – Hydrogen Peroxide – Egg –Litmus Paper – pH Indicator – Potato – Steel Wool	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: December Topic: Plate Tectonics (Earth Science) Page 4 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
How have the continents changed positions? How is continental movement explained by plate tectonics? How does plate tectonics explain earthquakes and volcanoes? Pangaea Model Plate Tectonics Model Model of Sea Floor Spreading	Inner Core Outer Core Mantle Crust Pangaea Tectonic Plate Spreading Boundary Fracture Boundary Colliding Boundary Fault Earthquake Volcano	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Software Collection Web Sites: http://www.nyelabs.com/billnye.html http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/ volcanoes.html http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/ http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/~pgore/ geology/geo101/weather.htm Possible Science Trips To Consider: BOCES: Outdoor Education American Museum of Natural History Toast – Basin - Soil	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: January / February Topic: Biology Page 5 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
What are the major body systems and how do they function? What are the building blocks of living things? How do scientists investigate living things? Structure of a Cell Group Research on Body Systems Cow Heart Dissection Parts of a Microscope Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells	Cells Blood Vessels Nucleus Cytoplasm Cell Membranes Chromosomes Genes DNA Body Systems: Respiratory, Circulatory, Digestive, Endocrine, Nervous, Immune, Reproductive, Excretory Organs Tissues	Text Book Great Body Shop Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.cellsalive.com/ http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us /mjvl/biology /microscope/microscope.htm http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/ http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/ animcell.htm Possible Science Trips To Consider: Dolan DNA Lab – Cold Spring Harbor Cow Hearts – Rubber Gloves – Microscopes – Stained and Blank Slides	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: February / March Topic: Physics (Gravity & Motion) Page 6 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
How is energy transferred? What are the common forces? What are the different patterns of motions of objects? How do forces affect motion? Air Resistance Weightlessness Physics With Toys Marbles and Rulers Newton’s Cradles	Weight Mass Gravity Newton’s Laws Friction Force Kinds of Motion Inertia Potential Energy Kinetic Energy	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/ similesandmetaphors/index.weml http://www.learner.org/exhibits/ parkphysics/coaster/ Possible Science Trips To Consider: New York Hall of Science (Physics Playground) Amusement Parks Marbles – Rulers – Newton’s Cradles Yo-yo’s – Spinners – Slinky – Paper Cup - Buckets	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: April Topic: Physics (Light and Sound) Page 7 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
How do light and sound travel through space? Observing Water Waves Measuring Angles of Reflected Rays Exploring Light and Reflection Refraction of Light Through Lenses	Light Waves Sound Waves Prisms Frequency Amplitude Crest Trough Reflection Refractions Lens Convex Concave	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/ InventorsToolbox.html http://ericir.syr.edu/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi /Science/Physics http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo /GadgetAnatomy.html http://www.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3 /spotlight3.html http://www.enchantedlearning.com/physics /machines/Levers.shtml http://www.newman.ac.uk/ ~k.james.smith/index.html http://www.opticalres.com/kidoptx.html Possible Science Trips To Consider: New York Hall of Science (Physics Playground) Amusement Parks Mirrors – Lenses – Prisms – Flashlight Slinky – Comb – Protractor – Clear Cup Pencils	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects

Sixth Grade – Science Curriculum Map School: Howell Road School

Month: May /June Topic: Biomes Page 8 of 8

Essential Questions & Content Understandings	Vocabulary Concepts and Skills	Materials and Resources	Assessments
How do living things adapt to changes in their environment? How does energy flow through a community? How do materials cycle through ecosystems? What are the features of land and water biomes? Make a Food Chain Water Cycle Kit Adaptation Project Cooperative Grouping Creating an Estuary World in a Jar	Food Chain Food Web Eco-Systems Pollution Environmental Changes Water Cycle	Text Book Trade Books – Guided Reading Various Articles Various Lab Activities Video Collection Web Sites: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/ dam/challenge/index.html http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/ Laboratory/Biome/ http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org /world_biomes.htm http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/rivers/ Possible Science Trips To Consider: Sands Point Preserve Jars – Peanuts – Soil – Water Cycle Model - Cord	Lab Sheets Lab Reports Student Participation Various Independent Projects