Download Forest Ridge School District 142 Science Overview Grade: Sixth

Forest Ridge School District 142
Science Overview
Grade: Sixth Grade
Unifying Theme: Energy Transfer
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: What is energy? How can we investigate the transfer of energy within and
between systems?
Scientific Inquiry
Engineering
The Nature of
Science
Habits of Mind
Life Science
Ecosystems
Flow of Energy
Populations
Environments
Natural Resources
Scientific Inquiry
Scientific inquiry is a
dynamic process that is not
limited to one scientific
method.
An ecosystem is
composed of all
populations living
together and the
physical factors
with which they
interact.
Energy cannot be
created or
destroyed, but
only changed from
one form to
another.
Populations are
categorized by
the function they
serve in an
ecosystem, they
interact with each
other in several
ways, which may
be competitive or
mutually
beneficial.
As one system
absorbs energy,
another system
releases energy
until a state of
equilibrium is
established. When
energy leaves one
system it is
transferred into
another system.
Sun is the
primary source of
energy in the
ecosystem.
Sunlight is
transferred by
producers
through out an
ecosystem. That
energy passes
from organism to
organism through
food webs.
Energy in the form
of heat (thermal),
light, electricity,
mechanical,
motion, sound,
radiant and
nuclear energy, is
a property
associated with
most substances.
Energy is
transferred in
many ways.
Matter is
transferred in and
amongst
organisms in an
ecosystem.
Waves can explain
how light and
sound behave.
Inquiry engages learners in
asking scientifically
oriented questions,
gathering and prioritizing
evidence, formulating
explanations, making
connections to scientific
knowledge and
communicating and
justifying explanations.
Engineering
Design systems have
interacting parts that can
be analyzed by
investigating the
complexity of inputs and
outputs and their
relationship to the
feedback loop.
Technological
design/engineering is a
dynamic problem-solving
process that engages
designers in proposing
solutions, testing,
analyzing and modifying
designs.
The Nature of Science
IL Standards 13A & B
Science is an imaginative
endeavor that is subject to
modification as new
information challenges
current theories. It
involves the collection of
data, the use of logical
reasoning, argumentation
and the devising of
hypotheses and
Physical Science
Sound & Light
Frontiers of
Science &
Technology
Earth/Space
Science
Universe
Frontiers of Science &
Technology
The earth is the third
planet from the sun
in a system that
includes the moon,
the sun, seven other
planets and their
moons, and smaller
objects, such as
asteroids and
comets. The sun, an
average star is the
central and largest
body in the solar
system.
Most objects in the
solar system are in
regular and
predictable motion.
Those motions
explain such
phenomenon as the
day, the year, phases
of the moon and
eclipses.
Gravity and inertia is
the force that keeps
planets in orbit
around the sun and
governs the rest of
the motion in the
solar system.
The sun is a major
source of energy for
phenomenon on the
earth’s surface such
as, the growth of
Forest Ridge School District 142
explanations informed by
evidence.
Habits of Mind
Scientists keep
honest/unbiased, clear and
accurate records, value
hypotheses and
understand that more than
one explanation can be
given for the same
evidence.
Scientists value the role of
computation and
estimation in their work.
Scientists use a variety of
tools to inform their
observations.
Scientists organize
information using tables,
graphs, diagrams and
symbols.
Scientists question claims
based on vague
attributions and are
skeptical of arguments
based on small data
samples.
Scientists embrace
unexpected results.
Within
environments
organisms with
similar needs may
compete with one
another for
limited resources
including food,
space, water, air
and shelter.
The health of an
ecosystem can be
impacted by
human
interaction. (e.g.
introduction of an
invasive species)
plants, winds, ocean
currents and the
water cycle.
The Universe was
born at a specific
time in the past and
it has been
expanding ever since.