Sixth (6th) Grade Science-Core Curriculum Class for First Semester

This semester long, hands-on and interactive class, will provide learners with continuity in classmates. This allows learners to build relationships and collaborate while learning. Class time will be spent engaging in direct instruction with the teacher, demonstrations, hands-on activities and experiments, learner sharing and questioning, projects and group work. I use the Zoom whiteboard feature, the Zoom chat box feature and Zoom break-out rooms*.  My teaching style is relaxed and inclusive. I encourage learner participation and questions. The classroom is 'ours' not 'mine'. Learners will have many opportunities to interact with me and their classmates each week.

Sixth grade science topics taught in this first semester class include:
1. Matter and Its Interactions-Weeks 1-4
2. Motion and Stability:  Forces and Interactions-Weeks 5-6
3. Energy-Weeks 7-12
5. Engineering Design-Incorporated throughout the semester. 

The Next Generation Science Standards (nextgenscience.org) will be used to guide course instruction and ensure learners have the needed skills for second semester and 7th grade. Through the course of the academic year, first and second semester, all Next Generation Science Standards for sixth grade will be taught and practiced. 

In keeping with the Next Generation Science standards, science and engineering practices along with crosscutting concepts will be incorporated as learners participate in class. For example, when learners study matter and its interactions they will create a model to demonstrate complex molecules (engineering). They will research to support and argument as to how matter can change (crosscutting concept). There will be use of reading, writing and math as learners study the standards. 

Specific weekly objectives for this course:

Week 1: Develop an interactive science notebook for class. Engage in beginning of semester activities; set class norms, build community and relationships. 
Week 2:  Engage in an introduction/review on atoms and molecules.
Week 3: Describe simple molecules. Create a model of simple molecules. 
Week 4: Describe complex molecules and how they are different from simple molecules. Create a model of complex molecules. 
Week 5: Conduct experiments to applying Newton’s Third Law to a problem of two colliding objects. The engineering and design process will be used as experiments are conducted. 
Week 6: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object. 
Week 7: Engage in a presentation to gain understanding of kinetic energy.
Week 8: Engage in a presentation to gain understanding of potential energy. 
Week 9: Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy is stored in the system. 
Week 10: Complete model from Week 14 and present models to the class. 
Week 11: Participate in a STEM project to demonstrate understanding of class objectives. 
Week 12: Review motion and energy content covered in class. Celebrate an excellent first semester.

*Notification of break-out room utilization will be provided in advance of the specific class weeks where they will be used.