GALVIN MIDDLE SCHOOL – SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Grade 6 - Physical Science

Course Theme & Essential Question:  Grade 6 Physical Science, based on the disciplines of Physics and Chemistry, is the examination of the physical world around us. The course focuses on the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter and brings together the relationships between matter and the various forms of energy. The study of physical science will allow the student to answer the question, How do the materials, forces, and energies of the physical world affect my life?

Broad Concepts of Physical Science:  Students will understand the basic concepts which comprise the standards of the Massachusetts Frameworks for Physical Science.

·        Properties of Matter, including the Four States of Matter

·        Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures

·        Motion of Objects

·        Forms of Energy

·        Heat Energy

Specific Content:  The specific order of the content varies according to what is happening in the world over time.  That being understood, students will know

·        Ways to differentiate between weight and mass

·        That weight as the gravitational pull on an object’s mass

·        Procedures for measuring mass and volume

·        That the motion of an object can be described by its position, speed, and direction of motion

·        Methods of graphing and interpreting distance vs. time as a constant for speed

·        The difference between potential and kinetic energy

·        That there are more than 100 elements that combine to form compounds

·        That all living and nonliving things are composed of compounds

·        The difference among an atom, a molecule, and a compound

·        Ways to differentiate between mixtures and pure substances

·        Explanations for the effect of heat on molecular motion and changes of state in matter

·        How and why heat is a form of energy

·        The interrelationship between magnetic- and electrical-energy forces

Specific Skills to be Developed:  Over the three years of middle school science, students will develop ever deeper approaches to the following skills.  At the sixth-grade level, students will begin to develop the following skills

·        Apply the scientific method

·        Begin to conduct and design simple experiments for exploratory purposes

·        Develop interpretive and extrapolation skills

·        Analyze and draw conclusions

·        Accurate reporting of scientific data and results through lab reports

·        Integrate science and technology skills

·        Keep an organized notebook

·        Develop independent research skills

·        Convey ideas in an intelligent, sequential, understandable manner

Materials:

·        Concepts and Challenges in Physical Science (3rd ed.),  Globe Fearon, 1998

·        Other teacher-created materials

Teaching Methods:        

·        Laboratory experiments

·        Demonstrations

·        Class discussion

·        Lecture

·        Small group work

·        Independent study

·        Cooperative learning

·        Internet research

·        New scientific/ technology instrumentation

Integration of Technology:

·        PowerPoint will be used for presentation of independent research projects

·        WebQuests used for research

·        Word processing for lab reports

Integration of Writing:

·        Laboratory reports requiring students to analyze data and draw conclusions

·        Open-response test questions requiring analysis, prediction, inference, and conclusions

·        Journal writing

Grading & Assessment:

·        Tests and quizzes consisting of content, open-response, and critical-thinking questions

·        Projects assessed by rubrics

·        Model building

·        Power-point presentations

·        Homework is assigned multiple times per week