Sixth Grade Science
Middle school science is organized into three primary courses that correlate to state standards: Earth/Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Middle school science covers materials typically offered at the sixth to eighth grade level, although parents have the option of choosing a middle school science course if they have students in fourth grade and above. In addition, Nature of Science is provided as an added supplement with each of the middle school courses.
Earth/Space Science Course – Teaches students about Earth’s structure, geologic processes, plate tectonics, oceans and the water cycle, Earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate, our solar system, stars, and galaxies. Students also investigate how the motions of the sun, the moon, and Earth create days, seasons, years, eclipses, phases of the moon, and tides.
Life Science Course – Covers the characteristics of living things, plant and animal cell structures, the characteristics of unicellular and multicellular life, genetics, classification of organisms, the structure and function of human cells tissues organs and organ systems, and the structure and function of plants.
Physical Science Course – Covers chemistry and physics, including physical and chemical changes, atoms and elements, mixtures and solutions, the periodic table, states of matter, motion, gravity, density and buoyancy, energy, heat, the properties of waves, and light.
Nature Of Science Supplement – The Science of Nature materials are supplemental, recommended for use alongside the Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth/Space Science courses. It will be included when parents register for any middle school science course. Nature of science teaches students how to safely and correctly use scientific equipment, take measurements, conduct experiments and investigations, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions, evaluate evidence, and present their work.
