Sixth Grade Science - Solar system
Of course, the state you live in will probably have specific benchmarks that your sixth grader should meet when it comes to a comprehensive science curriculum. One thing that many state and national benchmark lists have in common for sixth grade science is a study of the solar system. Included in this section of science may be a study of the moon, its relationship to the earth, and its influence on our planet. This is a great opportunity to construct models of the moon, the earth, and the sun, and show how and why the moon’s phases appear different at different times of the month. It will be much easier for your student to understand the changes in phase, as well as the difference between solar and lunar eclipses if they can put their hands on models, and manipulate them. Another hands on project to correspond to this study of the moon, earth, and sun, is to have your student observe how the tilt of the earth’s axis effects the number of hours of daylight and darkness through out the yearly seasonal cycle. Your student will need to understand the relative distances and size differences of the planets within our solar system. Order of planets, properties of those planets, and visual recognition of the planets should be studied. When we began to study the solar system, an internet search produced a series of models showing the relative size of the sun to our planets, and then relative size models showing our sun to the stars of other solar systems. The size differences are amazing, and it is really worth making the search to find this series of model pictures. In addition, you can add fun space games, to help reinforce what is being taught.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Sixth grade Science - Life Science
Sixth grade Science - Life Science
Sixth graders generally study a chapter or two on life science. Examples of topics for discussion and study may include biomes and ecosystems. Consider having this be a more hands on activity with posters, graphs, and pictures. Students may study food chains and food webs. This is another opportunity for your student to graphically display what she is learning about. Don’t forget to teach not only the food chain, but what happens if the food chain breaks down. One of my child’s personal favorites in life science is the discussion on producers, consumers, scavengers, and decomposers. As unappealing as the scavengers and decomposers might seem, the science behind them can be quite interesting. Teach the importance of each of the parts to the well being of the whole system. One other thing to consider teaching in the life science section is the life cycles of plants, then parts of a plant, and the naming of the parts of a plant cell. Compare plant cells to animal cells, recognizing the difference between the two as well as the similarities. If you are able to, let your student sprout seeds, perhaps grow a few plants, and learn about them through observation. Life science can be a great section of a total sixth grade science curriculum.
Sixth graders generally study a chapter or two on life science. Examples of topics for discussion and study may include biomes and ecosystems. Consider having this be a more hands on activity with posters, graphs, and pictures. Students may study food chains and food webs. This is another opportunity for your student to graphically display what she is learning about. Don’t forget to teach not only the food chain, but what happens if the food chain breaks down. One of my child’s personal favorites in life science is the discussion on producers, consumers, scavengers, and decomposers. As unappealing as the scavengers and decomposers might seem, the science behind them can be quite interesting. Teach the importance of each of the parts to the well being of the whole system. One other thing to consider teaching in the life science section is the life cycles of plants, then parts of a plant, and the naming of the parts of a plant cell. Compare plant cells to animal cells, recognizing the difference between the two as well as the similarities. If you are able to, let your student sprout seeds, perhaps grow a few plants, and learn about them through observation. Life science can be a great section of a total sixth grade science curriculum.
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