Based on the Massachusetts State Science Standards (adopted 2017)
5th Science Curriculum Overview
NEW!Connections and Relationship in Systems:
The overarching theme of the fifth grade curriculum is “Connections and Relationships in Systems”. Students will look at the Earth systems that receive the sun’s energy and how energy moves through the ecosystem, diagramming the food chain and webs that are created . They learn about the relationships among elements of Earth’s systems through the water cycle and how humans impact the environment. Students will then investigate Earth’s place in the Universe. The sun will be examined as the center of the solar system and the input of energy into many of Earth’s systems. Students will also investigate the materials that make up the world and how matter changes.
6th Science Curriculum Overview
***The 2017-2018 year will be a transition year. We will be finishing up the "old" 2 year curriculum cycle with most of the Astronomy and Earth Science. Many parts of these units are also part of the newly adopted 6th grade curriculum standards. We will be incorporating/adapting lessons throughout the semester to better match the standards with the intent to have all of the standards covered fully in the 2018-2019 school year. You can see the overlap between the 2 "old" units and the new topics below.***
Astronomy Unit:
In this project students will investigate the enormity of the universe and the large scale of the numbers needed to describe size and distances. They will explore our solar system and the phenomena that influence our daily life, like day and night, the seasons and time zones. As students compare and contrast the properties of the nine planets, especially in relation to Earth, they will develop a deeper understanding of the conditions that exist on the planets and the ramifications the differences have for travel to other planets.
Essential Questions:
What would a trip through our universe be like? Where in the universe are we?
How do interactions in the universe (between the Earth-sun-moon and beyond) create the predictable patterns of change we observe?
Earth Science Unit:
The Earth Science project focuses on how and why earth’s landscape changes over time. Students will interpret and create contour maps that depict the earth’s common physical features. Students will develop an understanding of the dynamic nature of our planet through investigating geologic concepts such as rock formation, weathering, erosion, deposition, and plate tectonics. Students will identify the physical evidence that supports the theories of the earth’s evolution over geologic time.
Essential Questions:
How and why does Earth's landscape change over time?
How do we represent Earth's common features using maps?
NEW! Structures and Functions in the Macroscopic and Microscopic World:
The sixth grade curriculum will focus on structure and function through analyzing the macro- and microscopic world. Students will begin by learning Earth’s place in the universe. We will explore the Earth’s relationships in our solar system, galaxy and universe that depend on the forces around us including gravity and energy. Students will then focus on Earth and the formation of fossils over geologic time as well as evolution and biodiversity. This will enable students to develop an understanding of how organisms, environments, and Earth’s surface have all changed over time. Students will discover the basic unit of life: cells. As students learn about the structure and function of the cell, they will transition to the organization of organisms and how body systems interact. Students will continue with the study of matter and its interactions, developing the tools and skills essential for inquiry based learning. Students will end the semester with an understanding of the transfer of energy in the form of waves through different mediums.