District of Columbia Public Schools Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science (Grade 6) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SCIENCE, Grade 6 SCIENCE Earth and Space Sciences Content Standard 4: Understanding the overall structure of the universe and the physical principles on which it seems to run, with emphasis on the earth and solar system. The student should know that: The sun is a medium-sized star located near the edge of a disk-shaped galaxy of stars, part of which can be seen as a glowing band of light that spans the sky on a very clear night. The universe contains many billions of stars. To the naked eye, even the closest of these galaxies is not more than a dim, fuzzy spot. SE/TE: A Spiral Galaxy 771; How Far Is That Star? 760-761 SE/TE: 700-705, 706-711, 767-773 Guided Reading 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; Section Summary 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; Review and Reinforce 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; Enrich 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; Transparency ES245; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner How Far Is That Star?; Lab Activity Video How Far Is That Star?; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 20.1, 20.2, 21.4; www.scilinks.org scn-0644 1
The sun is many thousands of times closer to the earth than any other star. Light from the sun takes a few minutes to reach the earth, but light from the next nearest star takes a few years to arrive. The trip to that star would take the fastest rocket thousands of years. Some distant galaxies are so far away that their light takes several billion years to reach the earth. People on earth, therefore, see them as they were that long ago in the past. SE/TE: How Far Is That Star? 760-76 SE/TE: 706-711, 756, 772 Guided Reading 20.2, 21.2, 21.4; Section Summary 20.2, 21.2, 21.4; Review and Reinforce 20.2, 21.2, 21.4; Enrich 20.2, 21.2, 21.4 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 20.2, 21.2, 21.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner How Far Is That Star? ; Lab Activity Video How Far Is That Star? ; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 20.2, 21.2, 21.4 Nine planets of very different size, composition, and surface features move around the sun in nearly circular orbits. Some planets have a great variety of moons and even flat rings of rock and ice particles orbiting round them. Some of these planets and moons show evidence of geologic activity. The earth is orbited by one moon, many artificial satellites, and debris. SE/TE: How Big Are the Planets? 720 SE/TE: 660-665, 680-683, 712-719, 720-729 Guided Reading 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; Section Summary 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; Review and Reinforce 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; Enrich 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; Transparency ES214, ES 215, ES216, ES217, ES219; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 19.1, 19.4, 20.3, 20.4; PHSchool.com cfp-5013; www.scilinks.org scn-0614 2
Large numbers of chunks of rock orbit the sun. Some of those that the earth meets in its yearly orbit around the sun glow and disintegrate from friction as they plunge through the atmosphere and sometimes impact the ground. Other chunks of rocks mixed with ice have long, off-center orbits that carry them close to the sun, where the sun s radiation (of light and particles) boils off frozen material from their surfaces and pushes it into a long, illuminated tail. SE/TE: Which Way Do Comet Tails Point? 730 SE/TE: 730-733 Guided Reading 20.5; Section Summary 20.5; Review and Reinforce 20.5; Enrich 20.5; Transparency ES233; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 20.5; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 20.5; www.scilinks.org scn-0635 We live on a relatively small planet, the third from the sun in the only system of planets definitely known to exist (although other, similar systems may be discovered in the universe). The earth is mostly rock. Three-fourths of its surface is covered by a relatively thin layer of water (some of it frozen), and the entire planet is surrounded by a relatively thin blanket of air. It is the only body in the solar system that appears able to support life. The other planets have compositions and conditions very different from the earth s. SE/TE: A Spiral Galaxy 771; How Far Is That Star? 760-761 SE/TE: How Big Are the Planets? 720; Is Yeast Alive or Not? 734 SE/TE: 660-665, 767-773 Guided Reading 19.1, 21.4; Section Summary 19.1, 21.4; Review and Reinforce 19.1, 21.4; Enrich 19.1, 21.4 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.1, 21.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner How Far Is That Star?; Lab Activity Video How Far Is That Star?; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 19.1, 21.4 SE/TE: 660-665, 712-719, 720-729, 734-737 Guided Reading 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; Section Summary 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; Review and Reinforce 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; Enrich 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; Transparency ES214, ES 215, ES216, ES217, ES219; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 19.1, 20.3, 20.4, 20.6; PHSchool.com cfp-5013; www.scilinks.org scn-0614 3
Everything on or anywhere near the earth is pulled toward the earth s center by gravitational force. SE/TE: Can You Remove the Bottom Penny? 666 SE/TE: 666-669 Guided Reading 19.2; Section Summary 19.2; Review and Reinforce 19.2; Enrich 19.2; Transparency ES211, ES212; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.2; Lab Zone Easy Planner ; Lab Activity Video ; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 19.2; www.scilinks.org scn-0612 Because the earth turns daily on an axis that is tilted relative to the plane of the earth s yearly orbit around the sun, sunlight falls more intensely on different parts of the earth during the year. The difference in heating of the earth s surface produces the planet s seasons and weather patterns. SE/TE: Sun Shadows 662 SE/TE: 662-664 Guided Reading 19.1; Section Summary 19.1; Review and Reinforce 19.1; Enrich 19.1; Transparency ES208, ES209; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.1; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 19.1; PHSchool.com cfp-5012 The moon s orbit around the earth once in about 28 days changes what part of the moon is lighted by the sun and how much of that part can be seen from the earth the phases of the moon. SE/TE: How Does the Moon Move? 670; A Moonth of Phases 678-679 SE/TE: 671-673 Guided Reading 19.3; Section Summary 19.3; Review and Reinforce 19.3; Enrich 19.3 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 19.3; Lab Zone Easy Planner A Moonth of Phases; Lab Activity Video A Moonth of Phases; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 19.3 Climates have sometimes changed abruptly in the past as a result of changes in the earth s crust, such as volcanic eruptions or impacts of huge rocks from space. Even relatively small changes in atmospheric or ocean content can have widespread effects on climate if the change lasts long enough. SE/TE: What Story Can Tree Rings Tell? 636 SE/TE: 636-640 Guided Reading 18.3; Section Summary 18.3; Review and Reinforce 18.3; Enrich 18.3 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 18.3; Lab Zone Easy Planner ; Lab Activity Video ; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 18.3 4
The cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere plays an important role in determining climatic patterns. Water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises and cools, condenses into rain or snow, and falls again to the surface. The water falling on land collects in rivers and lakes, soil, and porous layers of rock, and much of it flows back into the ocean. SE/TE: How Does Fog Form? 560; How Can You Make Hail? 567 SE/TE: 560-566, 567-571 Guided Reading 16.4, 16.5; Section Summary 16.4, 16.5; Review and Reinforce 16.4, 16.5; Enrich 16.4, 16.5; Transparency ES175, ES176, ES177; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 16.4, 16.5; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 16.4, 16.5; PHSchool.com cfp-4024; www.scilinks.org scn-0925 Fresh water, limited in supply, is essential for life and also for most industrial processes. Rivers, lakes, and groundwater can be depleted or polluted, becoming unavailable or unsuitable for life. Heat energy carried by ocean currents has a strong influence on climate around the world. SE/TE: Where Does the Water Come From? 392; Where Does the Water Go? 404; How Can Water Be Cleaned? 420; Testing Water 426-427 SE/TE: Which Is More Dense? 456; Modeling Ocean Currents 462-463 SE/TE: 392-395, 396-403, 404-411, 412-419, 420-425 Guided Reading 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5; Section Summary 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5; Review and Reinforce 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5; Enrich 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5; Lab Zone Easy Planner Testing Water ; Lab Activity Video Testing Water ; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 SE/TE: 456-461 Guided Reading 13.4; Section Summary 13.4; Review and Reinforce 13.4; Enrich 13.4; Transparency ES143, ES144, ES145; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 13.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner Modeling Ocean Currents; Lab Activity Video Modeling Ocean Currents; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 13.4; www.scilinks.org scn- 0834 5
Some minerals are very rare and some exist in great quantities, but for practical purposes the ability to recover them is just as important as their abundance. As minerals are depleted, obtaining them becomes more difficult. Recycling and the development of substitutes can reduce the rate of depletion but may also be costly. SE/TE: Crystal Hands 77; How Are Minerals Processed Before They Are Used? 80; A Mouthful of Minerals 86-87 SE/TE: 66-75, 76-79, 80-85 Guided Reading 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; Section Summary 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; Review and Reinforce 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; Enrich 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; Lab Zone Easy Planner A Mouthful of Minerals; Lab Activity Video A Mouthful of Minerals; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 The benefits of the earth s resources such as fresh water, air, soil, and trees can be reduced by using them wastefully or by deliberately or inadvertently destroying them. The atmosphere and the oceans have a limited capacity to absorb wastes and recycle materials naturally. Cleaning up polluted air, water, or soil restoring depleted soil, forests, or fishing grounds can be very difficult and costly. SE/TE: What s in a Piece of Coal? 354; Can You Capture Solar Energy? 361; Design and Build a Solar Cooker 368; Which Bulb Is More Efficient? 375; Keeping Comfortable 379 SE/TE: 80-85, 354-360, 361-369, 370-374, 375-381, 412-419 Guided Reading 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4; Section Summary 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4; Review and Reinforce 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4; Enrich 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner Keeping Comfortable; Lab Activity Video Keeping Comfortable; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4 6
The interior of the earth is hot. Heat flow and movement of material within the earth cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and create mountains and ocean basins. Gas and dust from large volcanoes can change the atmosphere. SE/TE: How Can Heat Cause Motion in a Liquid? 132; Gelatin Volcanoes 224-225 SE/TE: 124-131, 132-135, 200-204, 209-216 Guided Reading 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3; Section Summary 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3; Review and Reinforce 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3; Enrich 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3; Lab Zone Easy Planner Gelatin Volcanoes ; Lab Activity Video Gelatin Volcanoes ; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.3 Some changes in the earth s surface are abrupt (such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) while other changes happen very slowly (such as uplift and wearing down of mountains). The earth s surface is shaped in part by the motion of water and wind over very long times, which act to level mountain ranges. SE/TE: Gelatin Volcanoes 224-225; How Fast Can It Fizz? 238, Rock Shake 246; A Square Meter of Soil 251; What Is Soil? 256 SE/TE: 162-168, 169-177, 200-204, 209-216, 217-221, 238-247, 248-255, 272-275 Guided Reading 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2; Section Summary 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2; Review and Reinforce 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2; Enrich 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2; Lab Zone Easy Planner Gelatin Volcanoes; Lab Activity Video Gelatin Volcanoes; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, 9.2; PHSchool.com Sediments of sand and smaller particles (sometimes containing the remains of organisms) are gradually buried and are cemented together by dissolved minerals to form solid rock again. SE/TE: Which Rock Came First? 114 SE/TE: 114-116 Guided Reading 4.6; Section Summary 4.6; Review and Reinforce 4.6; Enrich 4.6; Transparency ES36; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 4.6; Lab Zone Easy Planner Which Rock Came First?; Lab Activity Video Which Rock Came First?; PresentationEXPRESS CD- ROM 4.6; PHSchool.com cfp-1056 7
Sedimentary rock buried deep enough may be reformed by pressure and heat, perhaps melting and re-crystallizing into different kinds of rock. These re-formed rock layers may be forced up again to become land surface and even mountains. Subsequently, this new rock too will erode. Rock bears evidence of the minerals, temperatures, and forces that created it. SE/TE: How Does Pressure Affect Particles of Rock? 102; Rock Absorber 104 SE/TE: 102-106 Guided Reading 4.3; Section Summary 4.3; Review and Reinforce 4.3 Enrich 4.3 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 4.3; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 4.3 Although weathered rock is the basic component of soil, the composition and texture of soil and its fertility and resistance to erosion are greatly influenced by plant roots and debris, bacteria, fungi, worms, insects, rodents, and other organisms. Human activities, such as reducing the amount of forest cover, increasing the amount and variety of chemicals released into the atmosphere, and intensive farming, have changed the earth s land, oceans, and atmosphere. Some of these changes have decreased the capacity of the environment to support some life forms. SE/TE: What Is Soil? 248; A Square Meter of Soil 251; Comparing Soils 255 SE/TE: What s in a Piece of Coal? 354; Can You Capture Solar Energy? 361; Design and Build a Solar Cooker 368; Which Bulb Is More Efficient? 375; Keeping Comfortable 379; What Is the Greenhouse Effect? 641 SE/TE: 248-255 Guided Reading 8.2; Section Summary 8.2; Review and Reinforce 8.2; Enrich 8.2; Transparency ES75, ES76, ES77; TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 8.2; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 8.2; PHSchool.com cfp-2022 SE/TE: 80-85, 354-360, 361-369, 370-374, 375-381, 412-419, 641-645 Guided Reading 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4; Section Summary 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4; Review and Reinforce 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4; Enrich 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4 TECH: Student Edition on Audio CD 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4; Lab Zone Easy Planner Keeping Comfortable; Lab Activity Video Keeping Comfortable; PresentationEXPRESS CD-ROM 3.3, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 12.4, 18.4 Reference: document provided in Hardcopy: DCPS SCIENCE STANDARDS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, Revised and Reformatted June 2004, DRAFT 8