Curriculum Map Name of Teacher: Michelle Thomson Grade: Sixth grade Subject of Course: Science August - September Content (The What of Teaching: Topics, Themes, Issues, Concepts) Scientific methods and skills Skills (What exactly we want the students to know about the content) Identify science skills Identify scientific method Measure physical properties Describe length, mass, weight, area and volume Essential Questions (Questions for students that reflect the skills we want them to learn) the science skills? What is the scientific method? How are length and area measured? How are mass and weight measured? How are volume and density measured? Benchmarks Addressed (Reference to The Michigan Curriculum Framework Should match the skills) Benchmarks 1,2,4, and 6 Strand IV; Content Standard 1, Benchmarks 1, 2 Assessment (Evidence of learning) Stations lab Chapter Test Chapter 1 packet (class ) Instructional Strategies (How we teach Resources, Specific Steps in Instruction, etc.) Cubes (coop groups) Meter sticks Balances Thermometers Begin lab report writing Incorporate key terms Studying the Earth Describe 3 parts of the earth Describe 3 layers of the earth Use and explain the parts of the earth? What is inside the earth? Benchmarks 1 & 2 Create a map (rubric graded) Egg models Iron River map Topography model
October Minerals different kinds of maps Explain latitude/longitude, meridians/parallels and hemispheres Identify/describe some minerals in the earth s crust Describe some properties used to identify minerals State common uses of minerals some kinds of maps? latitude and longitude? How do you read maps? minerals? How do you identify minerals? How are minerals used? standard 1; Benchmark 2 Latitude/longitude quiz Chapter 2 packet class Chapter 3 packet Read & respond Incorporate key terms View benchmark in front of school View samples of topographic maps Create crystals Show samples of minerals to demonstrate color, streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, and fracture Use tests such as the acid test and the scratch test Incorporate key terms Rocks Identify 3 classes of rocks Identify how each class of rock is formed Identify how each class of rock is classified Interpret the rock cycle (heating, cooling, pressure, and cementing) the 3 classes of rocks? How do you classify igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks? How are sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks formed? What processes form rocks? Standard1; Benchmark 1 Benchmarks 1,2,6 Chapter 4 packet Read & respond Posters Cookies to demonstrate the different kinds of rocks Samples of the 3 kinds of rocks Make stalagmites and stalactites Rock cycle game on the board Question game (around the room) November Wearing down the Understand how What is chemical Find outdoor
earth the earth wears down Identify 3 factors that affect the rate of weathering Explain how soil is a product of weathering Describe the parts of a soil profile December Agents of Erosion List the 5 agents of erosion Explain how each agent causes erosion Explain what landforms are created by erosion Describe the 3 stages of a river Explain deposition January Building up the Earth Compare folding and faulting of crust Identify mtn. systems and 3 kinds of mtns. Describe volcanism and 3 volcanic cones Explain an earthquake Describe 3 kinds of seismic waves or mechanical weathering? What is karst topography? What affects the rate of weathering? What is soil? What is a soil profile? erosion and deposition? How does each agent cause erosion? the stages of a river? What landforms do the agents of erosion create? What is deposition? folds/faults? types of mtns? different kinds of volcanoes? earthquakes? seismic waves? What is the Ring of Fire? Standard1; Benchmark 4 Benchmarks 1, 2, 5, and 6 Standard 1, Benchmarks 2, 4 Standard 2; Benchmark 1 Benchmark 5 Benchmarks 1, 2, 6 Benchmark 1, 2 Strand IV; Content Standard 4, Benchmark 5 Chapter 5 packet Project with research Individual oral presentations Chapter 6 packet Chapter 7 packet Internet examples of chemical and mechanical weathering Lab showing what affects weathering Monument and memorial project Library research Litmus paper to show how indicators work Library research Diagram a river system Settling of sediments demonstration Observing glacial abrasion demo. Glacial lake model Read excerpt from Out of the Dust Students will create their own volcano Students will model mtn. building Virtual volcano fieldtrip Students will model earthquakes Students will model a tsunami Pictures of mtns. Pictures of volcanoes
February Plate \Tectonics Rock Record Identify 3 volcano earthquake zones Explain continental drift Explain sea floor spreading and evidence to support it Explain how convection currents cause plate tectonics Describe how different fossils form Describe different ways to preserve fossils Describe how fuels were formed Understand relative ages of rocks Describe how to measure absolute age Describe and read the geologic time scale fossils? How are organisms preserved? fossil fuels? How can the age of a rock be determined? What is the geologic time scale? fossils? How are organisms preserved? fossil fuels? How can age of rock be determined? What is the geologic time scale? Strand II; Content Benchmark 1 Benchmark 1, 6 Strand III; Content Standard 5; Benchmark 7 Benchmark 3 Chapter 8 packet Chapter 9 packet Create models of geologic time scale to be rubric graded Absolute age quiz Write a report on an extinct animal Make a time capsule Springs to model waves Model Pangea Model how plates move Model convection currents Read Amazing Facts to give evidence for continental drift Create fossils Examine fossils Analyze rock layers Research extinct animals Time capsules to show that burying is a way to preserve Identify places in Mi. that have visible rock layers Guest speaker on Upper Mi. fossils March Hydrosphere Sequence the steps of the water cycle Describe how ground water reaches the earth s What is the water cycle? What is ground water? wells, standard 1; Benchmark 1, 6 Strand IV; Content read and respond for class Chapter 10 packet Water cycle Ocean virtual fieldtrip Desalination experiment Model how a geyser
surface Describe how the World Ocean is divided Explain different parts of the ocean Describe ocean currents identify properties of ocean waves Describe ocean floor Name divisions of the ocean Classify organisms in the ocean strings, and geysers? What is oceanography? properties of the ocean? ocean currents? ocean waves? ocean sediments? ocean landforms? What lives in the ocean? coral reefs? Standard 2; Benchmark 3 Standard 2; Benchmark 1,2,3 drawing (rubric graded) Saltwater experiment Cooperative learning groups create their own models of the water cycle (rubric graded) works Observe the phases of water demonstration Research where freshwater in our area comes from Student created bulletin board of benthos, nekton, and plankton Ocean life books to observe Project Wet curriculum and activity guide Science Fair Design and conduct simple investigations April Atmosphere Recognize air is matter Identify the main gases in air Name layers of the atmosphere Recognize the ozone situation Describe how sun energy gets to earth Explain how air exerts pressure Identify 3 factors that affect air What is air? the layers of the atmosphere? How does earth get heat? What is air pressure? What affects air pressure? How do you measure air pressure? How do winds form? Benchmarks 1,2,5,6 Standard 3; Benchmark 1 Benchmarks 1,6 Oral Presentation of science fair project Chapter 11 packet Air pressure lab write-up Air pressure assignment showing how air pressure decreases and elevation increases (p. 236) Use solar packet to observe solar energy Observe conduction Observe air pressure Observe barometers Observe movement of warm air Make wind vanes Bernoulli magic experiment Ozone activities Make and use
Weather pressure Explain how barometers work Explain winds Explain how water gets to the atmosphere Explain humidity Measure humidity Explain dew point Describe how clouds form Identify kind of clouds Identify kinds of precipitation Describe air masses Describe weather fronts Read weather stations and maps May Climate Differentiate weather and climate Describe climate Identify what determines the climate Identify/describe 3 climate zones Describe biomes Use almanacs global or local winds? How is wind measured? How does water get to the atmosphere? What is humidity? How is relative humidity measured? What is dew point? How do clouds form? What is precipitation? air masses? What is a front? severe storms? What is a station model? How do you read a weather map? What is climate? What determines climate? climates zones? local climate zones? How does climate affect soil and living things? Standard 3; Benchmarks 1,2 Standard 3 Chapter 12 packet Cloud observation table Leaf diagram to demonstrate transpiration Chapter 13 packet Create a table comparing an almanac to actual weather reported barometers Use psychrometers Evaporation/cooling experiment Measure dew point Make rain gauge Tornado activities Hurricane activities TV-6 meteorologist guest speaker Global warming activity
Natural Resources Describe cycles in nature Identify sources of pollution for air, land and water Identify water purification Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources Describe conservation Describe sources of energy What is the environment? What causes air pollution? What causes water pollution? What causes land pollution? natural resources? How are resources conserved? What is wildlife conservation? energy resources? Strand III; Content Standard 5, Benchmarks 5 & 6 Standard 2; Benchmark 3 Standard 3; Benchmark4 Chapter 14 packet Research national parks Create a bulletin board on any pollution articles students bring in Project Wet Curriculum Guide and Activities Make recycled paper Recycle magazines into frames and jewelry June Ecology Understand environments Describe parts of an ecosystem Recognize why things live where they do Identify producers and consumers Describe different biomes Recognize that ecosystems change What is ecology? What is an ecosystem? habitats and niches? limiting factors? What cycles take place in nature? producers and consumers? food webs? What is succession? biomes? What is balance in an ecosystem? Strand III; Content Standard 5; Benchmarks 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 Ecosystem Test Succession drawing (rubric graded) Ecosystem packet Producer and Consumer exercise Food web game Hydroponics Find areas in the US that use nuclear energy Make food webs from cut out pictures