Grade 6 Science Overview

​The Massachusetts Grade 6 Science Standards are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards.
Grade 6 Overview
The integration of Earth and space, life, and physical sciences with technology/engineering gives grade 6 students relevant and engaging opportunities with natural phenomena and design problems that highlight the relationship of structure and function in the world around them. 

Students relate structure and function through analyzing the macro- and microscopic world, such as Earth features and processes, the role of cells and anatomy in supporting living organisms, and properties of materials and waves. Students use models and provide evidence to make claims and explanations about structure-function relationships in different STE domains.

Earth and Space Sciences

ESS1. Earth’s Place in the Universe​
  • 6.MS-ESS1-1a. Develop and use a model of the Earth-Sun-Moon system to explain the causes of lunar phases and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.

  • 6.MS-ESS1-5(MA). Use graphical displays to illustrate that Earth and its solar system are one of many in the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of billions of galaxies in the universe.

  • 6.MS-ESS1-4. Analyze and interpret rock layers and index fossils to determine the relative ages of rock formations that result from processes occurring over long periods of time.​
ESS2. Earth’s Systems
  • 6.MS-ESS2-3. Analyze and interpret maps showing the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence that Earth’s plates have moved great distances, collided, and spread apart.​

Life Science

LS1. From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
  • 6.MS-LS1-1. Provide evidence that all organisms (unicellular and multicellular) are made of cells. 

  • 6.MS-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe how parts of cells contribute to the cellular functions of obtaining food, water, and other nutrients from its environment, disposing of wastes, and providing energy for cellular processes.​
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  • 6.MS-LS1-3. Construct an argument supported by evidence that the body systems interact to carry out essential functions of life.
LS4. Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
  • ​6.MS-LS4-2. Construct an argument using anatomical structures to support evolutionary relationships among and between fossil organisms and modern organisms.
  • 6.MS-LS4-1. Analyze and interpret evidence from the fossil record to describe organisms and their environment, extinctions, and changes to life forms throughout the history of Earth.

Physical Science

PS1. Matter and Its Interactions
  • ​6.MS-PS1-6. Plan and conduct an experiment involving exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions to measure and describe the release or absorption of thermal energy.
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  • 6.MS-PS1-7(MA). Use a particulate model of matter to explain that density is the amount of matter (mass) in a given volume. Apply proportional reasoning to describe, calculate, and compare relative densities of different materials.​

  • 6.MS-PS1-8(MA). Conduct an experiment to show that many materials are mixtures of pure substances that can be separated by physical means into their component pure substances.
PS2. Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
  • 6.MS-PS2-4. Use evidence to support the claim that gravitational forces between objects are attractive and are only noticeable when one or both of the objects have a very large mass.​ Examples of objects with very large masses include the Sun, Earth, and other planets.
PS4. Waves and Their Applications 
  • 6.MS-PS4-1. Use diagrams of a simple wave to explain that (a) a wave has a repeating pattern with a specific amplitude, frequency, and wavelength, and (b) the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy of the wave.
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  • 6.MS-PS4-2. Use diagrams and other models to show that both light rays and mechanical waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

  • 6.MS-PS4-3. Present qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals (sent as wave pulses representing 0s and 1s) can be used to encode and transmit information.​

“The more you use your mind, the more you’ll have to use.”  ​– George A. Dorsey

5 Parts to Learning Science

Science Practices we will use all year!
Here is a brief overview:
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