Science — Grade 6

Using inquiry skills

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 3.1

This lesson for grade 6 introduces students to important scientific skills such as observation, inference, prediction, classification, and communication. Students practice some of these skills and discuss how they may be used in various careers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By April Galloway and Christine Scott.Edited by Julie McCann.

Science is a puzzle: Lessons in observation

Simple, fun activities using observation to introduce students to the scientific process.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By Cindy Ellis.

Magic water and convection

This lesson will give students a demonstration of how heat affects water particles.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By JoAnne Pearson.

Decomposition in freshwater

This lesson includes hands-on activities to demonstrate the process of decomposition in a freshwater ecosystem. It also focuses on the importance of decomposition and its critical role in the food chain.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By Heather Lanier.

Resources on the web

WWII tree disease

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about the debate over the unintended consequences of military invasions. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Worry beads

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that was conducted to examine whether people who kept their hands busy during high-stress situations experienced fewer adverse effects. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Word connections

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students will explore how ideas are formed, how associations are made, and how they contribute to learning and memory. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Why civilizations fall

In this lesson, part of a two-lesson series from Science NetLinks, students find out about the social changes that caused the collapse of important ancient civilizations in Central America, Mesopotamia, the southwestern United States, and western Africa. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

When natural hazards become human disasters

In this Xpeditions lesson, students gain a better understanding of natural events and consider the dangers that natural hazards and natural disasters pose to humans. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Wheelchairs

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about an organization that counts on some of the world's poorest countries to develop some of the most innovative new ideas in wheelchair design and manufacturing. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

What's my hypothesis?

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students explore how descriptive epidemiological clues can be used to make educated guesses as to what might be the cause of a disease. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

What's in a graph?

Students learn how to use and interpret graphs. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics and Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Wasted food

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study on food waste that indicates that households alone throw out about fifty billion dollars worth of food per year. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Tumbleweeds

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how desert plants can be used to soak up uranium that is contaminating military sites. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Tsunami barriers

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how humans may have unwittingly aggravated some of the damage done by the December 2004 tsunamis in Southeast Asia. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Tree core models

In this Science NetLinks lesson, students make models of three tree core samples using data collected from trees that grew in the same general area of Alaska. They analyze their models and make predictions about the trees' growing conditions based on their... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Time flies

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about why people feel like time flies when engaging in stimulating activities. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Thought-controlled robotics

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about research into the development of robotic limbs that can be controlled by thought alone. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Talking lights

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about ideas to use the imperceptible flickering of fluorescent lights to transmit coded information. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

T. Rex bully

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about research into whether T. rex was a hunter or a scavenger. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related science... (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science