Science — Grade 6

Lesson plans on the web

Air guitar

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about the virtual guitar, the brainchild of computer scientist Aki Kanerva and his colleagues at the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Building a water clock

In this activity students will begin to examine more closely the interactions between the parts of a system. Students will build a feedback-controlled system, i.e., a water clock, and use the Internet to research ways to improve the system design. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Cell phone traffic

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a new use for cell phone signals. Many people stuck in traffic pass the time or take care of business by making calls on their cell phone. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Earth simulator

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear a professor of meteorology at the University of Hawaii describe why the most powerful supercomputer attracts scientists from all over the world. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Extending human ability through technology

The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to explore how technology has been used to enhance human abilities. Students also learn something about human capabilities and limitations. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Give me a tall ship

Students compare the similarities and differences of ancient and modern ships, including size, construction, building materials, and uses. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Gold mine quakes

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how scientists have literally tapped into a goldmine of earthquake information. (Learn more)

Format: (grade )

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Grand designs and great failures

Students develop an explanation of why two real-life ships, the British Titanic and the Swedish Vasa, sank. This application of knowledge to real-life situations demonstrates to students that even good designs can fail and that the solution to one problem often leads to another. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Hearts & worms

In Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear how a worm that has no heart is helping scientists figure out why potentially beneficial drugs may have deadly heart reactions in humans. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Horse bones

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear how studying horses may help engineers improve human flight in air and space. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Modern technology and farming

This lesson from Science NetLinks is an open-ended lesson about agriculture and farming technology. Students have an opportunity to explore five different kinds of farms on a website with interesting visual and audio enhancements. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Night lights

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear why bright nighttime lights could be bad for women's health. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Phone fibbing

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a study that shows that people's likelihood of lying depends on the communication technology they're using. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Pottery quest

In this Science NetLinks lesson, the first in a two-part series on pottery making, students learn that the production of ceramic pottery requires detailed knowledge of the physical properties of different clays and tempering materials, as well as knowledge about pottery and clay. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Robot farmers

In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, students hear about how cheap robots may revolutionize farming. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Robotic arm

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about a real-life robotic arm that may help stroke victims regain control of their movement. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–7 and 9–12 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Satellite orbits

In this lesson, students refine and expand their understandings of gravity, forces, and motion in the context of satellite orbits. This lesson is most appropriate for students who have already had instruction in the forces acting on falling bodies and gravity. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 9–12 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Smelling diseases

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how doctors are developing a kind of sniff test to screen for diseases. (Learn more)

Format: activity (grade 6–8 Science)

Provider: 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 (grade 6 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Technology: Past, present, and future

In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students examine a number of technological innovations that have occurred since the beginning of humanity. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science