Science — Grade 6

Evaluate forces: Earthquakes

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 3.3

This lesson for grade six will help students to gain an understanding of geological processes including plate tectonics, faulting, and earthquakes. Students will explore careers related to earthquake analysis, measurement, and disaster management.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By April Galloway and Christine Scott.

Earthquakes: Causes and effects

This is a lesson plan designed to stimulate student interest in the forces of nature. The lessons culminate in a hands-on learning experience about earthquakes.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By Tom Weakland.

Building a stratovolcano

Students will review the three types of volcanoes. Students will construct a stratovolcano and determine the composition of each type of volcano. Students will research examples of stratovolcanoes using internet resources.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8–12 Science)

By Jessica Bohn.

Resources on the web

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

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

The Ring of Fire

In this lesson from the National Geographic Xpeditions website, students improve their understanding of the plate tectonics theory and the Earth's geological history as they investigate the region known as the Ring of Fire. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Quake side effects

In this Science Update, students explore global changes caused by tsunamis in southeast Asia. Benjamin Fong Chao of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center presents evidence that suggests the massive earthquake off the coast of Indonesia redistributed some... (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6–7 Science)

Provided by:

Ping-pong avalanches

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about how ping-pong balls may help the science of avalanche prediction. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Natural hazards: Same forces, different impacts

In this Xpeditions lesson, students consider the threats that natural disasters (specifically tornadoes, volcanoes, and earthquakes) pose for humans, then compare and contrast two disasters. (Learn more)

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

Provided by: National Geographic

Natural hazard risks in the United States

In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students examine specific locations of high risk for various natural hazards, assess why these hazards exist where they do, and investigate what towns and cities are doing to prepare for a natural disaster. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

My little island

In this lesson from ARTSEDGE, students learn about the processes that lead to the formation of an island and study the impact that an island's geographic and geologic history has on the culture of the people who live there. Students divide into groups to... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5–8 Science, Social Studies, and Theater Arts Education)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Model volcanoes

Students make models of volcanoes and reflect upon their learning through drawing sketches of their models. They will experiment with making their volcanoes erupt and observe how eruption changes the original form of their volcano models. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

How are islands formed?

This Xpeditions lesson provides students with information about how islands are formed, including a basic knowledge of plate tectonics. Using the islands of Hawaii as an example, students learn about the Earth processes that cause the formation of islands. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Earthquakes and volcanoes

Students compare maps of plate tectonics with population density maps and analyze what these maps imply about the relationship between population and seismic hazards. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

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/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

Delving into the Grand Canyon

Students learn about how the Grand Canyon was formed and what the region looked like at the time each layer of rock was deposited. They draw diagrams of the canyon and its layers and write captions to describe what they have drawn. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

The core

In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, students hear about a proposal to send a robotic probe to explore Earth's core. (Learn more)

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science