home  |  blogs  |  standards  |  recent changes  |  search  |  help  |  about  |  sign in California Grade 6 Science Standards Standards Lesson Plans Activities/Demos Homework Project Field Trips Assessment Resources Plate Tectonics and Earth's Structure 1. Plate tectonics accounts for important features of Earth's surface and major geologic events. 1.a. Students know evidence of plate tectonics is derived from the fit of the continents; the location of earthquakes, volcanoes, and midocean ridges; and the distribution of fossils, rock types, and ancient climatic zones. #2 UCMP (JudyS): Seafloor Spreading #1 UCMP/USGS (JudyS): Continental Drift LHS: Forces that Shape the Bay UCMP: Geology/Plate Tectonics #1 Exploratorium: Breakup of Pangea (visuals) LHS (FOSS): FOSSWeb Earth Rock database activities #2 Exploratorium (SueM): Magnetic Rocks #3 Tech Museum (ClydeM) Plate Tectonics Demo #4: Observe an animation showing growth of a continent. (SC) Boston MOS: IMAX Forces of Nature (Leti) Exploratorium (DHunt): Antarctica (Field Notes) #1 U Nevada Seis.Lab (TedK): Plate Tectonics #2 USGS: This Dynamic Earth (resource for parents, teachers...) #2 UCMP (TedK): Fossils & Geologic Time (research & project ideas) #1: UCMP (TedK): ISTAT 1999 Summer Step-Up #1 Chabot (TedK): Planetary Landscapes-Tectonic Basin #2 LHS (TedK): Forces that Shape the Bay Plate Tectonics Assessment Rubrics #1 SFUSD (DianeB): Topographic Maps & Earth's Geoology Rubrics4Teachers Prentice Hall (Shana): Plate Tectonics, etc. #2 Bryce Canyon NP (TedK): Geodetectices #2 Geology Labs On-line: Virtual Lab Activities #1 Univ. NV Seismic Lab (TedK): Plate Tectonics-> Earthquakes USGS: This Dynamic Earth Stanford U. - School of Earth Science (SueM) MARVE (Marine Virtual Explorer) Tsunami visualizations current events volcano cchung Springfield Museum Virtual Earthquake (TK, from LINC 228 teacher ref.) 1.b. Students know Earth is composed of several layers: a cold, brittle lithosphere; a hot, convecting mantle; and a dense, metallic core. #1 Oakland USD (SueM)=Chabot+LHS #3 Oakland USD (NatalieM): Journey to the Center of Earth #2 UCMP (JudyS): Online course for 6th Grade Science #1 Restless Earth: Earth's Interior (Melissa Duran) #1 UCMP (JudyS): Sea Floor Spreading #3: Observe animations of processes that occur along plate boundaries. (SC) #4: Examine P and S waves moving through Earth's interior. (SC) #2: UCMP: Submarine Mountains PBS Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker simulation (TedK) #2 Oakland USD: Travel to Earth Center #1 The Tech (TomK): Structure of the Earth Cody's Science Ed. Zone (OUSD) (TedK): Science Fairs Chabot: Planetary Landforms Exhibit RubiStar Anthony Cody's Science Ed. Zone (OUSD) (FronaK): Assessment UND: Graph of Earth's Layers Chronicle Newpapers in Education (B.Ando/LHS): Earth Under My Feet 1.c. Students know lithospheric plates the size of continents and oceans move at rates of centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle. Melissa Duran: Restless Earth #2 UCMP/SFUSD (JudyS): Unified 6th Grade Earth Sciences--Plate Tectonics #1 Curriculum in Focus (OUSD): 6th Grade Lesson Plans #2 UCMP: Plate Tectonics Animation #1 Tech (TomK): Plate Tectonics Overview #2 UCMP(JusyS): Sea Floor Spreading #1 Tech (TomK): Earthquakes Overview #2 Exploratorium (DebH): Breakup of Pangea #1 Magnetometer (SueM) #2 LHS: Forces that Shape the Bay #1 Chabot: Planetary Landscapes Exhibits RubiStar Earth Surface and Interior #2 USGS: This Dynamic Earth 1.d. Students know that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults and that volcanoes and fissures are locations where magma reaches the surface. #1 Melissa Duran: Restless Earth Tech Museum #2 Exploratorium: Why Earth Shakes (from 'Faultline' webcast) #2: Exploratorium: Salt Volcano (Lava Light) #3: Observe an animation of volcanism at a subduction zone.(SC) #4: Observe an animation of volcanic islands forming over a hot spot. (SC) #1: The Tech: Soil Types and Earthquakes #5: Observe an animation of volcanism along a rift zone. (SC) #6: Examine animations of fault motion. (SC) Exploratorium: Why the earth shakes (Faultline '99 webcast) Exploratorium: Buildings (from Faultline '99 Webcast) Exploratorium: Build a Shake Table #1 LHS: Forces that Shape the Bay #2 Chabot: Plantary Landscapes SFUSD (C. Perez): Lesson Plan & Assessment #2 LHS: SEPUP (Ted/FronaK): SEPUP Assessment system LHS workshop Prentice Hall (6th grtext) web stuff UND: Volcano Adventures #1 Volcano Expedition from Costa Rica USGS: This Dyamic Earth Stanford U. - School of Earth Science (SueM) MARVE (Marine Virtual Explorer) (MMomsen): PBS-Description and animations of earthquakes Virtual Earthquake (TK, from LINC 228 teacher ref.) 1.e. Students know major geologic events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building, result from plate motions. #2 Melissa Duran: The Restless Earth #1 UCMP (CA Academy of Sciences): Plate Boundaries #3 A Site to See: Exploring Mt. St. Helens Eruption (LKB) #2 Exploratorium (SueM): Slinky Waves #1 Tech (MelissaD): Building for the Big One #3: Observe animations of earthquake waves. (SC) PBS Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker simulation (TedK) The Tech: Earthquakes (HyperTech Exhibit) FunScience (TedK): How to find ideas for science (fair) projects? #1 LHS: Forces that Shape the Bay #2 Chabot: Planetary: Landforms Exhibit #3 LHS: Where is an Earthquake Happening? (SC) Rubistar: Alternative sample science assessment rubric templates #2 Soil Liquefaction (University of Washington) #! USGS: This Dymanic Earth--Story of Plate Tectonics LHS/Chronicle Newspapers in Education: I feel the Earth Move 1.f. Students know how to explain major features of California geology (including mountains, faults, volcanoes) in terms of plate tectonics. Meliissa Duran: Restless Earth UCMP (JUDYS): Bay Area Geology and Geography #1 UCMP (JudyS): Building a Topographic Model #2 Tech: Building for the Big One UCMP (TKahn): Plate Tectonics & Geology #2Exploratorium (TedK): On the road with the Faultline crew (webcast archive) #1: FunScience (TedK): How to find ideas for science (fair) projects? #1 LHS: Forces that Shape the Bay Rubistar: Alternative science assessment rubric examples 1.g. Students know how to determine the epicenter of an earthquake and know that the effects of an earthquake on any region vary, depending on the size of the earthquake, the distance of the region from the epicenter, the local geology, and the type of construction in the region. #1 Meliissa Duran: Restless Earth UCMP: Exploring Earthquakes & Modified Mercalli Scale #2 UCMP (JudyS): Map of Earthquake Epicenters Tech: Seismometers UCMP (JudyS): Measuring Earthquakes Exploratorium: Seismic Slinky #3: Examine a map showing earthquake risks. (SC) #1 Exploratorium: Faultline (webcast archive from 1999) #2 Tech (TomK): Measuring Earthquakes PSN.Quake.net (TedK): Building a Seismograph for Kids Tech: Living on a Restless Planet (Exhibits) SFUSD (TedK): 6th grade rubric for earth sciences research report #2 NASA: Earth Observatory UC Berkeley: Plot that Quake UC Berkeley (SSL): Earthqukes (related to GEMS unit) #1 Virtual Earthquakes Montgomery, MD- County Schools: Earthquakes--Remote Sensing Activites Shaping Earth's Surface 2. Topography is reshaped by the weathering of rock and soil and by the transportation and deposition of sediment. 2.a. Students know water running downhill is the dominant process in shaping the landscape, including California's landscape. #1 UCMP (TedK): Features of SF Bay #2 Surfrider Foundation (FronaK): Respect the Beach #2 LHS (FOSSWeb): Landforms Module #1 Exploratorium (E.Muller): Turbulent Landscapes CDM BioSITE: Watershed Topographic Maps SF Bay Area Watershed Science Programs (FronaK) SF Estuary Institute (FronaK): Projects & Reports SF Bay Area Esturary Institute (FronaK): List of current projects (resource for student research) #2- A Glacier Ran Through It: Exploring Geology through the Lens of the Ice Age Flood (LKB) LHS; Outdoor Science Park: Forces that Shape the Bay (LKB) #2: Anthony Cody's Science Ed. Zone (OUSD): Assessment #1: LHS (SEPUP): Assessment in SEPUP #1Landforms: Lessons, Images & Activities #2NASA: Earth Views from Space 2.b. Students know rivers and streams are dynamic systems that erode, transport sediment, change course, and flood their banks in natural and recurring patterns. #1 LHS (GEMS): River Cutters #2 LHS (GEMS): Environmental Detectives JudyS(UCMP+SFUSD): Exploring the Sands Exploratorium (E.Muller): Turbulent Landscapes #1 ScienceProjects.com: Erosion Chabot (TedK): Planetary Landscapes Exhibit NASA: Visible Earth Aquatic Outreach Institute (FronaK) 2.c. Students know beaches are dynamic systems in which the sand is supplied by rivers and moved along the coast by the action of waves. Surfrider Foundation Respect the Beach Education Programs Waves, Wetlands & Watersheds (CA Coastal Commission Sci Act Guide (Free) (LKB) #2 It Comes in Waves: Examining the Different Origins of Tsunami Waves (LKB) #1: Judy Scotchmoor (UCMP+SFUSD) #2: Examine an example of wave erosion. (SC) #3: Observe waves as they break on the shore. (SC) A Virtual Exploration of the Beach (LKB) Exploratorium (Science Wire): Dance of the Tides Exploratorium (FronaK): Waves UCMP: earth a dynamic structure: A Field Trip to Explore the Central CA Coastal Region (LKB) Kelvin Waves waves --FK 2.d. Students know earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and floods change human and wildlife habitats. #2 Restless Earth (Melissa Duran) #1 Discovery.com (FronaK): Volcanoes & Habitats Pt ReyeVirtual Habitat Field Trip and ways to investigate various habitats (LKB) About.com (TedK): Animals on the Edge National Wildlife Foundation: Create A Habitat Project (LKB) #1 - Geology and History of the SF Bay Area: Field Trip Guide Book (LKB) #2 - California Habitats (LKB) California Habitat Field Trip (LKB) #2 UCSC (SueM): Liquefaction #1 National Geographic News (FronaK): Earthquakes/Volcanoes & Species Diversity Heat (Thermal Energy) (Physical Science) 3. Heat moves in a predictable flow from warmer objects to cooler objects until all the objects are at the same temperature. 3.a. Students know energy can be carried from one place to another by heat flow or by waves, including water, light and sound waves, or by moving objects. #2 Exploratorium (FronaK): Geyser: Cyclic Hot Water Fountain Exploratorium: Drinking Bird (JordanW) Exploratorium: Heat travels as a wave (JordanW) TheTech(JoanneR): Rover Landing Design Challenge LHS: Hotwater & Warm Homes from Sunlight (LKB) Exploratorium: Geysers Exhibit (JordanW) riverdeep(HeidiR): Introduction and activities for different types of waves. Handouts and lesson plans available. 3.b. Students know that when fuel is consumed, most of the energy released becomes heat energy. Exploratorium: Burning a Peanut (JordanW; JoanneR) GEMS: Chemical Reactions (LKB) Exploratorium: Heat Camera (JordanW) Science in Focus: Energy: Annenberg (LKB) 3.c. Students know heat flows in solids by conduction (which involves no flow of matter) and in fluids by conduction and by convection (which involves flow of matter) Convection Current: Make Your Own Heat Waves (LKB) Chabot class Convection Currents - Exploratorium Science Snacks Convection Currents, Do hot water and cold water mix? JudyS (UCMP+SFUSD) Exploratorium: Hot and Cold (JordanW) Exploratorium: Convection Currents (JordanW) Exploratorium: Liquid Crystal Thermometers Exploratorium(JoanneR): The Amazing Water Trick GEMS: Convection: A Current Event (LKB) Exploratorium: Convection Currents (JordanW) LHS: SEPUP (FronaK): Assessment Rubric & System mansfield (HeidiR): Descriptions of convection, conduction and radiation Some Thoughts about how to teach convection, etc (cica) 3.d. Students know heat energy is also transferred between objects by radiation (radiation can travel through space) Infrared Lesson Plans JudyS (UCMP+SFUSD) TedK (LHS/GEMS): Hot Water & Warm Homes Exploratorium: Radiation (JordanW) Exploratorium: Radiation as a Wave (JordanW) GEMS: Invisible Universe: The Electromagnetic Spectrum from Radio Waves to Gamma Rays (LKB) LHS: SEPUP (FronaK): Assessment Rubrics & System University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (CBurns) Hands-on experiment to explore radiation Energy in the Earth System 4. Many phenomena on Earth's surface are affected by the transfer of energy through radiation and convection currents. 4.a. Students know the sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on Earth's surface; it powers winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle. Effects of Sun on Our Planet: Stanford Solar Center (LKB) #1: Mills/CBST (S.Spiller): Making rainbows #2: Observe seasonal changes in the amount of sunlight reaching locations on Earth. (SC) Building a Sundial: Stanford Solar Center (LKB) #1-Weathering Weather: Exploring the Effects of Global Warming on Your Community (LKB) chabot exhibit JudyS+SFSU: Temperature Animation 4.b. Students know solar energy reaches Earth through radiation, mostly in the form of visible light. Chabot Touch The Sun Activity Guide (LKB) Solar Winds from NASA (NaomiE) Chabot Building An Ancient Observatory (LKB) #1-Chabot Virtual Observatory Solar Telescope (LKB) Stanford Solar Center (LKB) 4.c. Students know heat from Earth's interior reaches the surface primarily through convection. NASA: Sun Earth Connection (LKB) 4.d. Students know convection currents distribute heat in the atmosphere and oceans. #1: Convection Current Demo (APayton) #2: Examine infrared images that show variation in surface temperature. (SC) UCMP: Predicting Current Activity: (LKB) JudyS (+SFSU): Temperature Animation 4. e. Students know differences in pressure, heat, air movement, and humidity result in changes of weather. atmospheric water content and weather Flying into storms from NASA (NaomiE) #1: Hair Hygrometer #2: Super Sparker #3: Observe an animation of a thunderstorm. (SC) #4: Examine how barometric pressure changes with weather conditions. (SC) #5: Observe how the Coriolis effect influences wind direction. (SC) #6: Observe an animation of the Coriolis effect over Earth's surface. (SC) #7: Observe images of advection fog. (SC) Temperature graphing instructions (NaomiE) California climate data (NaomiE) Convection: A Current Event (LKB) JudyS (+SFSU): Temperature Animation Learn what makes weather wet and wild, do cool activities, and become hot at forecasting the weather on Web Weather for Kids! (cica) Ecology (Life Science) 5. Organisms in ecosystems exchange energy and nutrients among themselves and with the environment. 5.a. Students know energy entering ecosystems as sunlight is transferred by producers into chemical energy through photosynthesis and then from organism to organism through food webs. (FronaK): Chabot: Micro Aliens LHS/GEMS: Hot Water & Warm Homes from Sunlight Mills/CBST (S. Spiller): Plant Mouths LHS/GEMS: Aquatic Habitats (grades 2-6) Chabot (FronaK): Micro-Aliens & Life Forms on Other Planets #1 LHS-SEPUP (Ted/Frona): Assessment System Microbe Zoo: Water World (TedK): Ponds Design thematic unit with the tobacco worm -manduca sexta. 5.b. Students know matter is transferred over time from one organism to others in the food web and between organisms and the physical environment. Discovery School Arctic Food Web (APayton) Exploratorium (SusanS): Bacterial Terrarium Exploratorium (SusanS): Mold Terrarium WI Dept of Natural Resources (SusanS): Nature's Recyclers Coloring Book 5.c. Students know populations of organisms can be categorized by the functions they serve in an ecosystem. (MichaelA)US Forest Service Ecosystem Matters 5.d. Students know different kinds of organisms may play similar ecological roles in similar biomes. Chabot: Micro-Aliens: Lifeforms of another world TedK & CDM: GLOBE Project (TedK): Ecoliteracy Lesson Plans (MargaretH): Webquestion Biomes MargartH: Biomes MargaretH: students write to other students in other biomes mbgnet (HeidiR): description of biomes and animals of each. Lesson plans and projects included 5.e. Students know the number and types of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources available and on abiotic factors, such as quantities of light and water, a range of temperatures, and soil composition. TedK (CDM/BioSITE): Lesson Plans #1: CDM BioSITE: Topographic Maps #2: CDM biosite #3: To Yeast or Not To Yeast: Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth #4: Observe how nature records climate change. (SC) Exploratorium: Global Climate Change (Biosphere) (MichaelA)Clem Miller Environmental Education Center at Point Reyes Goldman Environmental Prize TedK & CDM: GLOBE Project Resources 6. Sources of energy and materials differ in amounts, distribution, usefulness, and the time required for their formation. 6.a. Students know the utility of energy sources is determined by factors that are involved in converting these sources to useful forms and the consequences of the conversion process. Video of a solar laundromat in Toronto (NaomiE) Recyclmore teacher resource page (RobinF): Incorporate waste reduction into your curriculum! Curricula and grant funds are available as well as field trips and workshops. Coal mining causes earthquakes in Australia (NaomiE) Natural gas mining causes mud volcano in Indonesia (NaomiE) Fighting pollution with space lasers - from NASA (NaomiE) 6.b. Students know different natural energy and material resources, including air, soil, rocks, minerals, petroleum, fresh water, wildlife, and forests, and know how to classify them as renewable or nonrenewable. More Power To You: Creating Documentaries about Energy Sources Handmade Recycled Paper Calculate when oil will run out (APayton) Power House: Learnng About Renewable Energy Sources (LKB) Franklin Institute (BarbaraW) simulation on depletion of natural resources 6.c. Students know the natural origin of the materials used to make common objects. Stanford Univ. (SusanS): Interactive website: How Everyday Things are Made Ecology Center: Quick Guide to Substainable Organizations (LKB) Investigation and Experimentation 7. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. 7.a. Develop a hypothesis. hypothesis Exploratorium: Making Rainbows from CD Rubrics4Teachers OUSD: Intro to Scientific Method spiller cbst Lab Notebook 7.b. Select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers, balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and display data. OUSD (Curriculum in Focus-NatalieM): Observing Convection 7.c. Construct appropriate graphs from data and develop qualitative statements about the relationships between variables. Restless Earth 7.d. Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral presentations. OUSD (Curriculum in Focus: NatalieM): Observing Convection Rubrics4Teachers 7.e. Recognize whether evidence is consistent with a proposed explanation. #1 Restless Earth (Melissa Duran): Earth's Interior #2 OUSD (Curriculum in Focus: Natalie M): Observing Connection 7.f. Read a topographic map and a geologic map for evidence provided on the maps and construct and interpret a simple scale map. CDM BioSITE: Watershed Topographic Maps topo maps and uses from USGS (RickC) 7.g. Interpret events by sequence and time from natural phenomena (e.g., the relative ages of rocks and intrusions). geologic time fossils JudyS (UCMP): Stratigraphy 7.h. Identify changes in natural phenomena over time without manipulating the phenomena (e.g., a tree limb, a grove of trees, a stream, a hillslope).