MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/
Framework: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/acad/id/curriculum/Science/Webpage%20links%207%2031%2008.htm
National Science Education Standards: http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/overview.html
MISSISSIPPI FRAMEWORK AND BENCHMARKS FOR 6TH GRADE SCIENCE / BY TOPIC
INQUIRY
1. Conduct a scientific investigation utilizing appropriate process skills.
a. Design and conduct an investigation that includes predicting outcomes, using experimental controls, and making inferences. (DOK 3)
b. Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative observations and make inferences based on observations. (DOK 3)
c. Use simple tools and resources to gather and compare information (using standard, metric, and non-standard units of measurement). (DOK 1)
1. Tools (e.g., English rulers [to the nearest one-sixteenth of an inch], metric rulers [to the nearest millimeter], thermometers, scales, hand lenses,
microscopes, balances, clocks, calculators, anemometers, rain gauges, barometers, hygrometers, telescopes, compasses, spring scales)
2. Types of data (e.g., linear measures, mass, volume, temperature, time, area, perimeter)
3. Resources (e.g., Internet, electronic encyclopedias, journals, community resources, etc.)
d. Analyze data collected from a scientific investigation to construct explanations and draw conclusions. (DOK 3)
e. Communicate scientific procedures and conclusions using diagrams, charts, tables, graphs, maps, written explanations, and/or
scientific models. (DOK 2)
f. Evaluate the results or solutions to problems by considering how well a product or design met the challenge to solve a problem. (DOK 3)
g. Infer explanations for why scientists might draw different conclusions from given set of data. (DOK 2)
h. Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions. (DOK 2)
2. Analyze chemical and physical changes and interactions involving energy adn forces that affect motion of objects.
a. Recognize that atoms of a given element are all alike but atoms of other elements have different atomic structures. (DOK 1)
b. Distinguish physical properties of matter (e.g., melting points, boiling points, solubility) as it relates to changes in states. (DOK 2)
1. Between solids, liquids, and gases through models that relate matter to particles in motion
2. Solubility in water of various solids to activities (e.g., heating, stirring, shaking, crushing) on the rate of solution
3. Use of solubility differences to identify components of a mixture (e.g., chromatography)
c. Investigate and describe the effects of forces acting on objects. (DOK 2)
1. Gravity, friction, magnetism, drag, lift, and thrust
2. Forces affecting the motion of objects
d. Investigate the mechanical and chemical forms of energy and demonstrate the transformations from one form to another. (DOK 2)
1. Energy transformations represented in the use of common household objects
2. Mechanical energy transformed to another form of energy (e.g., vibrations, heat through friction)
3. Chemical energy transformed to another form of energy (e.g., light wands, lightning bugs, batteries, bulbs)
e. Apply the laws of reflection and refraction to explain everyday phenomena. (DOK 2)
1. Properties of reflection, refraction, transmission, and absorption of light
2. Images formed by plane, convex, and concave lenses and mirrors, and reflecting and refracting telescopes
3. Objects that are opaque, transparent, or translucent
f. Develop a logical argument to explain how the forces which affect the motion of objects has real-world applications including (but not limited to) examples of
1. Automotive industry (Nissan’s new production plant is located in
2. Aerospace industry (The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, housed at
3. Shipbuilding industry (Ingall’s Shipbuilding, of
g. Predict and explain factors that affect the flow of heat in solids, liquids, and gases. (DOK 3)
1. Insulating factors in real life applications (e.g., building, construction, clothing, animal covering
2. Conduction, convection, or radiation factors used to enhance the flow of heat
3. Temperature differences on the movement of water
Life Science
3. Explain the organization of living things, the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems, the diversity and interactions among populations, and the natural and human-made pressures that impact the environment.
a. Describe and predict interactions (among and within populations) and the effects of these interactions on population growth to include the effects on
available resources. (DOK 2)
1. How cooperation, competition and predation affect population growth
2. Effects of overpopulation within an ecosystem on the amount of resources available
3. How natural selection acts on a population of organisms in a particular environment via enhanced reproductive success
b. Compare and contrast structure and function in living things to include cells and whole organisms. (DOK 2)
1. Hierarchy of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems to their functions in an organism
2. Function of plant and animal cell parts (vacuoles, nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall, chloroplast)
3. Vascular and nonvascular plants, flowering and non-flowering plants, deciduous and coniferous trees
c. Distinguish between the organization and development of humans to include the
effects of disease. (DOK 2)
1. How systems work together (e.g., respiratory, circulatory)
2. Fertilization, early cell division, implantation, embryonic and fetal development, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age
3. Common diseases caused by microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, malarial parasites)
d. Describe and summarize how an egg and sperm unite in the reproduction of
angiosperms and gymnosperms. (DOK 1)
1. The path of the sperm cells to the egg cell in the ovary of a flower
2. The structures and functions of parts of a seed in the formation of a plant and of fruits
3. How the combination of sex cells results in a new combination of genetic information different from either parent
e. Construct a diagram of the path of solar energy through food webs that include humans and explain how the organisms relate to each other.
(DOK 2)
1. Autotrophs and heterotrophs, producers, consumers and decomposers
2. Predator/prey relationships, competition, symbiosis, parasitism, commensalisms, mutualism
Earth and Space
4. Establish connections among earth's layers including the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
a. Compare and contrast the relative positions and components of the Earth’s crust (e.g., mantle, liquid and solid core, continental crust, oceanic crust). (DOK 1)
b. Draw conclusions about historical processes that contribute to the shaping of
planet Earth. (DOK 3)
1. Movements of the continents through time
2. Continental plates, subduction zones, trenches, etc.
c. Analyze climate data to draw conclusions and make predictions. (DOK 2)
d. Summarize the causes and effects of pollution on people and the environment
(e.g., air pollution, ground pollution, chemical pollution) and justify how and why pollution should be minimized. (DOK 1)
e. Explain the daily and annual changes in the Earth’s rotation and revolution. (DOK 2)
1. How the positions of the moon and the sun affect tides
2. The phases of the moon (e.g., new, crescent, half, gibbous, full, waxing, waning)
f. Differentiate between objects in the universe (e.g., stars, moons, solar systems, asteroids, galaxies). (DOK 1)
g. Research and cite evidence of current resources in Earth’s systems. (DOK 3)
1. Resources such as fuels, metals, fresh water, wetlands, and farmlands
2. Methods being used to extend the use of Earth’s resources through recycling, reuse, and renewal
3. Factors that contribute to and result from runoff (e.g., water cycle, groundwater, drainage basin (watershed)
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/
National Science Education Standards: http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/overview.html
MISSISSIPPI FRAMEWORK AND BENCHMARKS FOR 6TH GRADE SCIENCE / BY TOPIC
LIVING THINGS
Explore how different populations determine the formation of an ecosystem
a. Compare/contrast the roles among producers, consumers, and decomposers in a food web
b. Manipulate resources and other factors (living and nonliving) that promote and limit growth of populations in an ecosystem
Explore how changing resources will influence the regulation and behavior of organism
a. Evaluate the significance of resources required by organisms
b. Investigate, compare/contrast ways organisms adapt to their environment
Investigate structure and functions in living systems
a. Identify, compare, and contrast levels of organization including cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and organisms
b. Compare and contrast patterns and interactions of ecosystems and biomes
Explore the Unique characteristics of organisms
a. Evaluate and chart the similarities of organisms
b. Propose and relate environmental changes and the adaptive characteristics that influence the extinction of a species
Compare and classify the reproduction and heredity of organisms
a. Differentiate between sexual and asexual reproduction
b. Determine how traits are used to classify individual inherited patterns
EARTH SCIENCE
Model the structure of the Earth system past and present
a. Construct and explain the structure of the atmosphere (gas-air), hydrosphere (liquid-water), lithosphere (solid-land), and the changes that occur within
b. Examine the changes and processes that alter the Earth’s system
c. Analyze fossils as indicators of how life and environmental conditions have changed
SPACE
Investigate the Earth in relation to the solar system
a. Demonstrate how the Earth’s motion influences the day, year, phases of the moon, and eclipses
b. Explore how gravity influences the motion of all celestial bodies
c. Demonstrate how the tilt of the Earth axis and Earth revolution around the sun create the seasons
CHEMISTRY
Investigate structure, properties, and changes of matter
a. Analyze properties such as density, boiling point, and solubility of a substance
b. Record and interpret physical and chemical changes using everyday substances
c. Differentiate between common elements that combine chemically to produce compounds
d. Demonstrate the ability to use simple measuring devices using metric and English units
PHYSICS
Evaluate the effect of force on the motion of an object
a. Analyze, measure, and graph the motion of an object
b. Experiment and measure the effect of force on an object
ENERGY
Examine the transfer of energy in many different forms
a. Observe and manipulate energy as potential or kinetic
b. Investigate forms of energy such as heat, sound, light, or electricity
c. Recognize the sun as a major source of energy