Rockingham County Public Schools
Sixth Grade Science Benchmarks
A Guide
for Parent Involvement |
|
1st Nine Weeks
Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic;
6.1 á Lab
safety rules and tools á Metric
measurement á Length á Mass á Volume á Temperature á Using
graphs and charts á Steps of
the scientific method á Control á Variable á Constant Force, motion and energy; 6.2 á Potential
and kinetic forms of energy á Role of
the sun in formation of energy sources on Earth á Renewable
(wood, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal and solar) á Nonrenewable
(fossil fuels, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal) á Energy
transformations (heat/light to mechanical, chemical, and electrical energy) Properties and characteristics of water; 6.5 á Water as
the universal solvent á Water in
three states á Action of
water in weathering (physical and chemical) á Origin
and occurrence of water on planet á Ability
of water to store heat and affect climate á Importance
of protecting and maintaining water resources á Importance
of water for o Agriculture o Power
generation o Public health Living Systems; 6.7 á Health
of ecosystems and the abiotic factors of a
watershed á Location
and structure of VirginiaÕs regional watershed system á Divides,
tributaries, river systems and river and stream processes á Wetlands á Estuaries á Major
conservation, health, and safety issues associated with watersheds á Water
monitoring and analysis using field equipment including hand-held technology |
2nd Nine Weeks
Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic;
6.1 Living Systems; 6.7 á Health
of ecosystems and the abiotic factors of a
watershed á Location
and structure of VirginiaÕs regional watershed system á Divides,
tributaries, river systems and river and stream processes á Wetlands á Estuaries á Major
conservation, health, and safety issues associated with watersheds á Water
monitoring and analysis using field equipment including hand-held technology Matter; 6.4 á Parts of
an atom á Proton,
neutron, electron á Atoms of
any same elements are alike but different from atoms of other elements á Periodical
chart of the Elements and their symbols á Atoms
may be chemically combined and have formulas á A
limited number of elements comprise the largest portion of the solid earth
living matter, the oceans and the atmosphere Properties and characteristics of water; 6.5 á Water as
the universal solvent á Water in
three states á Action
of water in weathering (physical and chemical) á Origin
and occurrence of water on planet á Ability
of water to store heat and affect climate á Importance
of protecting and maintaining water resources á Importance
of water for o Agriculture o Power
generation o Public
health Matter; 6.6 á Properties
of air and structure and dynamics of the earthÕs atmosphere á Air as a
mixture of gaseous elements and compounds á Air
pressure, temperature and humidity á How the
atmosphere changes with altitude á Natural
and human-caused changes to the atmosphere á The
relationship of atmospheric measure and weather conditions á Basic
information from weather maps including fronts, systems, and basic
measurements á The
importance of protecting and maintaining air quality |
3rd Nine Weeks
Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic;
6.1 Interrelationships in Earth/Space systems; 6.8 á Day,
night á Rotation á Seasons á Tilt and
revolution á Moon
phases á Movement
and effects of moon on earth á Eclipse á Tides Planets and solar system; 6.8 á Sun,
planets, and moons á Earth in
relationship to sun o Distance o Size á Earth in
relationship to other planets á Comets á Asteroids á Role of
gravity á Space
exploration, past present, and future Force Motion and Energy; 6.3 á Solar
energy and its role on the earth á EarthÕs
energy budget á Role of
radiation and convection in the distribution of energy á Motion
of the atmosphere and the oceans á Cloud
formation á Role of
heat energy in weather-related phenomena including thunderstorms and
hurricanes |
4th Nine Weeks
Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic;
6.1 Force Motion and Energy; 6.3 á Solar
energy and its role on the earth á EarthÕs
energy budget á Role of
radiation and convection in the distribution of energy á Motion
of the atmosphere and the oceans á Cloud formation á Role of
heat energy in weather-related phenomena including thunderstorms and
hurricanes Resources; 6.9 á Public policy decisions relating to management of renewable and
nonrenewable resources o
Water o
Air o
Plant life o
Animal life á Management of nonrenewable resources o
Coal o
Oil o
Natural gas o
Nuclear power á Cost/benefit tradeoffs in conservation policies á Mitigation
of land-use and environmental hazards through preventive measures Review of yearÕs previous units |
** The numbers throughout the
Benchmarks refer to the Virginia Science Standards of Learning objectives. For example, Ò6.4Ó refers to Sixth
Grade SOL objective number Ò4Ó.