Sixth Grade Science Overview

Meet Mrs. Schmidt contact information 11 th Year teaching at Haines Love to teach and learn about science Think 6 th graders are great! – –Phone: Contact information: Haines Phone Number:

Daily Expectations Supplies: Binder with spiral and take-home folder. Pencils, pen, eraser, free reading book. Be on Time Be Prepared Ask Questions Respect yourself and others Always do your best

Grading Grades are calculated by total points earned during a grading period. Students earn grades as follows: –90% - 100%----  A –80% - 89% ---  B –70% - 79% ---  C –60% - 69% ---  D –Below 60% ……well, this shouldn’t happen

Units of Study Thinking Like a Scientist Rocks and Minerals Astronomy Earth’s Changing Surface Environment – woven throughout the year Weather

Scientific Inquiry Three Main Branches of Science Steps of the Scientific Method –Researching a topic - performing an experiment. Representing data –Metric Measurement –Creating Line and Bar Graphs

Rocks and Minerals Three main types of rocks and how they are formed. Rock Cycle Minerals – mineral resources, mineral properties

Astronomy The Sun –Relationship to the earth and moon Earth –Rotation/Revolution, Seasons, Calendar/Time Moon –Gravity and Motion, Phases, Eclipses and Tides Inner and Outer Planets – Planet Project Lives of Stars

Earth’s Changing Surface Earth’s Interior – heat transfer in the mantle Continental Drift/plate tectonics Earthquakes Volcanoes

Environment Energy Resources: fossil fuels, renewable and non-renewable resources Land and soil resources Waste /pollution Solutions to pollution

Weather Atmosphere – layers of the atmosphere Weather factors – temperature, pressure, wind, precipitation Weather patterns – Air fronts, masses, storms

Texts and Resources Prentice Hall Science Explorer Series Titles: Inside Earth Environmental Science Earth’s Waters Weather and Climate Astronomy ScienceSaurus – Student Handbook All texts and references are for classroom use. Homework will not require text to be taken home. Extra texts are available in the LRC for student check- out if needed due to absence or other circumstances.

Important Dates To Know Outdoor Education: October 18 th and 19 th Acuity- Throughout the year beginning in September. ISAT Testing: First week of March –Sixth Grade tests Reading, Math and writing.

Excel – Homework Lab Beginning September 20 th, 2012 on THURSDAYS after school, HMS provides a supervised study program intended for students who need to complete missing work. If your student is missing assignments in 2 or more classes, they will have the opportunity to work on the assignments under the supervision of HMS staff. You will be contacted if a teacher recommends your student for EXCEL by Wednesday afternoon. Homework Lab meets in the North Computer Lab each Thursday from 3:30pm until 4:30pm. Transportation home is provided by the activity bus. This bus leaves HMS at 4:40pm and will drop students at their home elementary school.