Georgia Quality Core Curriculum

6th Grade Science, Strand: Physical Science

1. Topic: Scientific Inquiry Process
   Standard: Uses process skills of observing, classifying, communicating, measuring, predicting, inferring, identifying, and manipulating variables; recording analyzing and operationally defining, formulating models, experimenting, constructing hypotheses and drawing conclusions
   
2. Topic: Safety Skills
   Standard: Understands and applies laboratory safety rules and practices.
   
   
3. Topic: Standard International (SI) Measurements (Metric System)
   Standard: Defines and identifies standards of measurement.
   • 3.1 Names the prefixes used in the SI system.
   • 3.2 Identifies SI units and symbols for length, volume, mass, density, time, and temperature.
   • 3.3 Converts measurements among related SI units.
   • 3.4 Uses appropriate tools for determining mass, volume, temperature, density, and length.
   
   
4. Topic: Reference Skills
   Standard: Selects and uses multiple types of print and nonprint sources for information on science concepts.
   
   
5. Topic: Structure of Matter
   Standard: Explains the properties and phases of matter, using as an example the composition and properties of water.
   • 5.1 Distinguishes between atoms and molecules and among elements, mixtures and compounds.
   • 5.2 Describes the structure of elements.
   • 5.3 Describes the periodic table of elements and uses it to find information about an element.
   • 5.4 Uses the periodic table to classify an element as a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid.
   • 5.4 Describes atomic number and atomic mass.
   • 5.6 Distinguishes physical and chemical properties and physical and chemical changes.
   • 5.7 Recognizes and writes common chemical symbols, chemical formulas, and chemical equations.
   
   
6. Topic: Structure of Matter
   Standard: Analyzes the relationship of matter and energy.
   • 6.1 Describes how the molecular motion changes in each phase of matter.
   • 6.2 Discusses the nature of freezing, condensing, boiling, and evaporating.
   
   
7. Topic: Structure of Matter
   Standard: Defines acid and base.
   • 7.1 Describes the characteristic properties of acids and bases.
   • 7.2 Lists the names, formulas, and uses of some common acids and bases.
   • 7.3 Explain what a salt is and how salts form.
   
   
8. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
   Standard: Describes how energy and work are related.
   • 8.1 Distinguishes between kinetic and potential energy.
   • 8.2 Describes different forms of energy (e.g., mechanical, electrical, chemical, radiant, nuclear, etc.).
   • 8.3 Describes how energy and power are related.
   
   
9. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
   Standard: Defines speed as a rate.
   • 9.1 Performs calculations involving speed, time, and distance to interpret distance-time graphs.
   • 9.2 Compares and contrasts speed, velocity, and acceleration.
   • 9.3 Recognizes different examples of forces.
   • 9.4 States and describes Newton's three laws of motion.
   • 9.5 Gives examples of the effects of gravity.
   • 9.6 Relates gravitational force to mass and distance.
   • 9.7 Distinguishes between mass and weight.
   • 9.8 Evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of passenger restraint devices as related to force and motion.
   
   
10. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
    Standard: Explains the relationship among force, motion and acceleration.
    • 10.1 Explains why objects thrown or shot follow a curved path.
    • 10.2 Compares motion in a straight line with circular motion.
    • 10.3 Defines weightlessness.
    • 10.4 Analyzes action and reaction forces.
    • 10.5 Explains conservation of momentum.
    
    
11. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
    Standard: Describes how particles of a fluid exert pressure.
    • 11.1 States Archimedes' principle.
    • 11.2 States Bernoulli's principle and describes a way Bernoulli's principle is applied.
    • 11.3 Explains how a hydraulic device operates.
    
    
12. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
    Standard: Explains how machines make work easier.
    • 12.1 Describes six types of simple machines.
    • 12.2 Recognizes the simple machines that make up a compound machine.
    • 12.3 Describes the relationship between work, power, and time.
    • 12.4 Explains what the science of bionics involves.
    • 12.5 Contrasts two methods of using electrical signals to trigger motion of a limb or other body processes.
    
    
13. Topic: Motion, Forces, and Energy
    Standard: Explains how satellites are placed in orbit around the earth.
    • 13.1 Gives examples of how satellites are used to improve the overall quality of life.
    
    
14. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Heat
    Standard: Investigates the characteristics, movements, and measurements of heat energy.
    • 14.1 Demonstrates the difference between heat and temperature.
    • 14.2 Shows how heat causes matter to expand and contract.
    • 14.3 Explains how heat is transferred by conduction, convection, and radiation.
    • 14.4 Identifies some causes and effects of thermal pollutions.
    • 14.5 Discusses some possible solutions for thermal pollution problems.
    
    
15. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Waves
    Standard: Describes how waves carry energy.
    • 15.1 Discusses the characteristics and properties of waves.
    • 15.2 Explains how wavelength, frequency, and speed are related.
    • 15.3 Compares transverse and compressional waves.
    • 15.4 Describes how waves are refracted and reflected.
    
    
16. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Light
    Standard: Contrasts electromagnetic waves and other kinds of waves (e.g., sound, water).
    • 16.1 Describes the electromagnetic spectrum.
    • 16.2 Explains at least one application of each type of electromagnetic wave.
    
    
17. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Light
    Standard: States and gives an example of the law of reflection.
    • 17.1 Explains how refraction is used to separate light into the colors of the spectrum.
    • 17.2 Describes how diffraction and interference patterns demonstrate wave behavior.
    
    
18. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Light
    Standard: Investigates the relationship between light and color.
    • 18.1 Describes the differences among opaque, transparent, and translucent materials.
    • 18.2 Explains how you see color.
    • 18.3 Describes the difference between light color and pigment color.
    
    
19. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Light
    Standard: Discusses how light interacts with mirrors and lenses to produce images.
    • 19.1 Explains how images are formed in mirrors.
    • 19.2 Identifies uses of plane, concave, and convex mirrors.
    • 19.3 Describes the types of images formed with convex and concave lenses.
    • 19.4 Compares refracting and reflecting telescopes.
    • 19.5 Discusses the technological advances in the use of light (e.g., fiber optics, lasers, cameras, microscopes, etc.)
    
    
20. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Electricity
    Standard: Lists the characteristics of electricity.
    • 20.1 Describes how static and current electricity differ.
    • 20.2 Describes the relationship between electrical current and circuits.
    • 20.3 Explains how a dry cell is a source of electricity.
    • 20.4 Describes, sketches and lists applications for a series and parallel circuit.
    • 20.5 Distinguishes between conductors and insulators.
    • 20.6 Identifies the function of circuit breakers and fuses.
    • 20.7 Calculates the amount of electrical energy in kilowatt-hours.
    • 20.8 Explains the occurrence of lightning in terms of induction and static discharge.
    • 20.9 Evaluates the positive and negative aspect of lightning induced forest fires.
    • 20.10 Identifies safety measures when dealing with electricity and lightning.
    
    
21. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Electricity and Magnetism
    Standard: Describes the properties of magnets.
    • 21.1 Defines magnetic field.
    • 21.2 Explains the magnetic effects of a current in a wire.
    • 21.3 Compares and contrasts voltmeters and ammeters.
    • 21.4 Describes the function of an electric motor.
    • 21.5 Describes how a generator produces electric current.
    • 21.6 Distinguishes between alternating and direct current.
    • 21.7 Explains the function of step up and step down transformers.
    • 21.8 Describes the characteristics and applications of super conductors.
    • 21.9 Describes the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in medicine.
    
    
22. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Sound
    Standard: Describes sound as a form of energy produced by vibrations.
    • 22.1 Lists the characteristics of waves.
    • 22.2 Discusses the relationship between frequency and wavelength.
    • 22.3 Compares and contrasts transverse and compressional waves
    
    
23. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Sound
    Standard: Describes the transmission of sound through a medium.
    • 23.1 Identifies the relationships between intensity and loudness, and frequency and pitch.
    • 23.2 Illustrates the Doppler effect.
    
    
24. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Sound
    Standard: Distinguishes between music and noise.
    • 24.1 Describes why instruments produce sounds of different quality.
    • 24.2 Explains two types of wave interference.
    
    
25. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Sound
    Standard: Explains how sound waves are used to create images of body organs.
    • 25.1 Describes the uses of ultrasound technology in medicine.
    
    
26. Topic: Energy and Its Transformation: Alternative Energy Sources
    Standard: Recognizes the major energy sources people use today to meet their energy needs.
    • 26.1 Defines and investigates energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal heat, nuclear, fossil fuels, and hydroelectric power.
    • 26.2 Identifies ways energy can be conserved.
    • 26.3 Compares and contrasts alternative energy sources.
    • 26.4 Identifies models that demonstrate how wind, sun, water, geothermal energy and waves can be used as alternative energy sources.
    • 26.5 Discusses problems associated with storing and disposal of nuclear waste.