6th Grade Science Notebook – list of all lessons I have used in 6th grade in 2017-18
Clicking on each of the links will lead you to the blog entries with additional information about each lesson. Not all notebook entries will have blog entries – more updates will be added as the year progresses.
Daily Prompts or Starters from 2017-2018 – Google Slides
Becoming a Scientist
- Scavenger Hunt – students will explore their new classroom and be comfortable in their new surroundings
- Cup stacking challenge – team building and communication activity
- UPDATED 2025: The extra piece – (external link) how do scientists incorporate new findings?
- Telephone Game – how good are you at passing information?
- I am a Scientist – Social Media Edition – students will share images of themselves as scientists
- SpongeBob Safety Rules – Scenarios – are we going to make anything explode this year? (No)
- First 2 weeks of class reflection (blog entry)
- Goat by the Water – Observation vs Inference – they aren’t the same thin
- Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observation – practice worksheet
- Mystery Footprints Activity – Observation vs. Inference – sometimes there isn’t just one “right” answer
- D&T Activity – how, and why, do scientists collaborate and share information?
Properties of Matter
- Intro to the Metric System – there are no inches or gallons in science
- Metric Ruler Guided Activity – students will practice measuring cm and mm
- Finding the volume of an object using L x W x H – finding volume in the third dimension
- Reading a graduated cylinder – It is like using a ruler, but for liquids
- (NEW Oct 2018) Reading a Graduated Cylinder – Station Rotations & free resources
- Irregular Volume – Water Displacement – how can I find the volume if it is a funky shape?
- (NEW Oct 2018) Reading a Triple Beam Balance – Interactive Tutorial – I can find the mass like a pro now
- Triple Beam Balance Bottles of Stuff Activity – estimating and comparing the masses of bottles filled with stuff!
- (NEW Oct 2018) Density of Water Lab – students will determine the density of water using their volume and mass skills
- Density Bottle Demo – which one has the most ‘stuff’ in it?
- Mass, Volume, & Density Notes/Foldable – matter takes up space, but has a lot of empty space, too
- Density Math
- Density Lab – can you identify the blocks bases on mass, volume, and density?
- Float or Sink
- Dunkin’ for Density – how can I make this antique film canister suspend in water?
- Updated: Dunkin’ for Density using Google Sheets – this is a metric only zone!
- Buoyancy Notes
- Cartesian Divers – easy to make diver you can take home, too!
- Penny Boat Challenge (pdf) – New record of 532 pennies Nov. 2015
- Wanted Posters – Famous Scientist Research
Chemistry
- BrainPOP – Solid, Liquid, & Gas Notes (pdf) – Free BrainPOP Video (link)
- Solid, Liquid, & Gas – States & Phases of Matter Venn Diagram – atoms are moving at different speeds!
- Physical & Chemical Properties & Changes Notes/Foldable – what do I look for to help me identify it?
- Physical & Chemical Changes Sorting Activity – Humpty Dumpty experienced a physical change, ouch
- Candle Observation Lab – Making observations just like Michael Faraday
- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures Classification Group Activity – all matter fits into one of these 3 categories
- Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures – Lego Activity – I get to play with Legos?!
- Elements, Compounds, & Mixtures – Reinforcement & Quiz, Quiz, Trade
- Chromatography Lab
- Rainbow Lab – how many colors can we create?
- Mystery Sock – student will practice using indirect evidence
- Intro to Atomic Models
- Atomic Theory Timeline: How do we make a model of something we can’t see?
- Einstein and the Atomic Bomb
- Duck and Cover (external link) – Cold War Atomic Bomb Drills
- The Atoms Family – “they’re tiny and they’re teeny…”
- Coloring the Periodic Table – Some families are more reactive than others
- Adopt An Element – create an advertisement for your favorite element
- Periods & Groups – how are elements arranged on the periodic table?
- Bohr Diagrams – How are electrons arranged in an atom?
- Lewis Structures – How to draw valence electrons for elements in groups 1 – 8
- Counting Atoms
- Ionic & Covalent Bonding – Students will learn how atoms form Ionic & Covalent bonds
- Bond with a Classmate – Students become ions and make compounds
- Making Molecular Models – how do atoms combine to make molecules? students can visualize how atoms are arranged and identify bond types
- Balancing Chemical Equations – what goes in, must come out
- Identifying Chemical Equations – Square Dancing for Elements
- Intro to Acids & Bases – Venn diagram activity
- pH Scale
- Cabbage Juice Lab – having fun with a smelly pH indicator
- Alien Juice Bar – find the correct pH to serve your customers, don’t make then sick!
- Does Gas have Mass?
- Mystery Powder Lab
Minerals, Mining, & Rocks
- Intro to Minerals – aren’t they they just rocks? What is the difference?
- Minerals in your House – what is in my toilet?
- Crystal Lattices – atoms join together to create repeating patterns
- How to Identify Minerals
- Mineral Research & Cube Project – students will create a mineral cube to display what they learned about their mineral
- What is Mining? – Is there a mine near you?
- Lewis Hines & Child Labor Photography – why did children work in mines and factories instead of going to school?
- Assembly Line – Hershey Kiss Factory
- Cookie Mining – lets dig for chocolate!
- Environmental Issues Research – how does the use of our natural resources affect the environment?
- Into to Rocks
- Rock Identification Stations Lab – I can identify 12 different rocks, geology rocks!
- Rock Cycle
- Ride the Rock Cycle – it is like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story!
- Law of Superposition – How can we determine the age of fossils and rocks?
- Intro to Plate Tectonics – Alfred Wegener was right!
- Plotting Earthquakes – there are earthquakes happening all over the world
- Volcano Research
Middle School Science Lessons 