6th Grade Science Notebook – list of all lessons I have used in 6th grade.
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.
For 2018-2019 Sequence – click here
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
- Nature of Science – (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 Blog 
I just started homeschooling and this resource has been incredible helpful. Thanks a bunch for sharing!
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Thank you for letting me know! Hope you find a lot of lessons that you can use 🙂
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What an awesome resource! Thank you for sharing!
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Hope you can find lessons you can use in your classroom, have a great year! Liz
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What do do the days X,E,F,A,B mean? Do you but see your students daily?
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We used to have a 6 day rotation, A-F, X was a special schedule, we met 5/6 days. Now we meet 4/5 days.
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Hi Liz! Just wondering about the Hershey’s Kiss Assembly Line–do you have the students simulate the assembly line, make them wrap fake hershey’s kisses? Thank you for all that you do!
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Lillian – yes, I used plastic dinosaur math manipulatives, foil, and ribbon – I will post the lesson soon, and in the spring, I will add photos. Thx! Liz
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Liz,
I stumbled across your Middle School Science Blog and it is now my favorite resource online EVER!!! I have been teaching for 30 years, but just recently became a middle school science teacher. I am tasked this year with teaching NGSS to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students using OER. Needless to say its a daunting task to begin especially as one new to the subject area and grade level. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your amazing blog!
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Elizabeth,
Best of luck to you this year teaching middle school science! I am happy to hear that my blog will be able to help you plan your lessons. You have plenty of classroom experience and I know you will do well. Have a great school year!!
~Liz
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I also am going into 7th grade science for the first time, and it is really overwhelming!
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Good luck!
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I love your ideas and organization of your notebook. I have been following you for several years, and I have loved having you as a resource. Thank you for all the time you have spent creating the wonderful activities and resources.
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Thank you so much April, I am happy to hear that you found resources that you can use in classes! 🙂
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Your ideas are awesome and so easily adaptable for 8th graders which is whom I teach. I was wondering about your atomic model ideas. There was no link and I am really looking for more ideas in that area. Can you post more on those please. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!
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Thank you Deb! I will be making updates over the summer, be sure to stop back, I need to finalize my lessons before I post them here.
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Just a note of thanks for these amazing ideas. I have been teaching for 23 years and was just asked to teach science for the first time in 15. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. You have given me a great resource in your lessons. Thanks to you it will be a wonderful school year!
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Mary – Best of luck to you as you head back into the science classroom! Thank you for letting me know this will help make your transition easier! ~Liz
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Thanks Liz for putting such a wonderful resource together for science teachers. I have been teaching for 15 years and enjoy your resources a lot. They are very helpful and easy to follow.
Thank you once again.
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Anjana, Have a wonderful school year, happy to help! ~ Liz
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Liz,
I just want to say thank you for putting together and sharing your amazing ideas and activities. Not only are your lessons fun and engaging but they are MEANINGFUL! This is my 3rd year of teaching 6th grade science (I taught primary for 12 years before) so I still feel like a new teacher all over again. Your page has offered numerous resources for me and I am truly thankful for that. You are an amazing resource! I hope you have a wonderful year!
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Thank you for your positive feedback and letting me know you use these lessons in your classroom! I am happy to help provide free resources for teachers 🙂 Have a wonderful school year and best of luck!
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