Grade 6

The Nature of Science

Earth Science

Life Science

Physical Science

The Practice of Science

The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge

The Role of Theories, Laws, and Models 

Design, Process, and Problem Solving (STREAM)

Society and Society (STREAM)

Earth Structures

Earth Systems and Patterns

Earth in Space and Time

Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms

Forces and Changes in Motion

Define a problem from the sixth grade curriculum, form a question in order to develop a hypothesis, use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigation of various types, such as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.

Differentiate replication (by others) from repetition (multiple trials).

Distinguish between an experiment (which must involve the identification and control of variables) and other forms of scientific investigation, and explain the relative benefits and limitations of each.

Identify test variables (independent variables) and outcome variables (dependent variables) in an experiment.

Discuss, compare, and evaluate methods used, results obtained, and explanations among groups of students conducting the same investigation.

Describe the methods used in the pursuit of a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science such as biology, geology, and physics.

Explain that empirical evidence is the cumulative body of observations of a natural phenomenon on which scientific explanations are based.

Recognize that the practice of science applies logic and reason equally with Catholic moral and ethical teachings in order to understand the consequences of the outcomes.

Identify an instance from the history of science in which scientific knowledge has changed when new evidence or new interpretations are encountered.

Evaluate the work of the Catholic scientists who made contributions to scientific knowledge and who come from all kinds of backgrounds and possess varied talents, interests, and goals.

Explain that a scientific theory is well-supported and testable through the scientific method as an explanation of nature and is not simply a claim posed by an individual.

Recognize and explain that a scientific law is a statement based on repeated experiments or observations with consistent findings and identify examples.

Explain that a scientific model is a representation of an idea, an object, a process or a system used to provide visual clarity for a better understanding. 

Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

State components of morally good; the desired action, the purpose or intention for doing the action, and the circumstances for making the choices.

Articulate how the development of conscience as an informed inner voice that helps to distinguish a morally good act or bad act.

Practice making good moral decisions.

Understand that we are called to reflect on our moral choices.

Explain that science is one of the processes that can be used to inform decision making at the community, state, national, and international levels.

Explain how political, social, and economic concerns can affect science, and vice versa.

Examine multiple perspectives on public and current scientific issues.

Understand how technology is essential to science for such purposes as access to remote locations, sample collection, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information.

Explain how leading a virtuous/moral life has a communal impact.

Be able to raise and share quesitons about suffering and promise in the Old Testament and in the world today.

Understand how Christians can be "prophets" in society.

Identify how the prohets called people to live with God-given rights and responsibilities.

Explain how the Works of Mercy are action that answer God's call to a loving relationship with him.

Explain and give examples of how physical evidence supports scientific theories that Earth has evolved over geologic time due to natural processes.

Identify current methods for measuring the age of Earth and its parts, including the law of superposition and radioactive dating.

Explore the scientific theory of plate tectonics by describing how the movement of Earth's crustal plates causes both slow and rapid changes in Earth's surface, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building.

Identify the impact that humans have had on Earth, such as deforestation, urbanization, desertification, erosion, air and water quality, changing the flow of water.

Describe how global patterns such as the jet stream and ocean currents influence local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, air pressure, wind direction and speed, and humidity and precipitation.

Differentiate and show interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.

Explain how energy provided by the sun influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land.

Differentiate between weather and climate.

Investigate how natural disasters have affected human life.

Compare and contrast the hierarchical relationships and magnitude of astronomical bodies relative to our solar system, galaxy, and universe, including gravitational force, distance from the Sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions.

Explore the Law of Universal Gravitation by explaining the role that gravity plays in the formation of planets, stars, and solar systems and in determining their motions.

Describe and classify specific physical properties of stars: apparent magnitude, temperature (color), size, and luminosity (absolute brightness).

Understand solar properties including: rotation, structure of the Sun, convection, sunspots, solar flares, and prominences.

Compare various historical models of the Solar System, including geocentric and heliocentric.

Describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the moon and sun, and seasons.

Recognize that fossil evidence is consistent with the scientific theory of evolution that living things evolved from earlier species.

Explore the scientific theory of evolution by recognizing and explaining ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors contribute to evolution by natural selection and diversity of organisms.

Explore the scientific theory of evolution by relating how the inability of a species to adapt within a changing environment may contribute to the extinction of that species.

Understand the concepts of inerrancy, Canon of Scripture, and inspriation of the Holy Spirit with Sacred Scripture.

Articulate the message of the creation stories in the Bible.

Associate the creation stories of humanity to the concept of human dignity.

Investigate and describe types of forces including contact forces and forces acting at a distance, such as electrical, magnetic, and gravitational.

Explore the Law of Gravity by recognizing that every object exerts gravitational force on every other object and that the force depends on how much mass the objects have and how far apart they are.

Investigate and describe that an unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed, or direction of motion, or both.