Fifth and Sixth Grade Science Curriculum
The fifth and sixth grade Science Program is designed to create an environment in which our students learn science as a process. Utilizing a completely equipped laboratory, including computer based probes and an interactive SMART board for class discussions and PowerPoint presentations, the students engage in “hands-on science” as they develop their skills of observing, inferring, and experimenting. Building upon their previous experiences with science in earlier grades, our students deepen their understanding of science in the areas of physical science, life science and earth science.
Fifth grade science topics include: the development of our modern cell theory, classification of living things, animal and plant life cycles, food chains and ecosystems; the exploration of physical cycles in nature including the water cycle, carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle; the study of earth and space science through a study of rocks and minerals, the oceans, the sun and other astronomical bodies. Laboratory investigations that are included to help bring these topics alive involve microscope work with plant and animal cells, observations of examples from each kingdom, the dissection of owl pellets, designing a water filtration system, a study of waves using a stream table, and the building of a sundial.
Sixth grade science topics include: the development of our modern atomic theory, physical and chemical reactions, energy, sound and ear anatomy/physiology, light and eye anatomy/physiology, forces and motion, simple machines, a survey of the animal kingdom, heredity and genetics, and human sexuality. Laboratory investigations in 6th grade include: recreating Ernest Rutherford’s famous gold foil experiment, study of oscillating reactions and conducting a luminal reaction to detect the presence of blood, a study of mummification, Galileo’s Tower of Pisa experiment, dissections of a cow’s eye, a crayfish, a grasshopper, a frog and an earthworm, the building of simple machines including Archimedes screw, and the isolation of DNA from strawberries.
