This unit is designed to be taught to 6th grade inner city students. The age level is 10 - 13. A large number of our students come to 6th grade science class having no prior exposure to physical science. Most have never completed a science fair project. This will be a hands-on unit that will show students how science is present in their everyday life. Students will also learn how ordinary household products can be used to conduct experiments.
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Our sixth grade science curriculum is an integrated curriculum that includes physical science. This unit will focus on force and motion. The theme of the unit is "scale." The narrative will examine four areas of force and motion: motion, gravity, measuring motion and forces in pairs. Objectives will be stated for each area. The hands-on section will include examples of activities that support each objective.
Objectives (motion)
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- Collect, record and interpret data about movement
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- Investigate how distance and direction can describe motion
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- Identify how the variables of distance and time are used to determine speed
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- Measure correctly using the metric system
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- Observe and explore the changes in speed of a moving object
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- Predict how the motion of an object can affect a second object
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- Investigate acceleration and deceleration
Objectives (getting a grip on gravity)
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- Investigate gravity
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- Infer how mass affects the force of gravity
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- Analyze how the force of gravity changes as distance increases
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- Predict, observe and record the rate at which objects with different masses fall
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- Interpret data on a graph to determine information about time and distance of a falling object
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- Investigate how shape affects an object's falling rate
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- Observe and infer the use of air resistance to slow an object's falling rate
Objectives (measuring motion)
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- Observe and predict movement of objects
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- Experiment with the use of safety devices and infer which devices are most effective
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- Explain Newton's first law and apply it to everyday life
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- Infer relationships between strength and direction of forces and the behavior of objects.
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- Explain how Newton's second law is applied to everyday life.
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- Observe how much friction different surfaces have
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- Observe how wheels reduce friction
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- Investigate helpful and harmful effects of friction
Objectives (forces in pairs)
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- Observe how momentum is transferred from one object to another
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- Investigate how mass and velocity affects momentum
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- Observe the forces that affect bouncing balls
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- Experiment with action and reaction forces
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- Describe Newton's Third Law of Motion
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- Observe the effects of action-reaction forces
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- Collect data about the development of the wheel
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- Investigate how action-reaction forces propel swimmers.
