New Jersey Common Core Standards 6th Grade Science Activities
Printable Sixth Grade Science Worksheets, Study Guides and Vocabulary Sets.
Studying and exploring spaceEdwin Powell Hubble (1889-1953) was an American astronomer who, in 1923, showed that the universe is expanding. He used photographs to prove that there are galaxies beyond our own. Prior to this, scientists believed that our galaxy was the entire universe. In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope (clearly named in honor of the great 20th century astronomer) was launched by NASA and has provided some of the most spectacular images of the universe ever seen. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 Earth's energy resourcesRenewable resources are resources that can be replenished in a reasonable amount of time. Nonrenewable resources are resources that, once consumed, cannot be replaced. Because oil, natural gas, and coal are the products of plants and organisms, they are known as fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are ultimately a limited resource, it is important to develop and use renewable energy resources. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Earth's Fresh WaterFresh water moves over the surface by an interconnected system of streams and rivers. Small streams that feed water into larger rivers are called tributaries. Rivers are closely interconnected and flow from higher to lower elevations where the water collects in larger and larger rivers until it ultimately flows into the oceans. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Groundwater ResourcesGroundwater is fresh water stored in regolith and bedrock. Even though solid rock like granite or marble has no pores, it often has a series of cracks and possibly faults. Water accumulates in the cracks in solid bedrock and, at times, is a source of water. A layer of rock material that can store water and allow the movement of water through the ground is called an aquifer. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Introduction to earth scienceThe field of Geology includes a number of specialized disciplines including: Mineralogy - the study of minerals, Paleontology - the study of fossils, Petrology - the study of rocks, Geophysics - the study of the physics of the Earth and its atmosphere, Meteorology - the study of weather and weather prediction, Seismology - the study of earthquakes, and Volcanology - the study of volcanoes. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Maps as models of the earth/Contour modelsGeologists use a variety of different types of maps to model or depict the three-dimensional Earth on a two-dimensional surface. Each type of map serves a purpose because each type has its special strengths: Topographic Maps, Mercator Projections, Conic Projections, Azimuthal Projections. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 5 RocksThere are three major groupings of rocks: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Igneous rocks form when liquid rock cools and hardens. Sedimentary rocks: Clastic, Chemical, Biochemical or organic. Metamorphic rocks: foliated and non-foliated (or massive). Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 3 Earth's AtmosphereFreeThe Earth is unique in our solar system because it has an atmosphere that can support life. By comparison, Venus has an atmosphere that is high in ammonia and other caustic gases; it is so dense that it would crush a human. On the other hand, Mars has no atmosphere at all. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 7 Weather patternsAir masses are extensive bodies of air that have similar temperatures and water content throughout. The boundary or line delineating different air masses is the
weather front. A small weather system that has intense energy that creates heavy
rains, high winds, and lightning is called a thunderstorm. A hurricane is an extremely large, tropical, rotating weather system that has sustained winds of at least 119 km/hr. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 Birds and MammalsA bird is an endothermic vertebrate that lays eggs, has feathers, and has a four- chambered heart. A mammal is an endothermic vertebrate that has skin covered with fur or hair, a four-chambered heart, a wide arrangement of teeth, and young that are born alive and feed by milk that was produced by the mother’s body. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 5 Fishes, Amphibians, and ReptilesFish reproduce using external fertilization. External fertilization is when the female’s eggs are meeting with the male’s sperm outside of the female’s body. Three major groups are the jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and bony fish. An amphibian is a vertebrate that is ectothermic. Most amphibians live the beginning of their lives in the water. A reptile is a vertebrate that is ectothermic and has scaly skin and a pair of lungs. Lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, and crocodiles are all examples of reptiles. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 5 Introduction to AnimalsScientists have discovered about 1.2 million different species of animals on our planet. Planet Earth is home to 8.7 million species, scientists estimate. Animals have adapted to feed on different types of food. There are animals that eat only animals (carnivores), animals that eat only plants (herbivores), and animals that eat both plants and animals (omnivores). Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 Mollusks, Arthropods and EchinodermsFreeA molusk is an invertibrate that has an un-segmented, soft body that is almost always protected by outer shells. Snails, octopuses, clams, and oysters are all species of mollusks. Arthropods are invertebrates with external skeletons, segmented bodies, and appendages. Appendages are structures that are jointed and attached to the body. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 7 Sponges, Cnidarians and WormsUntil recently, people thought that sponges were plants. The fact that they take in food puts them into the animal kingdom. When they are adults, they do not move. They attach themselves to a hard surface where they live out their lives. The structure of a sponge is very basic with some specialized tissue, but lacking organs and organ systems. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 Cells: The Basic Units of LifeThe cell is the basic building blocks of all living organisms. There are many structures within the cell. The structures within the cell are known as organelles, which are all of the structures within the cell that carry out specific functions. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 5 Diversity of lifeThere are many characteristics that scientists use to determine if something is alive. The characteristics are very specific and are applicable to all of the different species that exist on our planet. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 4 Plant ProcessesPhotosynthesis is a process powered by sunlight that uses carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and food. The process requires six molecules of water and six molecules of carbon dioxide. These molecules undergo chemical changes and oxygen and sugars like glucose are produced. The oxygen is let go through the stomata and the sugars are used to power cell functions. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Plant reproductionAn angiosperm is a plant that produces seeds within a fruit. Reproduction begins when the pollen from the anther is in contact with the stigma. Eventually the egg will be fertilized in the ovule that is in the ovary and turn from a zygote to an embryo inside the seed. The life cycle of angiosperms among the different species is very similar: Pollination, fertilization, and the development of fruit. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Genetics - Study of HeredityHeredity is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring, either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic information of their parents. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 9 ElectricityCharged Particles. Electric charges are either positive (+) or negative (-). The protons in an atom have a positive charge and the electrons around the atom have a negative charge. If two particles have similar charges, they repel each other, but, if they have opposite charges, they attract each other. This explains why an atom holds together. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 ElectromagnetismThe production of a magnetic field around an electrical current is called electromagnetism. The placement of an electric current in a preexisting magnetic field can cause motion. When this happens, electrical energy is transformed into mechanical energy. The use of electrical energy to produce mechanical energy is the principle behind the workings of an electric motor. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 MagnetismA magnet is any substance that attracts the element iron or anything with iron in it. All magnets have opposite ends or poles. These are referred to as the north and south poles. In addition, because of polarity, all magnets will point toward the magnetic north pole of the earth. While the greatest magnetic force is at the poles, there is some degree of magnetism all around a magnet. This is called the
magnetic field. Read more...iWorksheets: 5Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 Introduction to matterMatter is anything that takes up space and has mass. Some of its properties are physical and would include such things as color, volume and weight. Other properties are chemical and deal with how matter chemically reacts with other materials. Matter can undergo both physical and chemical changes. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Solids, liquids and gasesMatter exists in three different states or phases: solid, liquids and gases or vapors. A solid has a definite shape and volume, A liquid has a definite volume but no definite shape and A gas has neither a definite volume nor shape. Gases or vapors are influenced by three factors: temperature, volume and pressure. Read more...iWorksheets: 4Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 2 Our impact on earthAny waste substance that is added to a natural system in amounts greater than that natural system can break it down or eliminate it is called pollution. The waste substance itself is the pollutant. A natural resource that can be replenished is called a renewable resource. In most cases, water is a renewable resource. Read more...iWorksheets: 3Study Guides: 1Vocabulary Sets: 1 NJ.CC.6-8.RST. Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects
Craft and Structure
6-8.RST.4. Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
Energy and ecosystemsAn ecosystem includes all the living and non-living things in an area. This includes populations and communities of many different animals. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :3 Interactions among living thingsAn important and essential interaction among living things involves the flow of energy within an environment. All living organisms need energy to survive! Energy moves through an environment through food chains and food webs. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :3 The Digestive System & NutritionThere are six different types of nutrients that the body needs. They are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and water. There are three main functions of the digestive system. They are to break down foods into molecules that the body can use, absorb the molecules into the blood and send them all throughout the body, and eliminate wastes from the body. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :5 Ecosystems, food chains and food websUnderstanding food chains and food webs requires understanding the flow of energy and food sources among living things on Earth. A food chain represents a series of organisms connected by where they obtain their energy. A food web is made up of many different food chains in an ecosystem. A food web helps us understand how organisms are interrelated within an ecosystem. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :5 Chemical bondingFreeChemical bonding involves only an atom's outermost electrons. These electrons are called valence electrons and because they have more energy than other electrons, they tend to be found further away from the nucleus. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1Vocabulary :1 Chemical reactionsWhen a chemical reaction occurs, the original substances put together, called reactants, lose their chemical properties and become different substances called products with a different set of chemical properties. Reactions where energy is released are called exothermic reactions. When energy is absorbed, it is called an endothermic reaction. Read more...iWorksheets :4Study Guides :1Vocabulary :2 Protection, Reproduction and CooperationThe human body protects itself with non-specific defense systems that react naturally and automatically to invading organisms. Your skin, with its layers of protective tissue, is a very strong, watertight barrier to environmental pathogens. What is an Antigen? A antigen is a molecule that immune system can recognize as either part of the body or as foreign to the body. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 Moving and Controlling the BodyTissues are collections of cells of different types that interact to support the function of the tissues, organs and overall organ system. The brain and spinal cord communicate with all other parts of the body through the nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system. Sensory neurons carry impulses toward the brains and spinal cord. Motor neurons carry impulses away from the brain and interneurons carry impulses within the brain and spinal cord. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 Providing Fuel and TransportationFood is stored and processed in your stomach, so that your body can gain access to the nutrients in the food. Your body relies on what you eat and drink to maintain healthy tissues and to generate the energy. There are six categories of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. Read more...iWorksheets :4Vocabulary :3 Food Chains and Food WebsBiological dynamics of Earth. Relationships within a community: predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism. Construct a food chain. Construct a trophic-level pyramid (energy level). Compare and contrast food webs and food chains. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :2 Six Kingdoms of LifeThe six Kingdoms are: Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Fungi, Protists, Plants and Animals. Fungi include mushrooms, molds, and yeasts. Protists include some algae, paramecium, and amoeba. Eubacteria are single-celled organisms that don’t have a nucleus. Animals are divided into vertebrates and invertebrates and include mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fish. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 Plate TectonicsThe Earth's layers: crust, mantle, core. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of plates of the Earth's crust over hot mantle rock. Plate tectonics are active on Earth since the very beginning. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :4 Cell TransportActive and Passive Cell transport. There are three main types of passive transport - Diffusion, Osmosis and Facilitated Diffusion. There are two types of active transport - Primary (direct) and Secondary (indirect). Read more...iWorksheets :2Vocabulary :2 Pond MicrolifeFood vacuole - a small sac-like structure in which captured food is digested. Micronucleus - the smaller of the two nuclei present in some protozoa that contains the genetic material and controls cell reproduction. Paramecium - a single-celled protozoan covered with hair-like cilia, found in many freshwater habitats. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :4 Chromosomes, Genes and DNAChromosomes are made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), the hereditary material in humans and most of other organisms. Specific sections of the DNA are called genes. Each gene provides the cell with different information. Each chromosome is made up of many genes. There are about about 100000 genes found on human chromosomes. A gene is made up of a particular sequence of DNA bases. This sequence acts as a code for a protein. The production of different proteins determines the trait (inherited characteristic) of an organism. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 MitosisStructures and functions of living organisms: Cells, Tissues, Organs, and Organ Systems. Differentiate between the processes of mitosis and meiosis. Describe different cell parts and their functions. Read more...iWorksheets :2Vocabulary :3 The Study of HeredityHeredity refers to the genetic heritage passed down by our biological parents when certain traits are passed from the parents to the children. Traits are characteristics such as height, hair color etc... Heredity is passed through genes in the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule. DNA is a molecule that contains the biological instructions that make each species unique. Read more...iWorksheets :2Vocabulary :3 MeiosisMeiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells – sperm in males, eggs in females. Prophase I - a phase of meiosis during which chromosomes thicken and homologous pairs of chromosomes move together. Metaphase I - a phase of meiosis I during which homologous pairs of chromosomes line up in the center of the cell. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 Energy: Forms and ChangesEnergy can have many forms, including mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear and electromagnetic energy. Mechanical energy = potential energy + kinetic energy. Thermal energy is the energy of an objects created by the motion (kinetic energy) of its particles (molecules and atoms). Chemical energy is the potential energy that is stored in chemical bonds. Electrical energy is produced by the movement of charged particles called electrons. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 SoundSound is the energy objects produce when they vibrate. Sound energy is a form of mechanical energy. The substance that the sound waves travel through is called the medium. A medium can be a solid, liquid or gas. In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium move back and forth, while the energy moves forward. Then the particles are pushed together, it is called compression. When the particles are spread apart, it is called rarefaction. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :4 What are Ecosystems?An ecosystem is a community made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water, and mineral soil. Read more...iWorksheets :2Vocabulary :4 All About EnergyEnergy is the ability to do work. There are two types of energy. One type of energy is energy that is waiting to happen but has not happened yet. This is called potential energy. Another type of energy is called kinetic energy. This type of energy is energy that is happening now. Read more...iWorksheets :6Study Guides :1Vocabulary :4 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
6-8.RST.7. Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
The nature of scienceScience process skills include observing, classifying, estimating, measuring, inferring, predicting, creating graphs, and developing models. Identify Dependent and Controlled Variables: A dependent variable is the variable that is being observed during an experiment. A control variable is the part of an experiment that you do not make any changes to which you can use to compare the other parts of your
experiment to. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 The Study of HeredityHeredity refers to the genetic heritage passed down by our biological parents when certain traits are passed from the parents to the children. Traits are characteristics such as height, hair color etc... Heredity is passed through genes in the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule. DNA is a molecule that contains the biological instructions that make each species unique. Read more...iWorksheets :2Vocabulary :3 MeiosisMeiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells – sperm in males, eggs in females. Prophase I - a phase of meiosis during which chromosomes thicken and homologous pairs of chromosomes move together. Metaphase I - a phase of meiosis I during which homologous pairs of chromosomes line up in the center of the cell. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 6-8.RST.9. Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.
NJ.CC.6-8.WHST. Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects
Production and Distribution of Writing
6-8.WHST.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Moving and Controlling the BodyTissues are collections of cells of different types that interact to support the function of the tissues, organs and overall organ system. The brain and spinal cord communicate with all other parts of the body through the nerves that make up the peripheral nervous system. Sensory neurons carry impulses toward the brains and spinal cord. Motor neurons carry impulses away from the brain and interneurons carry impulses within the brain and spinal cord. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :3 Research to Build and Present Knowledge
6-8.WHST.7. Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
Text Types and Purposes
6-8.WHST.2. Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
6-8.WHST.2.a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
6-8.WHST.2.f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
The nature of scienceScience process skills include observing, classifying, estimating, measuring, inferring, predicting, creating graphs, and developing models. Identify Dependent and Controlled Variables: A dependent variable is the variable that is being observed during an experiment. A control variable is the part of an experiment that you do not make any changes to which you can use to compare the other parts of your
experiment to. Read more...iWorksheets :3Study Guides :1 SoundSound is the energy objects produce when they vibrate. Sound energy is a form of mechanical energy. The substance that the sound waves travel through is called the medium. A medium can be a solid, liquid or gas. In a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium move back and forth, while the energy moves forward. Then the particles are pushed together, it is called compression. When the particles are spread apart, it is called rarefaction. Read more...iWorksheets :3Vocabulary :4 Standards
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