Sixth Grade

Getting Started inScience

This Year in 6th Grade You Will Learn:

1. Changing Appearance of the Moon2. Earth’s Tilt Creates Seasons3. Relationship of Objects in the Solar System4. Distance and Motion of Objects in the

Universe5. Microorganism—Harmful and Helpful6. Heat, Light, and Sound

What is Science?

Science is the study of the natural world.

Scientists do many things

• Observe• Test or experiment• Classify• Make Conclusions• Share their ideas

Scientists observe the natural world.

What do you see in this picture?

What do you observe about the rabbit?

What questions might you ask about the rabbit?

In science, we test our questions.

• What do rabbits eat?

How could you find out?

Scientists measure the natural world.

Scientists classify the natural world.

Living ThingsNon-Living Things

Scientists have a process they use to answer questions about nature.

To answer a question about something that happens in the natural world, they go through a scientific process. They…• Set up an experiment– Materials, Plan, Variables, Written Data

• Analyze the data– Graph and explanation of what happened

• Draw a conclusion– They write down what they learned – The see if their question was answered.

For an experiment today, lets discover about sound.

• Look at the cans that are in front of you.

• What are some questions you might have about sound pertaining to these cans?

Observation

• What are the characteristics that you see that make these cans alike?

• What are characteristics that you see that make these cans different?

Testing and Experimenting

What are some of the ways that you could think of to see if the cans have the same sounds or different sounds?

Testing and Experimenting

Let’s test to see if these cans have the same sound or different sounds.• Hit each can with the different things you have

at your seat.• What do you hear?• Does the sound matter what you hit the can

with?• Does it matter how hard or soft you hit it?• Which items worked best to hear the sounds?• What are your observations about your

experimentation?

Testing and Experimenting

Let’s do one more experiment.• There is a hole at the top of your can.• Tie the paperclip to one of the ends of the

string.• Put the other end of the string down

through the hole.• Tape the paperclip to the top of the can.• With your wet towel, put down on the

string.• What do you observe about this

experiment?

Conclusions And Sharing

• What do these experiments tell you about the different ways to hear

the sounds of the different cans?• What conclusions can you make about

these experiments?• How can you relate these discoveries to

real world ideas?• What do you think would happen if you

used paper or plastic cups instead of metal cans?