Grade 6 Recommendations
Earth and Space Science
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil: This topic focuses on the study of rocks, minerals, and soil, which make up the lithosphere. Classifying and identifying different types of rocks, minerals and soil can decode the past environment in which they formed.
Book Recommendations:
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil: This topic focuses on the study of rocks, minerals, and soil, which make up the lithosphere. Classifying and identifying different types of rocks, minerals and soil can decode the past environment in which they formed.
Book Recommendations:
The Rock Factory: The Story About the Rock Cycle by Jacqui Bailey (nonfiction, RL=5)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/778234295.jpg?205)
The Rock Factory takes students on a journey of the formation of a rock. The story begins with magma pushing through a volcano, and resulting in an explosion. Over millions of year, a rock is formed. Ultimately, a boy discovers the rock along a riverbank, and takes the rock home to determine the type of rock. The Rock Factory is a nonfiction book, however, it contains many fiction components that students should enjoy such as a main character and cartoon illustrations. The book also includes a section titled "More Great Stuff to Know", which gives explanations about types of rocks, minerals, how the earth was formed, experiments, and internet websites for further research.
Content statement(s):
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks form in different ways.
Academic vocabulary: magma, lava, mineral, metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous
Content statement(s):
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks form in different ways.
Academic vocabulary: magma, lava, mineral, metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous
The Pebble in my pocket by Meredith Hooper & Chris Coady (fiction, RL=6)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/1362020971.jpg)
The Pebble in my Pocket tells the story of a young girl who discovers a pebble. Throughout the story, the girl learns about the history of her pebble. This particular pebble traces back to a volcano eruption that occurred 480 million years ago. The main character learns about the events the pebble undergoes on Earth. For illustration, the pebble traveled through a time when dinosaurs, and then cave people lived on Earth. During the story, characteristics of rocks are also described.
Content statement(s):
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks have unique characteristics that can be used for identification and/or classification.
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks form in different ways.
Academic vocabulary: conglomerate, sedimentary, lava, pebble
Content statement(s):
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks have unique characteristics that can be used for identification and/or classification.
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks form in different ways.
Academic vocabulary: conglomerate, sedimentary, lava, pebble
Minerals by Richard and Louise Spilsbury (nonfiction, RL=7)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/913102172.jpg?170)
Each chapter in this nonfiction book, starts off asking readers a question. These questions include:
What are minerals? How do minerals form? What types of minerals are there?
How do we use minerals? Where do we find minerals? Are minerals running out?
While answering these different questions, the authors use real-life photographs, diagrams, and captions to assist readers with learning about minerals. There are also several side note sections used throughout the book such as "science tip", "number crunching", and "biography", which all give additional information about minerals. Finally, the book gives a "How to collect minerals" guide.
Content statement(s):
Minerals have specific, quantifiable properties.
Rocks, minerals and soils have common and practical uses.
Academic vocabulary: pressure, crystal, erosion
What are minerals? How do minerals form? What types of minerals are there?
How do we use minerals? Where do we find minerals? Are minerals running out?
While answering these different questions, the authors use real-life photographs, diagrams, and captions to assist readers with learning about minerals. There are also several side note sections used throughout the book such as "science tip", "number crunching", and "biography", which all give additional information about minerals. Finally, the book gives a "How to collect minerals" guide.
Content statement(s):
Minerals have specific, quantifiable properties.
Rocks, minerals and soils have common and practical uses.
Academic vocabulary: pressure, crystal, erosion
Physical Science
Matter and Motion: This topic focuses on the study of foundational concepts of the particulate nature of matter, linear motion, and kinetic and potential energy.
Book Recommendations:
Matter and Motion: This topic focuses on the study of foundational concepts of the particulate nature of matter, linear motion, and kinetic and potential energy.
Book Recommendations:
Excited About Energy by Nadia Higgins (nonfiction, RL=4)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/567255569.jpg?182)
Excited About Energy is apart of a series of nonfiction books titled "Science Rocks!" This book navigates readers through energy by offering vibrate illustrations and facts. The table of contents outlines the text using the following components: energy gets things going, types of energy, changing energy, energy high and low, the Sun, and kinds of fuel. To add, fun facts, hands on activities, and internet resources are provided for students.
Content statement(s):
There are two categories of energy: kinetic and potential.
Academic vocabulary: energy, potential energy, kinetic energy
Content statement(s):
There are two categories of energy: kinetic and potential.
Academic vocabulary: energy, potential energy, kinetic energy
Matter by Christine Webster (nonfiction, RL=5)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/337095910.jpg)
This books explores matter, as well as the three states of matter. In addition, students who read this book will learn about how matter changes form. The book emphasizes that matter changes form when heated and cooled. For example, the book explains how ice changes from a solid to a liquid when heated. Students may also enjoy reading the fun facts and hands-on experiments provided in the book. There is also a section for additional reading material and internet websites relating to matter.
Content statement(s):
Changes of state are explained by a model of matter composed of atoms and/or molecules that are in motion.
Academic vocabulary: gas, liquid, solid, volume
Content statement(s):
Changes of state are explained by a model of matter composed of atoms and/or molecules that are in motion.
Academic vocabulary: gas, liquid, solid, volume
In search of the Fog Zombie : A Mystery about Matter by Lynda Beauregard (fiction, RL=6)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/719287223.jpg?171)
This comic book format tells the story of four teenagers who are away at a summer camp. At camp, the kids learn about the tale of the "Fog Zombie". Supposedly, the "Fog Zombie" is roaming the camp grounds, and the campers take it upon themselves to track down the Zombie. The campers use their science background knowledge to find the Zombie. Along with the story are informational side notes about matter. At the end of the book, hands-on science experiments and procedure are described.
Content statement(s):
All matter is made up of small particles called atoms.
Changes of state are explained by a model of matter composed of atoms and/or molecules that are in motion.
Academic vocabulary: matter, density, atom, mass, volume, particle, molecule
Content statement(s):
All matter is made up of small particles called atoms.
Changes of state are explained by a model of matter composed of atoms and/or molecules that are in motion.
Academic vocabulary: matter, density, atom, mass, volume, particle, molecule
Life Science
Cellular to Multicellular: This topic focuses on the study of the basics of Modern Cell Theory. All organisms are composed of cells, which are the fundamental unit of life. Cells carry on the many processes that sustain life. All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Book Recommendations:
Cellular to Multicellular: This topic focuses on the study of the basics of Modern Cell Theory. All organisms are composed of cells, which are the fundamental unit of life. Cells carry on the many processes that sustain life. All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Book Recommendations:
Enjoy your cells by Fran Balkwill & Mic Rolph (nonfiction, RL=5)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/884372033.jpg?178)
This book begins with challenging students to think about how all humans started out as just one tiny cell. From there, students learn that humans developed into millions of cells that all work together to complete specific jobs. Although, this is a nonfiction book, it contains fictions aspects such as cartoon character illustrations. Enjoy your cells is apart of series of books relating to cells. Other books include Have a nice DNA, Germ Zappers, and Gene Machines.
Content statement(s):
Cells are the fundamental unit of life.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function.
Academic vocabulary: cell, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm
Content statement(s):
Cells are the fundamental unit of life.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function.
Academic vocabulary: cell, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm
Cell Systems by Lori McManus (nonfiction, RL=6.5)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/160694552.jpg?142)
This book discusses the organization of living systems, specifically organs and organ systems. Students who read this book will learn the role of specific organ systems such as the digestive system, urinary system, respiratory system, skeletal system, muscular system, and circulatory system.
Content statement(s):
Cells carry on specific functions that sustain life.
Academic vocabulary: cell, tissue, organisms, organ, organ system
Content statement(s):
Cells carry on specific functions that sustain life.
Academic vocabulary: cell, tissue, organisms, organ, organ system
Open me up by Laura Buller (nonfiction, RL=8)
![Picture](/uploads/1/7/1/9/17191290/881232054.jpg?143)
Open me up serves as more of a reference book for topics such as cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. The book contains eight chapters that range from topics that cover the human race, cell division, skeletons, circulatory system, and genetics. This highly engaging reference book comprises detailed diagrams, figures, and comic book narratives.
Content statement(s):
Cells are the fundamental unit of life.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Cells carry on specific functions that sustain life.
Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function.
Academic vocabulary: cells, tissues, organs, organism
Content statement(s):
Cells are the fundamental unit of life.
All cells come from pre-existing cells.
Cells carry on specific functions that sustain life.
Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function.
Academic vocabulary: cells, tissues, organs, organism