6th Grade Earth & Space Science

Science is all around us.  ·         Science is a way of knowing, a process for gaining knowledge and understanding of the natural world.  We were all born scientists and we’ve been using science ever since to solve problems and figure out the natural world around us.  Albert Einstein said it best when he stated, “The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.” 

Why do we want students to learn science?·         Learning science helps students better appreciate the natural world and the events that occur within it.  Students need science because it gives them the tools to think critically, the ability consider the information, and the competence to discard bad ideas or theories that simply do not fit.   Science is important to understand because it applies to every part of our lives.  It can lay a foundation for careers in the designed world of a modern technological society.  Understanding science can help students contribute in an informed manner to personal, professional, and societal decisions.  ·         Even athletes need to understand science in order to know how to best play their game.  Also, sports are usually seen as a part of an education that leads to improved dexterity and physical skill. This is true for large motor skills, but science experiments can fine tune small motor skills, like using an eye dropper, pouring small amounts of liquid or increased ability to measure.·         Finally, science is fun, exciting, and interesting.  

Science should be taught through inquiry·         Students should be active learners. It is not enough for students to read about science; they must do science. They should observe, inquire, question, formulate and test hypotheses, analyze data, report, and evaluate findings. The students, as scientists, should have hands–on, active experiences throughout the instruction of the science curriculum.