6th Grade Science

4/13 - 4/24 Learning Opportunities (1-5 possible activities)

6th Grade Learning Opportunities to Refresh, Review, and Reinforce

1

Concept/Skill: Observation, modeling, patterns

Supplies needed: pencil, sky, large ball/Styrofoam sphere, dark room, lamp, marker

Activity: 3 related activities below

6th Grade Science

6th Grade Science

6th Grade Science

Recommended: Modeling Moon Phases https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz01pTvuMa0

2 Concept/skill: Reading comprehension 2 Lexile reading levels,1st article 520 , 2nd article 980

Supplies needed: eyes, pencil/pen

Activity: 2 different Lexile score readings and task also SPANISH version Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 520 + Spanish version

Introduction: Katherine Johnson (August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was a

mathematician whose mathematical skills were critical to the success of NASA’s space

program.

Reading Focus: As you read the article, Katherine the Great, highlight or underline,

information that will help you respond to the following:

6th Grade Science

Describe Katherine Johnson’s work with NASA.

Describe how she helped lead the way for both women and African Americans to

succeed in math and other technical fields.

Task: After reading the article select one of the following options to complete.

Remember to include information from both of the bulleted items above in whichever

task you select.

1. Write an informative paragraph.

2. Create a comic strip (with a minimum of 4 frames) with pictures and captions.

3. Write a speech presenting Katherine Johnson with an award.

4. Use illustrations to represent her work with NASA, and her contributions to women and

African Americans.

5. Share the information you read with another member of your household.

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 520

HAMPTON, Virginia (Achieve3000, February 25, 2019). Katherine Johnson has never had a hit song

or starred in a movie. She has not been in the Olympics or a fashion show, either. Johnson's greatness

comes from her work in math. Johnson's math has changed all our lives. Here's how: Johnson started working for NASA in the 1950s.

Her math helped push the space program forward. Her math also helped scientists learn to create

satellite TV and small computers (like laptops and iPhones). So you could say she's a hero. The 2016 movie Hidden Figures tells the story of Johnson and two other African American women.

They worked behind the scenes at NASA as "human computers." They did the math for trajectories.

That is important work. Especially when people are being sent into space. Johnson worked on many space projects. By 1962, she was well known at NASA. Her math was always

correct. That year, NASA was sending astronaut John Glenn into orbit around Earth. NASA had

programmed computers doing the math for Glenn's trip around Earth. Computers are usually fast and

correct. But Glenn wondered: What if the computers broke down? Just in case, he asked for a human

computer to run the numbers, too. And he wanted it to be Katherine Johnson. "If she says they're good," Johnson later remembered Glenn saying, "then I'm ready to go." Johnson did

the math. And Glenn's trip went well Johnson worked on many other missions. Project Apollo was one. (That's the 1969 mission that first put

astronauts on the moon.) She also worked on the space shuttle program. Johnson left NASA in 1986. She turned 100 in 2018. But she hasn't slowed down much. In fact,

Johnson wrote her story. In the summer of 2019, Reaching for the Moon will come out. Johnson's book is an autobiography for young readers. She wants kids to believe they can do anything. If you have access, to log on to achieve 3000 there is a short video of Katherine’s accomplishments and that Pres. Obama awarded Katherine the Medal of Honor. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Extension: Watch the movie Hidden Figures - An Untold Story of Four African-American

Women who helped Launch Our Nation into Space. (Make sure you have parent

permission before watching the movie)

6th Grade Science

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 520 + versión en español

Introducción: Katherine Johnson (26 de agosto de 1918 - 24 de febrero de 2020) fue una

matemática cuyas habilidades matemáticas fueron críticas para el éxito del programa

espacial de la NASA.

Enfoque de lectura: al leer el artículo, Katherine the Great, resalte o subraye,

información que lo ayudará a responder lo siguiente:

• Describa el trabajo de Katherine Johnson con la NASA.

• Describa cómo ayudó a liderar el camino para que las mujeres y los

afroamericanos tengan éxito en matemáticas y otros campos técnicos.

Tarea: Después de leer el artículo, seleccione una de las siguientes opciones para

completar. Recuerde incluir información de los dos elementos con viñetas

anteriores en cualquier tarea que seleccione.

1. Escribe un párrafo informativo.

2. Cree una tira cómica (con un mínimo de 4 cuadros) con imágenes y subtítulos.

3. Escribe un discurso presentando a Katherine Johnson con un premio.

4. Use ilustraciones para representar su trabajo con la NASA y sus contribuciones

a mujeres y afroamericanos.

5. Comparta la información que lee con otro miembro de su hogar.

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 550 Spanish version

HAMPTON, Virginia (Achieve3000, 25 de febrero de 2019). Katherine Johnson

nunca ha tenido ningún éxito disquero ni ha salido en una película. Tampoco ha participado en las olimpiadas ni en un desfile de modas. La grandeza de Johnson más bien tiene que ver con su trabajo en las matemáticas. Las matemáticas de Johnson nos han cambiado la vida. ¿Cómo? Johnson empezó a trabajar para la NASA en los años 1950. Sus cálculos matemáticos ayudaron a que avanzara el programa espacial de Estados Unidos. También ayudaron a crear la televisión satelital y las pequeñas computadoras (como las portátiles y los teléfonos inteligentes). Así que se podría decir que Johnson es toda una heroína. La película de 2016 titulada Talentos ocultos narra la historia de Johnson y otras dos mujeres afroamericanas. Trabajaban como "computadoras humanas". Calculaban trayectorias. Era un trabajo importante. Especialmente a la hora de enviar astronautas al espacio. Johnson trabajó en muchos proyectos espaciales. En 1962, era bien conocida en la NASA. Sus cálculos siempre eran correctos. Ese año, la NASA se preparaba para poner al astronauta John Glenn en órbita alrededor de la Tierra. La NASA había programado computadoras para que calcularan el viaje de Glenn alrededor de la Tierra. Las computadoras, por lo general, son rápidas y no se equivocan. Pero Glenn se preguntaba: ¿qué pasaría si llegaran a fallar las computadoras? Por si acaso, pidió que una computadora humana revisara los cálculos. Él pidió que Katherine Johnson lo hiciera.

6th Grade Science

"Si ella dice que están bien", Johnson luego recordó lo que dijo Glenn, "entonces estoy listo para partir". Johnson hizo los cálculos. A Glenn le fue bien en el vuelo. Johnson trabajó en muchas otras misiones. Entre ellas está la del Proyecto Apolo. (Esa es la misión de 1969 que llevó por primera vez unos astronautas a la Luna). También participó en el programa del transbordador espacial. Johnson dejó de trabajar en la NASA en 1986. Cumplió 100 años en 2018. Pero no ha bajado el ritmo. De hecho, Johnson escribió sobre su vida. A mediados de 2019, se publicará el libro Reaching for the Moon (Alcanzando la Luna). El libro de Johnson es una autobiografía. Es para lectores jóvenes. Ella desea que niños y jóvenes sepan que pueden lograr lo que se propongan. Si tiene acceso, para iniciar sesión para lograr 3000 hay un video corto de los logros de Katherine y ese Pres. Obama le otorgó a Katherine la Medalla de Honor. Associated Press contribuyó a esta historia. Extensión: Mira la película Hidden Figures: una historia no contada de cuatro mujeres afroamericanas que ayudaron a lanzar a nuestra nación al espacio. (Asegúrese de tener permiso de los padres antes de ver la película)

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 980 + Spanish version

Introduction: Katherine Johnson (August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was a

mathematician whose mathematical skills were critical to the success of NASA’s space

program.

Reading Focus: As you read the article, Katherine the Great, highlight or underline,

information that will help you respond to the following:

Describe Katherine Johnson’s work with NASA.

Describe how she helped lead the way for both women and African Americans to

succeed in math and other technical fields.

Task: After reading the article select one of the following options to complete.

Remember to include information from both of the bulleted items above in whichever

task you select.

1. Write an informative paragraph.

2. Create a comic strip (with a minimum of 4 frames) with pictures and captions.

3. Write a speech presenting Katherine Johnson with an award.

4. Use illustrations to represent her work with NASA, and her contributions to women and

African Americans.

5. Share the information you read with another member of your household.

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great HAMPTON, Virginia (Achieve3000, February 25, 2019). Katherine Johnson has never had a hit song or given an Oscar-winning performance. She has not been an Olympic athlete or a fashion icon, either. Johnson's greatness comes from her work as a math expert.

6th Grade Science

Math directly impacts all our lives, whether we're aware of it or not. Here's how Johnson's math affects your life: From the 1950s until the 1980s, Johnson worked for NASA, the U.S. space agency. Without NASA's space program, which her calculations helped push forward, we wouldn't have the technology necessary for things like satellite TV, sophisticated meteorology, and small computers (like laptops and iPhones). So while Johnson may never be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you could say she's a hero. Johnson's name and work may be familiar to you if you've seen the 2016 movie Hidden Figures. The movie tells the story of Johnson and two other African American women who worked behind the scenes at NASA as "human computers." They did things like calculate orbital trajectories—important work when you're preparing to send people into space. Remarkably, they did this work at a time when women and minorities were often discouraged from pursuing high-level jobs. To get a job as a "human computer," of course, Johnson had to be really good at math. And she was. Born in West Virginia in 1918, Johnson was a whiz kid who skipped several grades in school. After graduating from college with high honors and a degree in mathematics, she began teaching at a public school. In 1953, Johnson heard that jobs for African American women with math and science backgrounds were available at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). (NACA later became part of NASA.) It was then that Johnson applied and was offered a position. Johnson worked on numerous space missions. By 1962, she had earned a reputation for the accuracy of her calculations. That year, NASA was preparing for Friendship 7, a mission that would put astronaut John Glenn into orbit around Earth. NASA had programmed computers with the equations needed to calculate the trajectory of Glenn's space capsule. Anyone who has ever used a computer knows how fast and accurate they are. But Glenn wondered: What if the computers broke down or malfunctioned? To guard against this, he requested a human computer to run the equations that had been programmed into the computers. And he wanted it to be Katherine Johnson. "If she says they're good," Johnson later remembered Glenn saying, "then I'm ready to go." Johnson did the equations, and the mission was a success. In her three decades at NASA, Johnson worked on many other missions. They included Project Apollo's lunar lander (the famous one that landed astronauts on the moon for the first time, in 1969). She also worked on the space shuttle program. Johnson has been retired from NASA since 1986. She turned 100 in 2018, but she hasn't slowed down—not too much, anyway. In fact, Johnson is finally ready to tell her own story. In the summer of 2019, she will release Reaching for the Moon, an autobiography for young readers. The NASA legend believes she was able to reach for the moon because of a lifetime of curiosity. "You learn if you want to. So you've got to want to learn," she says. Johnson wants young people to believe that they can do anything. If you have access, to log on to achieve 3000 there is a short video of Katherine’s accomplishments and that Pres. Obama awarded Katherine the Medal of Honor. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

6th Grade Science

Extension: Watch the movie Hidden Figures - An Untold Story of Four African-American

Women who helped Launch Our Nation into Space. (Make sure you have parent

permission before watching the movie)

Achieve 3000: Katherine the Great Lexile 950 Spanish version

Introducción: Katherine Johnson (26 de agosto de 1918 - 24 de febrero de 2020) fue una

matemática cuyas habilidades matemáticas fueron críticas para el éxito del programa

espacial de la NASA.

Enfoque de lectura: al leer el artículo, Katherine the Great, resalte o subraye, información que lo ayudará a responder lo siguiente: • Describa el trabajo de Katherine Johnson con la NASA. • Describa cómo ayudó a liderar el camino para que las mujeres y los afroamericanos tengan éxito en matemáticas y otros campos técnicos. Tarea: Después de leer el artículo, seleccione una de las siguientes opciones para completar. Recuerde incluir información de los dos elementos con viñetas anteriores en cualquier tarea que seleccione. 1. Escribe un párrafo informativo. 2. Cree una tira cómica (con un mínimo de 4 cuadros) con imágenes y subtítulos. 3. Escribe un discurso presentando a Katherine Johnson con un premio. 4. Use ilustraciones para representar su trabajo con la NASA y sus contribuciones a mujeres y afroamericanos. 5. Comparta la información que lee con otro miembro de su hogar. HAMPTON, Virginia (Achieve3000, 25 de febrero de 2019). Katherine Johnson nunca ha tenido ningún éxito disquero ni ha sido galardonada con un premio Óscar. Tampoco se ha destacado como atleta olímpica ni ícono de la moda. La grandeza de Johnson más bien tiene que ver con su trabajo como experta en las matemáticas. Las matemáticas impactan directamente nuestras vidas independientemente de si somos conscientes de ello o no. He aquí cómo afectan tu vida los cálculos matemáticos de Johnson: desde la década de 1950 hasta la de 1980, Johnson trabajó para la NASA, la agencia espacial de Estados Unidos. Sin el programa espacial de la NASA, el cual avanzó en parte debido a los aportes de Johnson, no dispondríamos de la tecnología necesaria para cosas como la televisión satelital, la meteorología avanzada y las pequeñas computadoras (como las portátiles y los teléfonos inteligentes). Así que, aunque Johnson nunca figurará en el Paseo de la Fama de Hollywood, se podría decir que es toda una heroína. Es posible que estés familiarizado con el nombre y el trabajo de Johnson si viste la película de 2016 titulada Talentos ocultos. Esta narra la historia de Johnson y de otras dos mujeres afroamericanas quienes trabajaban entre bastidores como "computadoras humanas" en la NASA. Una de las cosas que hacían era calcular la trayectoria orbital, un trabajo importante a la hora de enviar astronautas al espacio. Sorprendentemente, ellas realizaban estas labores en una época en que a menudo se desalentaba a las mujeres y a otras minorías de optar a trabajos de alto nivel. Para obtener empleo como "computadora humana" es evidente que Johnson debía ser muy buena en las matemáticas. Y lo era. Nacida en Virginia Occidental (Estados Unidos) en 1918, Johnson era una niña genio quien se saltó varios grados en la escuela. Tras graduarse con

6th Grade Science

honores de la universidad con un título en Matemáticas, se inició de maestra en una escuela pública. En 1953, Johnson se enteró de que había empleos disponibles para mujeres afroamericanas con formación en matemáticas y ciencias en el Comité Asesor Nacional para la Aeronáutica (NACA, por su sigla en inglés). (La NACA luego formó parte de la NASA). Fue entonces que Johnson optó para un cargo y lo obtuvo. Johnson trabajó en numerosas misiones espaciales. En 1962, era reconocida por la precisión de sus cálculos. Ese mismo año, la NASA se preparaba para la misión Friendship 7, la cual pondría al astronauta John Glenn en órbita alrededor de la Tierra. La NASA ya contaba con computadoras programadas con las ecuaciones necesarias para calcular la trayectoria de la cápsula espacial de Glenn. Cualquiera que ha utilizado una computadora sabe perfectamente lo rápidas y precisas que son. No obstante, Glenn se cuestionó: ¿qué pasaría si llegaran a averiarse o a fallar las computadoras? Para irse por lo seguro, solicitó que una computadora humana comprobara las ecuaciones que habían sido programadas en las computadoras. Y pidió que fuera Katherine Johnson. "Si ella dice que están bien", Johnson luego recordó lo que dijo Glenn, "entonces estoy listo para partir". Johnson confirmó las ecuaciones, y la misión fue todo un éxito. Durante las tres décadas que estuvo con la NASA, Johnson trabajó en muchas otras misiones. Entre ellas está la de la sonda lunar del Proyecto Apolo (así es, esa es la famosa misión que logró que unos astronautas aterrizaran en la Luna por primera vez en 1969). Ella también trabajó en el programa del transbordador espacial. Johnson se jubiló de la NASA en 1986. Cumplió 100 años en 2018, pero no ha aflojado el ritmo, no mucho, al menos. De hecho, Johnson finalmente está preparada para contar su propia historia. A mediados de 2019, publicará una autobiografía para lectores jóvenes titulada Reaching for the Moon (Alcanzando la Luna). Esta figura legendaria de la NASA cree que ella logró alcanzar la luna gracias a su espíritu curioso y explorador. "Aprendes si quieres hacerlo, así que tienes que tener el deseo de aprender", afirmó. Johnson desea que los jóvenes sepan que pueden lograr lo que se propongan.

Si tiene acceso, para iniciar sesión para lograr 3000 hay un video corto de los logros de Katherine y ese Pres. Obama le otorgó a Katherine la Medalla de Honor. Associated Press contribuyó a esta historia. Extensión: Mira la película Hidden Figures: una historia no contada de cuatro mujeres afroamericanas que ayudaron a lanzar a nuestra nación al espacio. (Asegúrese de tener permiso de los padres antes de ver la película)

4 Concept/Skill: scientific method to create controlled experiment

Supplies needed:

Apple(s), edible substances of your choice used to place on apples to attempt to prevent browning Activity: Apple Science

6th Grade Science

5

Activity: Shaking to Make Butter

Concept/Skill: Scientific Method, observation, measurement

Supplies needed: Cups (3) Liquid measuring cup Heavy whipping cream (3 cups) Clean glass jar with lid and a tight seal, 1-qt. A canning jar with a lid, seal, and ring works

best.

6th Grade Science

5

Cont.

Supplies needed continued:

Stopwatch or timer Bowl Sealable plastic bags, sandwich-size, or small sealable plastic containers (6) Permanent marker Lab notebook/paper Optional: Digital camera

6th Grade Science

5 Cont.

6th Grade Science

5 Cont.

6th Grade Science

5

Cont.

3/16 - 4/3/20 Learning Opportunities 6th Grade Learning Opportunities to Refresh, Review, and Reinforce

1

Concept/Skill: Searching, observing, recording, sorting, classifying

Activity: Explore Endangered Ecosystems Activity is done in your own backyard or safe space/place near your home. Activity is available online and I have a hard copy.

6th Grade Science

Ready for some research activities of your own? You've seen how Earthwatch teams of scientist and volunteers collect information on tropical forest ecosystems and recognized the importance of each organism that inhabits the forest. You've found out how scientists track the movements of wild cats in Mexico and how to spot caterpillars in Costa Rica. But — the best part of science is doing it on your own. All you need to start with is curiosity and four of your five senses: your eyes, ears, nose, and hands. Some of the best scientific questions come from careful observations of the world around us. Good record-keeping is also important so a notebook and pencil will be handy for keeping track of all that you see. Finally, have fun, but remember to be gentle with any organisms that you handle!

Exploring Ecosystems Close to Home

1. Explore a location near you. Choose a specific ecosystem in your backyard or a nearby park. You can focus on a system as small as a garden plot or rotting log or as large as a wooded lot.

2. Gather Information. What types of plants and animals live there? How do people interact with this natural community? Write down the things you would like to find out about your study site. Sometimes it helps to find out what other people have done before you set out. If you are going to a local park, they may have a visitors center or some written information that might help you. They may even have guides to help you identify some of the plants and animals you have at your study site.

3. Observe. Make careful observations in your notebook each time you visit your study site. You may have to visit the same place several times to get a good idea of what organisms live there and what is going on.

Be sure to note the date, time of day, and the weather each time you visit. Can you think of reasons this might be important?

What do you see? Write down the plants and animals that you see. Sometimes you might not actually see the animal, but if you are observant, you will spot some of the clues they leave behind. Caterpillars, for example, eat holes in the leaves, fold or bend leaves to make shelters and even throw their grass around. What might some other animal clues be?

Take some photos or draw some pictures of what you see.

Look for evidence of the relationships between different organisms? What do they eat? What plants do they use for shelter? Where are they moving to or from?

Can you tell how people are interacting with this ecosystem? Are they walking nearby?

What changes might you expect over time? Can you think of reasons why? Each time you visit, be sure to record the date, time, and weather along with your new observations.

4. Research. How can you find out more about these ecosystems and how they are changing as a result of human activity or other circumstances? Make a list of all

6th Grade Science

the possible places and ways you might find this information. Could you ask a person, go to the library, search the Internet?

5. Share your experience. Science is also about sharing what you learn. You might want to just keep your notebook for yourself, but you might also consider making a poster, model, report, or other project to share with your school, park, or family. You may also find that when you finish your initial study, you have a whole list of new questions to answer about your study site!

Supplies needed: Pencils and paper (a notebook would be great)

2

Concept/Skill: Observations of organisms within biomes, geographical locations of various Biomes

Activity: Explore Biomes in Virtual Reality. While it is fun to visit and explore each biome in

person, it is not likely that you can get to all of them. So we are gathering some 360 views of

the different biomes that you can use to explore and learn about each biome.

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/Virtual-360-Biomes

Embedded under “Biologist Notebook” click a pdf document that is a biologist notebook you can

use to log your biome findings.

On this site under activities on the dash board, bird finders, explore coloring pages, puzzles,

experiments & activities you may enjoy

Supplies needed: computer or phone or virtual goggles

3

Concept/Skill: Reading & observing animal and plant life within a Tropical Dry Rainforest.

Activity: Explore the Tropical Dry Rainforest of Costa Rica. This exploration consists of reading an NSTA ebook: Home is Where My Habitat Is (see supplies needed to access the link), and completing a series of interactive activities.

Supplies needed: Computer/Internet Access https://my.nsta.org/ebook/111991/home-is-where-my-habitat-is

4

Concept/Skill: Building models, understanding light, camera

Activity: Making pin hole camera using a box, see below for directions without using the internet* Optional second style of pin hole camera: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/

Supplies needed: shoe box sized box, sharp pencil, Xacto Knife, scissors, ruler, wax paper, tape, ruler blanket This web site is optional, directions below* https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/books/pinhole-camera/

Concept/Skill: Reading Non-Fiction Science Text

Activity:

6th Grade Science

5 Read the article “New Life at Yellowstone” on Achieve 3000 and complete the 5 steps included in the

lesson. This article directly relates to our studies of Populations and Ecosystems.

Supplies needed: Internet access to Achieve 3000.

Concept/Skill: Understand the structural engineering behind a Spider Web Engineering a Spider Web with household materials

6th Grade Science

6 Activity: Building a spider Web, optional you tube video URL

6th Grade Science

6th Grade Science

6th Grade Science

6th Grade Science

Supplies needed: Optional https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5aTOoeTkgo

7

Concept/Skill: Reading content of interest

Activity: This is the website sent out to support families from scholastic https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-6-12.html

Supplies needed: internet

6th Grade Science

8

Concept/Skill:

Activity:

Supplies needed:

*Learning activity #4 without internet

6th Grade Science