This year, sixth graders' curriculum will be mapped to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) using an NGSS aligned curriculum called IQWST.  The NGSS are preparing students for college and career readiness by having them "walk the walk and talk the talk" of scientists and engineers.  How exciting!  

Please know that the 6th grade standards are grouped with 7th and 8th grade.  This means that some of the topics below will be covered in 6th and others in subsequent grade levels.   Here are ALL the 6th-8th grade standards.  

• Structure and Properties of Matter
  
• Chemical Reactions
• Forces and Interactions
  
• Energy
  
• Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation
  
• Structure, Function, and Information Processing
  
• Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms
  
• Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
  
• Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
  
• Natural Selection and Adaptations
  
• Space Systems
  
• History of Earth
  
• Earth's Systems
  
• Weather and Climate
  
• Human Impacts
  
• Engineering Design
  

Each standard is three-dimensional, meaning it focuses on science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and cross-cutting concepts.  Here's a quick layout of the three dimensions.

Science and Engineering Practices
1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
 2. Developing and using models 
3. Planning and carrying out investigations 
4. Analyzing and interpreting data 
5. Using mathematics and computational thinking 
6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) 
7. Engaging in argument from evidence 
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Disciplinary Core Ideas
Earth and Space Science s
Life Sciences
Physical Sciences
Engineering and Technology

Cross-cutting Concepts
1. Patterns
2. Cause and effect
3. Scale, proportion, and quantity. 
4. Systems and system models. 
5. Energy and matter
6. Structure and function
7. Stability and change