SIXTH GRADE: OVERVIEW
The academic standards for sixth grade establish the content knowledge and skills for Tennessee
students necessary to prepare them for the rigorous levels of higher education and future job markets.
The course provides students with a wealth of scientific practical experiences. The academic standards
for science in sixth grade are based on research and the National Research Council’s Framework for K-12
Science Education.
The academic standards herein establish the core content and practices of science and engineering, as
well as what Tennessee students need to know by the end of sixth grade. Disciplinary core ideas for sixth
grade include:
Sixth Grade
Physical Sciences (PS) Life Sciences (LS) Earth and Space
Sciences (ESS)
Engineering,
Technology, and
Applications of Science
(ETS)
Matter and Its
Interactions
From Molecules to
Organisms: Structure
and Process
Earth’s Place in the
Universe
Engineering Design
Motion and Stability:
Forces and Interactions
Ecosystems:
Interactions, Energy,
and Dynamics
Earth’s Systems Links Among
Engineering,
Technology, Science,
and Society
Energy Heredity: Inheritance
and Variation of Traits
Earth and Human
Activity
Applications of Science
Waves and Their
Applications in
Technologies for
Information Transfer
Biological Change:
Unity and Diversity
The standards incorporated into this grade have been streamlined for the students’ K-12 coherent
experience for a diversity of learners. The theme for sixth grade science is how energy, found in multiple
systems and scales, is driving ecosystems (populations, food chains/webs), Earth’s natural resources,
and Earth processes (oceans, weather, and climate). In turn, oceans, weather, and climate help
determine characteristics of ecosystems. A focus on science literacy is placed through the use of the
science and engineering practices. Often times, students are required to gather information from
reliable sources to construct evidenced-based arguments (e.g., 6.LS2.3). Finally, STEM integration is
supported both as a stand-alone disciplinary core idea.
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By the end of sixth grade, it is expected that students should be able to demonstrate the skills and
content knowledge emphasized in the following standards in preparation for future learning in science
and its practice.