Applicable SOLs for Activities

Applicable Virginia SOLs

Grade 6

6.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by

a. asking questions and defining problems b. planning and carrying out investigations c. interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data d. constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations e. developing and using models f. obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

6.4 The student will investigate and understand that there are basic sources of energy and that energy can be transformed. Key ideas include

a. the sun is important in the formation of most energy sources on Earth; b. Earth’s energy budget relates to living systems and Earth’s processes; c. radiation, conduction, and convection distribute energy; and d. energy transformations are important in energy usage.

6.6 The student will investigate and understand that water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment. Key ideas include

a. large bodies of water moderate climate; and b. water is important for agriculture, power generation, and public health.

6.7 The student will investigate and understand that air has properties and that Earth’s atmosphere has structure and is dynamic. Key ideas include

d. there is a relationship between air movement, thermal energy, and weather conditions; e. atmospheric measures are used to predict weather conditions; and f. weather maps give basic information about fronts, systems, and weather measurements.

6.9 The student will investigate and understand that humans impact the environment and individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment. Key ideas include

a. natural resources are important to protect and maintain; b. renewable and nonrenewable resources can be managed; c. major health and safety issues are associated with air and water quality; d. major health and safety issues are related to different forms of energy; e. preventive measures can protect land-use and reduce environmental hazards; and f. there are cost/benefit tradeoffs in conservation policies.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

PS.5 The student will investigate and understand that energy is conserved. Key ideas include

a. energy can be stored in different ways; b. energy is transferred and transformed; and c. energy can be transformed to meet societal needs.

PS.6 The student will investigate and understand that waves are important in the movement of energy. PS.9 The student will investigate and understand that there are basic principles of electricity and magnetism. Key ideas include

a. electric circuits transfer energy; b. magnetic fields cause the magnetic effects of certain materials; c. electric current and magnetic fields are related; and d. many technologies use electricity and magnetism.

EARTH SCIENCE

ES.6 The student will investigate and understand that resource use is complex. Key ideas include

a. global resource use has environmental liabilities and benefits; b. availability, renewal rates, and economic effects are considerations when using resources; c. use of Virginia resources has an effect on the environment and the economy; and d. all energy sources have environmental and economic effects.

ES.10 The student will investigate and understand that oceans are complex, dynamic systems and are subject to long- and short-term variations. Key ideas include

a. chemical, biological, and physical changes affect the oceans; b. environmental and geologic occurrences affect ocean dynamics; c. unevenly distributed heat in the oceans drives much of Earth’s weather; d. features of the sea floor reflect tectonic and other geological processes; and e. human actions, including economic and public policy issues, affect oceans and the coastal zone including the Chesapeake Bay.

ES.12 The student will investigate and understand that Earth’s weather and climate are the result of the interaction of the sun’s energy with the atmosphere, oceans, and the land. Key ideas include

a. weather involves the reflection, absorption, storage, and redistribution of energy over short to medium time spans; b. weather patterns can be predicted based on changes in current conditions; c. models based on current conditions are used to predict weather phenomena; and d. changes in the atmosphere and the oceans due to natural and human activity affect global climate.

LIFE SCIENCE

LS.9 The student will investigate and understand that relationships exist between ecosystem dynamics and human activity. Key ideas include

a. changes in habitat can disturb populations; b. disruptions in ecosystems can change species competition; and c. variations in biotic and abiotic factors can change ecosystems.