Grade 6: Earth Science

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Grade 6 Earth Science content, aligned with the British Columbia (BC) Curriculum.

In BC’s integrated Grade 6 Science curriculum, the Earth Science component focuses on our planet’s dynamic systems and our place in the solar system.

BC Grade 6 Science: Earth Science Content – Earth and Our Solar System

This unit explores the questions: “What is Earth’s place in space?” and “How do Earth’s systems create the world we live in?” It examines our solar system, Earth’s structure, and the forces that shape our planet.

Overarching Big Ideas (for the Earth Science Unit)

• The solar system is part of the Milky Way, which is one of billions of galaxies.

• Earth and its climate have changed over geological time.

Core Components of the Grade 6 Earth Science Content

Part A: Our Solar System

• Key Concepts: Planets, moons, sun, scale and structure.

• Learning Goals:

  • Identify the components of our solar system: Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets.

  • Compare key characteristics of planets (size, composition, distance from sun).

  • Understand Earth’s unique position that supports life.

  • Describe the role of gravity in maintaining orbital paths.

Part B: Earth’s Structure and Geology

• Key Concepts: Earth’s layers, rocks and minerals, geological processes.

• Learning Goals:

  • Identify Earth’s main layers: crust, mantle, core.

  • Classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.

  • Understand the rock cycle and how rocks change over time.

  • Recognize how geological processes shape Earth’s surface.

Part C: Earth’s Climate and Weather Systems

• Key Concepts: Climate zones, weather patterns, atmospheric systems.

• Learning Goals:

  • Differentiate between weather and climate.

  • Identify major climate zones and their characteristics.

  • Understand how ocean currents and air masses influence climate.

  • Recognize patterns in weather systems.

Part D: Earth’s History and Change

• Key Concepts: Geological time, fossils, climate change.

• Learning Goals:

  • Understand that Earth has changed dramatically over geological time.

  • Explain how fossils provide evidence of past life and environments.

  • Recognize that climate change has occurred throughout Earth’s history.

  • Identify natural processes that cause climate change.

Curricular Competencies in Action (The “Doing” of Science)

• Questioning and Predicting:

  • “Why does Earth have seasons while other planets don’t?”

  • “What evidence might show that our local climate was different in the past?”

• Planning and Conducting:

  • Activity: Solar System Scale Model. Create a scale model of the solar system to understand vast distances in space.

  • Lab: Rock Identification. Classify different rock samples based on observable characteristics.

  • Investigation: Local Geology Walk. Examine and document local geological features and rock types.

• Processing and Analyzing Data and Information:

  • Analyze weather data to identify climate patterns.

  • Create timelines showing major events in Earth’s history.

  • Compare planetary characteristics using charts and graphs.

• Evaluating:

  • Evaluate different models of the solar system for accuracy and limitations.

  • Assess evidence for past climate change from various sources.

• Applying and Innovating:

  • Design a spacecraft for exploring another planet or moon.

  • Create a plan for monitoring local weather patterns.

• Communicating:

  • Create a travel guide to the solar system.

  • Present research on a specific geological feature or climate zone.

Sample Learning Standards from the BC Curriculum

• Content: “Demonstrate knowledge of the solar system.”

• Content: “Explain how the rock cycle is used to describe the formation of different types of rocks.”

• Content: “Compare the characteristics of planets.”

• Curricular Competency: “Experience and interpret the local environment.”

Key Connections to Other Grade 6 Science Topics

• Connection to Physics: Understanding gravity, light, and energy transfer in space systems.

• Connection to Chemistry: The composition of rocks, minerals, and atmospheric gases.

• Connection to Biology: How Earth’s systems support life and how organisms adapt to different climates.

This Earth Science content helps students develop a sense of Earth’s place in the universe while understanding the dynamic systems that shape our planet. It provides essential context for understanding environmental issues and our relationship with the natural world.