North Carolina State Standards for Science: Grade 6

NC.1. The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.

1.01. Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations. 11
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.01.

1.02. Develop appropriate experimental procedures for: given questions; student generated questions. 11
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.02.

1.03. Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies: recognize potential hazards; manipulate materials and equipment; conduct appropriate procedures. 152
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.03.

1.04. Analyze variables in scientific investigations: identify dependent and independent; use of a control; manipulate; describe relationships between; define operationally. 102
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.04.

1.05. Analyze evidence to: explain observations; make inferences and predictions; develop the relationship between evidence and explanation. 102
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.05.

1.06. Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations: measurement; analysis of data; graphing; prediction models. 119
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.06.

1.07. Prepare models and/or computer simulations to: test hypotheses; evaluate how data fit. 141
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.07.

1.08. Use oral and written language to: communicate findings; defend conclusions of scientific investigations. 102
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.08.

1.09. Use technologies and information systems to: research; gather and analyze data; visualize data; disseminate findings to others. 111
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.09.

1.10. Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing: scientific text; articles; events in the popular press. 102
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 1.10.

NC.2. The learner will demonstrate an understanding of technological design.

2.01. Explore evidence that 'technology' has many definitions: artifact or hardware; methodology or technique; system of production; social-technical system. 473
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 2.01.

2.02. Use information systems to: identify scientific needs, human needs, or problems that are subject to technological solution; locate resources to obtain and test ideas. 473
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 2.02.

2.03. Evaluate technological designs for: application of scientific principles; risks and benefits; constraints of design; consistent testing protocols. 483
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 2.03.

2.04. Apply tenets of technological design to make informed consumer decisions about: products; processes; systems. 483
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 2.04.

NC.3. The learner will build an understanding of the geological cycles, forces, processes, and agents which shape the lithosphere.

3.01. Evaluate the forces that shape the lithosphere including: crustal plate movement; folding and faulting; deposition; volcanic activity; earthquakes. 92
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.01.

3.02. Examine earthquake and volcano patterns. 90
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.02.

3.03. Explain the model for the interior of the earth. 65
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.03.

3.04. Describe the processes which form and the uses of earth materials: rock cycle; minerals; characteristics of rocks; economic use of rocks and minerals; value of gems and precious metals; common gems, minerals, precious metals and rocks found in N.C. 27
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.04.

3.05. Analyze soil properties that can be observed and measured to predict soil quality including: color; horizon profile; infiltration; soil temperature; structure; consistency; texture; particle size; pH; fertility; soil moisture. 20
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.05.

3.06. Evaluate ways in which human activities have affected Earth's pedosphere and the measures taken to control the impact: vegetative cover; agriculture; land use; nutrient balance; soil as a vector. 56
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.06.

3.07. Assess the use of technology and information systems in monitoring lithospheric phenomenon. 71
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.07.

3.08. Conclude that the good health of environments and organisms requires: monitoring of the pedosphere; taking steps to maintain soil quality; stewardship. 56
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 3.08.

NC.4. The learner will investigate the cycling of matter.

4.01. Describe the flow of energy and matter in natural systems: energy flows through ecosystems in one direction, from the sun through producers to consumers to decomposers; matter is transferred from one organism to another and between organisms and their env 89
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 4.01.

4.02. Evaluate the significant role of decomposers. 32
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 4.02.

4.03. Examine evidence that green plants make food: photosynthesis is a process carried on by green plants and other organisms containing chlorophyll; during photosynthesis, light energy is converted into stored energy which the plant, in turn, uses to carry ou 26
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 4.03.

4.04. Evaluate the significance of photosynthesis to other organisms: the major source of atmospheric oxygen is photosynthesis; carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and oxygen is released during photosynthesis; green plants are the producers of food th 26
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 4.04.

4.05. Evaluate designed systems for ability to enable growth of certain plants and animals. 28
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 4.05.

NC.5. The learner will build understanding of the Solar System.

5.01. Analyze the components and cycles of the solar system including: sun; planets and moons; asteroids and meteors; comets; phases; seasons; day/year; eclipses. 27
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.01.

5.02. Compare and contrast the Earth to other planets in terms of: size; composition; relative distance from the sun; ability to support life. 19
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.02.

5.03. Relate the influence of the sun and the moon's orbit to the gravitational effects produced on Earth: solar storms; tides. 76
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.03.

5.04. Describe space explorations and the understandings gained from them including: N.A.S.A.: technologies used to explore space; historic timeline; Apollo mission to the moon; Space Shuttle; International Space Station; future goals. 26
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.04.

5.05. Describe the setting of the solar system in the universe including: galaxy; size; the uniqueness of Earth. 27
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.05.

5.06. Analyze the spin-off benefits generated by space exploration technology including: medical; materials; transportation; processes; future research. 52
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 5.06.

NC.6. The learner will conduct investigations and examine models and devices to build an understanding of the characteristics of energy transfer and/or transformation.

6.01. Determine how convection and radiation transfer energy. 22
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.01.

6.02. Analyze heat flow through materials or across space from warm objects to cooler objects until both objects are at equilibrium. 28
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.02.

6.03. Analyze sound as an example that vibrating materials generate waves that transfer energy: frequency; amplitude; loudness; how sound travels through different material; form and function of the human ear. 73
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.03.

6.04. Evaluate data for qualitative and quantitative relationships associated with energy transfer and/or transformation. 20
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.04.

6.05. Analyze the physical interactions of light and matter: absorption; scattering; color perception; form and function of the human eye. 140
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.05.

6.06. Analyze response to heat to determine the suitability of materials for use in technological design: conduction; expansion; contraction. 21
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.06.

6.07. Analyze the Law of Conservation of Energy: conclude that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only changed from one form into another; conclude that the amount of energy stays the same, although within the process some energy is always converted to 95
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 6.07.

NC.7. The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.

7.01. Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment: coexistence/cooperation/competition; symbiosis; mutual dependence. 115
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.01.

7.02. Investigate factors that determine the growth and survival of organisms including: light; temperature range; mineral availability; soil/rock type; water; energy. 40
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.02.

7.03. Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms. 40
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.03.

7.04. Evaluate data related to human population growth, along with problems and solutions: waste disposal; food supplies; resource availability; transportation; socio-economic patterns. 258
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.04.

7.05. Examine evidence that overpopulation by any species impacts the environment. 188
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.05.

7.06. Investigate processes which, operating over long periods of time, have resulted in the diversity of plant and animal life present today: natural selection; adaptation. 30
Suggested Titles for North Carolina Science State Standard 7.06.