Massachusetts State Standards for Science: Grade 6

MA.1. Earth and Space Science

1.1. Mapping the Earth: Recognize, interpret, and be able to create models of the earth's common physical features in various mapping representations, including contour maps. 46
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.1.

1.2. Earth's Structure: Describe the layers of the solid earth, including the lithosphere, the hot convecting mantle, and the dense metallic core. 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.2.

1.3. Heat Transfer in the Earth System: Differentiate among radiation, conduction, and convection, the three mechanisms by which heat is transferred through the earth's system. 14
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.3.

1.4. Heat Transfer in the Earth System: Explain the relationship among the energy provided by the sun, the global patterns of atmospheric movement, and the temperature differences among water, land, and atmosphere. 18
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.4.

1.5. Earth's History: Describe how the movement of the earth's crustal plates causes both slow changes in the earth's surface (e.g., formation of mountains and ocean basins) and rapid ones (e.g., volcanic eruptions and earthquakes). 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.5.

1.6. Earth's History: Describe and give examples of ways in which the earth's surface is built up and torn down by natural processes, including deposition of sediments, rock formation, erosion, and weathering. 18
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.6.

1.7. Earth's History: Explain and give examples of how physical evidence, such as fossils and surface features of glaciation, supports theories that the earth has evolved over geologic time. 23
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.7.

1.8. The Earth in the Solar System: Recognize that gravity is a force that pulls all things on and near the earth toward the center of the earth. Gravity plays a major role in the formation of the planets, stars, and solar system and in determining their motions. 15
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.8.

1.9. The Earth in the Solar System: Describe lunar and solar eclipses, the observed moon phases, and tides. Relate them to the relative positions of the earth, moon, and sun. 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.9.

1.10. The Earth in the Solar System: Compare and contrast properties and conditions of objects in the solar system (i.e., sun, planets, and moons) to those on Earth (i.e., gravitational force, distance from the sun, speed, movement, temperature, and atmospheric conditions). 16
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.10.

1.11. The Earth in the Solar System: Explain how the tilt of the earth and its revolution around the sun result in an uneven heating of the earth, which in turn causes the seasons. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.11.

1.12. The Earth in the Solar System: Recognize that the universe contains many billions of galaxies, and that each galaxy contains many billions of stars. 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 1.12.

MA.2. Life Science

2.1. Classification of Organisms: Classify organisms into the currently recognized kingdoms according to characteristics that they share. Be familiar with organisms from each kingdom. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.1.

2.2. Structure and Function of Cells: Recognize that all organisms are composed of cells, and that many organisms are single-celled (unicellular), e.g., bacteria, yeast. In these single-celled organisms, one cell must carry out all of the basic functions of life. 11
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.2.

2.3. Structure and Function of Cells: Compare and contrast plant and animal cells, including major organelles (cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, mitochondria, vacuoles). 12
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.3.

2.4. Structure and Function of Cells: Recognize that within cells, many of the basic functions of organisms (e.g., extracting energy from food and getting rid of waste) are carried out. The way in which cells function is similar in all living organisms. 14
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.4.

2.5. Systems in Living Things: Describe the hierarchical organization of multicellular organisms from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms. 13
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.5.

2.6. Systems in Living Things: Identify the general functions of the major systems of the human body (digestion, respiration, reproduction, circulation, excretion, protection from disease, and movement, control, and coordination) and describe ways that these systems interact with each other. 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.6.

2.7. Reproduction and Heredity: Recognize that every organism requires a set of instructions that specifies its traits. These instructions are stored in the organism's chromosomes. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation to another. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.7.

2.8. Reproduction and Heredity: Recognize that hereditary information is contained in genes located in the chromosomes of each cell. A human cell contains about 30,000 different genes on 23 different chromosomes. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.8.

2.9. Reproduction and Heredity: Compare sexual reproduction (offspring inherit half of their genes from each parent) with asexual reproduction (offspring is an identical copy of the parent's cell). 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.9.

2.10. Evolution and Biodiversity: Give examples of ways in which genetic variation and environmental factors are causes of evolution and the diversity of organisms. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.10.

2.11. Evolution and Biodiversity: Recognize that evidence drawn from geology, fossils, and comparative anatomy provide the basis of the theory of evolution. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.11.

2.12. Evolution and Biodiversity: Relate the extinction of species to a mismatch of adaptation and the environment. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.12.

2.13. Living Things and Their Environment: Give examples of ways in which organisms interact and have different functions within an ecosystem that enable the ecosystem to survive.

2.14. Energy and Living Things: Explain the roles and relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the process of energy transfer in a food web.

2.15. Energy and Living Things: Explain how dead plants and animals are broken down by other living organisms and how this process contributes to the system as a whole.

2.16. Energy and Living Things: Recognize that producers (plants that contain chlorophyll) use the energy from sunlight to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water through a process called photosynthesis. This food can be used immediately, stored for later use, or used by other organisms. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.16.

2.17. Changes in Ecosystems Over Time: Identify ways in which ecosystems have changed throughout geologic time in response to physical conditions, interactions among organisms, and the actions of humans. Describe how changes may be catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions or ice storms. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.17.

2.18. Changes in Ecosystems Over Time: Recognize that biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species developed through gradual processes over many generations. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 2.18.

MA.3. Physical Sciences

3.1. Properties of Matter: Differentiate between weight and mass, recognizing that weight is the amount of gravitational pull on an object. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.1.

3.2. Properties of Matter: Differentiate between volume and mass. Define density. 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.2.

3.3. Properties of Matter: Recognize that the measurement of volume and mass requires understanding of the sensitivity of measurement tools (e.g., rulers, graduated cylinders, balances) and knowledge and appropriate use of significant digits. 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.3.

3.4. Properties of Matter: Explain and give examples of how mass is conserved in a closed system. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.4.

3.5. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Recognize that there are more than 100 elements that combine in a multitude of ways to produce compounds that make up all of the living and nonliving things that we encounter. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.5.

3.6. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Differentiate between an atom (the smallest unit of an element that maintains the characteristics of that element) and a molecule (the smallest unit of a compound that maintains the characteristics of that compound). 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.6.

3.7. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Give basic examples of elements and compounds. 10
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.7.

3.8. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Differentiate between mixtures and pure substances. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.8.

3.9. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Recognize that a substance (element or compound) has a melting point and a boiling point, both of which are independent of the amount of the sample. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.9.

3.10. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures: Differentiate between physical changes and chemical changes. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.10.

3.11. Motion of Objects: Explain and give examples of how the motion of an object can be described by its position, direction of motion, and speed. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.11.

3.12. Motion of Objects: Graph and interpret distance vs. time graphs for constant speed.

3.13. Forms of Energy: Differentiate between potential and kinetic energy. Identify situations where kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy and vice versa. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.13.

3.14. Heat Energy: Recognize that heat is a form of energy and that temperature change results from adding or taking away heat from a system. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.14.

3.15. Heat Energy: Explain the effect of heat on particle motion through a description of what happens to particles during a change in phase. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.15.

3.16. Heat Energy: Give examples of how heat moves in predictable ways, moving from warmer objects to cooler ones until they reach equilibrium. 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 3.16.

MA.4. Technology/Engineering

4.1. Materials, Tools, and Machines: Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility). 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.1.

4.2. Materials, Tools, and Machines: Identify and explain appropriate measuring tools, hand tools, and power tools used to hold, lift, carry, fasten, and separate, and explain their safe and proper use. 6
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.2.

4.3. Materials, Tools, and Machines: Identify and explain the safe and proper use of measuring tools, hand tools, and machines (e.g., band saw, drill press, sanders, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, tape measure, screws, nails, and other mechanical fasteners) needed to construct a prototype of an engineering design. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.3.

4.4. Engineering Design: Identify and explain the steps of the engineering design process, i.e., identify the need or problem, research the problem, develop possible solutions, select the best possible solution(s), construct a prototype, test and evaluate, communicate the solution(s), and redesign. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.4.

4.5. Engineering Design: Demonstrate methods of representing solutions to a design problem, e.g., sketches, orthographic projections, multiview drawings. 7
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.5.

4.6. Engineering Design: Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.6.

4.7. Engineering Design: Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.7.

4.8. Engineering Design: Explain how such design features as size, shape, weight, function, and cost limitations would affect the construction of a given prototype. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.8.

4.9. Engineering Design: Identify the five elements of a universal systems model: goal, inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.9.

4.10. Communication Technologies: Identify and explain the components of a communication system, i.e., source, encoder, transmitter, receiver, decoder, storage, retrieval, and destination. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.10.

4.11. Communication Technologies: Identify and explain the appropriate tools, machines, and electronic devices (e.g., drawing tools, computer-aided design, and cameras) used to produce and/or reproduce design solutions (e.g., engineering drawings, prototypes, and reports). 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.11.

4.12. Communication Technologies: Identify and compare communication technologies and systems, i.e., audio, visual, printed, and mass communication. 9
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.12.

4.13. Communication Technologies: Identify and explain how symbols and icons (e.g., international symbols and graphics) are used to communicate a message. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.13.

4.14. Manufacturing Technologies: Describe and explain the manufacturing systems of custom and mass production. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.14.

4.15. Manufacturing Technologies: Explain and give examples of the impacts of interchangeable parts, components of mass-produced products, and the use of automation, e.g., robotics. 3
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.15.

4.16. Manufacturing Technologies: Describe a manufacturing organization, e.g., corporate structure, research and development, production, marketing, quality control, distribution. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.16.

4.17. Manufacturing Technologies: Explain basic processes in manufacturing systems, e.g., cutting, shaping, assembling, joining, finishing, quality control, and safety. 1
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.17.

4.18. Construction Technologies: Describe and explain parts of a structure, e.g., foundation, flooring, decking, wall, roofing systems. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.18.

4.19. Construction Technologies: Identify and describe three major types of bridges (e.g., arch, beam, and suspension) and their appropriate uses (e.g., site, span, resources, and load). 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.19.

4.20. Construction Technologies: Explain how the forces of tension, compression, torsion, bending, and shear affect the performance of bridges. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.20.

4.21. Construction Technologies: Describe and explain the effects of loads and structural shapes on bridges. 2
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.21.

4.22. Transportation Technologies: Identify and compare examples of transportation systems and devices that operate on each of the following: land, air, water, and space. 24
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.22.

4.23. Transportation Technologies: Given a transportation problem, explain a possible solution using the universal systems model. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.23.

4.24. Transportation Technologies: Identify and describe three subsystems of a transportation vehicle or device, i.e., structural, propulsion, guidance, suspension, control, and support. 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.24.

4.25. Transportation Technologies: Identify and explain lift, drag, friction, thrust, and gravity in a vehicle or device, e.g., cars, boats, airplanes, rockets. 5
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.25.

4.26. Bioengineering Technologies: Explain examples of adaptive or assistive devices, e.g., prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, grab bars, hearing aids, lifts, braces. 4
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.26.

4.27. Bioengineering Technologies: Describe and explain adaptive and assistive bioengineered products, e.g., food, bio-fuels, irradiation, integrated pest management. 8
Suggested Titles for Massachusetts Science State Standard 4.27.