Summer Science
For students entering 6th grade
Ashford School
Please hand in responses to Mrs. Knotts during the first week of school.
Students will have an opportunity to share what they have learned.
Parents:
Per the State Standards, science in third through fifth grades focuses on the development of descriptions
of basic natural phenomena and the ability to perform simple experiments and record accurate data.
Activities this past year in fifth grade addressed inquiry: we experimented with light and sound energy,
made musical instruments, learned about our brain and spinal cord and experimented with our senses,
used the NASA website to observe patterns in the moon, sun, and earth’s movements, and experimented
with color.
Students are asked to pursue an open-ended science assignment for the summer. This is meant to extend
or continue our explorations this year, though students may choose any science topic to explore. Many
family outings are great opportunities for science. Some suggestions for the family:
*Bring a field guide (birds, plants, rocks, etc.) on your next family nature walk, learn how to use it, or
make a game out of how many things you can find.
*Make a collection during a vacation or trip: rocks, pressed flowers, insects, shells.
*Go to agricultural fairs or visit a zoo.
* Start a small backyard garden, compost bin, or grow plants in a window.
*Visit the Connecticut Museum of Natural History or attend one of the many science presentations at
the museum.
*Go outside at sunset or night and observe patterns in the night sky.
*Visit the many educational websites. Many are listed on my website at ashfordct.org.
*If your child needs a break from playing outside and wants to watch TV, encourage him or her to
watch a science show or movie. Watching the weather channel or going to weather.com is valuable
too.
Help your child choose something of interest and nurture his or her natural curiosity. Have fun!
Mrs. Burnham 5th Grade Science
gburnham@ashfordct.org
Specific state standards are listed on the CT Department of Education website, www.sde.ct.gov.
Summer Work developed by Carol Moran.
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Open-ended science assignment
6th Graders:
Be a scientist this summer! Question and observe!
Choose 2 tasks:
1. Explore a science topic that interests you and tell what you learn and what
questions you have. How you explore it is up to you! You might invent
something that solves a problem using light or sound, interview a
neurologist and learn about your brain, compare your sense of sight or smell
or hearing with that of other animals, take apart an old piece of equipment
that uses light to learn how it works, or observe patterns in the night sky and
keep a log (NASA website is a great resource for this). You might keep a
journal, write a letter, keep a log, or label a collection.
2. Go outside and observe something in nature over a period of time. Write
down what you are observing, any changes you see, and your questions and
observations. Draw a picture and label it.
3. Conduct a science experiment on light or color and write what you observed
and learned: Your question or topic, your prediction, your observations, and
what you learned from the experiment. What were your variables?
4. Read a non-fiction science book and write a review: title, author, what it was
about, and what you liked or didn’t like about it.
Please hand in your response to Mrs. Knotts
during the first week of school.