Science Curriculum: Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – 6th Grade
Theme-Based Georgia Performance Standards: Year Curriculum Map
The following instructional plan is part of a portion of the GaDOE collection of Unit Frameworks, Performance Tasks, examples of Student Work,
and Teacher Commentary, but has been modified to specifically identify the expectations for student learning for the Bibb County School District.
This curriculum is expected to be followed by all teachers to ensure that learning goals are met for all students and state standards.
Unit: Water in
Motion
Unit: Natural
Disasters
Unit: Where in the World?
Unit: Space Camp
Unit: CSI
6 weeks
Focus: S6E3& S6E4
6 weeks
Focus:S6E5 & S6E6
7 weeks
Focus:S6E5 S6E6
6 weeks
Focus:S6E1& S6E2
6 weeks
Focus:
 Earth’s water S6E3a
 Define the types (oceans,
rivers, lakes, underground
water, and ice). The majority of
Earth’s is salt water
 Sources of origin,
compare/contrast
 Underneath the ocean, the Earth
has plains, mountains, and
valleys, which are often larger
than those on dry land.
 Define the atmospheric stages of
water S6E3b
 Factors affecting the water cycle
S6E3b
 Define renewable and non
renewable natural resources and
how water is defined S6E6a
 Conserving natural resources
S6E5j
 Effect of heating (sun) on weather
patterns S6E6a
 Effects of water on weathering,
erosion and deposition S6E5h
 Relate how moisture evaporating
from the oceans affects the
weather patterns and weather
events such as hurricanes S6E4c
 Unequal heating of land and water
surfaces to form large global wind
systems and weather events such
as tornados and thunderstorms
S6E4b
Discuss, compare/contrast
weathering, erosion and
deposition S6E5f
Effects of human activity on
erosion S6E5i
Recognize that lithospheric
plates constantly move S6E5e
This movement can cause
major geological events on the
earth’s surface. S6E5e
Explain the effects of physical
processes (plate tectonics,
erosion, deposition, volcanic
eruption, gravity) on
geological features including
oceans (composition, currents,
and tides) S6E5f
Discuss those changes in Earth
that occur abruptly
(Earthquakes) S6E5e
Discuss those changes in Earth
that occur slowly (such as
deposition, weathering and
erosion S6E5e
Define fossils? S6E5g
Discuss how fossils can inform
up about plate movement?
S6E5g
Discuss the impact of natural
disasters
Soil
Rock formation processes
S6E5c
Rock Classification:
Sedimentary, igneous,
metamorphic S6E5c
Rock composition
 Mineral formation S6E5d
Describe rock cycle S6E5d
Igneous rocks can undergo
metamorphism S6E5c
Compare/Contrast Earth’s
layers: crust, mantle and
core S6E5a
Describe the composition,
location, and subsurface
topography of the world’s
oceansS6E3c
Effects of physical
processes (plate tectonics,
erosion, deposition,
volcanic eruption, gravity)
on geological features
including oceans
(composition, currents, and
tides) Earth’s water S6E5f
Role of weathering, erosion
and deposition S6E5h
Fossils, the remains of
organisms preserved in
sedimentary rocks. Describe
why. S6E5g
 Historical scientific models
(geocentric, heliocentric)
S6E1a
 Describe Solar System in the
Milky Way galaxy and the
universe S6E1b
 Planets and their positions
from the sun S6E1c
Size relative to the earth
Surface and atmospheric
features
Relative distance from the
sun
Ability to support life
 Relative position of the Earth,
Moon and Sun S6E2b
Demonstrate moon phases
Solar and lunar eclipse
 Characterize comets, asteroids
and meteors S6E1f
 Gravity as a governing force
in the solar system S6E1
 Motion of objects in the
day/night sky S6E1d
 Tides, currents and waves
S6E3d
How they are created
Causes in changes
 Tilt of the Earth and the
implications of that tilt as it
relates to seasons (climate and
sun exposure) S6E2c
Define fossils
Describe how fossils are
formed
Describe the type of soil
fossils are found in and
explain why
Discuss where on Earth
fossils are found and the
time it takes for fossils
to form
Describe how the core of
Earth plays a role in
fossil formation
Discuss how fossils
show evidence of the
changing surface and
climate of the Earth
S6E5g
Discuss that fossils can
be found on land and on
the ocean’s floor
Weathering, erosion and
deposition
Effects of human
activity on erosion as it
relates to fossil
formation S6E5i