Portage & Main Press

Introduction to Hands-On Science and Technology for Ontario, Grade 6 1

• Introduction to Hands-On Science and Technology 2
• Program Introduction 2
• The Inquiry Approach to Science and Technology 2
• 21st Century Teaching and Learning 3
• The Goals of the Science and Technology Program 3
• Hands-On Science and Technology Strands and Expectations 4
• Hands-On Science and Technology Fundamental Concepts and Big Ideas 4
• Hands-On Science and Technology Program Principles 5
• Infusing Indigenous Perspectives 5
• Cultural Connections 7
• Land-Based Learning 7
• Technology 7
• Sustainability 7
• Program Implementation 8
• Program Resources 8
• Classroom Environment 11
• Planning Units-Timelines 12
• Classroom Management 12
• Classroom Safety 12
• Scientific Inquiry Skills: Guidelines for Teachers 12
• Observing 12
• Questioning 13
• Exploring 13
• Classifying 13
• Measuring 14
• Communicating, Analyzing, and Interpreting 14
• Predicting 16
• Inferring 17
• Inquiry Through Investigation and Experiments 17
• Inquiry Through Research 17
• Online Considerations 18
• Addressing Students' Literacy Needs 18
• Technological Problem Solving 19
• Makerspace 19

The Hands-On Science and Technology Assessment Plan 22

• Assessment for Learning 23
• Assessment as Learning 23
• Assessment of Learning 24
• Performance Assessment 25
• Portfolios 25
• Evidence of Student Achievement Levels for Evaluation 26
• Important Note to Teachers 26
• References 27
• Assessment Reproducibles 28
• Achievement Chart for Science & Technology 43

Unit 1: Biodiversity 45

• Introduction 46
• Unit Overview 50
• Curriculum Correlation 51
• Resources for Students 52
  • 1 What Do We Know About the Diversity of Living Things? 55
  • 2 How Can We Show Classification Systems in Different Ways? 60
  • 3 How Is the Animal Kingdom Organized? 65
  • 4 How Can We Compare and Contrast Animals? 71.
  • 5 What Can We Learn by Investigating an Arthropod Colony? 78
  • 6 What Are Characteristics of Organisms in the Plant Kingdom? 84
  • 7 How Do Living Things Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 88
  • 8 What Can We Learn About Organisms Through a Pond Study? 92
  • 9 What Are Bacteria? 99
  • 10 What Is a Fungus? 103
  • 11 What Are Some Benefits and Issues Related to Biodiversity? 107
  • 12 Inquiry Project: How Can I Use Technological Problem-Solving Skills to Explore the Diversity of Living Things? 112

  Unit 2: Flight 115

  • Introduction 116
  • Unit Overview 119
  • Curriculum Correlation 120
  • Resources for Students 121
    • 1 How Do Organisms and Other Objects Move Through Air? 124
    • 2 What Are the Properties of Air? 130
    • 3 What Are the Features of Lighter-Than-Air Flying Devices? 138
    • 4 What Is Bernoulli's Principle? 144
    • 5 How Is Bernoulli's Principle Used in the Design of Airplane Wings? 150
    • 6 What Are the Forces Affecting Flight? 155
    • 7 How Are Unbalanced Forces Used to Steer Flying Devices? 163
    • 8 How Is Pneumatic Power Used in Flight? 169
    • 9 How Can We Design and Construct Model Aircraft to Meet Certain Criteria? 173
    • 10 Inquiry Project: What Is the Environmental Impact of Aviation Technology? 177

    Unit 3: Electricity and Electrical Devices 181

    • Introduction 182
    • Unit Overview 185
    • Curriculum Correlation 186
    • Resources for Students 187
      • 1 What Do We Know About Electricity? 190
      • 2 What Is Static Electricity? 194
      • 3 What Is Current Electricity? 201
      • 4 How Do We Get Electricity From Chemical Sources? 205
      • 5 How Do Electric Circuits Work? 211
      • 6 What Are Electrical Conductors and Insulators? 215
      • 7 How Do Electrical Switches Work? 219
      • 8 What Do We Know About Parallel and Series Circuits? 222
      • 9 How Can We Design and Construct an Electrical Device to Perform a Useful Function? 228
      • 10 How Can We Construct an Electromagnet? 231
      • 11 How Do Motors and Generators Transform Energy? 235
      • 12 What Is the Environmental Impact of Using Electricity? 241
      • 13 How Can We Reduce the Environmental Impact of Using Electricity? 247
      • 14 Inquiry Project: What More Do I Want to Know About Electricity? 253

      Unit 4: Space 257

      • Introduction 258
      • Unit Overview 262
      • Curriculum Correlation 263
      • Resources for Students 264
        • 1 What Do We Know About Space? 268
        • 2 What Are the Features of Our Solar System? 272
        • 3 What Are the Characteristics of the Planets in Our Solar System? 277
        • 4 What Are the Characteristics of the Sun? 283
        • 5 Why Do We Have a Day/Night Cycle? 287
        • 6 Why Do We Have a Year Cycle? 291
        • 7 How Can We Use the Sun to Tell Time? 295
        • 8 What Is the Surface of the Moon Like? 299
        • 9 What Are Gravity, Mass, and Weight? 303
        • 10 What Are the Phases of the Moon? 308
        • 11 What Is a Lunar Eclipse? 312
        • 12 What Are Constellations? 315
        • 13 What Can We Learn About Space Exploration? 319
        • 14 How Have Canadians Contributed to Space Science and Technology? 323
        • 15 How Has Space Exploration Contributed to Daily Life on Earth? 327
        • 16 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Space Exploration? 331
        • 17 Inquiry Project: What More Do I Want to Know About Space? 335
      • References 339

      Appendix: Image Banks 341

      About the Contributors 352