6th Grade: Science

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Exploring the Spectrum

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This activity introduces students to the visible light spectrum, and demonstrates what happens to the appearance of an image when certain wavelengths of light are blocked by filters or made visible using special tools. Students are lead through experiments with light and filters, demonstrating that the broader the range of the electromagnetic spectrum we can detect, the more information we gather about the universe. By completing this activity, students gain background information that is necessary for activities that follow this one. This activity is part of the "Cosmic Questions: Our Place in Space and Time" educator's guide that was developed to support the Cosmic Questions exhibit. Activities in the guide can be used in conjunction with, or independently of, the exhibt.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

States and Phases of Matter

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In this lesson, students will collect and analyze data on the kinetic energy of molecules through the different states of matter. Throughout the lab, students will be modeling the process of adding and removing energy from matter which leads to phase changes.

Exploration of Shadows in the Earth, Moon, and Sun System: Moon Phases and Eclipses

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In this lesson, students use models of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun to explore the interactions of shadows in the Earth, Moon, and Sun system. Students manipulate and observe their 3-D models as they simulate the movement of these bodies through rotation and revolution. After their observations, they draw 2-D representations and develop further questions about their models and the natural phenomena.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Jill R. Baumtrog