6th Grade Science
Your Course
in a Nutshell
Greetings scientists! My name's Mr. McWhorter, and I'm your science teacher for the 2024/2025 school year. I'm excited to get to work with you this year and teach you about the astounding diversity of life, both locally in your own backyard and life all around the planet. My hope is that you leave this class with a greater appreciation of nature, an understanding of how biological processes work and an ability to describe the concepts discuss affect your everyday life. Ultimately, my greatest hope is that you conceptualize that science isn't just facts to memorize; it's a way of thinking.
This course is designed to introduce students to the exciting world of biology by developing an understanding of how the scientific method works and discussing the major disciplines within biology, including cell structure and function, genetics, organismal biology and taxonomy, ecology, evolution, and climate change. For a more detailed list of objectives, please view the syllabus attached below.
Remember that all of your grades can be found in MySA. This website is just for you to access content for the course.
Your Course Content by Week
Week 1
August 14 - 16
Science as a Way of Knowing
This week will be dedicated to discussing the scientific method, and the epistemological cycles built within it. We’ll also spend time discussing how to journal and think like a biologist by using different techniques and strategies.
Week 2
August 19 - 23
Essential Science Skills
Your task this week will be to review the scientific method while learning how to write as a scientist, how to describe scientific phenomena, and other essential skills necessary for a successful year in biology at St. Andrew’s.
Week 3
August 26 - 30
The Fundamentals of Chemistry
This week will focus on essential concepts of inorganic chemistry and how those concepts relate to the chemistry of life. You will also review how to read and analyze the periodic table of the elements, and how those elements bond in multiple ways.
Week 4
September 2 - 6
Properties of Water
We’ll review the essential rules when calculating measured numbers with appropriate significant figures and introduce the four properties of water
Week 5
September 9 - 13
Biological Macromolecules
After four weeks, you’ll be assessed on the scientific method, microscopy, and significant figures soon. We will also introduce the four major biological macromolecules.
Week 6
September 16 - 20
Enzymes & Connecting Essential Concepts
Your first test is here! We’ll continue with discussing the roles enzymes within our bodies, then connecting the dots among concepts already discussed.
Week 7
September 23 - 27
Cell Structure & Function
Beginning at the cellular level first requires us to discuss the characteristics of life. After that, we’ll begin identifying characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, discuss which kingdoms are composed of each, describe advantages each have, review organelles, and discuss the function of systems found within each.
Week 8
September 30 - October 4
Cell Transport & Microscopy
Once you know the parts of a cell, you can now learn how materials move within and between cells. We’ll describe the differences between passive and active transport (e.g. molecular, endocytosis, & exocytosis), define diffusion, osmosis, and osmoregulation, and compare isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic solutions, then jump into your microscope lab!
Week 9
October 7 - 11
Microscopy
Weeks 7 & 8 begin our broader discussion of life in biology; this week connects essential points through viewing specimens under our compound light microscopes. We’ll finish out the week preparing for an assessment focused on all aspects of chemistry of life, unique properties of water, and biological macromolecules.
Week 10
October 14 - 18
Microscopy
After your fall break, you’ll have two classes this week where you’ll focus on finishing your multi day microscope lab. Make sure that you’re reviewing key terms as you move through!
Week 11
October 21 - 25
An Introduction into Photosynthesis
As a process that ultimately serves as the number one source of oxygen in the atmosphere, we’ll discuss the big picture of how photosynthesis occurs.
Week 12
October 28 - November 1
A Deep Dive into Photosynthesis
After last week, you should know how photosynthesis works. This week will focus on the details. At the end, you will know the mechanisms that make it happen.
Week 13
November 4 - 8
An Introduction into Cellular Respiration
Similar to weeks 11 & 12, this week will be dedicated to understanding the process of cellular respiration and how it mirrors photosynthesis.
Week 14
November 11 - 15r
A Deep Dive into Cellular Respiration
This week will focus on the details of respiration. We’ll describe glycolysis and identify stages within the mitochondria that ultimately create ATP.
Week 15
November 18 - 22
The Cell Cycle
As we round out the semester, this week will introduce our final topic of new discussion. We’ll describe an overview of the cell’s life, introduce and review stages in the cell cycle.
Week 16
December 2 - 6
Cell Division & Gamete Formation
Now that we know how cells divide and replicate, this week will focus on how cells divide to create gametes for sexual reproduction.
Week 17
December 9 - 13
Connecting Essential Topics
This week will ultimately connect essential topics from the beginning of the semester to our final concepts to better prepare you for the semester exam.
Week 18
December 16 - 20
Semester Exam Prep
It’s been a full semester and after this week, you should now feel prepared to discuss all aspects of biology discussed these last 18 weeks.
Happy Holidays! I hope that you enjoy the break and catch up on some rest & relaxation.
Welcome Back!
Week 19
January 6 - 10
An Introduction into Genetics
To get us started with the spring semester, we’ll review genes, alleles, and describe how inherited genes are passed on through multiple generations, while also discussing non-Mendelian Genetics.
Week 20
January 13 - 17
A Deep Dive into Genetics
Once we understand how genes function, this week will review the central dogma of molecular biology. We’ll review transcription, translation, and DNA replication while also discussing genetic diseases.
Week 21
January 20 - 24
Central Dogma & DNA Extraction
We’ll finish our genetic discussion by learning how to read the genetic code table that ultimately transcribes DNA into RNA then translates RNA into proteins. Lastly, we’ll extract some DNA in a lab then prep for next week.
Week 22
January 27 - 31
Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes
As we begin our discussion on ecological relationships, we first need to understand how to differentiate terrestrial and aquatic biomes. You’ll use this week to differentiate so that we can then discuss on organisms interact in these habitats.
Week 23
February 3 - 7
Energy Flow & Ecological Hierarchy
Now that you know how to differentiate habitats, we’ll discuss how energy moves within an ecosystem, describe the levels of ecological hierarchy, introduce succession, and discuss the types of symbiotic relationships that exist in these populations and communities.
Week 24
February 10 - 14
Ecology, Taxonomy, & Phylogeny
At this point, we can identify the habitats and relationships among organisms. This week, we’ll discuss how scientists classify these groups and discuss their relationships through phylogenetic trees and cladograms. This will prepare us for the multi-week lab next week.
Weeks 25 - 27
February 17 - 21, February 24 - 28, & March 3 -7
A General Overview of Organismal Diversity
This week will be dedicated to describing general characteristics among all domains, reviewing phylogeny with an attention towards kingdoms within Eukarya and characteristics of Phyla & classes within animals & plants. You’ll spend time over these next several weeks working on our organismal diversity lab. You’ll work independently to learn more about each group.
Week 28
March 17 - 21
Preparing for the Final Weeks
We’ll prepare for our next test, set up how you’ll be quizzed on the diversity of life, while also introducing the complexities surrounding the theory of evolution. We’ll also discuss the paper in more detail with the hopes of everyone having their topic chosen this week.
Week 29
March 24 -28
A Deep Dive into Evolution
Finishing out our discussion of evolution, we’ll describe reproductive isolation & speciation, compare convergent & divergent evolution, then finish the week reviewing biogeography, and connect this to our earlier ecozones, and see how behavior is evolutionary.
Week 30
March 31 - April 4
An Overview of Climate Change
This week will be dedicated to explaining the bigger picture of human-induced climate change. We’ll discuss concerns we are facing locally & globally, and analyze misinformation, and help you understand this difficult and sometimes depressing topic.
Week 31
April 7 - 11
Climate Change, the Data
This week will finish our discussion on climate change by reviewing our time table on how quickly we need to act, reviewing scientific literature on the subject, and identifying solutions to ultimately reduce the impacts we as a species have on this planet
Week 32
April 14 - 18
Climate Change - Next Steps
This will be our final week to discuss bigger issues surrounding climate change and what next steps should be taken to avoid the scenarios discussed in class. We’ll end with reconnecting to our overview to make sure we understand the issues facing this planet.
Week 33
April 21 - 25
Anatomy & Physiology
This week of anatomy & physiology will discuss organ systems covered in the A&P Integumentary, lymphatic, skeletal, muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, & reproductive systems, while also hitting a few others to set up for our frog dissection!
Week 34
April 28 - May 2
Sexual Health & Wellness
This week will focus on sexual health, sexual education, health literacy, and wellness. We’ll discuss healthy relationships, sex, birth control, pregnancy, consent, and much more.
Week 35
May 5 - 9
Semester 1 Review
We’re finishing the year reviewing essentials of the year. This week will be dedicated to reviewing essential concepts of the first semester.
Week 36
May 12 - 16
Semester 2 Review
The end of the year has arrived. Your final week will connect essential topics from the first semester to the second and prepare you for your final exam. Congrats!