GEMS Correlations with the
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science
Grade 6


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Science, Grade 6.

Knowledge and skills.


(1) Scientific processes. The student conducts field and laboratory investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble Festival, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Crime Lab Chemistry, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Mapping Fish Habitats, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(B) make wise choices in the use and conservation of resources and the disposal or
recycling of materials.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Dry Ice Investigations, Environmental Detectives, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Paper Towel Testing, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Terrarium Habitats

(2) Scientific processes. The student uses scientific inquiry methods during field and laboratory investigations. The student is expected to:

(A) plan and implement investigative procedures including asking questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting and using equipment and technology;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Convection, Dry Ice Investigations, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Learning About Learning, Mapping Animal Movements, Mapping Fish Habitats, Paper Towel Testing, River Cutters

(B) collect data by observing and measuring;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble Festival, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Crime Lab Chemistry, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(C) analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct and indirect evidence;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble Festival, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Crime Lab Chemistry, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(D) communicate valid conclusions; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble Festival, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Crime Lab Chemistry, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(E) construct graphs, tables, maps, and charts using tools including computers to organize, examine, and evaluate data.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone

(3) Scientific processes. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions. The student is expected to:

(A) analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Bubble-ology, Convection, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology

(B) draw inferences based on data related to promotional materials for products and services;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Bubble-ology, Environmental Detectives, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Learning About Learning, Only One Ocean, Paper Towel Testing

(C) represent the natural world using models and identify their limitations;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Aquatic Habitats, Convection, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(D) evaluate the impact of research on scientific thought, society, and the environment; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Convection, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology

(E) connect Grade 6 science concepts with the history of science and contributions of scientists.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Bubble-ology, Dry Ice Investigations, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Fingerprinting, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters

(4) Scientific processes. The student knows how to use a variety of tools and methods to conduct science inquiry. The student is expected to:

(A) collect, analyze, and record information using tools including beakers, petri dishes, meter sticks, graduated cylinders, weather instruments, timing devices, hot plates, test tubes, safety goggles, spring scales, magnets, balances, microscopes, telescopes, thermometers, calculators, field equipment, compasses, computers, and computer probes; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Bubble Festival, Bubble-ology, Chemical Reactions, Color Analyzers, Convection, Crime Lab Chemistry, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Height-O-Meters, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Investigating Artifacts, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Microscopic Explorations, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Mystery Festival, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Oobleck, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters, Schoolyard Ecology, Stories in Stone, Terrarium Habitats

(B) identify patterns in collected information using percent, average, range, and frequency.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Bubble-ology, Color Analyzers, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Environmental Detectives, Experimenting With Model Rockets, Fingerprinting, Hot Water and Warm Homes, Learning About Learning, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, More Than Magnifiers, Ocean Currents, Paper Towel Testing, Plate Tectonics, The Real Reasons for Seasons, River Cutters

(5) Scientific concepts. The student knows that systems may combine with other systems to form a larger system. The student is expected to:

(A) identify and describe a system that results from the combination of two or more systems such as in the solar system; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, Ocean Currents, Plate Tectonics

(B) describe how the properties of a system are different from the properties of its parts.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Earth, Moon, & Stars, Environmental Detectives, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, Ocean Currents, Plate Tectonics

(6) Science concepts. The student knows that there is a relationship between force and motion. The student is expected to:

(A) identify and describe the changes in position, direction of motion, and speed of an object when acted upon by force;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Experimenting With Model Rockets, Plate Tectonics

(B) demonstrate that changes in motion can be measured and graphically represented; and
Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Experimenting With Model Rockets, Plate Tectonics

(C) identify forces that shape features of the Earth including uplifting, movement of water, and volcanic activity.


Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Plate Tectonics, River Cutters, Stories in Stone

(7) Science concepts. The student knows that substances have physical and chemical properties. The student is expected to:

(A) demonstrate that new substances can be made when two or more substances are chemically combined and compare the properties of the new substances to the original substances; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Chemical Reactions, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Environmental Detectives

(B) classify substances by their physical and chemical properties.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Discovering Density, Dry Ice Investigations, Environmental Detectives, Microscopic Explorations, Mystery Festival, Stories in Stone

(8) Science concepts. The student knows that complex interactions occur between matter and energy. The student is expected to:

(A) define matter and energy;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Dry Ice Investigations

(B) explain and illustrate the interactions between matter and energy in the water cycle and in the decay of biomass such as in a compost bin; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Environmental Detectives, Ocean Currents

(C) describe energy flow in living systems including food chains and food webs.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Aquatic Habitats, Environmental Detectives, Only One Ocean

(9) Science concepts. The student knows that obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy affects the environment. The student is expected to:

(A) identify energy transformations occurring during the production of energy for human use such as electrical energy to heat energy or heat energy to electrical energy;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: None at this time.

(B) compare methods used for transforming energy in devices such as water heaters, cooling systems, or hydroelectric and wind power plants; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Hot Water and Warm Homes

(C) research and describe energy types from their source to their use and determine if the type is renewable, non-renewable, or inexhaustible.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Hot Water and Warm Homes

(10) Science concepts. The student knows the relationship between structure and function in living systems. The student is expected to:

(A) differentiate between structure and function;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Animals in Action, Mapping Fish Habitats, Only One Ocean, Terrarium Habitats

(B) determine that all organisms are composed of cells that carry on functions to sustain life; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: None at this time.

(C) identify how structure complements function at different levels of organization including organs, organ systems, organisms, and populations.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Only One Ocean

(11) Science concepts. The student knows that traits of species can change through generations and that the instructions for traits are contained in the genetic material of the organisms. The student is expected to:

(A) identify some changes in traits that can occur over several generations through natural occurrence and selective breeding;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Nonoe at this time.

(B) identify cells as structures containing genetic material; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: None at this time.

(C) interpret the role of genes in inheritance.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: None at this time.

(12) Science concepts. The student knows that the responses of organisms are caused by internal or external stimuli. The student is expected to:

(A) identify responses in organisms to internal stimuli such as hunger or thirst;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Animals in Action, Mapping Animal Movements, Mapping Fish Habitats, Only One Ocean, Schoolyard Ecology, Terrarium Habitats

(B) identify responses in organisms to external stimuli such as the presence or absence of heat or light; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Animals in Action, Mapping Animal Movements, Mapping Fish Habitats, Only One Ocean, Schoolyard Ecology, Terrarium Habitats

(C) identify components of an ecosystem to which organisms may respond.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Acid Rain, Animals in Action, Environmental Detectives, Ocean Currents, Only One Ocean, Schoolyard Ecology, Terrarium Habitats

(13) Science concepts. The student knows components of our solar system. The student is expected to:

(A) identify characteristics of objects in our solar system including the Sun, planets, meteorites, comets, asteroids, and moons; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Earth, Moon, & Stars, Messages From Space, Moons of Jupiter, The Real Reasons for Seasons

(B) describe types of equipment and transportation needed for space travel.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Moons of Jupiter

(14) Science concepts. The student knows the structures and functions of Earth systems. The student is expected to:

(A) summarize the rock cycle;

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Stories in Stone

(B) identify relationships between groundwater and surface water in a watershed; and

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Environmental Detectives, River Cutters

(C) describe components of the atmosphere, including oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor, and identify the role of atmospheric movement in weather change.

Appropriate GEMS Teacher's Guides: Global Warming

Lawrence Hall of Science    © 2016 UC Regents. All rights reserved.    Contact GEMS    Updated February 06, 2021