Grade 6 Science: Matter and Energy

Matter

• The particle model of matter states that heating matter causes particles to move faster and cooling matter causes particles to move slower.
• Particles change speed and distance from each other when heated or cooled.
• As particles move faster, the attractive forces between them weaken and the space between them increases.
• As particles slow down, the attractive forces between them increase and the space between them decreases.
• A phase change is a change from one state of matter to another, and during a phase change, the volume of the matter may change but the mass remains constant.
• The Celsius scale is based on the changes of state of water and defines 0°C as the melting/freezing point of water and 100°C as the boiling point of water.
• Expansion is the typical response materials have to heating, and most matter expands when heated and contracts when cooled.
• Water has the unusual property of having greater volume in solid form than in liquid form, and it is less dense in solid form than in liquid form.
• The surface of a body of water freezes when the temperature of the water drops below the freezing point, and the frozen surface of a large body of water forms an insulating sheet of ice that protects aquatic life.

Energy

• Forces within an object are internal forces, including tension, compression, shear, and torsion.
• External forces cause internal forces within an object, and external forces can change the shape, size, or position of objects that interact.
• An applied force is exerted on an object by a person or another object, and friction forces oppose the movement of objects when those objects make contact with other objects or surfaces.
• Elastic or spring force is exerted on any object that is in contact with a compressed or stretched elastic object or spring.
• Plasticity is a property that leads to permanent changes in an object's shape, and elasticity is a property that enables temporary changes in an object's shape.
• For every action force, there is an equal and opposite reaction force (Newton's Third Law).
• One object experiences an action force while another object experiences a reaction force in an interaction.

Energy Resources

• Factors that influence selection of energy resources include availability, accessibility, societal impacts, economic impacts, and environmental impacts.
• Responsible management of energy resources includes minimal disruption to nature, restoration of extraction areas, and respect for land and resource rights.
• Some energy resources can be used before processing, such as wood and wind, and some energy resources can be used after processing, such as fossil fuels, nuclear, hydro, and biofuel.
• Energy resources can be used in daily life in various ways, such as heating and cooling, lighting, cooking, and transportation.

Earth Systems

• Earth's systems interact with the Sun and each other to impact climate in various ways, including clouds reflecting sunlight into space and greenhouse gases trapping heat from the Sun.

• Complex interactions between humans, Earth's systems, and the Sun can impact climate and climate change.

• Human activities, including industrialization and pollution, can cause changes in climate, and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere contributes to the warming of Earth.

• Personal actions that can help address human causes of global climate change include reducing personal consumption and waste, planting a garden or buying local produce, and using clean, affordable, and reliable energy sources responsibly.

• Climate change can affect weather and extreme weather events, water resources, migration patterns, and frequency of forest fires.

• Climate change can impact agricultural practices, such as crop yield and livestock management, and affect ways of living in northern, Inuit, and/or coastal communities in Canada.### Climate Change

• Climate change impacts traditional ways of living off the land, including hunting and gathering practices of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.

• Rising sea levels in coastal areas, changing migration patterns, and access to hunting, harvesting, and fishing are affected.

Crop Production and Pest Management

• Crop production is affected by climate change, impacting harvesting periods and yields.
• Irrigation practices are also affected by climate change.

Theories of Dinosaur Extinction

• Theories about dinosaur extinction include worldwide climate change, a catastrophic meteoric event, or volcanic activity.

Climate Change Observation and Measurement

• Climate change can be identified through long-term observation and measurement of environmental conditions, such as precipitation, temperature, and extreme weather events.
• Measurement of weather conditions includes sea and ocean levels, permafrost changes, and number of forest fires.

Extreme Weather Events

• Extreme weather events include heatwaves, hurricanes, monsoons, tornados, blizzards, torrential rain, and wildfires.
• Technologies used to predict extreme weather events include radars, weather satellites, and computer modelling.

Traditional Knowledge and Modern Technologies

• Traditional knowledge and modern technologies both provide information on long-term climate changes.
• Collaboration between scientists, Elders, and traditional Knowledge Keepers can contribute to a broader awareness of the effects of weather on people and environments.

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems are complex systems of biotic and abiotic components.
• The components and characteristics of an ecosystem affect the diversity of organisms living in it.

Characteristics of Ecosystems

• Characteristics of ecosystems include climate patterns, size, vegetation structure, animal populations, and geographic location.
• Ecosystems can be examined using digital or non-digital tools, such as still-image and video cameras and magnifying devices.

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is a process that supports growth and survival in ecosystems.
• Plants carry out photosynthesis, using light, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and food in the form of sugar (glucose).

Plants and Ecosystems

• Plants play various roles in ecosystems, such as photosynthesizing, reducing soil erosion, and providing food and shelter for animals.
• Humans depend on plants to produce oxygen for respiration and for other needs such as food, clothing, paper, building materials, medicine, and fuel.

Space Exploration

• The solar system is a complex group of celestial bodies that include the Sun, planets, moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
• Celestial bodies have characteristics that vary in many ways, including surface conditions, composition, size, shape, and whether they emit or reflect light.

Celestial Bodies

• The solar system can be modelled to represent the size of the Sun and the planets and the distance between them.
• The reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet is an example of how new information can lead to changes in our understanding of the solar system.### Exploring the Solar System
• Technologies used to explore the solar system include:
  • Telescopes
  • Probes
  • Manned spacecraft and space stations
  • Computer modelling
• Satellites are objects in space that orbit around another larger object
• An orbit is the recurring path of an object around another object in space
• Natural satellites are celestial bodies, while artificial satellites are constructed and put into orbit by humans
• The first satellite put into orbit by Alberta (Ex-Alta 1) was designed by a group of students and faculty at the University of Alberta and was successfully launched from the International Space Station in 2017

Computer Science

• Abstraction is used in design and coding of computational artifacts to make problems easier to think about
• The process of abstraction includes determining what details to keep and what to ignore, and removing unnecessary details
• Abstraction is used to simplify complex information
• Computational artifacts can be designed to address societal needs and wants, such as:
  • Weather modelling
  • Communications
  • Automotive controls
  • Medical research
  • Apps
• Structures used in coding include:
  • Sequences
  • Conditionals (if-then-else statements)
  • Loops
• The use of computers, coding, and technology can have both positive and negative impacts on personal, social, economic, and environmental aspects

Scientific Methods

• Scientific explanations make sense of natural phenomena based on an investigation
• Explanations are used in science to answer scientific questions
• Hypotheses are proposed scientific explanations developed prior to conducting an investigation
• Hypotheses are based on prior scientific knowledge and understandings
• Evidence is used to support or contradict a hypothesis
• Scientific explanations are constructed using reliable, objective data and evidence
• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit share explanations of natural phenomena through traditional knowledge, written texts, and verbal presentations

Communicating Scientific Explanations

• Scientific explanations can be communicated in different ways depending on the audience
• The needs of the audience influence how science is communicated, such as vocabulary used, level of detail, and method of communication
• Explanations of natural phenomena can be refined as new evidence is revealed

Validating Evidence and Explanations

• Evidence and scientific explanations are subject to further investigation to determine their validity
• Further investigation can involve a variety of processes, such as:
  • Continual collection of evidence over time
  • Discussion and debate in the scientific community
  • Conducting multiple investigations over long periods of time
  • Using new technologies and methods that reveal new evidence
• One conflicting study is not enough to cause a scientific explanation to be refined

Heating Matter

• Heating matter causes particles to move faster
• As particles move faster, the attractive forces between them weaken
• The space between particles increases as they move faster

Cooling Matter

• Cooling matter causes particles to move slower
• As particles slow down, the attractive forces between them increase
• The space between particles decreases as they slow down

Phase Changes

• A phase change is a change from one state of matter to another
• During a phase change, the volume of the matter may change
• The mass of the matter remains constant during a phase change