6th Grade

Science at OTA focuses heavily on hands-on, real world learning opportunities centered on the concepts of Matter*Energy*Life. In 6th grade we emphasize the relationships of Matter from the smallest subatomic particles to the elements that compose the largest stars and farthest galaxies. Students are more seriously engaged in the engineering design process at middle school which is reflected in our in house design competitions as well as external events like Science Olympiad & RoboExpo.

 

Engineering Design Principles & Energy
  • Aerodynamics–Paper Airplane Contest
  • Sustainable Energy, Power & Load–Wind Turbine
  • Kinetic & Potential Energy – Water Wheel
  • Atomic Theory — Atomic Posters
  • Chemical Energy — Energy Cell/Batteries
  • (Sumobot Competition)

Waves & Sound, Simple Machines
  • Sound Propogation & Hearing- Speaker Design, Wine Glass Orchestra
  • Seismic Waves — UCSD Outdoor Shake Table/Structural Engineering
  • Simple Machines — Rube Goldberg Devices
  • (Science Olympiad –Design Challenges)

Matter & Thermodynamics
  • Solids, Liquids, Gases & Plasmas–
  • Measuring Matter–
  • Acids & Bases — CSI Investigation
  • Conduction & Convection — Hot Air Balloon
  • Radiation — Solar Ovens & Steam Engines

Ecology & Environmental Science
  • Classification & Species Census
  • Ecosystems — Beach Investigation &/or Tidepools
  • Energy & Nutrient Exchange – Biosphere in a Bottle