Wonderscape Academy6th grade

September · Week 1 · Day 3 · School day 3

Day 3: Atoms, Molecules and Ratio Tables

Week 1 planDay 4 →

Play with your child: Ratio Rally

Today’s goals

  • Word study: Use the root logy (study of) L.6.4b
  • Reading: Explain how characters respond to problems RL.6.3
  • Math: Find ratios in a table of data 6.RP.1
  • Science: Model atoms, elements and molecules MS-PS1-1

Materials

  • Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Wonderscape Library)
  • Gumdrops or mini marshmallows [or clay balls]
  • Toothpicks
  • Simple ratio data table (printed or on the board)
  • Periodic table chart [optional]

Swaps in [brackets] are fine. Use what you have at home or in the classroom.

The day, step by step

  1. 10–15 min Morning meeting SL.6.1

    1. Post the question of the day: "There are 3 dogs and 2 cats. What are two ways to compare them?" Students jot an answer in their notebook before the meeting.
    2. Students compare answers: 3:2 and 2:3 describe different things.
    3. Review: what is a ratio?

  2. 15–20 min Word study L.6.4b

    1. Write logy: study of. List biology, geology, ecology, zoology, meteorology.
    2. Partners guess what each -ologist studies, then check with a dictionary.
    3. Add a logy branch to the root tree.
    4. Quick check: what does a meteorologist study? (weather)

    Note: meteorology studies weather, not meteors, even though the words look alike.

  3. 25–30 min Reading workshop RL.6.3

    Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Wonderscape Library)

    1. Recap chapters 1 and 2: the captain, the black spot, the danger.
    2. Read the part where Jim and his mother open the sea chest.
    3. Ask: How does Jim respond to danger? What does that show about him?
    4. Students write one trait for Jim and one piece of evidence from the reading.

  4. 35–45 min Math 6.RP.1

    1. Show a table: Lunch choices, pizza 12, tacos 8, salads 4.
    2. Ask questions: ratio of pizza to tacos (12:8, or 3:2), salads to all lunches (4:24, or 1:6).
    3. Show how to simplify a ratio by dividing both numbers by the same number.
    4. Practice: from the table, write 4 ratios and simplify each.
    5. Exit ticket: Is 12:8 the same as 3:2? Explain.

    Math center: survey 10 classmates on a favorite snack and write 3 ratios.

  5. 25–30 min Science MS-PS1-1

    1. Explain: all matter is made of atoms. An element is made of one kind of atom, like oxygen or gold.
    2. Molecules are two or more atoms joined together.
    3. Build models with gumdrops and toothpicks: oxygen gas (O2) uses 2 same-color atoms; water (H2O) uses 1 oxygen and 2 hydrogen.
    4. Build carbon dioxide (CO2): 1 carbon in the middle, 2 oxygen on the sides.
    5. Exit ticket: draw a water molecule and label each atom.

  6. 25–30 min Writing W.6.10

    1. Mini-lesson: a topic sentence tells what the paragraph is about.
    2. Model: I am a reader who loves stories with maps and mysteries.
    3. Students draft the first paragraph of their profile with a topic sentence and 3 details.
    4. Partners check for a clear topic sentence.

  7. 20–30 min Centers and independent practice

    1. Molecule models: build H2O, O2 and CO2 and label them.
    2. Root tree: add logy words.
    3. Snack survey ratios.
    4. Reading nook: read and log.

    Device time (15 min): play Ratio Rally in the Wonderscape game room.

    Today’s game: Ratio Rally

  8. 5–10 min Closing circle SL.6.1

    1. What is the difference between an atom and a molecule?
    2. How did Jim handle danger today?
    3. Which -ology would you study?
Support: Give a word bank of trait words: brave, curious, careful, nervous.
Stretch: Build a model of methane (CH4): 1 carbon and 4 hydrogen.
Look for: Students build correct molecule models and simplify ratios from a table.

Short day? Keep the molecule models and the ratio table practice.