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Science · Grade 6

Research, Sketch and Model

Learners take a defined problem (a tablet stand for a school's video-call corner) from research to a modelled concept. They analyse existing solutions function by function and record sources honestly, generate many ideas before judging, select concepts by screening against constraints and comparing with a reference design, communicate with annotated sketches and orthographic views, convert between drawing and real lengths with scales, and choose physical, digital or mathematical models while stating their limits. An optional Going further lesson explores how areas and masses change when models are scaled, and counts concepts in a morphological chart.

  • 5 lessons
  • About 115 minutes
  • Research, sketch and model check: 11 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, type a number, put in order and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Research existing solutions and related products to learn which features work and why, recording sources and adapting principles rather than copying designs.
  • Generate many varied ideas by deferring judgement, then select concepts systematically: screen against constraints, then compare with a reference design criterion by criterion.
  • Communicate design ideas with annotated sketches and orthographic views (front, top and side), and interpret which dimensions each view shows.
  • Use scales to convert between drawing or model lengths and real lengths, and choose a physical, digital or mathematical model suited to a design question, stating what it cannot show.

Lessons

  1. Learn from what already exists 7 steps3 practiceabout 20 min
  2. Generate many ideas, then select 8 steps4 practiceabout 24 min
  3. Sketch to think and communicate 9 steps5 practiceabout 22 min
  4. Scale drawings and choosing a model 9 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  5. Going further: scaling laws and morphological charts 8 steps4 practiceabout 18 min
  6. Research, sketch and model check 11 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Marble MountainLay straights, curves, drops and splitters to roll marbles down the mountain.
  • Bridge LabBuild a bridge from beams, brace it with triangles, and stay on budget.
  • Circuit Workshop 3DWire up batteries, bulbs and switches on a 3D workbench.

More 6th grade science

Guide for grown-ups