6th Grade IMAGE Units and Field Trips
Unit One: Public Art
(Sept-Dec)
We will start our year with a study of art. However, this year there will be a heavy technology influence in our art unit, as students use technology to create and write about art. Students will first learn the elements and principles of art to give them the vocabulary needed to discuss art critically. Then, students will become familiar with a sampling of famous artists and analyze their works. Students will try their hand at several of these styles by creating an online portfolio of their own art projects. New this year, students will have the opportunity to use TinkerCAD to create designs for a 3D printer! Eventually, the unit’s focus will shift to public art. We hope to tie our unit in with Art Prize to discuss the rationale of public art and study famous pieces of public art. This will lead to a culminating project where each student creates a proposal for a piece of public art explaining a location in our community where it should be displayed. This unit will also include a field trip to Frederick Meijer Gardens and workshop time there, as well.
(Sept-Dec)
We will start our year with a study of art. However, this year there will be a heavy technology influence in our art unit, as students use technology to create and write about art. Students will first learn the elements and principles of art to give them the vocabulary needed to discuss art critically. Then, students will become familiar with a sampling of famous artists and analyze their works. Students will try their hand at several of these styles by creating an online portfolio of their own art projects. New this year, students will have the opportunity to use TinkerCAD to create designs for a 3D printer! Eventually, the unit’s focus will shift to public art. We hope to tie our unit in with Art Prize to discuss the rationale of public art and study famous pieces of public art. This will lead to a culminating project where each student creates a proposal for a piece of public art explaining a location in our community where it should be displayed. This unit will also include a field trip to Frederick Meijer Gardens and workshop time there, as well.
Unit Two: Crime Scene Investigation
(Jan-March)
This unit will emphasize scientific method and problem solving skills. These skills are both used in science-based careers, like Crime Scene Investigation. Students will get to experience with a wide range of scientific labs, such as fingerprinting, shoe printing, handwriting analysis, and dental impressions. Along the way, students will also develop their problem solving skills through frequent use of logic puzzles and stories. These skills will be combined into a crime simulation. Many teacher and parent volunteers will be needed to have a realistic simulation. Students will document a crime scene, collect evidence, and interview witnesses. Their culminating projects are their crime scene sketch and police report. Students love to see if they can correctly identify the culprit; this unit has quickly become a student favorite!
(Jan-March)
This unit will emphasize scientific method and problem solving skills. These skills are both used in science-based careers, like Crime Scene Investigation. Students will get to experience with a wide range of scientific labs, such as fingerprinting, shoe printing, handwriting analysis, and dental impressions. Along the way, students will also develop their problem solving skills through frequent use of logic puzzles and stories. These skills will be combined into a crime simulation. Many teacher and parent volunteers will be needed to have a realistic simulation. Students will document a crime scene, collect evidence, and interview witnesses. Their culminating projects are their crime scene sketch and police report. Students love to see if they can correctly identify the culprit; this unit has quickly become a student favorite!
Unit Three: Limnology
(Freshwater Study)
(March- May)
In this unit, students will continue their work with the scientific method. Students will be learning about our local water sources and testing freshwater samples from around the West Michigan area, such as the Grand River and Buck Creek. These samples will be tested for pH levels and turbidity, among many other things, in our classroom. The students also enjoy using our classroom microscopes to examine the microscopic organisms that live in nearby ponds. As we go, we will research and discuss the variety we see in our water samples. Some topics covered will be pollution and invasive species. This unit culminates in an exciting field trip aboard the D.J. Angus boat to work with GVSU researchers to test samples out in Lake Michigan. Parents are welcome to accompany us on this memorable field trip!
(Freshwater Study)
(March- May)
In this unit, students will continue their work with the scientific method. Students will be learning about our local water sources and testing freshwater samples from around the West Michigan area, such as the Grand River and Buck Creek. These samples will be tested for pH levels and turbidity, among many other things, in our classroom. The students also enjoy using our classroom microscopes to examine the microscopic organisms that live in nearby ponds. As we go, we will research and discuss the variety we see in our water samples. Some topics covered will be pollution and invasive species. This unit culminates in an exciting field trip aboard the D.J. Angus boat to work with GVSU researchers to test samples out in Lake Michigan. Parents are welcome to accompany us on this memorable field trip!