RI Core Standards for Science 

Students in Grade 6 develop an understanding of key concepts and core ideas in physical science, earth science, and life science. The ideas build upon students’ knowledge of science from earlier grades and the disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts of other experiences with physical, earth, and life sciences.  The performance expectations in middle school blend the core ideas with scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to support students in developing usable knowledge across the science disciplines.  Portsmouth Middle School has been a part of a pilot with the Rhode Island Department of Education, implementing a curriculum resource called Open SciEd.  The science teachers have been introducing one unit a year for the last few years.  The 2025-2026 school year will be the first year this curriculum resource will be fully implemented.

Units of Study

• Light and Matter

• Thermal Energy

• Weather & Climate

• Earth’s History and Systems

• Organisms

  
  Please see the link here to our grade 6 science website.