Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________

SIXTH GRADE SCIENCE CRCT STUDY GUIDE

S6E1. Students will explore current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved.
a. relate the Nature of science to the progression of basic historical scientific models.
1. According to the big bang theory, the _________________ formed about 13.7 billion years ago.

b. Describe position of the solar system in the universe.

A. B. C.
Which of the following Solar System
Universe galaxies
diagrams best represents
the relationship between
galaxies, universe, galaxies universe universe
solar system

Solar System Solar System galaxies

2. Heliocentric was proposed by ___________________________ and stated that ______________________ was the center of our
solar system.

3. Geocentric was proposed by ___________________________ and stated that ______________________ was the center of our
solar system.

4.

5. The galaxy we live in, ______________(name) galaxy is an example of a (an)____________________(type) galaxy.

c. planets in terms of Size relative to the earth; Surface and atmospheric features; Relative distance from the sun;
Ability to support life

Label all 11 items on the diagram:

1. _________________________
2. _________________________
3. _________________________
4. _________________________
5. _________________________
6. _________________________
7. _________________________
8. _________________________
9. _________________________
10. _________________________
11. _________________________
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________
6. Name the planets that are gas planets?_____________________, _______________, ___________________,
_________________
7. What do all gas planets have in common? ________________________, _________________________,
____________________
8. Name the planets that are terrestrial planets. ___________________, ____________________, ________________,
____________
9. What do the terrestrial planets have in common? __________________________, _____________________, _______________,
10. Why are the planets sorted into Inner and Outer Planets?_______________________________________________________
11. Sister planets_____________ and ________________are much alike in terms of their size and density and existence of
atmospheres.
12. Earth is the only planet that can sustain ___________________ because Earth contains _________ __________.
e. gravity is the force that governs the motion in the solar system.
13. Two factors that combine to keep Earth and the moon in orbit is _______________________ and_____________________.
14. All objects are attracted to each other by the force of ________________________________.
15. As distance increases, ________________________ decreases. As distance ________________________ gravity increases.
f. Describe comets, asteroids, meteors.
16. Label the parts of the comet.

A. ________________

B. ________________

C. ________________

D. ________________

E. ________________

17. A comet has an extremely ____________________ orbit.

18. When it flies close to the sun his tail will____________ _____________ the Sun.
19. Most asteroids revolve around the sun between the orbits of_______________ and ______________, in a location called the
________________________.
20. An object outside of the asteroid belt is called a
___________________________________and is still in space. Once
the object enters Earth’s atmosphere it is called a(n)
_____________________________. When it hits the Earth it is called
a(n) _______________________________.
21. The sunlit side of the moon faces away from Earth during a
______________ moon (what phase).
22. The entire sunlit side of the moon faces Earth during a
_______________ moon (what phase).
23. During waxing phases the light is on the __________ and the
light is _________________.
24. During waning phases the light is on the __________ and the
light is _________________.
25. What is the next phase after a first quarter moon?
_____________________
26. What is the next phase after a waning gibbous?
_______________________
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________
f. alignment of the earth, moon, and sun during solar and lunar eclipses.
27. During a __________eclipse, Earth is directly between the sun and the moon, causing the moon to pass through Earth’s shadow.
28. During a ___________eclipse, the moon is directly between the sun and Earth, causing the Moon to cast a shadow upon Earth.
29. During what phase(s) of the moon can a lunar eclipse occur? ____________________________
30. During what phase(s) of the moon can a solar eclipse occur? ____________________________

31.
What type of eclipse is shown?

___________________________________

32. The moon takes about 28 days to go around Earth. Can you think of a reason why there is not an
eclipse every month? ___________________________________.

33. High tide occurs on the side closest / farthest to the Moon.
34. Low tide occurs on the side closest / farthest from the Moon.
35. In the picture to the right, which letter represents the positioning of the
Moon, Earth and Sun during Spring Tides?
__________________________________________________________ A B
36. In the picture to the right, which letter represents the positioning of the
Moon, Earth and Sun during Neap Tides?
__________________________________________________________
37. What phase(s) of the moon create Spring tides?
__________________________________________________________
38. What phase(s) of the moon create Neap Tides?
__________________________________________________________
39. A tide with the least difference between low and high tide is ___________________________.
40. A ________________________ tide happens at a new and full moon.
41. Tides are caused by the force of ____________________ from the sun and moon acting on Earth.
42. The daily rise and fall of water on Earth’s coastlines are called ____________________.
c. tilt of the earth to the distribution of sunlight throughout the year and its effect on climate.
43. Earth has seasons because ______________________________________________________________________.

44. Earth (rotates / revolves) on its axis about once every (24 hours / 365 days) thus causing (days / years) .

45. Earth (rotates / revolves) around the Sun about once every (24 hours / 365 days) thus causing (days / year).

46. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun they are experiencing what season? ______________________
47. At the same time the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing? _____________________________________
c. Describe the composition, location, and subsurface
topography of the world’s oceans

48. Which Letter identifies the continental shelf?

49. What letter identifies the abyssal plain?

50. Which of these letters is a seamount?

51. A major advance in ocean floor mapping that uses sound

waves is ______________________________________.
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________
S6E3. Students will recognize the significant role of water in earth processes.
52.
a. what portion of the Earth’s surface is water, consisting of oceans, rivers, lakes, underground water, and ice.

For questions 52 - 55 below: Answer True or False and correct the bold word if False
52. _______Most of Earth’s fresh water is in our rivers _______
53. _______Approximately 3% of Earth’s water is fresh water?________
54. _______ Sources of Saltwater on Earth include ice, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. _________
55. _______ Approximately 25% of our earth is covered with water.__________
b. relate various atmospheric conditions to stages of the water cycle.
56. Label each of the processes in the picture.

57. The energy for the water cycle originally comes from the ____________________.
58. Identify the step in which water changes from a liquid to a gas._______________________________.
59. What process must happen to water vapor to form a cloud?____________
60. What is water vapor that comes from plants called _____________________________.
61. Water that falls onto Earth is the form of rain, sleet, hail or snow is called __________________________.
62. Water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers is called____________________.
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________
S6E4. Students will understand how the distribution of land and oceans affects climate and weather.
a. uneven heating of earth causes weather

63. Use the diagrams below to draw and label illustrations of wind movement. Your drawing should include: Land Breeze, Sea
Breeze, Low Pressure (L), High Pressure (H), Cool, Warm, and arrows showing the direction of wind movement

64. The main factors that influence temperature are latitude, altitude, distance from ocean and ocean
currents. Explain how altitude affects temperature.

65. Explain why it is generally warmer near the equator than it is near the poles.

Answer True or False and correct if False 64-67

66. Oceans make the temperatures of nearby land more extreme. ____________________
67. Cool air is less dense and therefore flows over warm air. _____________________
68. Uneven heating of the atmosphere leads to differences in air pressure which causes wind.______________
69. The layer of our atmosphere in which weather occurs is the mesophere._____________________

Wet Dry Air masses

Warm Maritime tropical Continental tropical 70 Which air mass forms over land?
71. Which air mass can bring thunderstorms to the United States in
summer.
Cold Maritime polar Continental polar 72. Which air mass is warm and moist?
73. Which air mass is most likely near water?

Which front is which? Use occluded, stationary, cold or warm to fill in the blanks below.
74. When a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass, it forms a(an)_________________.
75. When a rapidly moving cold air mass overtakes a slow-moving warm air mass, the result is a(an)_____________.
76. Where a warm air mass is caught between two cooler air masses, a(an) ____________________ front occurs.
77. Contrast the three ways in which heat is transferred; Conduction, Convection Radiation.
78. The transfer of energy through empty space is called _________________________.
79. Scientists think that convection currents flow in Earth’s __________________________ .

b. Unequal heating of land and water surfaces cause large global wind systems tornados and thunderstorms.
80. Global winds are generally influenced by the ____________________ of Earth’s surface.
81. Earth’s rotation makes global winds curve creating ____________________ ____________________.

Answer True or False and correct if False 79 - 81

82. A funnel-shaped cloud that touches Earth’s surface is called a hurricane. ________________
83. Thunderstorms form within high altocumulus clouds. __________________
84. The eye of the hurricane has the highest winds. ___________________
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________
S6E5. Students will investigate the scientific view of how the earth’s surface is formed.
85. Fill in the blanks below with information on the tectonic plate boundaries and their features.

Boundary Type Motion Effects on crust Example

Sheared, slips earthquakes San Andreas
past Fault in CA
Two plates Rocky
come together Mountains in
US
Divergent Crust pulled Mid-ocean Rio Grande in
apart ridge, rift valley New Mexico

a. Earth’s crust, mantle, and core including temperature, density, and composition

86. Pressure increases with depth toward the center of

Earth. In which layer would you expect pressure to be the
greatest?

87. What is the inner most layer of Earth? _____________

88. Which layer is directly under and part of the crust?

89. This is our deepest layer. _______________

90. The rock found under our ocean is called
____________. The rock that makes up our continents is
called ____________________.

91. What are the physical layers of Earth? ________________________________________________________

92. What are the chemical layers of Earth? _______________________________________________________

b. Investigate the contribution of minerals to rock composition

Match the definitions
93.___cleavage
. A. a mineral splits easily
94.___minerals B. The shininess of a rock.
95.___ luster C. The color the mineral makes when scratched across a surface.
96.___
. streak D. A non-living substance that rocks are made of.

Moh’s Scale of
Hardness
Mineral Rating Testing Method 97. What mineral is hardest?
Talc 1 Softest known mineral. can scratch ________________
with a fingernail. 98. Which mineral is the softest?
Gypsum 2 A fingernail can easily scratch it. ____________
Calcite 3 A fingernail cannot scratch it, but a
copper penny can. 99. Which minerals can be
Fluorite 4 A steel knife can easily scratch it. scratched with your fingernail?
______________
Apatite 5 A steel knife can scratch it.
Feldspar 6 Cannot be scratched by a steel knife,
but it can scratch window glass.
Quartz 7 Can scratch steel and hard glass easily.
Topaz 8 Can scratch quartz.
Corundum 9 Can scratch topaz.
Diamond 10 Hardest known mineral. Diamond can
scratch all other substances.
Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________

a. Describe processes that changes rocks and the surface of the earth.
100. Weathering, _____________,and ______________ work hand in hand in a cycle to change earth’s surface.

101. List the types of chemical weathering:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
102. List the types of mechanical weathering:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

103. What type of weathering occurs underground?

c. Classify rocks by their processes of formation

104. Put the following rocks into one group: limestone; sandstone; coal; basalt; pumice; granite; basalt; obsidian marble; slate;

Metamorphic Sedimentary Igneous

105. What are the three types of rocks? _______________________,

____________________________, and
___________________________.

106. The rock cycle is a group of changes that never

_____________________.

107. What are the two ways igneous rock can form?
______________________ and _______________________________.

108. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock by the process
of _______________ or igneous rock by the process of
___________________ .

109. . Metamorphic rock can change into sedimentary rock by the

process(es) of ____________________ or igneous rock by the
process(es) of ___________________ .

110 . Igneous rock can change into metamorphic rock by the process of
_________________________ or sedimentary rock by the process of
___________________ .
 Name: ________________________________________ Period: __________________________ Date: __________________

111. Most volcanoes form along ___________________ and ___________________ plate boundaries.
112. The major agent of erosion that shapes Earth’s land surface is moving ____________________.

h. soil composition weathered rocks and decomposed organic material.

113. Which layer of soil contains fine soil particles and minerals but
little organic matter? _______________
114. In which soil layer would you find loam that is rich in
humus?_________
115. Soil formation begins with the weathering of _______________.
116. Soil rich in humus has high ___________________________.
117. Plowing removed the grass from the Great Plains and exposed the
soil. What effect did this have with a drought that struck the Great Plains
during the
1930’s?_____________________________________________________
___________
118. Does plant life/ vegetation increase or decrease the chance of
erosion in that area? __________________________ Does it conserve or
destroy soil? _____________________________
119. List and describe the ways that soil can be conserved.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

120. Label each of the layers of the atmosphere in the picture to the
left.

121. As altitude increases, what happens to pressure and density?

_____________________________________________

122. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

123. Why is the ozone layer important to our planets?

Look at the reading to the left:

124. What do greenhouse gases do to our planet?
Greenhouse gases are gases that can trap heat. They get their
name from greenhouses. A greenhouse is full of windows that let in
sunlight. That sunlight creates warmth. Gases in the atmosphere,
such as carbon dioxide, trap heat just like the glass roof of a
greenhouse. These heat-trapping gases are called greenhouse 125. How are humans impacting the greenhouse effect?
gases. The big trick of a greenhouse is that it doesn’t let that
warmth escape. That’s exactly how greenhouse gases act. They let
sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat
that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. Overall,
greenhouse gases are a good thing. Without them, our planet would 126. What reduces the greenhouse effect on Earth?
be too cold, and life as we know it would not exist. But there can be
too much of a good thing. Scientists are worried that human
activities are adding too much of these gases to the atmosphere.
Human activities are changing Earth's natural greenhouse effect.
Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil puts more carbon dioxide into 127. What are fossil fuels?
our atmosphere. Fossil Fuels are a natural fuel such as coal or gas,
formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
For the future, plants can help to balance or reduce the greenhouse
effect on Earth. All plants — from giant trees to tiny phytoplankton in
the ocean — take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, which
cleans out the atmosphere.