Scope and sequence · Practical
Grade 6 Gardening & Animals
A year of real plant science, soil chemistry, animal husbandry and wildlife ecology for ages 11–12, learned by observing, measuring, tending and growing.
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What to cover
32 of 32 lessons are MUST COVER. They are tested on the unit tests and exams, or are skills the SAT/ACT relies on. OPTIONAL lessons are enrichment. Do them if time allows. The course is complete when the MUST COVER lessons are done.
Unit 1: Seasons and Harvest
- MUST COVER 1.1 Earth’s Orbit and the Seasons · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.2 Frost Dates and Growing Degree Days · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.3 Harvest Timing and Techniques · unit test
- MUST COVER 1.4 The Science of Food Preservation · unit test
Unit 2: Wildlife Ecology
- MUST COVER 2.1 Populations and Carrying Capacity: White-Tailed Deer · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.2 Predator and Prey · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.3 Wildlife Diseases and Safety: Rabies, Ticks and Lyme · unit test
- MUST COVER 2.4 Habitat Stewardship: Nest Boxes, Brush Piles and Native Plants · unit test
Unit 3: Soil Chemistry and Biology
- MUST COVER 3.1 Soil pH and Nutrient Availability · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.2 The Nitrogen Cycle · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.3 The Soil Food Web · unit test
- MUST COVER 3.4 Soil Testing and Amendments · unit test
Unit 4: Pets: Stewardship and Care
- MUST COVER 4.1 Choosing a Pet Wisely · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.2 Pet Nutrition and Food Labels · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.3 Reptile and Amphibian Husbandry · unit test
- MUST COVER 4.4 Pet Health, Hygiene and the Veterinarian · unit test
Unit 5: Plant Science
- MUST COVER 5.1 Cells, Tissues and the Vascular System · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.2 The Photosynthesis Equation · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.3 Flowers, Pollination and Fruit · unit test
- MUST COVER 5.4 Gregor Mendel’s Peas and Heredity · unit test
Unit 6: Farm Animals and Bees
- MUST COVER 6.1 Ruminant and Single-Stomach Digestion · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.2 Dairy Cattle and Milk · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.3 Sheep and Goats: Shearing, Hoof Care and Showmanship · unit test
- MUST COVER 6.4 Honey: From Nectar to Jar · unit test
Unit 7: Planting: Seeds, Roots, Grafts and Fields
- MUST COVER 7.1 Seed-Starting Science and Germination Rates · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.2 Root Health, Repotting and the Potted-Plant Exhibit · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.3 Grafting and Propagation · unit test
- MUST COVER 7.4 Field Crops: Corn, Wheat and Soybeans · unit test
Unit 8: Plant Pathology and Pest Management
- MUST COVER 8.1 The Disease Triangle · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.2 Fungal Diseases · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.3 Bacterial and Viral Diseases · unit test
- MUST COVER 8.4 Integrated Pest Management and the Skillathon · unit test
36-week pacing calendar
From the course’s own 32-week pacing guide, with catch-up and review weeks added to fill a 36-week (180-day) year.
| Week | Plan | Done | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | Session 1: Lesson 1.1 Earth’s Orbit and the Seasons: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 2 | Session 1: Lesson 1.2 Frost Dates and Growing Degree Days: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 3 | Session 1: Lesson 1.3 Harvest Timing and Techniques: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 4 | Session 1: Lesson 1.4 The Science of Food Preservation: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 1.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 1 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 5 | Session 1: Lesson 2.1 Populations and Carrying Capacity: White-Tailed Deer: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 6 | Session 1: Lesson 2.2 Predator and Prey: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 7 | Session 1: Lesson 2.3 Wildlife Diseases and Safety: Rabies, Ticks and Lyme: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 8 | Session 1: Lesson 2.4 Habitat Stewardship: Nest Boxes, Brush Piles and Native Plants: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 2.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 2 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 9 | Session 1: Lesson 3.1 Soil pH and Nutrient Availability: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 10 | Session 1: Lesson 3.2 The Nitrogen Cycle: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 11 | Session 1: Lesson 3.3 The Soil Food Web: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 12 | Session 1: Lesson 3.4 Soil Testing and Amendments: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 3.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 3 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 13 | Session 1: Lesson 4.1 Choosing a Pet Wisely: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 14 | Session 1: Lesson 4.2 Pet Nutrition and Food Labels: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 15 | Session 1: Lesson 4.3 Reptile and Amphibian Husbandry: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 16 | Session 1: Lesson 4.4 Pet Health, Hygiene and the Veterinarian: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 4.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 4 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 17 | Catch-up and review week (no new lessons) | ||
| Wk 18 | Session 1: Lesson 5.1 Cells, Tissues and the Vascular System: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 19 | Session 1: Lesson 5.2 The Photosynthesis Equation: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 20 | Session 1: Lesson 5.3 Flowers, Pollination and Fruit: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 21 | Session 1: Lesson 5.4 Gregor Mendel’s Peas and Heredity: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 5.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 5 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 22 | Session 1: Lesson 6.1 Ruminant and Single-Stomach Digestion: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 23 | Session 1: Lesson 6.2 Dairy Cattle and Milk: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 24 | Session 1: Lesson 6.3 Sheep and Goats: Shearing, Hoof Care and Showmanship: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 25 | Session 1: Lesson 6.4 Honey: From Nectar to Jar: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 6.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 6 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 26 | Session 1: Lesson 7.1 Seed-Starting Science and Germination Rates: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 27 | Session 1: Lesson 7.2 Root Health, Repotting and the Potted-Plant Exhibit: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 28 | Session 1: Lesson 7.3 Grafting and Propagation: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 29 | Session 1: Lesson 7.4 Field Crops: Corn, Wheat and Soybeans: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 7.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 7 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 30 | Session 1: Lesson 8.1 The Disease Triangle: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.1 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 31 | Session 1: Lesson 8.2 Fungal Diseases: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.2 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 32 | Session 1: Lesson 8.3 Bacterial and Viral Diseases: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.3 hands-on project and nature journal | ||
| Wk 33 | Session 1: Lesson 8.4 Integrated Pest Management and the Skillathon: warm-up, video, teaching and picture study Session 2: Lesson 8.4 hands-on project and nature journal Session 3: Unit 8 review and portfolio project | ||
| Wk 34 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 35 | Catch-up week: finish any MUST COVER lesson not yet done | ||
| Wk 36 | Year-end review, portfolio and records |
Grading: Hands-on projects 35%, Nature journal 20%, Unit reviews 20%, Portfolio projects 25%. Scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69. Below 60, redo the work.