Sixth Grade Science Second 6 weeks _________________________________________________________ Key Understandings: Unit 3 – Energy Transformation: Non‐Living Systems  Energy causes change. o What is the relationship between change and energy?  Energy comes in a variety of forms. o What are some forms of energy?  Energy changes form, and is adapted for human use. o What energy transformation occur during the production of energy for human use? o What does the statements, “energy is never lost” mean?  Energy types have sources. These sources can be traced back to energy forms. o How can change in energy be controlled? o How do the methods humans use to obtain energy impact energy use? o What do you know about types of energy? o Can you elaborate on their connection with the different energy sources? o How would you determine what types of energy sources are renewable? Nonrenewable? Inexhaustible? Vocabulary: 1. Energy – anything that has the potential to create change or do work. Unit 4 ‐ Energy Transformation: Living Systems  Energy flows through living systems and is passed from one trophic level to another. o How do humans get the energy needed for survival? o How would removing one organism from a food chain or food web affect the energy flow within the system? o What happens to the energy in matter that is decaying or decomposing?  The Sun is the ultimate source of energy in living systems. o What would happen if the amount of energy received from the Sun was eliminated or greatly reduced. o How would other systems be affected if the amount of Sunlight was reduced?  Energy in living systems is returned to the environment through cycles. o How is energy returned to the environment through the decay of biomass? o How is matter decomposed? o How is energy transferred through the decay of biomass? o Which cycles return energy in living systems to the environment? Vocabulary: 1. Trophic level – the feeding positions on a food chain.