Content Page
Matter …………………………………………….………………. 2
Reversible & Irreversible Change ……………………… 5
Body Organ Systems ………………………………………… 7
Plants ………………………………………………………………. 9
Habitat, Adaptations & Food Chains ………………… 14
Impact of Human Activities on Environment ……. 18
Electricity …………………………………………………………. 20
Sounds ……………………………………………………………… 22
Magnets ……………………………………………………………. 24
Forces …………………………………………………………….… 25
Lights & Shadow ……………………………………………….. 27
Earth & Beyond ……………………………………………….… 28
GRADE 6
SCIENCE
REVISION NOTES
Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Matter
Matter – Is anything that has mass and occupies space
All living and non-living things are matter
Eg. Cat, dog, wood, table, trees, plants, mineral water
Mass – Is the amount of matter in an object
Is measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg)
1 kg = 1000g
Use electronic balance or lever balance to measure mass
Volume – Is the amount of space occupied by matter
Is measured in milliliters (ml) or litre (l)
1 l = 1000ml = 1000cm 3
Use measuring cylinder to measure volume of liquid
Method to measure irregular volume:
Measure the water level of liquid in the
measuring cylinder without the solid
Measure the water level of liquid in the
measuring cylinder with the irregular
solid
Find the difference of water level in
the measuring cylinder by minus the
water level with the solid and water
level without the solid
Matter exist in 3 states: solid, liquid and gas
There are 3 states of matter: Solid, Liquid & Gas
There are 3 types of matter: Solids, Liquids & Gaseous
SOLID
Has a fixed or definite shape
Cannot flow
Has a fixed or definite volume
Cannot be compressed
LIQUID
Has no definite shape – it can flow (takes the shape of the container)
Has a definite volume – it cannot be compressed.
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
GAS
Has no definite shape – it can flow
Has no definite volume – it can be compressed – can also spread out
Matter can change state if the substance gains heat or loses heat (increase/decrease
in temperature)
Temperature is measured using thermometer, unit is degree Celsius, °C
Heat flows from an object/place with a higher temperature to one with a lower
temperature
When a solid change to liquid, the process is called melting
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
The temperature at which a solid melt is
called melting point
When the temperature continue to
drop/fall and becomes colder, a liquid
will change to solid
When a liquid change into a solid, the
process is called freezing (reverse of melting)
The temperature at which a liquid freeze is called freezing point
Pure water freeze at 0°C, pure water ice melt at 0°C
When liquid water gains heat until bubbles form
throughout the water, it is said to be boiling
The bubbles are water in gaseous state
Steam is water in gaseous state
The temperature at which liquid boils is called its
boiling point
When a gas loses heat, it can change into liquid. The change of gas to liquid is
known as condensation
Boiling point of pure water is 100°C
The change of liquid to gas at any temperature, without boiling is evaporation
Water vapour is water in gaseous state
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Reversible & Irreversible change
Some changes are reversible, and some are irreversible
An irreversible change cannot be undo, and new substances are formed
Eg. Cooking carrot – carrot cannot become uncooked/raw; burning paper –
paper becomes ashes (the new substance)
A reversible matter can be reverse or undo, no new substance are formed
Changes in state is reversible change
Eg. Dissolving salt in water, condensing steam to form liquid, melting of
candle
Solid – solid can be separated by:
Sieve (sieving) – to separate solids and solids
of different sizes
Magnetism – using magnet to separate metal
and non metals
For example, a mixture of salt and iron filings can be separated with
the help of a magnet.
Some solid can dissolve in water to form solution
Solution is a mixture because they contain many different types of matter
Solution is made up of one or ore solutes dissolved in a solvent
Solid – liquid can be separated by:
Filtering (Filtration) – to separate solid from a liquid or separate insoluble
solid and liquid
The substance left in the filter paper is the RESIDUE and the liquid that
passes the filter is the FILTRATE
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Factors affecting how quickly a solid can dissolve:
Presence of stirring
The temperature – higher temperature, faster to dissolve
Surface area of the solid – solid with a large total surface
are dissolve faster because more of its surface area is
expose to the water
Soluble solid – liquid can be separated by:
Evaporation - Evaporation is the process of converting liquid into gas or
vapour by increasing the temperature
Crystallisation - During evaporation, the water evaporates away leaving solid
crystals behind
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Body Organ System
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Respiration is a process in which oxygen in the air is combined with glucose from
digested food to produce energy
Breathing rate increases during exercise as our lungs work harder to take in oxygen
as well as remove carbon dioxide produced during respiration
Heart beat/ pulse rate increases during exercise because our heart pumps harder to
supply more food and oxygen to the cells
A broken bone is called a fracture
Animals without a backbone/spine is called
invertebrate
Animals with backbone/spines is called vertebrates
Muscular system are made up of tough and elastic
fibres
Muscles work in pairs, when 1 muscle contract, the
other muscle will relax
skeletal muscle are joined to the bones
When muscle contract, they pull on the bones joined
to them, which causes movement
o eg. Biceps VS triceps; quads VS hamstrings
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Plants
Plants are categorized as flowering plants and non-flowering plants
Flowering plants reproduce by seeds
The process in which seeds grow into young plants is germination
Stages of germination:
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Germinating seed will need energy for growth
o Energy is obtained from the food stored in the seed
o When leaves develop, plants will be able to make its own food through
photosynthesis
Seeds need water, warmth (not sunlight) and air to grow
Seeds need to be dispersed far from the parent plant in order to reduce competition
for water, air, nutrients, sunlight and space, to ensure its survival
Seeds/fruits can be dispersed by wind, water, animals or explosive action (splitting)
Reproduction of flowering plants involves:
Parts of a flowers ->
Male part is the stamen, consist of
anther and filament
o Anther: contains pollen grains,
the male reproductive cells for
plants
Female part is the pistil, consist of stigma, style and ovary
o Ovary has one or more ovules
Ovule: contains an ovum or an egg, the female reproductive cells for
plants
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same
flower or another flower
Flowers can be pollinated by wind or animals eg.bees, butterfly
Flowers have colourful petals, nice scent and sugary liquid called nectar, which can
attract insects for pollination purposes
Wind pollinated flowers have: small, dull-coloured petals or no petals, unscented (no
scent)
o Produce many pollens which are light and can be easily carried by the wind
Types of seeds characteristics:
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Fertilization is the fusion of the male reproductive cell with the female reproductive
cell or egg to form a fertilized egg
Process of fertilization:
Seed production occurs after fertilization
Fruit protects the seed which holds the egg cell
Different stages of growth and development from a seed to an adult plant:
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Habitat, Adaptations & Food Chain
Habitat – The place where a living thing live
o It provide food, water, shelter, a place to reproduce and protection
o Eg. Garden, seashore, mangrove swamp, desert, ocean, rotting log, a tree
Environment – is made up of living things in the habitat as well as physical
conditions such as air, water, temperature, light and soil
Living things get energy from food
Plants are the only organism that is able to produce its own food through the process
of photosynthesis – also known as producers
o for photosynthesis to happen, the plants need the sun energy, water and
oxygen to produce food and oxygen
Consumers are living organisms that feed on other living things
Predator animals that hunt and eat other animals
Prey animals thar are eaten
Herbivore animals that only feeds on plants – plant eater
Carnivore animals that eat only on other animals – animal eater
Omnivore animals that eat both plants and animals
Food chain shows the feeding relationship between living things
o Also shows the transfer of energy from one organism to another
Adaptations – are characteristics that help an animal to survive in its habitat
Streamlined body – reduces resistance when moving in the air/water through water
thus using less energy
Eyespots can be found on an animal’s wings or its rear so that it can survive or escape
from a predator because the eyespot distract the predators
Desert adaptation – adapted to lose as little water as possible
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Arctic (cold) adaptation – adapted to keep their bodies as warm as possible
Water adaptation – adapted to move in water and breathe underwater
Mangrove swamps adaptation – adapted to live both in and out of water
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Impact of Human Activities on Environment
Positive impact:
o Farming
Wild life is conserve, thus not becoming endangered or extinct
Can grow crop and rear animals for food
o Building houses
Better shelter and protection
o Using science and technology
To monitor and improve the environment
Negative impact:
o Deforestation
Clearing of forest
Habitat of plants and animals is loss
Land is cleared for farming, building cities, houses and road
Can lead or cause soil erosion
o Pollutions
Is the act of making the environment dirty, unsafe or unsuitable to live
in
Types of pollution:
Land
o Waste is burnt in incineration plants – air may be
polluted with smoke particles and harmful gases
o Waste is dispose in a landfill – more land is needed,
poisonous matter and germs from the landfill can seep
into soil and end up in the rivers and seas
Water
o Waste water – contains poisonous matter and germs that
can cause disease.
o Litter in the river or oceans
o Fertilisers – will provide nutrients for algae to grow
thus, preventing sunlight from entering the water and
water plants from making food
o Oil spill
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Air
o Can cause breathing problems and damage respiratory
systems in humans and animals
o Acid rain – cause damage in buildings and plants
Green house gases
o Is the warming of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by greenhouse gases
Eg. Carbon dioxide gas
Global warming can cause a rise in sea level and will lead to climate change
Caring for Environment
3Rs – reuse, reduce and recycle
Use less energy
Use environmentally friendly products
Pick up litter/do not litter
Treat wastewater
Carry out reforestation
Protect wildlife and their habitat
Encourage others to care for the environment
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Electricity
An electric circuit is the path through which electric current flows
Electrical current is measured using multimeter or ammeter, unit: ampere (amps), A
Electrical conductor allows electricity to pass through
Electrical insulator does not allow electricity to pass through
Bulbs will not light up when:
o There is a gap in the circuit/ the circuit is open
o The batteries are placed in the wrong direction
o The batteries are dead
o The bulb has fused
Series circuit
o Has components which are connected such that there is
only one path for electric current to flow through
Advantage:
Bulbs are brighter but doesn’t last long
can add more batteries to increase the
brightness of the bulb
Disadvantages:
If one bulb fuses others will not work
Parallel series
o Has components which are connected to form two or more paths for electric
current to flow through
Advantages
When one bulb fuses others will still remain
lit
Bulbs last longer
Has the same brightness
Disadvantages
Bulbs are dimmer
Bulbs will not be brighter even if more batteries are added
A cell/ battery has positive (+) and negative (-) ends
A switch is used to open or close an electric circuit
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
When a bulb fuses/blows, the filament in the
bulb breaks, causing a gap in the circuit that
disrupts the flow of electricity – thus, becomes
an open circuit
Factors affecting electric circuits:
o more battery = brighter bulbs
o more bulbs/components = dimmer
o shorter wire = larger electric flow
o thicker wire = larger electric flow
o types of material used as wire
Electric diagram:
o Note that the positive and negative end of the battery (+) (-)
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Sounds
Sounds are made when things
vibrate – back and forth
movement
Sound level is measured in
decibel (dB), using a sound-
level meter
Unwanted sounds are called
noise
Wear ear plugs/earmuffs/ear defenders to protect ears
o Keep noise out of the room
Plucking, hitting, blowing and shaking are some ways to produce
sounds
Vocal cords in the voice box will vibrate and make sound
Sound can travel through solid, liquid and gas/air
Sound can not be heard in vacuum/space because there are no
particles vibrating to cause sound
Volume:
o Loud or soft sound
o Loud because: eg. hitting the drum
hard = loud sound
Vibration of the drum skin
are larger
o Can be affected by
How hard you hit the
instrument - louder
How hard you blow on the instrument – louder
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Pitch:
o High pitch – is made when a thing or material vibrates quickly
o Low pitch – is made when a thing or material vibrates slowly
o
o Tuning fork – longest prongs makes the lowest pitch, shortest prongs
makes the highest pitch
o Strings instruments:
Loosen strings – slower vibration, lower pitch
Tighten strings – faster vibration, higher pitch
Thickest strings – lower pitch
Thinnest strings – higher pitch
Shorter strings – higher pitch
Longer strings – lower pitch
o Wind instruments:
Make sounds when the column of air in the instrument vibrates
Longer pipe – longer air column = lower pitch
Shorter pipe – shorter air column = higher pitch
o Percussion instruments: eg. Drum or symbals
Smallest drum – higher pitch
Largest drum – lower pitch
Tight skin drum – faster vibration = higher pitch
Loose skin drum – slower vibration = lower pitch
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Magnets
Magnets has 2 poles, North on one end, and South on the other
As the object is attracted by a magnet,
it must be made of magnetic material
like steel, nickel, iron or cobalt
Metals such as aluminum, copper,
gold, silver are non-magnetic
More pins/paper clip are attracted to the
poles of the magnets because the magnetic force is strongest at the poles
When a magnet is allowed to turn freely, it will come to a rest in North-South
direction.
o This is a property of compasses which enable it
to tell directions
When two magnet object move away from each other,
they are likely to be magnets with unlike poles facing
each other
o Unlike poles magnets attracts
When two magnet object move towards from each
other, they are likely to be magnets with like poles facing
each other
o Like poles magnets repel
Repeated heating/dropping will cause a magnet to lose its magnetic force
Magnets are used in:
o Scrapyards – to separate iron and steel parts of a car
o Doorstopper
o Bag clips
o Washing machines
o Electric fans
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Forces
Forces can:
o Push and pull
o Can start to move an object
o Change the direction of a moving object
o Change the shape of an object
o Stop a moving object
o Slow down a moving object
Force is measured in Newton (N)
o 1 N = 0.10 Kg
o 1 kg = 10 N
Types of force:
o Gravitational force
o Friction – the force which act in the
opposite direction of a moving object
It slows down a moving object
o Air resistance/ water resistance
Is the frictional force that acts on an object as it
moves through air/ water
Balance force – when two or more forces acting on an object
are equal in all direction
o No movement = no work done
Unbalance force – when two or more unequal forces act on
an object
o Moves in the direction with more force
o Net force is the differences between these forces
When a force moves an object, there is a transfer of energy and work is done
Force diagram:
o Size and direction of a force is represented by arrow
o Length of the arrow shows the size of the force
o Arrowhead shows the direction
Gravitational force
o The force of attraction between two objects/ an object and the ground
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
o Depends on the mass of the object and the distance between them
o Gravitational force between the Earth and an object near its surface is large
because the Earth’s gravitational force
o Measured using forcemeter
o Objects fall to the ground towards the centre of the Earth because of the pull
of the Earth’s gravitational force
Exerts force downwards
o All object has mass – the amount of matter in them
Unit is grams or kilograms
Measured using an electronic balance
Will never change
o The larger the mass of an object and the closer it is to the ground, the larger
the gravitational force between them
o Weight is a force – it is the amount of force that pulls objects towards the
Earth
Unit is Newton, N
Will change depending on the gravitational force acting on it
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Light & shadow
Light is a form of energy
Light intensity refers to how bright or dim it is
Use light meter or light sensor to measure light intensity
o Unit is lux
Light travels from light sources and into our eyes
Light ray is the path in which light travels
Object that does not give off light will reflect light – light will bounce
off from the object
When light is reflected, its direction changes
Objects with smooth surfaces reflect light well
o They appear shiny and bright when light falls on them
Sun is a source of light but moon is not
o We can see the moon because it reflects the light from the sun
Light travels in straight line
When the path of light (light ray) is blocked, a shadow, or an area of darkness, is
formed
The nearer an object is to a light source, the larger but less sharp the shadow will be
The further an object is from a light source, the smaller but sharper its shadow will
be
The position of a shadow is opposite to the location of the light source
The position of an object affects the size of its shadow
Types of materials that blocks/allow light to pass through:
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Earth & Beyond
Sun rises from the east and sets on the west
Earth is spinning or rotating
o Spins on its own axis
o Causes day and night
o Takes 24 hour or 1 day for a complete spin
The Earth spins/ orbit around the Sun in an oval shape
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o Takes 3654 days or 1 year to
orbit the Sun once
As Earth orbits around the sun, it is also
spinning on its axis at the same time
Solar system refers to the Sun and the
objects in space that move around the
Sun
Star is a huge ball of hot gases that
gives off a lor of heat and light
o Eg. Sun
o Moon is not a star because it does not produce its own light and it reflects
light from the Sun
Satellite is an object that orbits another bigger object in space
Asteroids are irregular-shaped rocks that are smaller than the planets
Comets are objects made up of ice, dust and rocks
Meteors are small objects from space that burn brightly as they enter the Earth’s
atmosphere – also known as shooting starts
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Grade 6 Science Revision Notes
Galaxy is a collection of star systems, gas and dust
Solar system is a star system – it belongs to a galaxy called milky
way
To study and observe the space, special equipment and machines are used
o Binoculars
o Telescope
o Artificial satellites
o Space probe, rovers and spacecraft
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