COLORADOTHE CENTENNIAL STATE
Colorado Grade 6 Science Online Center
Colorado tests science in grades 5, 8, and 11, not in grade 6, so sixth grade is the year to build the ideas CMAS Science will ask about later. Practice tests, skill quizzes, flashcards, and every Colorado science standard for this grade, free.
Standards source: Standards and Instructional Support, Colorado Department of Education.
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Colorado Science by Grade
Every Colorado science center, grade 1 through grade 8.
Start With a Practice Test
Six full, timed grade 6 science practice tests, 40 questions each, instant scoring, and a written explanation for every question. Colorado does not test science this year, so use these to find gaps early. Each one opens right here.
Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 1
A full diagnostic across every science area for this grade.
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Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 2
Fresh questions and new phenomena to build accuracy.
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Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 3
New problems that push reading of data, models, and evidence.
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Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 4
Another complete, timed exam to build pacing and stamina.
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Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 5
A brand-new mixed set to test how ready you are.
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Colorado Grade 6 Science Practice Test 6
A final full-length simulation to confirm you are ready.
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Grade 6 Science Skill Quizzes
Pick one science area, answer 10 questions, and see exactly where the idea broke down. Each quiz opens right here.
Matter and Its Properties
A quick 10-question check on matter and its properties, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Forces and Motion
A quick 10-question check on forces and motion, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Energy
A quick 10-question check on energy, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Waves and Information
A quick 10-question check on waves and information, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Cells, Structures and Life Processes
A quick 10-question check on cells, structures and life processes, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Ecosystems and Heredity
A quick 10-question check on ecosystems and heredity, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Evolution, Fossils and Adaptation
A quick 10-question check on evolution, fossils and adaptation, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Earth and Space Systems
A quick 10-question check on earth and space systems, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Earth, Human Activity and Engineering
A quick 10-question check on earth, human activity and engineering, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.
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Grade 6 Science Study Tools
A few minutes of review between practice tests. Both open right here.
Grade 6 Science Flashcards
All 166 terms this grade is expected to know. Search the deck, filter by science area, star the hard ones, and mark off what you have down.
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Grade 6 Science Quick Review
Every must-know idea for this grade on one page, grouped by science area, with the vocabulary for each one.
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Study with a clearer next step
This Colorado grade 6 science center is part of the Effortless Math library. Practice tests, skill quizzes, flashcards, and the state's own standards are connected so a student always has a clear next step instead of a wall of links.
Effortless Math is an independent educational publisher. Test names, state exams, standards names, and trademarks are used only to identify the relevant study topic; their owners do not sponsor, endorse, or approve this page.
Colorado Grade 6 Science Snapshot
Colorado Grade 6 Science Topics
These are the 68 science standards Colorado sets for grade 6, from the Colorado Academic Standards: Science, grouped and ordered exactly the way the state's own standards document groups them. Each one is tagged with its official code so you can trace it straight back to the state document.
Colorado standard codes
MS.1 Physical Science
- MS.1.1.aMS.1.2.bParticles, Atoms, Elements, and Compounds
- MS.1.1.bMS.1.2.aMaterial Properties and Uses
- MS.1.1.cNatural Resources and Human Impacts
- MS.1.1.dMS.1.2.cMS.1.5.cMS.1.5.eMS.1.6.aMS.1.6.cEnergy Forms, Transfer, and Transformation
- MS.1.3.aMS.1.3.bMS.1.4.aMS.1.4.cForces, Motion, and Interactions
- MS.1.4.bPresent Arguments Evidence Claim Gravitational Interactions Attractive Depend
- MS.1.5.aScientific Tools, Measurement, and Data Displays
- MS.1.5.bMS.1.7.aPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and Change
- MS.1.5.dMS.1.6.bMatter Properties, States, and Classification
- MS.1.8.aMS.1.8.bMS.1.9.aLight, Sound, and Wave Behavior
- MS.1.10.aIntegrate Qualitative Scientific Technical Information Claim Digitized Signals
MS.2 Life Science
- MS.2.1.aMS.2.1.cMS.2.3.bMS.2.10.aMS.2.10.cMS.2.11.aCells, Body Systems, and Genetics
- MS.2.1.bMS.2.2.aMS.2.2.bMS.2.3.aMS.2.5.aMS.2.5.b+4Organism Needs, Structures, and Life Cycles
- MS.2.4.aMS.2.9.cPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and Change
- MS.2.6.aMS.2.7.aEcosystems, Food Webs, and Matter Flow
- MS.2.7.bMS.2.12.aCompeting Solutions Maintaining Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Coral Reef
- MS.2.9.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and Landforms
MS.3 Earth and Space Science
- MS.3.1.aMS.3.1.bMS.3.2.aMS.3.2.bMS.3.2.cMS.3.6.bSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space Systems
- MS.3.3.aMS.3.4.aMS.3.5.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and Landforms
- MS.3.4.bMS.3.6.aExplanation Based Evidence Geoscience Processes Changed Earth'S Surface
- MS.3.6.cMS.3.7.aData Provide Evidence Motions Complex Interactions Air Masses
- MS.3.6.dMS.3.7.bWater Cycle, Weather, Climate, and Atmosphere
- MS.3.8.aMS.3.10.bNatural Resources and Human Impacts
- MS.3.9.aData Natural Hazards Forecast Future Catastrophic Events Inform
- MS.3.10.aEngineering Design and Solution Evaluation
- MS.3.11.aScientific Questions, Investigations, and Evidence
Grouped and ordered from the state's own standards document.
Colorado Grade 6 Science Standards
The full text of every grade 6 science standard in the Colorado Academic Standards: Science. If your Colorado classroom or report card mentions a code, you will find it here.
MS.1 Physical Science
- MS.1.1.aParticles, Atoms, Elements, and CompoundsDevelop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures
- MS.1.1.bMaterial Properties and UsesAnalyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred
- MS.1.1.cNatural Resources and Human ImpactsGather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society
- MS.1.1.dEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationDevelop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed
- MS.1.2.aMaterial Properties and UsesAnalyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred
- MS.1.2.bParticles, Atoms, Elements, and CompoundsDevelop and use a model to describe how the total number of atoms does not change in a chemical reaction and thus mass is conserved
- MS.1.2.cEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationUndertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes
- MS.1.3.aForces, Motion, and InteractionsApply Newton's Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects
- MS.1.3.bForces, Motion, and InteractionsPlan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an objects motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object
- MS.1.4.aForces, Motion, and InteractionsAsk questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces
- MS.1.4.bPresent Arguments Evidence Claim Gravitational Interactions Attractive DependConstruct and present arguments using evidence to support the claim that gravitational interactions are attractive and depend on the masses of interacting objects
- MS.1.4.cForces, Motion, and InteractionsConduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact
- MS.1.5.aScientific Tools, Measurement, and Data DisplaysConstruct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and the speed of an object
- MS.1.5.bPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and ChangeDevelop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system
- MS.1.5.cEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationApply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer
- MS.1.5.dMatter Properties, States, and ClassificationPlan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample
- MS.1.5.eEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationConstruct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object
- MS.1.6.aEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationApply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer
- MS.1.6.bMatter Properties, States, and ClassificationPlan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample
- MS.1.6.cEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationConstruct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object
- MS.1.7.aPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and ChangeDevelop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system
- MS.1.8.aLight, Sound, and Wave BehaviorUse mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in the wave
- MS.1.8.bLight, Sound, and Wave BehaviorDevelop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed or transmitted through various materials
- MS.1.9.aLight, Sound, and Wave BehaviorDevelop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed or transmitted through various materials
- MS.1.10.aIntegrate Qualitative Scientific Technical Information Claim Digitized SignalsIntegrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information than analog signals
MS.2 Life Science
- MS.2.1.aCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsConduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells
- MS.2.1.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesDevelop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function
- MS.2.1.cCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsUse argument supported by evidence for how the body is a system of interacting subsystems composed of groups of cells
- MS.2.2.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesUse argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively
- MS.2.2.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesConstruct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms
- MS.2.3.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesConstruct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms
- MS.2.3.bCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsDevelop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism
- MS.2.4.aPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and ChangeGather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories
- MS.2.5.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesAnalyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem
- MS.2.5.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesConstruct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems
- MS.2.6.aEcosystems, Food Webs, and Matter FlowDevelop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
- MS.2.7.aEcosystems, Food Webs, and Matter FlowConstruct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations
- MS.2.7.bCompeting Solutions Maintaining Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Coral ReefEvaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services
- MS.2.8.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesDevelop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism
- MS.2.8.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesDevelop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation
- MS.2.9.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsAnalyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past
- MS.2.9.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesApply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships
- MS.2.9.cPatterns, Systems, Cause and Effect, and ChangeAnalyze displays of pictorial data to compare patterns of similarities in the embryological development across multiple species to identify relationships not evident in the fully formed anatomy
- MS.2.10.aCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsConstruct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment
- MS.2.10.bOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesGather and synthesize information about technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms
- MS.2.10.cCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsUse mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time
- MS.2.11.aCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsUse mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time
- MS.2.12.aCompeting Solutions Maintaining Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Coral ReefEvaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services
MS.3 Earth and Space Science
- MS.3.1.aSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsDevelop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons
- MS.3.1.bSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsDevelop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system
- MS.3.2.aSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsDevelop and use a model to describe the role of gravity in the motions within galaxies and the solar system
- MS.3.2.bSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsAnalyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system
- MS.3.2.cSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsDevelop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons
- MS.3.3.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsConstruct a scientific explanation based on evidence from rock strata for how the geologic time scale is used to organize Earth's 4.6-billion-year-old history
- MS.3.4.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsDevelop a model to describe the cycling of Earth's materials and the flow of energy that drives this process
- MS.3.4.bExplanation Based Evidence Geoscience Processes Changed Earth'S SurfaceConstruct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales
- MS.3.5.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsAnalyze and interpret data on the distribution of fossils and rocks, continental shapes, and seafloor structures to provide evidence of the past plate motions
- MS.3.6.aExplanation Based Evidence Geoscience Processes Changed Earth'S SurfaceConstruct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth's surface at varying time and spatial scales
- MS.3.6.bSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsDevelop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity
- MS.3.6.cData Provide Evidence Motions Complex Interactions Air MassesCollect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions
- MS.3.6.dWater Cycle, Weather, Climate, and AtmosphereDevelop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates
- MS.3.7.aData Provide Evidence Motions Complex Interactions Air MassesCollect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions
- MS.3.7.bWater Cycle, Weather, Climate, and AtmosphereDevelop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates
- MS.3.8.aNatural Resources and Human ImpactsConstruct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes
- MS.3.9.aData Natural Hazards Forecast Future Catastrophic Events InformAnalyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects
- MS.3.10.aEngineering Design and Solution EvaluationApply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment
- MS.3.10.bNatural Resources and Human ImpactsConstruct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems
- MS.3.11.aScientific Questions, Investigations, and EvidenceAsk questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century
Source: Colorado Academic Standards. Always check the current official document before relying on a code for placement or reporting.
Colorado Grade 6: Math and English Too
Science is one of three Colorado grade 6 centers. Same format, same standards-first approach, for the other two subjects.
Colorado Grade 6 Math
Six full practice tests, printable worksheets, step-by-step lessons, and every Colorado grade 6 math standard.
Colorado Grade 6 English
Reading, writing, and language standards for Colorado grade 6, broken into short skill targets with practice for each one.
Colorado Grade 6 Science FAQ
Does Colorado test science in grade 6?
No. Colorado gives CMAS Science in grades 5, 8, and 11, so grade 6 students do not sit a state science test this year. The standards on this page are still the ones grade 6 teachers teach, and they are what the next science test builds on.
Which standards does grade 6 science in Colorado follow?
Colorado follows the Colorado Academic Standards: Science, published by the Colorado Department of Education. All 68 of this grade's standards are listed further down the page with their official codes.
How long are the practice tests?
Each of the six practice tests has 40 questions and a 70-minute timer. The timer auto-submits at zero and you get your score, a breakdown by science area, and a written explanation for every question.
Is any of this free?
Yes, every practice test, quiz, and flashcard set on this page is free and needs no login. Your progress is saved in your own browser and nowhere else.
What is the fastest way to use this page?
Take practice test 1 cold. Look at the topic breakdown, pick the weakest science area, and do that skill quiz. Then read the quick review for that area and come back for practice test 2.
Grade 6 Science in Other States
Standards, practice tests, and quizzes for grade 6 science in every state and Washington, D.C.
Start With One Practice Test
Grade 6 is a building year for science in Colorado. Take a timed test, see which area is thinnest, and fix that one before it compounds.