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PetMat · 6th Grade (11-12)

Nature & science worksheet — 6th Grade (ages 11-12)

Name:

Date:

1. Cells, Growth and Healing – How the Body Repairs Itself

Quarter 2 – Cells, Microscopes & Deeper Life Processes

1. When a cut on your skin heals, what process produces the new cells that fill the wound?

APhotosynthesis

BCell division (mitosis)

CDigestion

DGas exchange

2. How does a child grow taller over time?

ACells get much bigger

BExisting cells divide to produce new cells, increasing the number of cells

CThe skeleton absorbs air

DMuscles stretch the bones

3. Red blood cells only live for about 120 days. How does the body replace them?

AKidneys make new red blood cells

BStem cells in the bone marrow divide and produce new red blood cells

CThe liver creates new red blood cells from food

DThe lungs generate new red blood cells from oxygen

4. Cell division (mitosis) produces new cells that are genetically identical to the original cell.

True

False

5. Match each body event to the cell process that makes it possible.

		Your answer
1. A broken bone mends	A. Stem cells in bone marrow divide to produce new red blood cells
2. A baby grows into a child	B. Skin cells divide to replace damaged ones
3. Skin heals after a graze	C. Trillions of cell divisions increase the number of cells
4. Old red blood cells are replaced	D. New bone cells produced by cell division

2. Natural Disturbances: Storms, Fires, and Disease

Quarter 3 – Advanced Ecology

1. What is ecological succession?

AWhen all species in an ecosystem go extinct

BThe gradual process by which an ecosystem changes and recovers after a disturbance

CWhen predators replace all herbivores

DA competition between plant species for sunlight

2. After a wildfire burns a forest, which organisms are typically the first to return?

ALarge trees and deer

BPioneer species such as mosses, grasses, and small plants

CTop predators like wolves and bears

DDeep-sea fish

3. How can a natural fire actually benefit a forest ecosystem in the long term?

AIt makes the soil permanently sterile

BIt removes all wildlife permanently

CIt clears dead material, releases nutrients, and encourages new growth

DIt has no benefits

4. After a natural disturbance like a hurricane, an ecosystem can never fully recover.

True

False

5. Match each natural disturbance to its main ecosystem impact.

		Your answer
1. Wildfire	A. Destroys all life locally but allows new colonisation
2. Hurricane	B. Kills many individuals of one or more species
3. Disease outbreak	C. Uproots trees and causes flooding, reshaping the landscape
4. Volcanic eruption	D. Destroys vegetation but releases nutrients into soil

3. Digestion to Cells – The Full Journey

Quarter 1 – Body Systems Working Together

1. Which blood vessels carry nutrient-rich blood AWAY from the small intestine?

APulmonary veins

BCoronary arteries

CPortal vein tributaries

DRenal arteries

2. What would happen if the circulatory system stopped working while the digestive system continued absorbing nutrients?

ANutrients would still reach all cells normally

BNutrients would build up in the blood and not reach distant cells

CThe lungs would deliver nutrients instead

DNothing would change

3. Which of the following correctly shows the path of glucose after a meal?

AStomach → lungs → heart → muscles

BSmall intestine → blood → liver → body cells

CLarge intestine → kidneys → blood → brain

DMouth → blood → lungs → muscles

4. The digestive and circulatory systems must work together for cells to receive the nutrients they need.

True

False

5. Match each organ to its role in getting nutrients to cells.

		Your answer
1. Small intestine	A. Deliver nutrients directly to individual cells
2. Liver	B. Pumps nutrient-rich blood around the body
3. Heart	C. Processes and regulates nutrients from digestion
4. Capillaries	D. Absorbs nutrients into the blood

4. Nature and Me: Body, Environment, and Responsibility

Quarter 4 – Human Impact, Technology & Responsible Choices

1. How is human health connected to healthy ecosystems?

AThere is no connection between human health and ecosystems

BHealthy ecosystems provide clean air, clean water, and nutritious food that humans depend on

CHumans are completely independent of natural ecosystems

DOnly wild animals need healthy ecosystems

2. Which of the following shows a link between biodiversity and human medicine?

AAll medicines are made from synthetic chemicals only

BMany medicines, including aspirin and antibiotics, were originally derived from plants, fungi, or animals

CBiodiversity has never contributed to human medicine

DOnly tropical plants have been used in medicine

3. What does 'One Health' mean as a concept?

AOnly human health matters

BHuman health, animal health, and environmental health are all interconnected and must be considered together

CAll living things should take the same medicine

DOne global hospital should treat all diseases

4. Spending time in nature has been shown to improve mental health and wellbeing in humans.

True

False

5. Match each ecosystem service to how it directly benefits human health.

		Your answer
1. Forests	A. Protect coastal communities from storm surges and flooding
2. Wetlands	B. Enable food production by pollinating crops
3. Pollinators like bees	C. Filter water naturally, providing cleaner drinking water
4. Coastal mangroves	D. Purify air by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen

5. Specialised Cells – Shape Fits Function

Quarter 2 – Cells, Microscopes & Deeper Life Processes

1. Red blood cells are biconcave (doughnut-shaped with a dent on both sides). How does this shape help them?

AIt makes them heavier so they sink

BIt gives them a larger surface area to carry more oxygen

CIt helps them carry electrical signals

DIt allows them to photosynthesise

2. Nerve cells (neurons) are very long with many branches. Why is this shape important?

ATo carry more blood

BTo carry electrical signals over long distances and connect to many other cells

CTo absorb sunlight

DTo digest food

3. Root hair cells have a long, thin hair-like extension. What is this extension for?

APhotosynthesis

BIncreasing the surface area to absorb more water and minerals from the soil

CCarrying oxygen

DProducing chlorophyll

4. All human cells have the same shape because they all have the same job.

True

False

5. Match each specialised cell to its key adaptation.

		Your answer
1. Red blood cell	A. Long extension increases surface area for absorption
2. Nerve cell	B. Contains protein fibres that allow it to contract
3. Muscle cell	C. Long axon and branches to carry signals quickly
4. Root hair cell	D. Biconcave shape and haemoglobin to carry oxygen

6. The Carbon Cycle

Quarter 3 – Advanced Ecology

1. How do plants take carbon from the atmosphere?

AThrough their roots absorbing carbon from soil

BBy absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis

CBy releasing oxygen into the air

DBy drinking carbonated water

2. When animals breathe out (exhale), they release:

AOxygen

BCarbon dioxide

CNitrogen

DWater vapour only

3. Which of the following adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

APhotosynthesis

BBurning fossil fuels

CPlant growth

DWater evaporation

4. When organisms die and decompose, the carbon stored in their bodies is permanently lost from the cycle.

True

False

5. Match each process to its role in the carbon cycle.

		Your answer
1. Photosynthesis	A. Burning releases stored carbon as CO2
2. Respiration	B. Dead matter is broken down, releasing carbon
3. Decomposition	C. Living things release CO2 back into the air
4. Combustion	D. Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere

7. Body Systems – Naming Organs

Quarter 1 – Body Systems Working Together

1. Which organ belongs to the digestive system?

ABrain

BSmall intestine

CFemur

DBicep

2. The trachea (windpipe) is part of which system?

ADigestive system

BCirculatory system

CRespiratory system

DNervous system

3. Which of the following is NOT part of the skeletal system?

AFemur

BSkull

CCartilage

DDiaphragm

4. Arteries and veins are part of the circulatory system.

True

False

5. Match each organ to the body system it belongs to.

		Your answer
1. Lungs	A. Digestive system
2. Spinal cord	B. Skeletal system
3. Ribs	C. Nervous system
4. Large intestine	D. Respiratory system

8. Running and Evaluating an Action Project

Quarter 4 – Human Impact, Technology & Responsible Choices

1. A class decides to reduce litter around their school. Which action plan is most likely to succeed?

ATelling one student to pick up all litter alone

BOrganising regular litter-picking rotas, adding more bins, and running an awareness campaign

CComplaining to the head teacher and doing nothing else

DWaiting for the local council to solve the problem

2. Why is it important to collect data before and after an environmental action project?

AIt is not important – you can just see if it looks better

BData collection allows you to measure whether the project made a real, measurable difference

CIt is only important if the project is very large

DData collection only matters for science experiments in labs

3. After a pond restoration project, students count 12 species of insects compared to 3 before. This data shows:

AThe project had no effect

BThe project significantly increased biodiversity in the pond

CThe pond was already restored before the project started

DInsect numbers are not related to pond health

4. If an environmental project does not fully achieve its goals, it is still valuable because it provides learning about what can be improved next time.

True

False

5. Match each project challenge to a strategy for overcoming it.

		Your answer
1. Low community participation	A. Define specific indicators before starting
2. Insufficient funding	B. Break the project into smaller achievable phases
3. Project scope too large	C. Apply for environmental grants or seek sponsorship
4. No measurable outcomes	D. Run outreach events and involve local leaders

Nature & science worksheet — 6th Grade (ages 11-12)

Answer Key

1. Cells, Growth and Healing – How the Body Repairs Itself

1.B) Cell division (mitosis)

2.B) Existing cells divide to produce new cells, increasing the number of cells

3.B) Stem cells in the bone marrow divide and produce new red blood cells

4.True

5.A broken bone mends → New bone cells produced by cell division, A baby grows into a child → Trillions of cell divisions increase the number of cells, Skin heals after a graze → Skin cells divide to replace damaged ones, Old red blood cells are replaced → Stem cells in bone marrow divide to produce new red blood cells

2. Natural Disturbances: Storms, Fires, and Disease

1.B) The gradual process by which an ecosystem changes and recovers after a disturbance

2.B) Pioneer species such as mosses, grasses, and small plants

3.C) It clears dead material, releases nutrients, and encourages new growth

4.False

5.Wildfire → Destroys vegetation but releases nutrients into soil, Hurricane → Uproots trees and causes flooding, reshaping the landscape, Disease outbreak → Kills many individuals of one or more species, Volcanic eruption → Destroys all life locally but allows new colonisation

3. Digestion to Cells – The Full Journey

1.C) Portal vein tributaries

2.B) Nutrients would build up in the blood and not reach distant cells

3.B) Small intestine → blood → liver → body cells

4.True

5.Small intestine → Absorbs nutrients into the blood, Liver → Processes and regulates nutrients from digestion, Heart → Pumps nutrient-rich blood around the body, Capillaries → Deliver nutrients directly to individual cells

4. Nature and Me: Body, Environment, and Responsibility

1.B) Healthy ecosystems provide clean air, clean water, and nutritious food that humans depend on

2.B) Many medicines, including aspirin and antibiotics, were originally derived from plants, fungi, or animals

3.B) Human health, animal health, and environmental health are all interconnected and must be considered together

4.True

5.Forests → Purify air by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen, Wetlands → Filter water naturally, providing cleaner drinking water, Pollinators like bees → Enable food production by pollinating crops, Coastal mangroves → Protect coastal communities from storm surges and flooding

5. Specialised Cells – Shape Fits Function

1.B) It gives them a larger surface area to carry more oxygen

2.B) To carry electrical signals over long distances and connect to many other cells

3.B) Increasing the surface area to absorb more water and minerals from the soil

4.False

5.Red blood cell → Biconcave shape and haemoglobin to carry oxygen, Nerve cell → Long axon and branches to carry signals quickly, Muscle cell → Contains protein fibres that allow it to contract, Root hair cell → Long extension increases surface area for absorption

6. The Carbon Cycle

1.B) By absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis

2.B) Carbon dioxide

3.B) Burning fossil fuels

4.False

5.Photosynthesis → Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere, Respiration → Living things release CO2 back into the air, Decomposition → Dead matter is broken down, releasing carbon, Combustion → Burning releases stored carbon as CO2

7. Body Systems – Naming Organs

1.B) Small intestine

2.C) Respiratory system

3.D) Diaphragm

4.True

5.Lungs → Respiratory system, Spinal cord → Nervous system, Ribs → Skeletal system, Large intestine → Digestive system

8. Running and Evaluating an Action Project

1.B) Organising regular litter-picking rotas, adding more bins, and running an awareness campaign

2.B) Data collection allows you to measure whether the project made a real, measurable difference

3.B) The project significantly increased biodiversity in the pond

4.True

5.Low community participation → Run outreach events and involve local leaders, Insufficient funding → Apply for environmental grants or seek sponsorship, Project scope too large → Break the project into smaller achievable phases, No measurable outcomes → Define specific indicators before starting