RS4K Book 6 — Geology (Ch 14–17): Grade 6 atoms-first chapters. Foundation 100%, Gap 0.0%, Map Error 0.0%, Practices 79%, no FSEs. Seismic waves as molecular collisions; minerals and core composition atom-anchored; greenhouse effect taught with correct photon mechanism. Recommended Deep.
| Program | RS4K - Science Book 6 — Geology |
| Unit | Ch 14–17: Technology in Geology | Earth’s Spheres | The Geosphere | The Atmosphere |
| Publisher | Gravitas Publications Inc. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Grade Band | Grade 6 |
RS4K Book 6 Geology scores Foundation 100%. 8 passages (5 mechanism, 3 observational), all mechanism passages atomically grounded. Zero map errors. Zero confirmed FSEs.
Earth’s interior inferred from seismic waves described as molecular collisions. Minerals and core composition atom-anchored (silicates as oxygen-silicon compounds; iron at 35% of Earth’s mass). Greenhouse effect taught with correct photon mechanism — CO₂ molecules absorbing and re-emitting infrared photons, not “trapped heat.” Atmospheric composition identified by molecular formula.
“Silicates composed mainly of oxygen and silicon; iron makes up about 35 percent of the entire Earth because a large part of the core is iron.” (Ch16, p.163)
“Waves propagate when molecules in a medium collide with and push on neighboring molecules.” (Ch16, p.169)
“Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a molecule made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms … carbon dioxide helps stabilize Earth’s climate by trapping some infrared light from the Sun.” (Ch17, p.176)
“Ozone (O₃) is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms.” (Ch17, p.176)
Practices: 79% (green). 4 PRESENT, 3 PARTIAL. Field geology activities; seismic wave interpretation; atmospheric data reading. Model-building, math, and argumentation PARTIAL.
Nothing structural.
| Total Passages Scored | 8 |
| Raw Gap Error | 0.0% FALSE = atoms/molecules not present before students are asked to explain. The student is navigating without a starting point. |
| Adjusted Gap Error | 0.0% UNSCAFFOLDED = no atomic grounding at all. LESSON_ATOMS = atoms mentioned elsewhere in lesson but not connected to this concept. |
| Substance-Model Errors (REI) | 0 Curriculum treats a process or outcome as a substance - "heat flows," "energy is stored," "electricity flows like water." Student builds a substance ontology. |
| Label-as-Explanation (LAE) | 0 Curriculum provides a name and treats it as an explanation - "this happens because of gravity." Student believes knowing the name IS understanding the concept. |
| Vague-Entity Errors (AEC) | 0 Curriculum uses vague entities ("tiny particles," "building blocks") without specifying atoms or molecules. Student invents their own model with macroscopic properties. |
| Factual Science Errors (FSE) | 0 Statements that are scientifically incorrect - not imprecise framing, but wrong. Any confirmed FSE = Not Recommended. |
| Practices | 79% - Deep Seven practices scored PRESENT, PARTIAL, or ABSENT and averaged: asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics, constructing explanations and designing solutions, and argument from evidence. Higher is better, the opposite direction from gap and map errors. Reported but not part of the Foundation Score or the verdict. |
Strong physical geology. Seismic waves as molecular collisions; minerals atom-anchored; greenhouse effect taught with correct photon mechanism rather than trapped heat.
Seismic waves as molecular collisions. Greenhouse effect via CO₂ photon absorption — correct mechanism, not trapped-heat metaphor. Atmospheric gases by molecular formula.
Recommended (Deep) — Deep by design -
Evidence for every entry is published at three levels. Each level states what it contains and what it leaves out.
Scores, verdict, and the full pattern count for this unit are above: adjusted gap, REI / LAE / AEC counts, FSE status, and the seven-practice score. Passage-level detail for this unit is carried in the downloadable evidence file.
This file covers the whole program (all five subject strands). It is the curated set for the program, not for this strand alone.
The complete classified evidence table for this unit, every extracted passage with its classification, is available to researchers, journalists, and to the publisher of the program being scored. This is a standing offer with no conditions attached and no agreement to sign.
If you think a score is wrong, say so. Challenges and our responses to them are published on the evidence and challenges page, including the ones we lose.
Have a curriculum, kit, or program you'd like us to review? Drop us a note, tell us what you want to see, we'll test it and post the results.