Tools:
| Kindergarden | 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | View All Grades |
Kindergarten
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- classifies objects in many different ways (e.g., colors, size, and shape).
- recognizes that the same material exists in different states (e.g., water, ice, and steam).
In Energy, your student:
- recognizes that heat and light energy comes from the sun.
- identifies objects which light can or cannot pass through.
In Force and Motion, your student:
- recognizes push and pull as two ways to move an object.
- understands that things move at different speeds (e.g., bike, car, plane).
In Processes that Shape the Earth, the student:
- recognizes that the earth is made up of materials of all sizes (e.g., sand, boulders).
- knows that life occurs in land, air, and water.
In Earth and Space, your student:
- knows the difference between day and night.
- knows there are many objects in the sky.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- sorts living and nonliving things.
- knows that many living things look like their parents.
In Environmental Interaction, your student:
- recognizes that plants and animals need each other.
In Nature of Science, your student:
- recognizes the scientific process (e.g., observe, compare, and record the same things often).
- experiences team work and sharing.
- recognizes consistent patterns.
1st Grade
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- classifies objects in many different ways (e.g., color, shape).
- describes different states of matter of the same materials (e.g., water, steam, ice).
In Energy, your student:
- identifies sources of heat (e.g., sun, candles).
- shows actions which require energy (e.g., jumping, running).
In Force and Motion, your student:
- explains the effect of various forces on an object.
In Processes that Shape the Earth, your student:
- discusses weather and its patterns.
- explains why we need to take care of our earth (air, land, water).
In Earth and Space, your student:
- makes a picture showing the phases of the moon.
- draws a picture of the sky during the day and night.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- lists the basic needs of all living things.
- identifies growth changes of living things (e.g., butterflies, frogs).
In Environmental Interactions, your student:
- describes why plants and animals need each other.
- identifies living/nonliving parts of our environment (e.g., trees, rocks).
In The Nature of Science, your student:
- explains why it is necessary to repeat procedures in order to observe and compare in an investigation (e.g., class science project).
- identifies various tools used in science (e.g., thermometers, scales).
- demonstrates team work and sharing.
- recognizes repeating patterns (e.g., moon phases, weather).
2nd Grade
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- classifies objects in a variety of ways.
- observes and describes changes in physical properties of substances.
In Energy, your student:
- explains how plans and animals receive energy from a variety of sources.
- explains that matter and energy are parts of all systems.
In Force and Motion, your student:
- explains the effect of various forces on an object.
- understands that motion is describable measurable, and predictable.
In Processes that Shape the Earth, your student:
- recognizes the parts of the earth from a cross-sectional diagram.
- Cites examples that show how human activities affect the environment.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- explains the differences between living and nonliving things.
- identifies the parts of plants and animals as they mature in their environments.
In Environmental Interactions, your student:
- explains how plants and animals depend on each other.
- identifies ways plants and animals change in order to survive.
- recognizes that the activities of humans affect the needs of plants and animals.
In The Nature of Science, your student:
- explains why it is necessary to repeat procedures in order to observe and compare in an investigation.
- identifies various scientific tools.
- demonstrates team work and sharing.
3rd Grade
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- measures the physical properties of matter.
- explains physical changes in the states of matter.
In Energy, your student:
- identifies various forms of energy, including renewable and non-renewable resources.
- understands why energy conservation and recycling are necessary.
- explains how energy may change from one form to another.
- identifies the importance of various sources of energy and understands the changes that can be caused by these sources.
In Force and Motion, your student:
- understands that motion is describable, measurable, and predictable.
- understands and explains how forces affect motion, speed, and gravity.
- explains the movement of sound.
In Processes that Shape the Earth, your student:
- recognizes the process that interact to shape the earth.
- understands and explains how weathering and erosion change the earth
- understands and explains the water cycle.
- identifies various ways to preserve and protect our environment.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- identifies the systems of the human body.
- explains the functions of each system within the human body.
In Environmental Interactions, your student:
- explains how plants and animals interact.
- explains that organisms are growing, dying, and decaying, and their remains are reused.
In The Nature of Science, your student:
- demonstrates the ability to use laboratory tools (e.g., thermometer, scales, rulers, magnifiers, computers).
- understands the importance of keeping accurate data.
4th Grade
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- measures physical properties of matter using the metric system.
- recognizes the differences among element, mixture, and compound.
In Energy, your student:
- demonstrates that energy changes into various forms (e.g., heat, light, chemical, electrical, and magnetic).
- identifies different methods of heat transfer.
In Force and Motion, your student:
- demonstrates that people use the forces of gravity, electricity, and magnetism to operate simple machines.
- understands that motion is describable, measurable, and predictable.
In Processes that Shape the Earth, your student:
- recognizes the processes that interact to shape the earth (e.g., water cycle, weather, and geologic).
- identifies various ways to preserve and protect our environment.
In Earth and Space, your student:
- recognizes interaction and organization in the solar system and the universe, and how this affects life on earth.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- knows that many characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organism, but that other characteristics are learned from an individual's interaction with the environment.
In Environmental Interactions, your student:
- identifies the interrelationships between living and non-living elements within an ecosystem.
- recognizes that light, water, temperature and soil affect the different kinds of ecosystems.
- understands the consequences of using limited natural resources.
In The Nature of Science, your student:
- demonstrates the ability to use laboratory tools (e.g., thermometer, scales, rulers, magnifiers, computers).
- understands the importance of keeping accurate data.
- recognizes that most natural events are often predictable and logical.
5th Grade
In The Nature of Matter, your student:- describes different types of matter and identifies where they are commonly found.
- demonstrates that materials made by chemically combining two or more substances may have properties that differ from the original materials.
- knows that materials may consist of parts too small to be seen without magnification.
In Energy, your student:
- demonstrates the ability to trace the flow of energy in a system (e.g., lighting of a light bulb, the element that burns on a stove).
- recognizes that energy may change into various forms (e.g., heat, light, chemical, electrical, and magnetic).
- understands the interaction of matter and energy (e.g., sun warming earth).
In Force and Motion, your student:
- describes the motion of an object in terms of time, distance traveled, and direction.
- understands that motion is describable, measurable, and predictable.
In Processes that Shape the Earth, your student:
- describes how the earth is in a continuous state of change as waves, weather, and shifts of land constantly alter and produce new features.
- identifies various ways to preserve and protect our environment.
In Earth and Space, your student:
- describes how we use the sun's energy to generate heat and light for work on earth.
- identifies the planets of our solar system in relation to the sun and recognize the enormous distances between them.
In Processes of Life, your student:
- recognizes that systems with related structures and functions make up the human body.
- identifies similar structures within living things (e.g., mammals and reptiles).
- recognizes that an organism inherits characteristics from its parents.
- describes characteristics of an organism learned from interactions with the environment.
In Environmental Interactions, your student:
- identifies the interrelationships between living and non-living elements within an ecosystem.
In The Nature of Science, your student:
- demonstrates the ability to use laboratory tools (e.g., thermometer, scales, rulers, magnifiers, computers).
Helpful Hints to Use At Home
- Visit science museums, libraries, science fairs, zoos, and write about your experiences.
- View the sky and discuss the weather.
- Take nature walks, talk about what you see, and make a nature collection.
- Take part in recycling efforts and practice Earth Day everyday.
Last Updated: 12/19/2007
