Science in Elementary and Intermediate Schools
Grades K-5
Students begin applying Science and Engineering Practices as early as kindergarten, where they set the foundations to develop their scientific discoveries. While engaging in a variety of hands-on activities, students will explore the realms of physical, life, and earth sciences; while collaborating on engineering problem solving performance tasks. Students in grades 1-2 will participate in topic investigations designed to encourage curiosity, exploration, and critical thinking, while applying science concepts learned. In grades 3-5, students will begin to collaborate on selecting variables, creating and carrying out investigations, collecting data, and communicating findings. They will be working to develop critical skills in reporting claims supported by evidence and scientific reasoning – work that will carry into their middle school years.
Topics of study for each grade level are:
Grade 1
Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles
Structure, Function, and Information Processing
Waves: Light and Sound
Grade 2
Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
Structure and Properties of Matter
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
Grade 3
Weather and Climate
Forces and Interactions
Inheritance and Variation of Traits
Grade 4
Earth’s Systems
Energy
Waves
Grade 5
Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
Space Systems