Curriculum Overview
On this page you will find current information about the science curriculum.
Trimester 1: Plants
Students will learn about the plant parts and functions, investigate characteristics for plant survival, and explore changes in Brassica plants through observation and journaling. Students will also participate in a design of a fair test experiment about plant growth.
Trimester 2: Changes (in Solids and Liquids)
Students will explore the properties of solids, liquids, and gases through hands-on activities. Using their knowledge of the three states of matter, first graders will investigate and classify various substances. They will also observe changes that can occur in matter.
Trimester 3: Air and Weather
Students will identify and describe patterns of weather. They will also learn to use various weather instruments such as a thermometer, anemometer, and rain gauge to track and record weather.
Students will learn about the plant parts and functions, investigate characteristics for plant survival, and explore changes in Brassica plants through observation and journaling. Students will also participate in a design of a fair test experiment about plant growth.
Trimester 2: Changes (in Solids and Liquids)
Students will explore the properties of solids, liquids, and gases through hands-on activities. Using their knowledge of the three states of matter, first graders will investigate and classify various substances. They will also observe changes that can occur in matter.
Trimester 3: Air and Weather
Students will identify and describe patterns of weather. They will also learn to use various weather instruments such as a thermometer, anemometer, and rain gauge to track and record weather.
Trimester 1: Life Cycles
Second graders will study the life cycle of butterflies, mealworms, and frogs in this unit. They will also learn about animal classification, food chains/webs, and how environmental changes influence organisms.
Trimester 2: Sound and Light
Students will explore how sound is produced and compare how sound travels through different mediums. They will experiment to change volume and pitch. Students will also investigate how animals use sound waves for survival. During the second part of the unit, the students will be exposed to the basic principles of light, such as reflection and refraction.
Trimester 3: Sun, Moon, Earth
Through observation and modeling exercises, students learn about the movement of the Earth in relation to the sun and the moon. They will also investigate the characteristics of the moon to find that the moon is visible during the day and at night, rises and sets, appears to change shape, reflects light, and lacks air and water.
Second graders will study the life cycle of butterflies, mealworms, and frogs in this unit. They will also learn about animal classification, food chains/webs, and how environmental changes influence organisms.
Trimester 2: Sound and Light
Students will explore how sound is produced and compare how sound travels through different mediums. They will experiment to change volume and pitch. Students will also investigate how animals use sound waves for survival. During the second part of the unit, the students will be exposed to the basic principles of light, such as reflection and refraction.
Trimester 3: Sun, Moon, Earth
Through observation and modeling exercises, students learn about the movement of the Earth in relation to the sun and the moon. They will also investigate the characteristics of the moon to find that the moon is visible during the day and at night, rises and sets, appears to change shape, reflects light, and lacks air and water.
Trimester 1: Earth's Neighbors in Space
Students will investigate our solar system in this unit. They will learn about size and distance relationships of Earth's neighbors in space and research basic information about the planets. They will also explore stars, constellations, and eclipses.
Trimester 2: Food Chains and Webs
Students will explore food chains and food webs through hands-on activities and observation of a terrarium. In this investigation of food chains and webs, students will study producers, consumers, decomposers, and the predator-prey relationship.
Trimester 3: Force and Motion
Third graders will explore simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and wheel and axles. They will also explore concepts such as friction and energy.
Students will investigate our solar system in this unit. They will learn about size and distance relationships of Earth's neighbors in space and research basic information about the planets. They will also explore stars, constellations, and eclipses.
Trimester 2: Food Chains and Webs
Students will explore food chains and food webs through hands-on activities and observation of a terrarium. In this investigation of food chains and webs, students will study producers, consumers, decomposers, and the predator-prey relationship.
Trimester 3: Force and Motion
Third graders will explore simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and wheel and axles. They will also explore concepts such as friction and energy.
Trimester 1: Magnetism and Electricity
Students will explore properties of magnets and investigate the connection with electricity through the construction of an electromagnet. They will also build series and parallel circuits.
Trimester 2: Land and Water
Fourth graders will build a stream table to explore the effects of water on land. Students will create hills, build dams, and grow vegetation. Miniature valleys, waterfalls, and canyons form in the stream table as water flows over and through the soil. Through these observations, students will discover how water changes the shape of the land and how features of the land affect the flow of water.
Trimester 3: Introduction to Ecosystems
No organism on Earth lives independently from others. Every organism exists within a community of living and nonliving things called an ecosystem. This unit helps students to understand the web of relationships that link organisms to each other and to their natural environment.
Students will explore properties of magnets and investigate the connection with electricity through the construction of an electromagnet. They will also build series and parallel circuits.
Trimester 2: Land and Water
Fourth graders will build a stream table to explore the effects of water on land. Students will create hills, build dams, and grow vegetation. Miniature valleys, waterfalls, and canyons form in the stream table as water flows over and through the soil. Through these observations, students will discover how water changes the shape of the land and how features of the land affect the flow of water.
Trimester 3: Introduction to Ecosystems
No organism on Earth lives independently from others. Every organism exists within a community of living and nonliving things called an ecosystem. This unit helps students to understand the web of relationships that link organisms to each other and to their natural environment.
