Science
How does creating models help us to better understand our world?
How does creating models help us to better understand our world?
In grade 5, students create models, provide evidence to support arguments, and obtain and display data about relationships and interactions among observable components of different systems. By studying systems, grade 5 students learn that objects and organisms do not exist in isolation and that animals, plants and their environments are connected to, interact with, and are influenced by each other. Students study the relationships between Earth and other nearby objects in the solar system and the impact of those relationships on patterns of events as seen from Earth. They learn about the relationship among elements of Earth’s systems through the cycling of water and human practices and processes with Earth’s resources. They also learn about the connections and relationships among plants and animals, and the ecosystems within which they live, to show how matter and energy are cycled through these (building on the theme of grade 4). An ability to describe, analyze, and model connections and relationships of observable components of different systems is key to understanding the natural and designed world.
In grade 5, students create models, provide evidence to support arguments, and obtain and display data about relationships and interactions among observable components of different systems. By studying systems, grade 5 students learn that objects and organisms do not exist in isolation and that animals, plants and their environments are connected to, interact with, and are influenced by each other. Students study the relationships between Earth and other nearby objects in the solar system and the impact of those relationships on patterns of events as seen from Earth. They learn about the relationship among elements of Earth’s systems through the cycling of water and human practices and processes with Earth’s resources. They also learn about the connections and relationships among plants and animals, and the ecosystems within which they live, to show how matter and energy are cycled through these (building on the theme of grade 4). An ability to describe, analyze, and model connections and relationships of observable components of different systems is key to understanding the natural and designed world.
Unit 1: Earth and Space Sciences
Unit 1: Earth and Space Sciences
PART 1: How does the Earth's place in the universe affect our daily lives?
PART 1: How does the Earth's place in the universe affect our daily lives?
To start the year, students are learning about the Earth and the Solar System. Through a number of hands-on activities and investigations, students will learn about the Earth's rotations and revolutions, moon phases, constellations, gravity, relative size, and more! This STEM unit designed to teach students computational thinking and math skills in the context of learning science focuses on the Earth and its interaction with the moon and the sun as they move both independently and as a system within the solar system. The computational thinking component of the unit centers on creating models, using logical thinking to predict outcomes of an algorithm, and organizing information in different ways to make it more useful/relevant. The math component of the unit centers on measurement and graphing data sets in a coordinate grid. As students learn about the interactions in the Solar System, they will learn to notice patterns in daily changes of shadows in sunlight through hourly observations over a day. The culminating project includes programming Spheros as a model for the rotation and revolution of the Earth in groups and an oral presentation on what they have learned.
To start the year, students are learning about the Earth and the Solar System. Through a number of hands-on activities and investigations, students will learn about the Earth's rotations and revolutions, moon phases, constellations, gravity, relative size, and more! This STEM unit designed to teach students computational thinking and math skills in the context of learning science focuses on the Earth and its interaction with the moon and the sun as they move both independently and as a system within the solar system. The computational thinking component of the unit centers on creating models, using logical thinking to predict outcomes of an algorithm, and organizing information in different ways to make it more useful/relevant. The math component of the unit centers on measurement and graphing data sets in a coordinate grid. As students learn about the interactions in the Solar System, they will learn to notice patterns in daily changes of shadows in sunlight through hourly observations over a day. The culminating project includes programming Spheros as a model for the rotation and revolution of the Earth in groups and an oral presentation on what they have learned.
PART 2: How does water affect us and living things?
PART 2: How does water affect us and living things?
Water Filtration Engineering Unit: What can we do to make polluted water drinkable? Students were lead through the engineering design process to create and improve on a water filtration system. This was a unique chance to use creativity to solve a real world problem!
Water Filtration Engineering Unit: What can we do to make polluted water drinkable? Students were lead through the engineering design process to create and improve on a water filtration system. This was a unique chance to use creativity to solve a real world problem!
Unit 2: Physical Science
Unit 2: Physical Science
Why does matter matter?
Why does matter matter?
Students learn about all about matter, its properties, and the conservation of mass. We start off by thinking about what matter is and what the states of matter are by examining matter and acting out the states of matter with human molecules. Students continue to be encouraged to think independently with hands on learning opportunities while developing models and using the scientific method of asking questions, formulating hypotheses, making observations, supporting claims and evidence, and developing conclusions.
Students learn about all about matter, its properties, and the conservation of mass. We start off by thinking about what matter is and what the states of matter are by examining matter and acting out the states of matter with human molecules. Students continue to be encouraged to think independently with hands on learning opportunities while developing models and using the scientific method of asking questions, formulating hypotheses, making observations, supporting claims and evidence, and developing conclusions.
Unit 3: Life Science
Unit 3: Life Science
How does matter and energy move throughout an ecosystem?
How does matter and energy move throughout an ecosystem?
Students learn about how living things interact in the ecosystem through studying photosynthesis, plants, food chains, food webs, and composting.
Students learn about how living things interact in the ecosystem through studying photosynthesis, plants, food chains, food webs, and composting.
