Science

Science Unit 5 - Ecology 

It's hard to believe we are working on our last Science Unit of the year.  

Students will have a vocabulary quiz on the following words Tuesday,  March 12th.

consumer – A living thing that cannot make its own food and must eat other living things.

producer – A living thing that uses the energy from the sun to make its own food.

herbivore – A consumer that eats only plants or producers.

carnivore – A consumer that eats only other animals.

omnivore – A consumer that eats both plants and other animals.

decomposer – A living thing that feeds on the wastes of plants and animals.

food chain – The movement of energy in a sequence of living things.

habitat – An environment that meets the needs of a living thing.

predator – A consumer that eats prey.

prey – Consumers that are eaten by predators. 

Science Unit 4 - Space/Solar System Unit Test will be February 27th.

Study Guide

Space - Unit Test Study Guide

Technology gives us new scientific evidence of planets and stars and helps us better understand our universe.  

Examples:

• Telescopes - makes things far away look closer with more details.

• Hubble telescope - provides detailed images of places we have not traveled.

• Rovers - has the ability to collect samples, analyze them, and send the data back to us

• Spacecrafts - helps humans travel in space.

• Space station - allows humans to study space while living there for extended periods of time.

We are located in the Milky Way Galaxy.  The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system.

• Inner planets - terrestrial (rocky)

• Outer planets - gas giants (gaseous)

• Asteroid belt - separates inner/outer planets

• Order from sun - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, (asteroid belt), Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Day and Night - caused by earth's rotation on its axis.

• As Earth rotates the half that is lit changes creating day and night.  It takes Earth about 24 hours to rotate 1 time on its axis.  When the US is having day, the opposite side of the Earth is having night.

• The length of day and night depends on the seasons (tilt of the axis).

Seasons - caused by the tilt of the Earth and its position as it revolves around the Sun.

• As Earth revolves around the sun, the hemisphere that is tilted towards the sun is having summer and the part tilted away from the sun is having winter. It takes 365 days (1 year) for the Earth to go around the sun one time.

Phases of the moon - caused by the position of the Moon as it rotates around the Earth.

• Takes about 28-29 days (a month)

• The moon doesn’t really change, the sun’s reflection makes it appear differently.

• It is a continuous cycle.  You see a full moon approximately every 30 days.

• New Moon, Waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent, new.

Difference in stars and planets

• The color tells a star’s temperature but planets get their heat and light from the sun they orbit.

• Stars are MUCH larger than planets.

• Stars are made of gas but planets have a variety of surfaces.

• Stars do not seem to move because they are so far away/planets orbit their star.

• There is only 1 star in our solar system but there are 8 planets.

• Stars create patterns in the sky called constellations, planets do not.

• There are many more stars AND planets in our galaxy.

Science Unit 4 - Space/Solar System

During this unit students will learn:

• How advancements in technology has helped us learn more about our universe.

• Attributes of stars and planets.

• The size, order, appearance, and composition of the planets in our solar system.

• The relationship between the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon (day/night, seasons, and moon phases).

12/4-12/8

I apologize for not posting in a few weeks.

This week in science we are reviewing for our Unit 3 Test.  Students have a study guide, and 2 groups of study slides in their Google Classroom. See study guide below.

Gravity is the force that pulls all things to Earth.

Gravity makes leaves fall, toys fall, water bottles fall, and slides work.

A man on the moon would jump higher than a man on Earth because the 

Moon has less gravitational pull than Earth.

The force of a rocket engine and the force of an airplane engine is greater than the force of gravity.

When an object is pushed on both sides using the same force the force is a 

balanced force.  The object will not move. 

Only unbalanced forces will cause an object to move.

When more force is put into moving an object, the object will move 

faster and further. 

Fast objects require more force to change direction or to stop the object. 

Heavy objects require more force to move, change direction,  or to stop the object.

Simple machines are machines with few or no moving parts.

A pulley is a simple machine that makes work easier by changing the 

direction of force. 

An inclined plane is also called a ramp.  It makes work easier by spreading

the amount of force needed over a greater distance.

A wheel is a simple machine that makes work easier by 

reducing the force of friction.

A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around an axle.  It is used to hold 

things together.

A lever is a straight bar with a fulcrum that helps move heavy loads.

A wedge is a simple machine that is used to push things apart. 

10/30-11/3

This week in science we will begin a new unit on Force and Motion.  Students will learn the difference in balanced and unbalanced forces and what effect they have on objects.  Students will get a new set of vocabulary words and have a graded review on Nov. 7th.

Forces and Motion Vocabulary Set 1

Position - the location of an object

Motion - a change of position of an object

Speed - the measure of an object’s change in position during a unit of time

Velocity - the measure of the speed and direction of motion of an object

Acceleration - any change in the speed or direction of an object’s motion

Force - a push or pull of any kind

Inertia - the property of matter that keeps an object at rest or keeps it moving in a straight line

Gravity - the force of attraction between Earth and other objects

Weight - a measure of the gravitational force acting on an object

Friction - a force that resists motion between objects that are touching. 

10/23-10/27

This week in science we are reviewing for our unit 2 Post Test.  The test will be Thursday, 10/26.  Students will complete the following study guide Monday in class and have review/practices Tuesday and Wednesday to help prepare them for the test.

Unit 2 Study Guide - Weather and Water

The 3 states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.

• Liquid state of water - rain

• Gas form of water - water vapor  (water vapor in the air is called humidity)

• Solid form of water - ice  (ice in the atmosphere can be sleet, snow, or hail)

Condensation - When water changes from a gas to a liquid.

Evaporation - When water changes from a liquid to a gas.

Precipitation - water that falls from clouds

• Rain - when temperatures are above freezing

• Sleet and snow - when temperatures are below freezing

• Hail - most common during violent thunderstorms

The amount of water on Earth never changes, however, it is constantly changing states.  This process is known as the water cycle.

Weather tools

• Anemometer - measures wind speed

• Wind vane - measure wind direction

• Thermometer - measures temperature

• Barometer - measures air pressure

• Rain gauge - measure the amount of rain

H on a weather map stands for high pressure.  It means good weather.

L on a weather map stands for low pressure.  It means rainy or stormy weather.

A front is where 2 air masses meet.

• Warm fronts bring steady rain or snow. They are represented by red semi circles.

• Cold front brings storms. They are represented by blue triangles.

Weather is the current state of the atmosphere.  It constantly changes.

• What you get.

Climate is a pattern of weather over a long period of time.

• What you expect an area to be like.

10/11-10/13

This week in science we are learning about weather instruments.  By the end of the week students should be able to name the weather instruments and tell what they measure:  anemometer, thermometer, hygrometer, wind vane, barometer, and rain gauge.  Students will have a quiz on the following words Tuesday, 10/12

Water and Weather Vocabulary – Set 2

Current- a stream of water that flows like a river through the ocean.

Weather map- an image showing weather conditions.

Humidity- a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Meteorology- the study of weather.

Barometer- an instrument for measuring air pressure.

Anemometer- an instrument for measuring wind speed.

Hygrometer- an instrument for measuring humidity.

Air mass- a large body of air that has similar temperature and humidity throughout.

 Front- a place where two air masses meet.

 Climate- the pattern of weather an area experiences over a long period of time. 

9/25 - 9/29

This week in science we are learning about cloud types.  By the end of the week students should be able to:

• explain what clouds are and how they are formed

• identify and describe the main types of clouds

• predict weather events based on the cloud types

9/18-9/22

This week in science we are learning about the states of matter of water and how it moves through the water cycle.  Graded review on these vocabulary words will by September 19th.

Water and Weather Vocabulary – Set 1

Water cycle- the constant movement of water from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back to Earth’s surface.

Water vapor- the gas form of water.

Evaporation- when a liquid changes into a gas.

Condensation- when a gas changes into a liquid.

Solid- a state of matter that is compact.

Liquid- a state of matter that flows.

Gas- a state of matter that takes the shape of/fills any container it is in.

Precipitation- water that falls from clouds to earth.

Temperature- the degree of how hot or cold something is.

Weather- the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time. 

9/11-9/15

This week in science we are learning about states of matter. By the end of the week students should be able to classify statements and objects as a solid, a liquid, or a gas. Today students received a new set of vocabulary words.  The graded review on these will by September 19th.

Water and Weather Vocabulary – Set 1

Water cycle- the constant movement of water from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back to Earth’s surface.

Water vapor- the gas form of water.

Evaporation- when a liquid changes into a gas.

Condensation- when a gas changes into a liquid.

Solid- a state of matter that is compact.

Liquid- a state of matter that flows.

Gas- a state of matter that takes the shape of/fills any container it is in.

Precipitation- water that falls from clouds to earth.

Temperature- the degree of how hot or cold something is.

Weather- the condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time. 

9/5-9/8

This week in science we are reviewing for our Unit 1 test.  Students will bring home the following study guide that will be in their Science notebook.

Transparent means all light goes through.

Translucent means some light goes through.

Opaque means no light goes through.

More force creates a louder volume.

The faster something vibrates, the higher the pitch will be.

To lower the pitch on a guitar, someone must loosen the strings so it will vibrate more slowly.

Light cannot shine through an opaque object.

People can see themselves in a mirror because the light hits the mirror and bounces back into their eyes.

Transparent means light can go through an object without the light being scattered.

If an item is opaque light cannot enter the object and will not be able to shine through.

When light bounces off of an uneven surface, the light is scattered in different directions and you cannot see a clear reflection.

Light cannot travel through any type of surface.  LIght only travels through transparent or translucent surfaces.

Light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object.

Light travels in waves from a source in one direction.

Light waves can be reflected, refracted, and absorbed.

A whistle has a higher pitch than a whale, a truck, or thunder.

Vibrations are required for sound.

A prism refracts light.

Reflections in a mirror will make an object appear backwards.

Sound waves travel best through a solid object.

8/28- 9/1

This week in science we are learning about the sound.  Students have a graded review on the following vocabulary words Tuesday, August 29th.

Sound Vocabulary

sound:  a form of energy that travels through the air; made from vibrations

vibration:  a back and forth movement of matter

volume:  how loud or soft a sound is

pitch:  how high or how low a sound is

frequency:  the number of vibrations per seconds

echo:  sound that bounces off a surface

medium:  matter that carries sound waves

sound wave:  compression waves that move in all directions and carry sound

8/21- 8/25

This week in science we are learning about the sound.  By the end of the week students should be able to explain the difference in volume and pitch.  Students have a new group of vocabulary words and will have a graded review on them Tuesday, August 29th.

Sound Vocabulary

sound:  a form of energy that travels through the air; made from vibrations

vibration:  a back and forth movement of matter

volume:  how loud or soft a sound is

pitch:  how high or how low a sound is

frequency:  the number of vibrations per seconds

echo:  sound that bounces off a surface

medium:  matter that carries sound waves

sound wave:  compression waves that move in all directions and carry sound

8/14 - 8/18

This week in science we are learning about the nature of light and how it interacts with objects.  By the end of the week students should be able to explain how light reflects and refracts.

8/7 - 8/11

This week in science we are learning about the nature of light and how it interacts with objects.  By the end of the week students should be able to define, explain,  and classify materials that are opaque, transparent, or translucent.

Today students received a list of 10 science vocabulary words (see below).  They will have a quiz on these words Tuesday, August 15th.

Vocabulary:

Light:  energy that travels straight in waves from a source; it reflects, absorbs and refracts off of surfaces

Reflection:  the bouncing of light off an object

Refraction:  the bending of light as it moves from one material to another

Opaque:  not allowing light to pass through

Translucent:  allowing only some light to pass through

Transparent:  allowing light to pass through

Lens:  a piece of material in which light is able to pass through and is used to refract light.

Concave Lens:  a lens that is thicker at the edges than in the middle

Convex Lens:  a lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges

Color- the way we see reflected light.