Family Resources – Explore and Learn Together
These educational websites provide additional opportunities for students to explore ecosystems, habitats, plants, and the relationships between living things.
National Geographic Kids – Habitats
Explore photographs, animal facts, and different habitats around the world.
Educational videos and interactive learning resources. Search for ecosystems, food chains, or plant structures.
National Geographic Kids – Pond Investigation
Discover organisms living in and around ponds and explore what they need to survive.
National Geographic – What Is an Ecosystem?
A detailed explanation of ecosystems, including living and nonliving components. Good for reading together.
Ohio Science Learning Standards: Our unit supports Grade 5 Life Science, Interconnections within Ecosystems, including standards 5.LS.1 and 5.LS.2. Families can review the Ohio Learning Standards for Science
Science Study Resources
Scientific Method — Review It
Science Buddies: The Scientific Method
A strong visual review of the scientific method from asking a question through analyzing results and drawing conclusions. It also includes a free downloadable scientific-method poster.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/scientific-method.shtml
PBS LearningMedia: The Scientific Method
Students hear scientists explain how they observe, ask questions, form hypotheses, test ideas, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ketae.sci.method/the-scientific-method/
Scientific Method — Practice the Skills
PBS LearningMedia: Observation and Data Collection
A particularly good match for your lessons on making observations and collecting data.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/9d98fa35-6127-416c-8e79-71f4daef0bbe/observation-and-data-collection/
PBS LearningMedia: Applying Scientific Tools and Methods
Students see examples of the scientific method being applied to real questions about organisms and habitats.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/knh.methods/toolsandmethods/
Scientific Method — Investigate It
PhET Interactive Simulations
Students can manipulate variables, make predictions, observe changes, and use evidence to explain what happens. PhET states that its science and math simulations are free.
https://phet.colorado.edu
PhET Elementary Science Activities
This takes students closer to activities appropriate for their age rather than dropping them into the entire simulation library.
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/activities
Scientific Method — Try a Real Investigation
Science Buddies: Fifth Grade Science Projects
Hundreds of projects written specifically for fifth graders. Students can follow an investigation or modify one to create their own question.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-projects/fifth-grade
Science Buddies: Fifth Grade Science Experiments
A large collection of hands-on experiments students can explore at home or school.
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-experiments/fifth-grade