Science and
Technology/Engineering

Science and Technology/Engineering Overview

The Newton Public Schools Science and Technology/Engineering program is designed to support all students as they develop into scientifically literate citizens. Through active engagement in science and engineering practices, students will explore the disciplinary core ideas across four domains: physical science; life science; earth and space science; and technology and engineering. A strong core K-5 curriculum - supported by teacher disciplinary knowledge and sufficient instructional time - will allow all students to explore their curiosities about the world, learn how scientists have investigated similar questions, carry out increasingly complex scientific investigations, and engage in engineering design projects.

Unit 1

Earth: Land Changing Shape (OpenSciEd)

Learning Targets

Make observations about how wind and water can shape the land, and describe erosion as moving earth materials
Design and evaluate different solutions to slow down erosion

Essential Questions

How do wind and water shape the land?
How can we design solutions to prevent damage from erosion?

Instructional Snapshot

During this unit, students will:

learn about how wind and water can change the shape of the land
work to solve a land change problem in their communities, acting as engineers to design and test a solution

Unit 2

Structure and Properties of Matter (OpenSciEd)

Learning Targets

Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
Analyze data obtained from testing different materials to determine which materials have the properties that are best suited for an intended purpose.
Make observations to construct an evidence-based account of how an object made of a small set of pieces can be disassembled and made into a new object.
Construct an argument with evidence that some changes caused by heating or cooling can be reversed and some cannot.

Essential Questions

What do we notice about different objects and the materials they are made of?
How can we change objects and materials so we can better use them to build toys?
What happens to materials when they are heated or cooled?

Instructional Snapshot

During this unit, student will:

carry out an investigation to provide evidence for how wind and water can change the shape of the soil and sand
carry out an investigation into how different materials might slow down erosion using models to represent the real materials
design a plan to save the sand towers (‘a castle’) by considering the effect of changing one component

Unit 3

Plants and Pollinators

Learning Targets

Develop and use models to compare how plants and animals depend on their surroundings and other living things
Identify evidence that butterflies and some flowering plants are dependent on one another for survival and reproduction
Use simple graphical representations to show that different types of organisms have unique and diverse life cycles

Essential Questions

What do plants need from their environment to meet their needs?
What do animals need from their environment to meet their needs?

Instructional Snapshot

During this unit, student will:

plant and observe the growth of Wisconsin Fast Plants
observe the development of Painted Lady Butterflies from larvae to butterfly
compare and contrast the life cycles of butterflies and flowering plants

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