science
Kindergarten
Overview
In kindergarten, the students will formulate answers to questions such as: "What happens when you push an object harder?", "What is the weather like today?", and "Where do animals live, and why do they live there?" through integrated lessons with social studies and science. The learners will achieve these answers through questioning, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, designing solutions, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students will utilize these skills to develop resilience, flexibility, and adaptability as scientists.
Unit 1
Weather and Climate
In this unit students will explore patterns and variations in local weather and the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather. Big ideas or crosscutting concepts of patterns; cause and effect; interdependence of science, engineering, and technology; and influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world are organizing concepts for these core science ideas. Students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in asking questions, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, designing solutions, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students are provided with opportunities to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core science ideas.
Unit 2
Pushes and Pulls
In this unit students will explore of the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of objects. Following this study students will engage in the engineering design process and evaluate if a design solution, which changes the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull, works as intended. The big ideas or crosscutting concepts of cause and effect is an organizing concept for the core science ideas. Students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency planning and carrying out investigations and analyzing and interpreting data. Students are provided with opportunities to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core science ideas.
Unit 3
Needs and Wants
In this integrated Science and Social Studies unit students are expected to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive. Students will examine the relationship between the needs of different plants or animals (including humans) and the places they live as well as how living things can alter their environment. A specific focus will be on the needs and wants of humans, how they make decisions when there is not enough of the things that they want. The big ideas or crosscutting concepts of patterns; cause and effect; and systems and system models are organizing concepts for the core science ideas. Students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, and engaging in argument from evidence. Students will have opportunities to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core science ideas.
Unit 4
Earth and Human Activity
In this integrated Science and Social Studies unit students will consider their place in the world and their impacts on Earth. They will examine their place in the world by learning that the world is divided into smaller segments which include countries, states, and towns. As they consider their impact on the earth, the needs of humans and our dependence on natural resources will be emphasized. Students will learn that things that people do to live comfortably can affect the world around them, but that they can make choices that reduce their impacts on the land, water, air and other living things. Learning activities will engage students in the engineering design process and solutions will be communicated to others in oral and/or written forms using models and or drawings. The big ideas or crosscutting concepts of cause and effect is an organizing concept for the core science ideas. Students are expected to demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Students will have opportunities to use these practices to demonstrate understanding of the core ideas.