Kindergarten Science
Year at a Glance
In Kindergarten, instructional time should focus on three critical areas: Weather & Climate; Life and the Environment and Pushes and Pulls. These concepts can be explored at anytime during the school year and are recommended to be used when appropriate as enhancements to your ReadyGen literacy resources. We hope these science connections help bring those standards to life.
Throughout Kindergarten Students Should:
Plan investigations to compare the effect strength and direction have on the motion of an object.
Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.
Make observations about what animals and plants need to help them live and grow, and also making observations about how animals might change their environments to meet their needs.
Keep track of how the weather changes from day to day, and describe the patterns they observe over time.
Earth Science - Weather & Climate
Expectations for Kindergarten Students:
Patterns are observed when measuring the local weather, and these observations can help communities prepare for and respond to severe weather conditions.
ReadyGen Connections
Unit 1 A Bed for the Winter (K-ESS2-1: Weather Patterns)
Unit 2 Four Seasons Make a Year (K-ESS2-1: Weather Patterns)
Unit 3 Come on, Rain! The Snowy Day What Will the Weather Be?
Weather Words and What they Mean Sleuth Read-Aloud:
“Our Snowy Discovery” (K-ESS3-2: Forecasting Severe Weather)
Unit 5 Jack’s Garden (K-PS3-2: Shade Structure Design)
Life Science - Life and the Environment / Little Peeps
Expectations for Kindergarten Students:
Develop an understanding of what plants and animals need to survive, and examine the relationship between their needs and where they live (ex. Deer eat buds and leaves, so they typically live in areas like forests.)
ReadyGen Connections
Unit 1 Where is Home, Little Pip?, A House for Hermit Crab, Life in a Pond, A Bed for Winter
(K-LS1-1: Plant and Animal Needs)
Unit 2 The Little House, Four Seasons Make a Year (K-ESS2-2: Environmental Change)
Unit 3 Come On, Rain!, Sleuth Read-Aloud: “Bear and Fox”
(K-ESS2-2: Environmental Change)
Unit 5 The Tiny Seed, Jack’s Garden, Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, Plant Patterns
(K-LS1-1: Plant and Animal Needs)
Unit 6 On the Town: A Community Adventure (K-ESS3-1: Environmental Relationships)
Mystery Science Kindergarten Student Notebook
Physical Science - Pushes and Pulls
Expectations for Kindergarten Students:
Compare the effect of different strengths and directions of push and pull on the speed and motion of an object. Examine how sunlight affects the Earth’s surface.
ReadyGen Connections
Unit 5 Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature (K-PS2-1: Pushes, Pulls, and Motion)
Sleuth Read-Aloud: Simple Machines (K-PS2-2: Motion Design Solution)
Science Vocabulary - Kindergarten
All vocabulary for Mystery Science can be located in the "Extend the Lesson" section in each Unit. Vocabulary is presented in both English and Spanish and as both a slide show and teacher print out.
Multilingual Learner Language Expectations - Kindergarten
From the moment you ask where, why, and how? You are a scientist!
It is always a good reminder for both students and teachers, that we are all scientist! Below are some resources to share with your students about what a scientist looks like, what a scientist does and the importance of contributing to the world's collective science knowledge. The world needs science, and science needs YOU!
The Stories & Science of Real World Scientist
An interactive for inclusive Science and STEM education, this project aims to give young students real-life STEM role models.
Science & STEM Careers Portal - Explore Hundreds of STEM Fields
Encourage students to prepare for their future career success with Career Profile videos and student activations focusing on the STEM skills, knowledge, and interests needed to pursue exciting careers in the STEM industry. It’s never too early for students to plan their career path--help inspire the future workforce today. Explore More
Science Buddies - Career Discovery Tool
Browse career profiles to discover what scientists really do on the job and what it takes to prepare for these careers.
IF/THEN STEM Initiative
The IF/THEN Initiative is committed to showing young girls exactly what a scientist looks like. IF/THEN seeks to further advance women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Explore More
DoDSTEM
Scientists and engineers work across a wide range of career pathways throughout the STEM fields including biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, robotics, computer science and more. Explore the different types of STEM careers here and see what kind of opportunities might ignite your curiosity! Select a Topic to learn about STEM careers
