Gummy Bear Experiment

Basically you will see what happens to your candy in water, baking soda, vinegar and salt water.  Go through the steps in the Scientific Method and use the recording sheets below if you so choose.  The first one is to make predictions.  The middle one is to record what you see.  The last sheet can be used before and after experiment.  Measure with a ruler in centimeters how big the candy is before you start and then again after a few days.  

Archdiocese of Milwaukee - Curriculum Guide Standards

Earth Science

Weather:  

Discover that wind is moving air and has strength and direction 

Space:  

Understand that we live on the planet Earth  

Identify that Earth is one of the many planets in the solar system 

Changes in the Earth:  

Investigate how the observable properties of sand change when sand is mixed with water  

Show that sand takes the shape of the container it is in  

Observe that rocks come in many different shapes, colors, and sizes  

Know that water is found in many places

Physical Science

Sound and Light:  

Identify the primary colors of pigment as red, yellow, and blue  

Identify that the secondary colors green, orange, and purple are made by mixing primary colors  

Demonstrate that colors can be created in a variety of ways 

Forces, motion, and energy:  

Explain that things move in different ways  

Explore that the position and motion of an object can be changed by pushing and pulling  

Observe that non-living things do not move by themselves  

Explore that the Sun supplies heat and light to Earth 

Matter:  

Discover that objects and materials have similarities and differences  

Investigate water and how it can be compared to other liquids by observing properties of each  

Demonstrate how that water takes the shape of its container  

Observe that different objects sink and float in water 

Electricity and Magnetism:  

Know that magnets can be used to make some things move without being touched 

Life Science

Animals:  

*Classification 

– Identify the many different types of animal grouping 

*Cycles 

– Explore that animals need certain conditions for energy and growth  

*Characteristics 

– Identify the characteristics of living and nonliving things

 – Know that animals closely resemble their parents  

*Behavior 

– Show that animals have observable behavior 

Plants:  

*Characteristics 

– Observe that most plants have stems, roots, leaves, flowers, and buds 

– Know that plants will closely resemble their parents 

– Know that people can use what they know about plant needs to care for plants  

*Life Cycles 

– Explore that plants need certain conditions for energy and growth 

– Investigate how seeds sprout and how they grow into plants  

*Classification 

– Discover that many kinds of seeds are found in the environment 

Environment:  

Illustrate that water is a habitat 

Human Body:  

Observe that human bodies have similarities and differences  

Investigate how our ears allow us to hear sound differences, quality, and direction  

Investigate how our skin enables us to use our sense of touch  

Investigate how our eyes provide us with our sense of sight

CCSS Science Standards for Kindergarten

Though Common Core does not outline specific standards for kindergarten science instruction, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) provides a detailed plan of study that covers multiple Science standards in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) do not begin until middle school. 

CCSS outlines specific instructions and education goals for grades 6-12, but students in grades K-5 do not receive such detailed plans. Instead, standards for elementary school students in history, technical subjects, social studies, and science are grouped into CCSS's K-5 Reading standards. However, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) contain an extensive overview of several topics and concepts for all grades, including kindergarten. These standards incorporate connections with CCSS in math and literacy. Read on to learn more about science instruction for kindergartners.

Motion and Stability

Students at this level will be introduced to the most basic ideas related to motion and stability. Students will analyze the push and pull on an object's motion and will be expected to conduct simple experiments to compare different strengths and directions.

As they relate to the CCSS literacy and math requirements, NGSS standards indicate that students should be able to respond to questions on main ideas in a given text and develop both abstract and quantitative reasoning skills. Instruction also aims to teach students how address concepts that they do not understand by learning how to clarify a misunderstanding or ask for guidance.

Energy

In being introduced to the concept of energy, kindergartners will study the natural world around them. Students will observe the relationship between sunlight and the Earth's surface, as the familiar subject matter is intended to make comprehension easier. They'll also use materials to create a structure that could reduce the sunlight's warmth in a particular area.

In terms of Common Core standards, students should be able to work cooperatively. Students will complete group research and coordinate with each other in order to complete writing projects. Continuing the trend learned in the motion and stability unit, students will also need to compare a pair of objects and understand the respective differences and similarities.

Molecular Structures and Processes

NGSS also requires kindergartners to learn about the basics of biology. Students will analyze basic functions and necessities as they learn how plants and animals (humans included) exist and survive. They will look at energy flow in organisms and study patterns in the world around them.

By the end of this unit, students should be able to apply the same cooperative and analytical skills acquired in the energy unit to analyze topics related to biology.

Earth's Systems

Kindergartners continue to develop their understanding of the natural world by studying processes and phenomena related to the Earth. By examining regional weather conditions, students will gain an understanding of how the planet works on both a local and global scale. Children in kindergarten also focus on how animals and plants make changes to their environments in order to meet various needs.

Literacy standards mandate that students should be able to not only read scientific texts, but offer an analysis and opinion. Using a variety of techniques, students will compose opinion pieces in which they offer their perspective on a selected text or concept. Mathematically, students should have a solid grasp of the count sequence and number names. They will also be expected to describe objects using attributes such as weight and length. Kindergartners will need to use their reasoning skills to work with mathematical models and classify objects.

Earth and Human Activity

After establishing an understanding of the planet and the animals that inhabit it, students in kindergarten will begin to explore the relationship between the two. Students will use their knowledge of biological necessities to explain why certain animals live in certain environments. They will also discuss the importance of weather forecasting and take a look at how humans can reduce their effect on the natural environment.

As seen also in the CCSS guidelines, NGSS expects students to be able to continue developing quantitative and abstract reasoning skills as well as modeling and counting skills. Students will also be asked to create their own texts in which they introduce and elaborate upon a selected topic, which includes developing drawings or other visual aids.