Fifth Grade
From the Virginia Department of Education: The Science Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools identify academic content for essential components of the science curriculum at different grade levels. Standards are identified for kindergarten through grade five, for middle school, and for a core set of high school courses — Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. For more detailed standards, please visit: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/index.shtml
Force, Energy, and Motion
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 4.2 The student will investigate and understand characteristics and interactions of moving objects.
2018 Crosswalk Standard 5.3 The student will investigate and understand that there is a relationship between force and energy of moving objects.
Activity Resources
Basics of Physics Instructional Video - Kelsey Grimes, 15 minute video including loop plane experiment instructions
Action versus Reaction Balloon Car Experiment - Experiment to review scientific method and force, energy, and motion
Force, Motion and Energy Jeopardy Game - interactive review game
Friction Experiment Lesson Plan - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Friction Experiment Handout - Jennifer Bowen, student handout for Friction Experiment
Build a Windmill - Kathy Alstat, lesson plan
Balloon Rockets - Mandi Dolan, lesson plan
Balloon Rockets - Mandi Dolan, student handout
Balloon Rockets - Mandi Dolan, propulsion examples
Electricity
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 4.3 The student will investigate and understand the characteristics of electricity.
2018 Crosswalk Standard 5.4 The student will investigate and understand that electricity is transmitted and used in daily life.
Activity Resources
Static Electricity - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Static Electricity Handout - Jennifer Bowen, handout with review and activity
Magnificent Magnets - Kathy Alstat, lesson plan
The World is One Big Magnet - Kathy Alstat, lesson plan
Paper Circuits - Jonette Mungo. lesson plan
Squishy Circuits - Lenah Nguyen. lesson plan
Sound
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.2 The student will investigate and understand how sound is created and transmitted, and how it is used.
2018 Crosswalk Standard 5.5 The student will investigate and understand that sound can be produced and transmitted.
Activity Resources
The Spoon Gong Experiment - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Sound - The Spoon Gong Experiment - Jennifer Bowen, student handout
Light and Sound Review Game - Jennifer Bowen, activity guide
Light
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.3 The student will investigate and understand basic characteristics of visible light and how it behaves.
2018 Crosswalk Standard 5.6 The student will investigate and understand that visible light has certain characteristics and behaves in predictable ways.
Activity Resources
Reflection and Refraction - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Light - Reflection and Refraction - Jennifer Bowen, activity guide (Needed for this activity are a copy of the book Pigaroons by Arthur Geisert, small clear containers for water, handheld mirrors, magnifying lenses, and small flashlights.)
Prezi VIDEO - Jennifer Bowen, review of fill-in-the-blanks activity in handout referenced in the link above, reading of Pigaroons with discussion question assignment at the end (designed to be used if face-to-face or small group work is not possible)
Light and Sound Review Game - Jennifer Bowen, activity guide
Disappearing Penny - Krista Gustafson, lesson plan
UV Radiation - Jonette Mungo, lesson plan
Solar Energy and Sun Printing - Jonette Mungo, lesson plan
Solar Energy: UV Radiation - Jonette Mungo, lesson plan
Create a Color Wheel Spinner - Kathy Alstat, lesson plan
Matter (Periodic Table of Elements)
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.4 The student will investigate and understand that matter is anything that has mass and takes up space; and occurs as a solid, liquid, or gas.
2018 Standard 5.7 The student will investigate and understand that matter has properties and interactions.
Activity Resources
Matter - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Matter Handout - Jennifer Bowen, student handout accompanying lesson plan linked above
(Prezi VIDEO - Walks students through the Periodic Table of Elements Scavenger Hunt Activity)
Periodic Table in Pictures (for use with Matter Handout above)
Living Systems - Cells
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.5 The student will investigate and understand that organisms are made of one or more cells and have distinguishing characteristics that play a vital role in the organism’s ability to survive and thrive in its environment.
Activity Resources
Cells - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan
Cells Handout with Bingo Card - Jennifer Bowen, student handout and activity guide
Cell Bingo Cards (Each student gets 1 -2 cards. Students must walk around the class to find the person with the card they need to complete a bingo square. )
Cells and Organelles Kahoot! - Jennifer Bowen, interactive review game
Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.7 The student will investigate and understand how Earth’s surface is constantly changing.
2018 Crosswalk Standard 5.8 The student will investigate and understand that Earth constantly changes.
Activity Resources
Rocks and Plate Tectonics - Jonette Mungo, lesson plan
Geology Jeopardy - Jennifer Bowen, 5.7 Review using Google Slides
Ocean Currents
SOL Correlations
2010 Standard 5.6 The student will investigate and understand characteristics of the ocean environment.
Activity Resources
Ocean Currents Model - Jennifer Bowen, lesson plan*
Ocean Current Model Handout - Jennifer Bowen, student handout for the above referenced lesson plan*
This activity uses Ocean Current models like these available from Flinn Scientific.*
Ocean Currents Model Demonstration Video
*Disclaimer: Commercial products are named in this publication for informational purposes only. Virginia Cooperative Extension does not endorse these products and does not intend discrimination against other products which also may be suitable.
Math - Measuring Angles
SOL Correlations
5.10, 5.12
Activity Resources
Measuring Angles - Terry Abston, lesson plan
4-H Physics Science Enrichment.mp4Extension Agent Kelsey Grimes introduces the basics of physics.
If you have any questions or concerns about this page, please contact Jennifer Bowen at jebowen1@vt.edu .