Embedded Files
Students will:
- see science as a way of understanding the world and not only as an academic activity
- develop knowledge and scientific ways of thinking and communicating throughout a life time
- value integrity, curiosity, openness to new ideas, skepticism, and imagination
Investigations
How do scientist learn
new things?
Building on the skills developed in Kindergarten, students continue to develop proficiency with the skills of scientific investigation. Students continue to record observations of events with pictures and words. Students begin to make predictions based on their experiences, observations and knowledge of observed events.
Plant and Animal Unit
"The Collecting and Examining Life unit
guides children through a year-long study of living
things. Children describe, sort, classify, monitor,
and compare animals, and plants from their own
immediate environment. Through these activities,
children build on their natural sense of wonder and
curiosity about the world around then, and they
deepen their understanding of what it means to be
alive and of the similarities and differences among
living things."
Seasonal Patterns of Change
"Building on their Kindergarten experiences observing and describing daily weather, First Grade scientists use their senses and tools to study seasonal changes throughout the year. They learn how to make careful observations and collect data in order to identify patterns in the natural world. Through repeated outdoor explorations, and with careful analysis of the data they collect, students come to recognize that here in the northeast we experience four distinct seasons and all life around us is impacted by seasonal changes we can observe. Students begin to make predictions based on evidence they have collected and develop their ability to share their thinking with others. "
Light & Sound: Puppet Theater Engineers
Students become light and sound engineers as they take on the challenge of designing, building, and projecting a scene for a puppet show. First grade scientists investigate cause and effect relationships to learn about the nature of light and sound, laying foundational understanding of these sophisticated concepts. After investigating light sources and how light interacts with different materials, students go on to learn that sound travels from a source and vibrations cause sound. Students apply their new understanding of light and sound to engineer a background scene for a puppet theater, using patterns of light and sound sources to create the effects they want. As they progress through the unit, students engage in multiple engineering design cycles in which they plan, make and test solutions to their puppet-theater design challenge.
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