Course Overview:
The Elementary Science K-5 courses will spark curiosity in students and build a solid foundation in concepts across many types of sciences including Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Students will engage in science and engineering practices by asking questions, defining problems, developing and using models, planning and conducting investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, using mathematics and informational technology, constructing explanations, designing solutions, engaging in scientific arguments using evidence, and communicating results. A framework of active student learning supports and allows students to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate throughout all courses. This dynamic format will help students build their own understanding from experiences and new ideas in order to facilitate a better understanding of the world around them.
Required Materials:
Student-Supplied Resources:
- Printer
- Disk space on your computer as well as external device to back up your files (flash drive, external hard drive, CD–Rom, etc.)
- Cell phone to take photo of student's work or scanner to scan student's work
- Science Notebook (three-ring binder)
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Scissors
- Crayons and colored pencils
- Glue
- Tape
- Ruler
- Printer paper
- Multi-colored paper
Module Specific Materials:
Module 01
- Second story window/high place
- Timer
- At least 5 round objects
- Weights
- Scale
- Masking tape
- Measuring tape
- Plastic cup
- Sink
Module 02
- Modeling clay
- Glitter glue
- Shiny beads
- Sparkles
- Black construction paper
- Flashlight
- Cardboard
Module 04
- Object to push or pull
- Modeling clay/pizza dough
- Twenty metal paper clips
- Balloon
- Mirror
- Aluminum foil or paper
- Frozen banana or any fruit or vegetable
- Magnet
Module 05
- Carpet
- Sandpaper
- Two objects to rub together
- Cell phone
- Cardboard pizza box or shoe box
- Aluminum foil
- Graham crackers
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate bars
- Flashlight
- Light bulb in a lamp
- Two pieces of black paper
- Cold glass of water
- Two cups of sand
- Two balls
- Two cotton balls
- Plastic wrap
- Box cutter
- Oven mitts
- Thermometer
Module 06
- Dark room
- Cereal box
- Modeling clay
- Tape or elastic bands
- Metal spoon
- Three long skinny objects (waterproof)
- Three flashlights
- Red tissue paper
- Yellow tissue paper
- Cardboard
- At least six test objects
- White paper
- Six different colors of construction paper
- Ice
- Laser pointer
- Hallway with a room halfway up the hall
- Five or more materials of mixed media (transparent, translucent, and opaque)
- Mirror
- Black construction paper
- Clear pitcher of water
- Materials to make a poster (pictures, glue, scissors, etc.)
- Forms of research (i.e. internet, magazines, etc.)
- Fimer
- Sunlight (or a lamp)
- Six thermometers
- Six clear plastic cups
Module 07
- Two solid objects
- Two liquid objects
- Thermometer
- Six food items
- Container
- Container to measure liquid with
- Two containers about the same size
- One liter measuring container
Module 08
- Ice cubes
- A container
- Water
- Stove (or microwave)
- Ice cube tray
- Freezer
- Pot
- Small mirror
Module 10
- Shoebox
- Cardboard
- Small potted plant
- Two sponges
- String
- Thumbtack
- Tray
Free Downloads:
- Java
- Windows Media Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Module 01: Gravity
- 01.00 Module One Pretest
- 01.01 What Goes Up, Must Come Down
- 01.02 Keep It Up
- 01.03 Overcoming Gravity
- 01.04 Module One Review and Reflection
- 01.05 Module One Assessment
Module 02: Stars
- 02.00 Module Two Pretest
- 02.01 Star Light, Star Bright
- 02.02 Many Different Stars
- 02.03 The Sun and Other Stars
- 02.04 Distant Stars
- 02.05 Our Star
- 02.06 Starry Night
- 02.07 Fixed Points of Light
- 02.08 The Sun’s Glare
- 02.09 A Closer Look
- 02.10 Up Close with the Stars
- 02.11 Module Two Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 02.12 Module Two Assessment
Module 03: Forms of Energy
- 03.00 Module Three Pretest
- 03.01 What Is Energy?
- 03.02 Heat Energy
- 03.03 Sound Energy
- 03.04 Electrical Energy
- 03.05 Mechanical Energy
- 03.06 Module Three Review and Reflection
- 03.07 Module Three Assessment
Module 04: Motion
- 04.00 Module Four Pretest
- 04.01 Energy That Moves You
- 04.02 Energy Can Change You, Too
- 04.03 The Science of Patterns
- 04.04 Science Made Me Do It!
- 04.05 Module Four Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 04.06 Module Four Assessment
Module 05: Heat
- 05.00 Module Five Pretest
- 05.01 It’s All About Heat
- 05.02 Can You Feel the Heat?
- 05.03 Light and Heat
- 05.04 Experimenting with Heat and Light
- 05.05 Getting Warmer in the Sun
- 05.06 The Case of the Solar Oven
- 05.07 Goodbye Sun, Hello Cool Temperatures!
- 05.08 No Energy, No Heat
- 05.09 Favorite Seasons
- 05.10 Module Five Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 05.11 Module Five Assessment
Module 06: Light
- 06.00 Module Six Pretest
- 06.01 Light Sources
- 06.02 Faster Than the Speed of Light
- 06.03 Behavior of Light
- 06.04 Reflected Light
- 06.05 Refracted Light
- 06.06 Absorbed Light
- 06.07 They Go Together
- 06.08 Module Six Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06.09 Module Six Assessment
Module 07: Properties of Matter
- 07.00 Module Seven Pretest
- 07.01 Physical Properties
- 07.02 Hard or Soft
- 07.03 Comparing Physical Properties
- 07.04 Mass of a Solid
- 07.05 Volume of a Liquid
- 07.06 Comparing Temperatures
- 07.07 Module Seven Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07.08 Module Seven Assessment
Module 08: Changes in Matter
- 08.00 Module Eight Pretest
- 08.01 The States of Water
- 08.02 Properties of Matter
- 08.03 Changes of States
- 08.04 Feel the Heat!
- 08.05 Where Did They Go?
- 08.06 Module Eight Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 08.07 Module Eight Assessment
Module 09: Plant Structures and Functions
- 09.00 Module Nine Pretest
- 09.01 The Golden Apple Flower Show
- 09.02 The Busy Leaf
- 09.03 Rooted to the Ground
- 09.04 The Thirsty Roots
- 09.05 The Mighty Stems
- 09.06 How Flowers Are Made
- 09.07 Seeds and Fruit
- 09.08 Plants Eat Food?
- 09.09 Module Nine Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 09.10 Module Nine Assessment
Module 10: Plant Responses
- 10.00 Module Ten Pretest
- 10.01 Heat, Light, and Gravity
- 10.02 Plants Respond to Heat
- 10.03 Plants Respond to Light
- 10.04 Plants Respond to Gravity
- 10.05 Investigating with Plants
- 10.06 Module Ten Review and Reflection
- 10.07 Module Ten Assessment
Module 11: Plant Classification
- 11.00 Module Eleven Pretest
- 11.01 Flowering Plants
- 11.02 Non-Flowering Plants
- 11.03 Ferns and Mosses
- 11.04 Structures of Flowering Plants
- 11.05 Structures of Non-Flowering Plants
- 11.06 Comparing Flowering and Non-Flowering
- 11.07 Classifying Plants
- 11.08 Communication Among Scientists
- 11.09 Module Eleven Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 11.10 Module Eleven Assessment
Module 12: Animal Classification
- 12.00 Module Twelve Pretest
- 12.01 A Is for Arthropod, and V Is for Vertebrate!
- 12.02 Comparing Systems
- 12.03 Classifying Animals
- 12.04 Module Twelve Review and Reflection
- 12.05 Module Twelve Assessment
Module 13: Adaptations
- 13.00 Module Thirteen Pretest
- 13.01 Seasonal Adaptations
- 13.02 Animal Responses to the Seasons
- 13.03 Survival in Numbers
- 13.04 Plant Responses to the Seasons
- 13.05 Staying Alive!
- 13.06 Seasonal Changes Around the World
- 13.07 Comparing the Life Cycles of Plants and Animals
- 13.08 Module Thirteen Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 13.09 Module Thirteen Assessment
