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 1:
- *Copper
- *Iron
- *Nickel
- *Steel
- Plastic
- Rubber
- Wood
- Two bar magnets
- *These metals are often found in common household items. Examples are given in the lesson in addition to accompanying video demonstrations.
Module 2
- Calculator
- Tennis ball
- Various objects
Module 3
- Tall glass
- Water
- Spoon
- Ice cubes
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Cardboard
- Stopwatch
- Two containers
- Salt (or sand/sugar)
- One box (shoebox/cereal box)
- One paper towel roll
- Utility knife
- One clothes pin
- One small wooden block
- 12-15 rubber bands
- Marshmallows
- One 2 l water bottle
- One stopwatch
Module 4
- Three objects
- One plate
- One book
- A piece of sandpaper
- One whole pineapple
- Pair of jeans
- 10 objects
- Magnet
- One egg (uncooked)
- A brownie
- An almond
- A green pepper
- A cookie
- A plastic re-sealable bag
- Weights
- One whole banana
- One whole apple
- Pan/scale/balance
- Freezer
- Plastic water bottle
- Liquid
- Measuring cups
- Two different shaped containers
Module 5
- Bowl
- Fork/spoon/spatula
- Two 1 liter milk cartons
- Gypsum
- Water
- Balloon
- Measuring cup
Module 6
- Plastic knife
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic containers
- Tongs
Module 7
- A pair of old socks
- Shoebox
- Soil
- Water
- Plastic bag
Module 9
- Various candies
- Large marshmallows, fruit, or vegetables
- Pipe cleaners
- Toothpicks
Module 10
- Plastics or foil container
- Clay
- Straws
- Paper clips
Module 12
- An object that spins, e.g. an office chair
- Styrofoam model of the earth
- Large object to represent the sun, e.g. basketball
Free Downloads:
- Java
- Windows Media Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Module 01: Magnets
- 01.00 Module One Pretest
- 01.01 All About Magnets
- 01.02 Magnetic Materials
- 01.03 Attracting and Repelling
- 01.04 Module One Review and Reflection
- 01.05 Module One Assessment
Module 02: Motion of Objects
- 02.00 Module Two Pretest
- 02.01 Changing Position
- 02.02 Changing Direction
- 02.03 The Need for Speed
- 02.04 Module Two Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 02.05 Module Two Assessment
Module 03: Energy
- 03.00 Module Three Pretest
- 03.01 Energizing with Energy
- 03.02 Light It Up
- 03.03 All About the Heat
- 03.04 Conductors and Insulators
- 03.05 Feel the Beats
- 03.06 What is pitch?
- 03.07 Causing Motion
- 03.08 Causing Change
- 03.09 Waves of Change
- 03.10 Energy Transformations
- 03.11 Module Three Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 03.12 Module Three Assessment
Module 04: Properties of Matter
- 04.00 Module Four Pretest
- 04.01 Physical Properties
- 04.02 Attraction to Magnets
- 04.03 What’s that smell?
- 04.04 The law of what?
- 04.05 Turn up the volume!
- 04.06 Physical Changes
- 04.07 What happened to the marshmallow?
- 04.08 Module Four Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 04.09 Module Four Assessment
Module 05: Physical Weathering and Erosion
- 05.00 Module Five Pretest
- 05.01 Physical Weathering
- 05.02 Erosion
- 05.03 Weathering and Erosion
- 05.04 Module Five Review and Reflection
- 05.05 Module Five Assessment
Module 06: Rocks and Minerals
- 06.00 Module Six Pretest
- 06.01 Rock Talk
- 06.02 Mineral Properties
- 06.03 Rocks and Minerals
- 06.04 Three Categories of Rocks
- 06.05 Module Six Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 06.06 Module Six Assessment
Module 07: Plant Life
- 07.00 Module Seven Pretest
- 07.01 To flower, or not to flower?
- 07.02 Comparing Plants
- 07.03 Reproductive Structures
- 07.04 The Birds, the Bees, and the Plants
- 07.05 Internal and External Structures
- 07.06 Module Seven Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 07.07 Module Seven Assessment
Module 08: Animal Life
- 08.00 Module Eight Pretest
- 08.01 Stages of Life
- 08.02 It’s a Bug’s Life
- 08.03 Comparing Life Stages
- 08.04 Module Eight Review and Reflection
- 08.05 Module Eight Assessment
Module 09: Heredity
- 09.00 Module Nine Pretest
- 09.01 Inherited Characteristics
- 09.02 Effects of the Environment
- 09.03 Heredity and Learning
- 09.04 Structures to Survive
- 09.05 Module Nine Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 09.06 Module Nine Assessment
Module 10: Resources and Environment
- 10.00 Module Ten Pretest
- 10.01 What’s for dinner?
- 10.02 Producers and Consumers
- 10.03 The Big Impact
- 10.04 The Impacts of Humans
- 10.05 Resources on Earth
- 10.06 Find the Resources
- 10.07 The Impacts of Earth
- 10.08 Module Ten Review and Reflection
- 10.09 Module Ten Assessment
Module 11: Seasonal Changes
- 11.00 Module Eleven Pretest
- 11.01 As the Seasons Change
- 11.02 Different Seasons, Different Plants
- 11.03 See How Animals Change
- 11.04 Animals, Animals Everywhere
- 11.05 Module Eleven Review and Reflection
- 11.06 Module Eleven Assessment
Module 12: Earth's Movement
- 12.00 Module Twelve Pretest
- 12.01 A Starry Night
- 12.02 Patterns in the Sky
- 12.03 Different Stars, Different Seasons
- 12.04 The Groovin’, Movin’ Earth
- 12.05 Revolves Around the Sun
- 12.06 The Shapes of the Moon
- 12.07 The Effects of Space Research
- 12.08 Module Twelve Review and Discussion-Based Assessment
- 12.09 Module Twelve Assessment
