PRE-KINDERGARTEN and KINDERGARTEN

 

By the end of Kindergarten, students will have been introduced to the following skills and processes:

 

Skills and Processes

·  Access and process information from group readings, observations, investigations, and discussions.

·  Identify questions and seek answers to questions about immediate surroundings.

·  Use observations and science experience to form predictions.

·  Participate in simple investigations.

·  Demonstrate safety when conducting an investigation.

·  Use number counts and non-standard units when recording data from observations.

·  Collect and record data using observations and simple instruments (hand lenses, computers).

·  Describe and compare data gathered during class investigations.

·  Communicate findings (i.e., speaking and drawing) from group observations and investigations to the teacher.

·  Sort common objects based on one physical attribute.

·  Classify objects based on similarities and differences.

·  Recognize that others may have different ideas and make different observations.

·  With teacher support, work in small groups to provide supporting evidence when forming simple conclusions or solving a practical problem.

·  Observe common objects and group according to color.

·  Compare the results of group investigations with the explanations of others.

·  Describe to teacher how scientific information was used.

·  Apply scientific concepts to understand a new situation.

·  Apply scientific concepts to make decisions.

·  Participate in suggesting possible solutions to a practical problem.

·  Use tools (i.e., non-metric, non-standard) to observe and measure when collecting information.

·  Construct things with simple tools and a variety of materials.

·  Modify a product based on feedback from another group or results from a test.

·  Demonstrate that everyone can do science and invent things.

 

Earth/Space

·  Describe the materials of Earth include land, air and water that are needed to support living things.

·  Sort and group a variety of living and non-living things based on their physical properties (e.g. shape and color).

·  Identify ways life leaves evidence.

·  Identify the Sun and Moon in the sky.

·  Observe and record that the Moon is sometimes, but not always in the daytime sky.

·  Identify the Sun as the main provider of heat and light.

·  Describe the weather using observations.

·  Identify weather patterns within one week during each season.

 

Life Science

·  Use hand lenses to observe familiar organisms.

·  Describe examples that show that human beings have special parts (e.g. hands, nose) that allow them to perform certain functions.

·  Identify behaviors that prevent the spread of disease.

·  Recognize some animals and their offspring.

·  Recognize some similarities and differences among animals.

·  Identify that plants need water, soil, and light to grow.

·  Explain that animals need air, water and food and that plants need air, water, nutrients, and light to survive.

 

Chemistry

·  Describe physical properties of materials (i.e., texture, size, color, shape).

·  Observe some changes that occur in materials and substances. (e.g., dissolving, ice melting).

·  Describe and classify materials based on common properties (e.g., texture, color, hardness, size, weight and shape).

 

Physics

·  Demonstrate how to change the motion of an object by giving it a push or a pull.

·  Demonstrate that things fall to the ground unless something holds them up.

·  Observe that the Sun warms objects.

·  Identify materials that light passes through.

 

Environmental Science

·  Describe that organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs (e.g. soil, light, and water) can be met.

·  Recognize and sort living and non-living things.

PREPARATORIO

 

By the end of Preparatorio, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition man of the pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten objectives:

 

Balls and Ramps

Unit Summary : Children explore the physical properties of balls. Through exploration, the science process skills of observing, collecting data, recording, and comparing data are used. Students focus on the relationship between various balls and ramps.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Observe, describe, and record data on physical properties

·  Describe the different ways objects move

·  Demonstrate that objects move differently on different surfaces

·  Investigate that the different properties of balls will effect how they roll

 

Living Things

Unit Summary: Children observe, explore, and discover plants and animals in the area around and near school. They compare living things, identifying likenesses and differences. Needs of plants and animals are explored. The students plant terraria and investigate the interdependence of plants and animals in the terraria, discuss observations, and record data.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Compare living things, identify likenesses and differences

·  Collect and record data using observation and simple instruments

·  Describe how specific plant and animal parts help them survive

·  Explain what plants and animals need to survive

·  Classify living, non-living, and once-was-living objects

·  Investigate the needs of living things

 

Myself and Others

Unit Summary: Children are involved in learning experiences where they look at themselves and their classmates and gather information about characteristics such as height, eye color, skin color, and hand size. As they explore similarities and differences, they use a variety of science thinking and process skills.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Gather information about themselves and others

·  Describe ways people are the same and people are different

·  Describe ways people stay the same and ways people change over time

·  Use nonstandard units of measurement for length and width

·  Discuss, communicate, and analyze ideas

GRADE 1

 

By the end of Grade 1, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition to most of the pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Preparatorio objectives:

 

Constructions

Unit Summary: Children investigate structures and the effects of forces, motion, and equilibrium. They construct models of walls, bridges, and towers, and classify building materials by strength, weight, and other properties.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Make predictions based on observations

·  Classify building materials by properties (e.g., weight, strength…)

·  Investigate the effects of forces, motion, and equilibrium

·  Observe objects moving on slopes

·  Construct a pulley

 

Rocks, Sand, and Soil

Unit Summary: Children investigate a variety of rocks, sand, and soil. They sort and classify rocks, observe soil components, and investigate and compare various sized particles. Students also investigate organisms that live in the soil.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Observe, describe, and classify rocks based on properties (e.g., size, shape, texture…)

·  Examine, test, describe, and measure earth materials

·  Ask questions and construct explanations based on observations and the results of simple experiments

·  Investigate the uses and importance of soil

·  Analyze the impact earthworms and other organisms have on soil

 

Weather

Unit Summary: Children observe the weather and collect and record data about basic weather features including wind, temperature, precipitation, and cloud cover. Children record weather observations, construct graphics, and record information on a weather calendar.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Observe, collect, and record data about weather features (e.g., wind, temperature, precipitation, cloud cover)

·  Compare data, identify possible trends, and form conclusions

·  Use observation and scientific information when forming predictions

·  Collect temperature data using a thermometer

·  Understand how weather impacts our lives

GRADE 2

 

By the end of Grade 2, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition to all of the pre-Kindergarten through Grade 1 objectives:

 

Balancing and Weighing

Unit Summary: Children explore the relationship between balance and weight and learn strategies for making comparisons. They explore by manipulating objects on a beam balance, building mobiles, and by using an equal-arm balance.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Explore the relationship between balance and weight

·  Measure, describe, and classify materials based on common properties (e.g., volume, weight…)

·  Compare data, identify trends, form conclusions based on data

·  Discover how the position of a fulcrum affects balance

 

The Life Cycle of Butterflies

Unit Summary: Children observe and record the changes of painted lady butterfly larvae from caterpillar to adult. As they observe the changes, children learn about stages of development and structure of the organisms. Students compare what they have learned first hand to what is printed in science literature.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Identify patterns of change over time

·  Observe, record, and describe how specific parts of the butterfly help it to survive

·  Explain that habitats provide basic needs for the organisms living in them

·  Understand how life cycles impact populations

 

Liquids

Unit Summary: Children investigate substances that are dissolved and returned to their original form. They make solutions, observe evaporation, and discover how some solutions crystallize. They explore properties of liquids including surface tension, miscibility (“thickness” of a liquid), and density.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Classify materials based on similarities and differences

·  Recognize simple well-designed procedures that identify important variables

·  Investigate materials based on their physical properties including physical change

·  Learn the important properties of different liquids

GRADE 3

 

By the end of Grade 3, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition to all of the pre-Kindergarten through Grade 2 objectives:

 

Crime Lab Chemistry

Unit Summary: Children assume the role of forensic scientists and solve a crime using paper chromatography techniques. They explore similarities and variations of fingerprints and learn how to use a classification system.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Identify patterns detected with the senses

·  Classify objects based on similarities and differences

·  Compare data, identify trends, form conclusions

·  Provide supporting evidence when forming conclusions or solving problems

·  Conduct chromatography to solve a mystery

 

Plant Growth and Development

Unit Summary: Children plant and observe the growth of Brassica rapa. Records of growth are kept and used to construct charts and graphs. The students pollinate the flowers with dead bees and harvest seeds.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Explain that plants survive only in environments in which their needs are met

·  Observe and describe how specific parts of plants help them survive

·  Recognize/plan simple and well-designed procedures that identify important variables

·  Understand pollination and appreciate the importance of seed production

·  Sequence the life cycle of a plant correctly

 

Sound

Unit Summary: Children investigate characteristics of sound. They explore ways that sounds are produced, received, and used in everyday life. Emphasis is placed on developing questions, seeking answers through investigations, recording data, and communicating results.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Investigate the characteristics of sound

·  Explore ways sounds are produced, received, and used

·  Access and process information from a variety of sources

·  Investigate that the length, tension, and thickness of string affect the vibration frequency, which affects the pitch of the sound that is produced

·  Investigate how the loudness of a sound can be changed

GRADE 4

 

By the end of Grade 4, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition to all of the pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3 objectives:

 

Earth Materials

Unit Summary: Children investigate synthetic rocks and apply the techniques for identifying characteristics to real rocks and minerals.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Identify the physical properties of minerals

·  Describe the formation of different types of rocks

·  Examine, describe, and measure the effects of erosion on earth materials

·  Ask questions that can be answered through scientific investigation

 

Ecosystems

Unit Summary: Children construct and observe their own mini-ecosystems, and observe, discuss, and read about land and water ecosystems. They develop an awareness of living things and their basic needs. The unit concludes with a series of activities related to the Caribbean Sea.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Construct, observe, discuss, and read about ecosystems

·  Explain that ecosystems are made up of populations of producers, consumers, and decomposers

·  Understand the impact of humans on ecosystems

·  Investigate a local problem and research potential solutions

 

Electric Circuits

Unit Summary: Children investigate electricity and circuits. They explore parts of a light bulb, conductors, insulators, single circuit diagrams, switches, and diodes. The unit culminates with students constructing and wiring a cardboard house of their own design.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Investigate the properties of electricity

·  Investigate conductors, insulators, and circuits

·  Construct and wire a cardboard house of their own design

·  Compare series and parallel circuits

·  Describe to others how scientific information was used to develop a design or solve a problem

GRADE 5

 

By the end of Grade 5, students will be able to know and be able to do the following in addition to all of the pre-Kindergarten through Grade 4 objectives:

 

Magnets and Motors

Unit Summary: Children expand their knowledge of electricity by investigating the interaction of magnetism, electricity, and electromagnetism. They use magnets and compasses to build a working device and explore the characteristics of switches, circuits, and electromagnets. They build a working electric motor from scratch and learn how electricity is produced.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Describe the properties of magnets

·  Investigate electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism

·  Explain how electricity and magnetism are related

·  Explore how electric motors work

·  Use observations and scientific information to form predictions and hypotheses

 

Solar Energy

Unit Summary: Children investigate sunlight as a heat source. During the unit the children build model houses, monitor temperature, and explore techniques for improving the efficiency of solar collectors.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Investigate sunlight as a source of heat

·  Describe how the properties of different earth materials affect the transfer to solar energy

·  Build a model house and explore techniques for improving solar collectors

·  Recognize/develop well designed procedures to identify dependent and independent variables, and the need for controls and multiple trials

 

Structures

Unit Summary: Children investigate structures and their strength. They observe structures in the school neighborhood and record the variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and functions of these structures. They build structures with straws, index cards, and additional classroom materials and determine designs that best handle loads and other stresses.

Major knowledge, skills, and concepts:

·  Investigate structures and record the variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and functions of these structures

·  Investigate forces that act on structures

·  Describe principals of good construction (e.g., function, durability, and aesthetic value)

·  Design, plan, and construct a structure to meet predetermined specifications