Science

Preschool Science

• Participate in hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Explore the world through the five senses
• Observe and discuss how season changes effect living things
• Explore and discuss changes in weather
• Explore and discuss the cycle of life
• Demonstrate and discuss care for living things
• Explore motion of objects

Prekindergarten Science

• Participate in hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Describe the world through the five senses
• Describe the four seasons
• Observe and discuss how season changes effect living things
• Explore and describe changes in weather
• Explore and discuss the cycle of plant and animal life
• Demonstrate and discuss care for living things
• Explore and discuss motion of objects
• Identify the sun, moon, and stars

Kindergarten Science

• Observe and participate in the scientific method
• Participate in hands-on science projects, labs, and activities

Earth Science

• Name and describe the four seasons
• Observe and describe how season changes effect living things
• Explore and describe changes in weather
• Explore changes in temperature
• Describe the changing state of water based on temperature
• Identify and describe the Sun, moon, and stars
• Recognize and discuss planets

Life Science

• Classify and discuss living and nonliving things
• Distinguish between plants and animals
• Discuss necessary habitats for plants and animals to live and survive
• Describe simple adaptations of living things
• Describe basic characteristics of plants and animals

First Grade Science

• Observe and participate in the scientific method
• Participate in hands-on science projects, labs, and activities

Physical Science

MATTER

• Identify and give examples of the three states of matter
• Describe matter using physical properties
• Observe changing states of matter

ENERGY

• Discuss basic energy sources
• Identify energy sources
• Classify energy as light, sound, or mechanical

MAGNETS

• Discuss magnetic force
• Explore and classify objects that attract or repel magnets
• Demonstrate the transfer of magnetic energy

ELECTRICITY

• Build simple open and closed circuits with and without switches
• Explain and demonstrate what occurs when additional energy or light sources are added to a circuit

SIMPLE MACHINES

• Discuss and demonstrate work, force, and motion
• Explore and create simple machines
• Explore and identify friction

Earth Science

ROCKS AND MINERALS

• Explore characteristics of rocks and minerals
• Explore the formation of rocks
• Examine components of soil

Second Grade Science

• Observe and participate in the scientific method
• Participate in hands-on science projects, labs, and activities

Life Science

• Compare and contrast living and nonliving things
• Describe the basic needs of living things
• Observe and describe the life cycle of living things
• Discuss the reproduction of living things
• Identify, describe and discuss habitats of living things
• Explain adaptations of living things
• Describe how living things change over time
• Discuss and identify parts and functions of plants
• Describe and classify vertebrates and invertebrates by their characteristics
• Discuss and describe food chains and food webs

Earth Science

ASTRONOMY AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM

• Explain the relationship between the Sun, moon, and Earth
• Discuss and illustrate the phases of the moon
• Differentiate between stars, planets, moons, and other space objects

Third Grade Science

• Observe, discuss, and participate in the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Physical Science

MATTER

• Classify the three states of matter
• Classify and explain physical and chemical properties
• Explain physical and chemical changes

FORCE AND MOTION

• Demonstrate and explain work, force, and motion
• Identify and create simple machines
• Describe the effects of simple machines on work
• Demonstrate the effect of gravity and friction on objects

ENERGY

• Identify the forms and sources of energy
• Describe the uses of energy
• Describe and demonstrate transfer of energy
• Demonstrate and explain properties of magnets
• Discuss the Earth’s magnetic field
• Demonstrate and explain simple electrical circuits and series
• Classify conductors and nonconductors

SOUND

• Explain how sound is produced
• Discuss pitch and volume
• Describe how sound travels

LIGHT

• Describe how light is produced
• Describe the functions of light
• Compare and contrast reflection and refraction

Earth Science

LANDFORMS

• Describe different landforms
• Explain how landforms are formed and change over time
• Explain how natural disasters change the Earth’s surfaces

ROCKS AND MINERALS

• Describe and compare rocks and minerals
• Explain how different rocks are formed
• Identify and describe the components and layers of soil

Fourth Grade Science

• Observe, discuss, and participate in the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Life Science

PLANTS

• Locate, identify and explain the parts and functions of plants, seeds, and flowers
• Observe and explain the life cycle of a plant
• Describe the process and methods of pollination and fertilization
• Differentiate between dicots and monocots
• Identify and describe seed and non-seed producing plants: conifers, ferns, mosses, and flowering plants

ANIMALS

• Classify animals as vertebrates and invertebrates
• Describe the similarities and differences between invertebrates
• Compare and contrast the characteristics of vertebrates

ECOSYSTEMS AND SURVIVAL

• Identify the components and explain the process of photosynthesis
• Define and give examples of food chains and food webs
• Differentiate between producers and consumers
• Explain how plant and animal structure and adaptations are important for survival
• Differentiate between instincts and learned behaviors

Earth Science

METEROLOGY

• Identify and differentiate between the forms of precipitation
• Identify and describe how different clouds are formed
• Describe the water cycle
• Discuss and describe storms
• Explain how weather effects living things

OCEANOGRAPHY

• Describe relationships between living and nonliving components of the ocean
• Describe landforms and zones in oceans
• Illustrate the ocean currents

Fifth Grade Science

• Observe, discuss, and participate in the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Physical Science

MATTER

• Compare and contrast states of matter
• Identify, define, and illustrate common elements, atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons, and simple molecules
• Read the periodic table
• Distinguish between compounds, mixtures, and solutions
• Describe and conduct experiments that illustrate physical and chemical properties and changes

FORCE AND MOTION

• Define, explain, and calculate speed and velocity
• Describe and demonstrate the motion of objects based on position, direction, speed, velocity, and the forces of gravity and friction
• Discuss the real life application of machines
• Identify simple machines within compound machines
• Construct and deconstruct simple and compound machines

ENERGY

• Define, explain, and give examples of electrical, mechanical, nuclear, chemical, magnetic, and thermal energy
• Define and give examples of kinetic and potential energy
• Explain the process of energy transfer
• Describe how radiant and sound energy travel, and are produced and applied
• Discuss and define wavelengths
• Explain how convex and concave mirrors and lenses change light images
• Build and explain simple, series, and parallel circuits
• Discuss the real life application of electricity

Earth Science

ASTRONOMY

• Identify planets in our solar system and identify their general characteristics
• Explain the relationship between the sun, moon, planets, and other space objects
• Describe the phases of the moon
• Describe stars and how they are formed
• Explain revolution and rotation of planets and how these effect seasons and the weather

COMPOSITION

• Describe and illustrate the structure of the Earth
• Describe and illustrate the structure of the atmosphere
• Describe the processes that form geological structures and resources
• Describe and discuss plate tectonics

Sixth Grade Life Science

• Observe, discuss, and participate in the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Microscope

• Describe the difference between a compound microscope and an electron microscope
• Identify parts and demonstrate knowledge of operating a compound microscope
• Create a wet mount slide for observation

Classification of Living Things

• Explain the processes of living things: energy, stimuli, response, growth and development, reproduction, and adaptation
• List and describe kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
• List and describe Kingdoms Fungi, Monera, Plantae, Protista, and Animalia
• Identify living things by utilizing the taxonomic key

Cells

• Identify and discuss the components of the cell theory
• Identify, compare and contrast plant and animal cells
• Identify and describe the parts of the cell and their functions
• Distinguish between diffusion and osmosis
• Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis

Kingdoms Monera, Protista, and Fungi

• Observe and describe the characteristics of monerans, protists, and fungi and how they live, grown, and reproduce

Kingdom Animalia

• Identify, describe, and classify examples of invertebrates according to the phylum Sponges, Cnidarians, Worms, Mollusks, Arthropods, Insects, and Echinoderms
• Identify, describe, and classify examples of vertebrates according to the phylum Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals

Kingdom Plantae

• Describe the evolution and adaptation of plants
• Examine the chemical interactions (including photosynthesis and respiration) of plants
• Compare and contrast vascular and nonvascular plants
• Compare and contrast flowering and non-flowering plants by their structure, function, and methods of reproduction

Ecology

• Describe the process of succession within an ecosystem
• Analyze and illustrate the natural cycles within an ecosystem
• Differentiate between the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem
• Distinguish between habitats and niches
• Distinguish between a food chain, food web, and energy pyramid

Genetics

• Analyze the principles of genetics
• Explain patterns of inheritance including dominant genes, recessive, genes, genotypes, phenotypes, mutations, inherited disorders, and sex-linked traits
• Demonstrate the use of a Punnett square
• Describe the function and structure of DNA

Seventh Grade Earth Science

• Apply the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Structure of the Earth

• Describe and compare the chemical and physical properties that make up the layers of the Earth
• Illustrate and explain the movement of matter within the Earth
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Earth’s layers
• Differentiate between the two types of seismic waves that travel through the Earth’s interior
• Describe the theory of continental drift, sea-floor spreading, and the existence of Pangaea, and evidence that supports each
• Compare and contrast the interactions at plate boundaries
• Compare the three types of waves produced by earthquakes
• Explain the changes in the Earth’s structure due to convergent boundaries
• Compare and contrast the ways in which convection results in the movement of plates
• Make inferences about ways to build structures that could withstand the severity of earthquake damage
• Compare and create the three types of volcanoes
• Describe the forces of stress that act upon the rocks of the crust
• Describe the effects of folding and faults on the Earth’s crust
• Demonstrate how stress effects different material

Rock and Minerals

• Describe the formation, main characteristics, and properties of minerals
• Classify minerals and explain their uses
• Identify and classify rocks
• Explain the rock cycle

Astronomy

• Distinguish between the rotation and revolution of the planet
• Explain how the tilt of the Earth effects life
• Compare the relationships between the sun, moon, planets, and space objects
• Explain how the phases of the moon relate to its revolution
• Describe the structure of the sun, its chemical properties, and its sources of energy
• Explain the solar system formation theories
• Compare and contrast the various bodies in the solar system
• Explain the life cycle of stars
• Compare and contrast the four types of galaxies
• Observe and create a model of constellations

Weather and Climate

• Describe the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere
• Explain how temperature affects the density of air
• Demonstrate the force of air pressure
• Describe how gas molecules in the air change
• Explain what happens to the sun’s radiation as it passes through the atmosphere
• Define humidity and explain how it affects life
• Compare and contrast a hygrometer and a psychrometer
• Describe and demonstrate the formation of a cloud
• Compare and contrast clouds and differentiate types of fog
• Discuss whether cloud seeding is helpful or harmful
• Explain how precipitation forms and how it is measured
• Identify the types of air masses and how their movements affect weather conditions
• Compare and contrast the kinds of fronts that occur when air masses meet
• Illustrate how pressure changes affect the wind
• Describe the characteristics of storms
• Identify, apply, and explain weather symbols and models to weather maps
• Demonstrate use of weather tools

Earth’s Waters

• Identify the physical and chemical properties of fresh and salt water
• Compare and contrast standing, running, and frozen water
• Describe groundwater and underground zones and how water moves underground
• Illustrate stalagmites and stalactites
• Differentiate between the major ocean current patterns
• Explain the formation of ocean currents and waves
• Describe and illustrate the parts of a wave
• Compare and contrast tide patterns and their causes
• Explain how changing conditions in a tide pool affect living things
• Describe the features of a continental margin and the role rivers play in their formation
• Compare the features of the ocean floor
• Compare the major ocean life zones and explain the cause for their differences
• Discuss how humans use oceans and how their actions affect ocean life

Weather and Erosion

• Compare and contrast the causes of mechanical and chemical weathering
• Describe how soil is formed and creates parent rock
• Analyze and describe the properties of soil
• Demonstrate knowledge of a soil profile
• Identify living organisms in soil
• Explain the difference between erosion and deposition
• Compare the different causes and effects of erosion and discuss ways to prevent erosion
• Describe the stages of river erosion
• Explain how the energy of a river is related to the amount of sediment it deposits
• Describe the ways waves can change the shape of a shoreline

Eighth Grade Physical Science

• Apply the scientific method
• Demonstrate knowledge of science concepts through hands-on science projects, labs, and activities
• Identify significant equipment, instruments, and scientists in each discipline

Force and Motion

• Compare frames of reference
• Differentiate between, calculate, and observe speed and velocity
• Define and observe acceleration
• Compare the motion of an object moving in a straight line with constant speed to that of an object turning with constant speed
• Observe centripetal force
• Describe gravity, lift, thrust, and drag
• Explain energy and the law of conservation of energy
• Distinguish between kinetic and potential energy
• Demonstrate knowledge of gravitational potential energy
• Investigate the effect of air resistance
• Describe projectile motion
• State and apply the three laws of motion
• Describe the types of friction
• Calculate force
• Identify the relationship between momentum, mass, and velocity
• Define pressure and how it is measured
• Define fluid pressure
• Use Daniel Bernoulli’s principle to explain why air foil rises
• Compare the way objects move through air
• Explain buoyant force
• Explain how Archimedes’s Principle affect objects in water
• Compare and contrast buoyancy and density
• Infer how an object’s slope affect its movement through liquids

Work and Machines

• Differentiate between work and power
• Determine the mechanical advantage and efficiency of a machine
• Compare and contrast simple machines
• Identify the parts of a lever
• Explain the classes of levers
• Compare compound and simple machines
• Identify simple machines within compound machines
• Construct and deconstruct simple and compound machines

Matter

• Define matter and its properties
• Demonstrate knowledge of Boyle’s and Charles’ Law of Gases
• Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes in matter
• Identify the evidence of chemical changes

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

• Compare and contrast the various models of atoms
• Name and describe the parts of an atom
• Explain and use the parts of the periodic table
• Calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons given the atomic number
• Describe an element and its properties
• Describe the functions of elements in the human body
• Compare and contrast different types of elements

Energy

• Describe the various forms of energy
• Examine sources of electrical power
• Explain and model electrical forces
• Explain ways in which static charges can build up
• Classify objects as conductors and insulators
• Compare lightning and static electricity
• Identify the sources of electric current
• Create a battery
• Distinguish between current voltage and resistance
• Describe the path of electrons through a circuit
• Create, compare, and contrast simple, series, and parallel circuits
• Examine the cost of electrical energy
• Examine alternate energy sources

Magnetism

• Describe the properties of magnets, poles, and fields
• Explain how materials can become magnetized
• Illustrate the Earth’s magnetic fields
• Compare electricity and magnetism
• Describe and construct an electromagnet
• Explain how an electric motor works
• Describe how magnetism is used to produce electricity

Chemistry

• Compare and contrast different compounds
• Recognize formulas for simple compounds
• Compare and contrast types of mixtures
• Describe and create chemical reactions
• Explain the characteristics and evidence of chemical reactions
• Distinguish between endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions
• Identify factors that affect the rate of chemical reaction
• Compare and contrast solutions
• Identify the factors that affect solution rate and solubility
• Compare and contrasts colloids, solutions, and suspensions
• Explain the properties of acids and bases
• Use the pH scale