Kindergarten
1.1.A Scope and Sequence – Properties of Matter
a. Describe physical properties of objects (i.e., size, shape, color, mass) by using the senses, simple tools (e.g., magnifiers, equal arm balances), and/or nonstandard measures (e.g., bigger/smaller; more/less)
b. Identify materials (e.g., cloth, paper, wood, rock, metal) that make up an object and some of the physical properties of the materials (e.g., color, texture, shiny/dull, odor, sound, taste, flexibility)
c. Sort objects based on observable physical properties (e.g., size, material, color, shape, mass)
2nd Grade
5.1.A Scope and Sequence - Earth Materials: Rocks and Minerals
a. Observe and describe the physical properties (e.g., odor, color, appearance, relative grain size, texture, absorption of water) and different components (i.e., sand, clay, humus) of soils
b. Observe and describe the physical properties of rocks (e.g., size, shape, color, presence of fossils)
5.2.A Scope and Sequence – Earth Materials: Rocks and Minerals
a. Observe and identify examples of slow changes in the Earth’s surface and surface materials (e.g., rock, soil layers) due to processes such as decay (rotting), freezing, thawing, breaking, or wearing away by running water or wind
5.3.A Scope and Sequence – Earth materials: Rocks and Soil
a. Observe and describe ways humans use Earth’s materials (e.g., soil, rocks) in a daily life
4th Grade
5.1.A Scope and Sequence – Changes in the Earth’s Surface
a. Identify and describe the components of soil (e.g., plant roots and debris, bacteria, fungi, worms, types of rock) and its properties (e.g., odor, color, resistance to erosion, texture, fertility, relative grain size, absorption rate)
b. Compare the physical properties (i.e., size, shape, color, texture, layering, presence of fossils) of rocks (mixtures of different Earth materials, each with observable physical properties
5.2.A Scope and Sequence- Changes in the Earth’s Surface
a. Observe and describe the breakdown of plant and animal material into soil through decomposition processes (i.e., decay/rotting, composting, digestion)
b. Identify the major landforms/bodies of water on Earth (i.e., mountains, plains, river valleys, coastlines, canyons)
c. Describe how weathering agents (e.g., water, chemicals, temperature, wind, plants) cause surface changes that create and/or change Earth’s surface materials and/or landforms/ bodies of water
d. Describe how erosion processes (i.e., action of gravity, waves, wind, rivers, glaciers) cause surface changes that create and/or change Earth’s surface materials and/or landforms/ bodies of water
e. Relate the type of landform/water body to the process by which it was formed
5.3.A Scope and Sequence – Changes in the Earth’s Surface
a. Identify the ways humans affect the erosion and deposition of Earth’s materials (e.g., clearing of land, planting vegetation, paving land construction of new buildings)
b. Propose ways to solve simple environmental problems (e.g., recycling, composting, ways to decrease soil erosion) that result from human activity
7.1.A Scope and Sequence - All Units
a. Formulate testable questions and explanations (hypotheses)
b. Recognize the characteristics of a fair and unbiased test
c. Conduct a fair test to answer a question
7.1.B Scope and Sequence - All Units
a. Make qualitative observations using the five senses
b. Make observations using simple tools and equipment (e.g., hand lenses, magnets, thermometers, metric rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, spring scale)
c. Measure length to the nearest centimeter, mass using grams, temperature using degrees Celsius, volume to the nearest milliliter, force/weight to the nearest Newton
d. Compare amounts/measurements
e. Judge whether measurements and computation of quantities are reasonable
7.1.C Scope and Sequence - All Units
a. Use quantitative and qualitative data as support for reasonable
explanations
b. Use data as support for observed patterns and relationships, and to make predictions to be tested
c. Evaluate the reasonableness of an explanation
d. Analyze whether evidence supports proposed explanations
7.1.D Scope and Sequence - All Units
a. Communicate the procedures and results of investigations and explanations through:
⇛ oral presentations
⇛ drawings and maps
⇛ data tables
⇛ graphs (bar, single line, pictograph)
⇛ writings
8.2.A Scope and Sequence – All units
a. Research biographical information about various scientists and inventors from different gender and ethnic backgrounds, and describe how their work contributed to science and technology
(Assess Locally)
8.3.A Scope and Sequence - All Units
a. Identify a question that was asked, or could be asked, or a problem that needed to be solved when given a brief scenario (fiction or nonfiction of people working alone or in groups solving everyday problems or learning through discovery)
b. Work with a group to solve a problem, giving due credit to the ideas and contributions of each group member (Assess Locally)
