Our 5th grade science class is taught by Scarlett Calvin.
I believe that an active, student led approach to science results in the most effective life long learning. I provide numerous opportunities for students to showcase their learning through projects, technology integration, and group work. Social Emotional learning is an integral part of my classroom interactions and students are able to flourish by contributing their own personal strengths to work products of every kind. Students are able to answer complex questions using scientific inquiry and engineering processes and leave my class with a holistic and confident understanding of general sciences.
Students will develop 21st century skills for life long success including collaboration, cooperation, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
Nature of Science: All scientists share certain skills, organization, ways of thinking regardless of what topic they study. I think it’s very important to help develop these skills in all learning activities throughout the year. Manifesting “Nature of Science” skills will prepare your students for more complex scientific concepts that will be introduced in Middle School and Beyond.
Topics include: Science Safety, conservation, designing investigations, interpreting and designing data collection charts, increasing the reliability of data when experimenting, using science tools, communicating results of experimental tests based on evidence collected, observing and inferring, classification, understanding/building models and understanding their limitations, gaining access to the history of science and scientist contributions.
Physical Science: I define physical science as the study of matter and energy and their interactions with one another. Physical Science is extremely hands on in my class and I incorporate multiple labs, demonstrations, and reactions while learning this branch of science. Students enjoy this branch most because they are able to interact with the content in an active way.
Topics include: Physical properties of matter, temperature, heating and cooling, density, magnetism, forces, mixtures and solutions, sound, light, electric circuits, conductors and insulators, electromagnetism and friction.
Earth Science: Earth Science focuses on the role of earth in our solar system as well as delving into the systems, patterns, and changes we experience on the surface. While studying this topic, students develop their critical writing and reading on expository text. In addition, they will collect and analyze data on natural patterns of change on earth.
Topics Include: soil properties, renewable, non-renewable, and inexhaustible resources, alternative energy, weather and climate, weathering, erosion, and deposition, inferring from fossils, the formation of sedimentary rock and fossil fuels, shadows, tides, seasons, day and night, rotation vs. revolution, the water cycle, planets, the moon, and the sun.
Life Science: Who doesn’t love life science? While studying this branch we delve into understanding ecosystems in depth. Students will engage with multiple active games to simulate life in the wild. In addition, they will create innovative research projects from online research.
Topics Include: living and non-living things, ecosystem interactions, limiting factors to ecosystems, energy flow, food chains and webs, survival structures and functions (physical and behavioral adaptations), inherited traits, learned behaviors and instincts, the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle, metamorphosis, and life cycles.
Our Year at a Glance:
First 9 weeks:
Unit 1: Science Safety and Notebooking (3 days)
Unit 2: Physical Properties of Matter (21 days)
Unit 3: Forces (7 days)
Unit 4: Energy forms and Functions (14 days)
Second 9 Weeks:
Unit 4: Continued
Unit 5: Earth’s Changes (13 days)
Unit 6: Alternative Energy Resources (7 days)
Unit 7: Sun Earth and Moon Systems (15 days)
Third 9 weeks:
Unit 7: Continued
Unit 8: Patterns in the Natural World (5 days)
Unit 9: Ecosystem Interactions (13 days)
Unit 10: Life Cycles (5 days)
Unit 11: Inherited Traits and Learned Behaviors (16 days)
Fourth 9 weeks:
Unit 11: Continued
Unit 12: Designing Solutions and STAAR Review (20 days)
Unit 13: Preparing for Middle School (10 days)
Ms. Green's Class 