Course Content
A. Temperature
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A.01. Read a thermometer and identify the temperature.
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A.02. Compare temperatures displayed on different thermometers.
B. Units and Measurement
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B.01. Choose appropriate units for measuring time intervals.
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B.02. Choose appropriate units for measuring distances.
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B.03. Use abbreviations for units of time.
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B.04. Use abbreviations for units of length (distance).
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B.05. Use abbreviations for units of mass and volume.
C. Force and Motion
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C.04. Predict how changes in mass affect motion when force is constant.
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C.05. Predict how changes in force affect motion when mass is constant.
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C.06. Design an experiment to investigate the relationship between force, mass, and motion.
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C.01. Identify examples of pushes and pulls in everyday situations.
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C.02. Explain how balanced forces result in no change in motion.
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C.03. Explain how unbalanced forces cause changes in motion (acceleration).
D. States of Matter
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D.01. Identify matter as either solid, liquid, or gas.
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D.02. Classify different materials as solids, liquids, or gases.
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D.03. Sort a collection of items into solids, liquids, and gases.
E. Materials
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E.01. Identify observable properties of an object (e.g., color, texture, shape).
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E.02. Compare the properties of different objects.
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E.03. Compare the properties of different materials (e.g., flexibility, hardness).
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E.04. Identify the materials used to make different objects.
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E.05. Identify objects made from multiple materials.
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E.06. Explain how the properties of materials make them suitable for specific uses.
F. Phase Change
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F.01. Interpret change of state diagrams showing solid, liquid, and gas.
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F.02. Describe how heating and cooling cause changes of state (melting, freezing, boiling, condensation).
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F.03. Predict the state of matter of a substance at different temperatures based on its melting and boiling points.
G. Mixtures
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G.01. Identify mixtures as combinations of two or more substances.
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G.02. Distinguish between solutions and heterogeneous mixtures.
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G.03. Describe methods for separating mixtures (e.g., filtration, evaporation).
H. Physical and Chemical Change
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H.01. Identify physical changes (e.g., change of state, dissolving).
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H.02. Identify chemical changes (e.g., burning, rusting).
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H.03. Compare and contrast physical and chemical changes, focusing on the formation of new substances.
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H.04. Determine if evidence of a new substance forming indicates a chemical change.
I. Light
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I.01. Explain how light enables us to see objects.
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I.02. Describe how light travels and interacts with matter (reflection, refraction, absorption).
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I.03. Investigate how different materials affect the transmission of light.
J. Electricity
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J.01. Explain the concept of static electricity and charged objects.
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J.02. Describe the basic components of an electric circuit (battery, wires, bulb).
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J.03. Draw a simple circuit diagram and explain how electricity flows.
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J.04. Identify the characteristics of conductors and insulators.
K. Magnets
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K.01. Identify which magnets attract or repel each other.
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K.02. Label the poles of magnets that attract or repel.
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K.03. Compare the strengths of different magnetic forces.
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K.04. Describe how magnets are used in everyday devices.
L. Rocks and Minerals
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L.01. Identify minerals using properties such as color, luster, and hardness.
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L.02. Identify rocks using properties such as texture and composition.
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L.03. Describe the rock cycle and how different types of rocks are formed.
M. Fossils
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M.01. Define what fossils are and how they are formed.
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M.02. Explain how fossils provide evidence about past life and environments.
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M.03. Describe different types of fossils (e.g., body fossils, trace fossils).
N. Water Cycle
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N.01. Label the parts of a water cycle diagram (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection).
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N.02. Select the parts of a water cycle diagram that show specific processes.
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N.03. Explain the role of the sun’s energy in driving the water cycle.
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N.04. Relate the water cycle to weather patterns and climate.
O. Earth Events
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O.01. Classify changes to Earth’s surface as constructive or destructive I (volcanoes, earthquakes).
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O.02. Classify changes to Earth’s surface as constructive or destructive II (erosion, deposition).
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O.03. Find evidence of changes to Earth’s surface in local environments.
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O.04. Describe how earthquakes can change Earth’s surface.
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O.05. Describe how volcanic eruptions can change Earth’s surface.
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O.06. Explain how erosion changes Earth’s surface over time.
P. Astronomy
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P.01. Identify the planets in our solar system in order from the sun.
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P.02. Describe the characteristics of each planet (size, atmosphere, composition).
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P.03. Compare and contrast planets.
Q. Engineering Practices
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Q.01. Apply understanding of magnets to solve practical problems.
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Q.02. Evaluate multiple design solutions for preventing flooding, considering effectiveness and cost.
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Q.03. Design a structure that can withstand earthquakes.
R. Classification
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R.01. Distinguish between living and non-living things.
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R.02. Classify organisms as either plants or animals.
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R.03. Identify examples of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
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R.04. Distinguish between vertebrates and invertebrates.
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R.05. Use evidence to classify different examples of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
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R.06. Use evidence to classify unfamiliar animals into appropriate groups.
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R.07. Create a dichotomous key to classify living organisms based on their characteristics.
S. Traits
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S.01. Observe and compare different traits in plants and animals.
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S.02. Formulate a hypothesis about what affects traits and support it with observations.
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S.03. Differentiate between inherited and acquired traits.
T. Adaptations
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T.01. Define adaptations and explain their importance for survival.
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T.02. Describe animal adaptations related to beaks, mouths, and necks.
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T.03. Describe animal adaptations related to feet and limbs.
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T.04. Describe animal adaptations related to skins and body coverings.
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T.05. Explain how adaptations help animals survive in their environments.
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T.06. Research and present information about specific animal adaptations and their functions.
U. Heredity
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U.01. Match offspring to parents based on inherited traits.
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U.02. Identify examples of inherited traits.
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U.03. Identify examples of acquired traits.
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U.04. Distinguish between inherited and acquired traits, using evidence to support a statement.
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U.05. Explain how environmental factors can influence the expression of inherited traits.
V. Animals
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V.01. Read and interpret animal life cycle diagrams.
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V.02. Construct animal life cycle diagrams.
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V.03. Compare the stages of different animal life cycles.
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V.04. Compare the life cycles of different animals (e.g., butterfly vs. frog).
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V.05. Describe the benefits of group behavior in North American caribou.
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V.06. Describe the benefits of group behavior in African wild dogs.
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V.07. Describe the benefits of group behavior in leaf-cutter ants.
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V.08. Discuss the evolutionary advantages of different life cycle strategies.
W. Body Systems
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W.01. Identify major human organs and describe their functions.
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W.02. Describe the body systems responsible for circulation and respiration.
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W.03. Describe the body system responsible for digestion.
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W.04. Describe the body system responsible for removing waste.
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W.05. Describe the body systems involved in perception and motion.
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W.06. Explain how different body systems work together to maintain homeostasis.
X. Plants
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X.01. Identify the main parts of a plant and describe the function of each part.
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X.02. Explain how plants make food through photosynthesis.
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X.03. Read and construct flowering plant life cycle diagrams.
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X.04. Describe how flowering plants reproduce and make new plants.
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X.05. Investigate the factors that affect plant growth.
Y. Ecosystems
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Y.01. Identify different types of ecosystems.
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Y.02. Describe the characteristics of different ecosystems.
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Y.03. Identify the roles of organisms in food chains (producer, consumer, decomposer).
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Y.04. Explain how matter moves through food chains.
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Y.05. Interpret food webs and explain how they show the interconnectedness of organisms.
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Y.06. Analyze the impact of disruptions to a food web or ecosystem.
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Y.07. Explore the concept of ecological succession and how ecosystems change over time.
