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Vocabulary, Skills, and Assessment Practices K-4, 5-8, 9-12

Science Curriculum Overview
Grades K-2

Standard 1: Science as Inquiry. All students in grades K-2 will experience science as full inquiry. Students begin to develop the physical and intellectual abilities of scientific inquiry. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will be involved with at least one (1) “inquiry exploration activity” each quarter for a minimum of four (4) “inquiry exploration activities” during the school year.

Benchmark 1: All students will be involved in activities that develop skills necessary to conduct scientific inquiries.

¯ 1. Identify characteristics of objects.
¯ 2. Classify and arrange groups of objects by a variety of characteristics.
¯ 3. Identify an object from a group of objects by two unique properties.
¯ 4. Use appropriate materials and tools to collect information.
¯ 5. Ask and answer questions about objects, organisms, and events in their environment.
¯ 6. Describe an observation orally, pictorially, or in written form.

Standard 2: Physical Science. All students in grades K-2 will explore the world by observing and manipulating common objects and materials in their environment. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will participate in exploration activities involving a variety of concepts within the study of Physical Science.

Benchmark 1: All students will develop skills to describe objects.

¯ 1. Observe properties and measure those properties using age appropriate tools and materials.
¯ 2. Describe objects by the materials from which they are made.
¯ 3. Separate or sort a group of objects or materials by properties.
¯ 4. Compare solids and liquids.

Standard 3: Life Science. All students in grades K-2 will begin to develop an understanding of biological concepts. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will participate in exploration activities involving a variety of concepts within the study of Life Science.

Benchmark 1: All students will develop an understanding of the characteristics of living things.

¯ 1. Discuss that living things need air, water, and food.
¯ 2. Observe life cycles of different living things.
¯ 3. Observe butterflies, mealworms, plants, and humans.
¯ 4. Examine the structures of living things.

Standard 4: Earth and Space Science. All students in grades K-2 will observe closely the objects and materials in their environment. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will participate in exploration activities involving a variety of concepts within the study of Earth and Space Science.

Benchmark 1: All students will describe properties of earth materials.

¯ 1. Observe, compare, and sort earth materials.
¯ 2. Describe where earth materials are found.

Benchmark 2: All students will observe and compare objects in the sky.

¯ 1. Distinguish between human-made and natural objects in the sky.
¯ 2. Recognize sun, moon, and stars.
¯ 3. Describe that the sun provides light and warmth.

Benchmark 3: All students will describe changes in weather.

¯ 1. Observe changes in the weather from day to day.
¯ 2. Discuss weather safety procedures.

Standard 5: Science and Technology. All students in grades K-2 will have a variety of educational experiences that involve science and technology. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will participate in exploration activities that will develop an understanding of how things work and utilize technology as a tool and/or media.

Benchmark 1: All students will use technology to learn about the world around them.

¯ 1. Experience science through technology.
¯ 2. Explore the way things work.

Standard 6: Science and Personal and Environmental Perspectives. All students in grades K-2 will have a variety of experiences that provide an understanding for various science-related personal and environmental challenges. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will begin to develop an understanding for the importance of personal health through science content and integrated studies such as Physical Education.

Benchmark 1: All students will begin to understand that they have some responsibility for their own health.

¯ 1. Identify that safety and security are basic human needs.
¯ 2. Demonstrate personal care.
¯ 3. Sort and/or identify foods.

Standard 7: History and Nature of Science. All students in grades K-2 will experience scientific inquiry and learn about people form history. All K, 1st, and 2nd grade students in USD #417 will begin to practice appropriate principles that will maintain the integrity of science discovery through inquiry and content studies.

The Students will…
¯ Be involved in explorations that make them wonder and know that they are practicing science.
¯ Use technology to learn about people in science.

Last Updated November 26, 2002