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Elementary Science - Grade 1

Child blowing dandelion seeds. 

(Image courtesy of Creative Commons.)

Seeds-In this unit, young scientists will observe and compare seeds and discover what happens when a seed sprouts.
ESSENTIAL UNIT OUTCOMES
  • Observe, measure, and describe the properties of a variety of seeds, individually/cooperatively.
  • Compare, classify, and describe the properties of a variety of seeds, individually/cooperatively.
  • Describe the parts of a germinating seed as they compare to the parts of a growing plant, individually/cooperatively.
  • Conduct a simple experiment on seed germination and communicate observations in cooperative groups.
Patterns-In this unit, young scientists will discover that patterns are everywhere. They will use these patterns to help them understand their world and begin to use their knowledge of patterns to make predictions.
ESSENTIAL UNIT OUTCOMES
  • Observe, describe, and record tracks made by living and non-living things, individually/cooperatively.
  • Predict, verify, and record the track an object will make.
  • Compare and describe patterns in fingerprints within cooperative groups.
  • Explore and describe how a shadow is made.
  • Predict, explore, describe, and record how shadows change in size and position, individually/cooperatively.
  • Identify, reproduce, and create sequential patterns, individually/cooperatively.
  • Identify and describe symmetrical patterns, individually/cooperatively.
  • Identify the line of symmetry in an object, individually/cooperatively.
Best of Bugs-In this unit, young scientists and engineers will explore living things and create hand pollinators using an engineering design process.
 
ESSENTIAL UNIT OUTCOMES
 
  • Use information collected to ask and compare answers to questions about how an organism’s external features contribute to its ability to survive in an environment.
  • Examine organisms in a wide variety of environments to gather information on how animals satisfy their need for food - some animals eat only plants - some animals eat only other animals - some animals eat both plants and other animals.
  • Compare similar features in some animals and plants and explain how each of these enables the organism to satisfy basic needs.
  • Describe some of the ideas or questions that might result from examining organisms more closely.
  • Use magnifying instruments to observe parts of a variety of living things, such as leaves, seeds, insects, worms, etc. to describe (drawing or text) parts seen with the magnifier.
  • Classify organisms according to one selected feature, such as body covering, and identify other similarities shared by organisms within each group formed.
  • Use information gathered from observations to compare the descriptions (drawings or text) of the different parts seen.
  • Describe some parts of plants and describe what they do for the plant.
  • Respond, giving reasons to support the response, to the statement, “All living things are made of parts.”
  • Recognize that tools are used to do things better or more easily and to do some things that could not otherwise be done at all.
  • Recognize that some kinds of materials are better than others for making a particular thing.
  • Explain that a model of something is different from the real thing but can be used to learn something about the real thing.
  • Make something out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects that can actually be used to perform a task.
  • Explain that sometimes it is not possible to make or do everything that is designed.
  • Explain that something may not work if some of its parts are missing.
  • Describe and compare things in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion.
  • Seek information through reading, observation, exploration, and investigations.  
HELPFUL PARENT TIPS
  • Encourage your children to enjoy science. Help them believe that they are scientists!
  • Allow time to explore and experiment with items around the house.
  • Sort and compare common objects.
  • Make predictions.
  • Read books, magazines and websites about science.
  • Take trips to local nature/environmental centers.
  • For more parent tips visit the U.S. Department of Education Website, “Helping Your Child Learn Science.” http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/science/brochure.html