Elementary Full Curriculum Science for Grade 4 - 5, Part 1

This 12 week course will cover5th first semester of 4th and 5th grade science content in an engaging and interactive style. Students will be encouraged to question, explore, analyze, and make conclusions about science content through the best practices supported by National Science Teacher's Association guidelines. All lessons will be based on the 5E model of inquiry science, which allows students to make their own discoveries, supported by the teacher and will include appropriate academic vocabulary. Lesson activities will include interactive notebooks to record learning, hands on science investigations, videos, articles, foldables, models, discussions, and games. Every lesson will spark imagination and encourage learner interaction. Instructional level is appropriate for ages 9 - 11, however younger students with strong reading and critical thinking skills may also be successful. If your child is out of the age range, please reach out so that we may discuss learning levels and content more in depth. My teaching style is relaxed and accommodating, as I strive to reach all learners through a variety of modalities. Students in my classes will always feel successful, supported, and encouraged. Classes will meet twice per week for 55 minutes each session following the outline below - 

Week 1:  Set the Tone - This week we will get to know each other through a Kahoot game, set up interactive notebooks that will be used each class period, learn about safe science procedures and tools scientists use. We will practice accurate measurement using a variety of tools, and play a Jeopardy style game to assess learning. 
Week 2: Force and Motion - Students will begin learning experimental design by conducting two valid experiments to test force and motion concepts. Each lesson will feature a different experiment in which students will follow the scientific method and make conclusions about the forces of friction and gravity. The first lesson of the week will explore and test the force of friction and the second lesson will test the force of gravity. Both investigations will be conducted by students as they follow along with teacher's model.
Week 3: The first lesson this week will continue experimental design through a hands on investigation of how the mass of an objects affects the force needed to move it.  Lesson summary will be an informal assessment game on choosing variables. Lesson 2 of the week will begin Physical Science by exploring the physical properties of matter. We'll learn about states of matter, create molecule diagrams, and explore how matter changes from one state to another.
Week 4: This week we will explore magnetism, including making an electromagnet, and relative density. Both lessons will involve hands on exploration with simple materials and will be recorded in the interactive notebook. Students will begin a classification of matter chart that will continue throughout the unit.
Week 5: Continuing our study of physical properties, this week's lessons will focus on mixtures and solutions as we learn the difference between them and create and separate each one using appropriate science tools. An interactive Google slide assessment game is included  Students will also differentiate between insulators and conductors of both thermal and electrical energy through hands on investigations. Academic vocabulary will be reinforced through foldables and Who Am I? games.
Week 6:  The first lesson of the week will be an informal assessment on physical properties, as students are challenged to identify matter and classify by multiple properties in a Google Slide activity. Lesson two will begin forms of energy, mechanical, electrical, light, thermal, and sound.   Through an investigation of thermal energy, they will learn how temperature affects matter and solubility.
Week 7:  This week will continue with forms of energy by exploring mechanical energy, potential and kinetic energy, sound energy, and light energy. Each lesson will include hands on components and discussion. Students will create a foldable about the different forms and explore important academic vocabulary such as reflection, refraction, transparent, translucent, and opaque.
Week 8:  We move to electrical energy and explore electric circuits by creating parallel and series circuits using simple materials, both hands on and online. We will test non-working circuits for conductivity, and culminate the concept by creating a light up greeting card using simple materials.
Week 9:  We begin with a game to assess learning of physical science content through an interactive Google Slide activity, then move to the first part of Earth Science. Students will explore the water cycle through hand's on investigation and begin to learn how the water cycle affect weather, how meteorologists measure weather, and create their own weather tools to gather data. They will be given a choice of tools to make and use the tool to measure weather for the next few days. 
Week 10: We continue weather by learning about storm conditions, hurricanes and tornadoes, and weather map symbols. Students will create a weather map and write and record their own weather forecast (optional activity).
Week 11: This week's learning focuses on the difference between weather and climate.  We will analyze climate maps and graphs and discuss how location on Earth influences the climate of an area. We'll play a Who Am I? game to assess learning on this unit of instruction. At the end of class students will be given a product menu to choose a final project topic and presentation to be given to the class the following week.
Week 12: This week wraps up the course with students presenting their final products to the class and giving and receiving feedback. We will play a game that incorporates all of the content of the course and celebrate our successes.