First Grade Science-Core Curriculum Science for First Semester Part 1

The learners in this class will remain the same throughout the 8 weeks to form a POD of learners. The learners will build connections and gain social skills as science is taught. Collaboration and team work will be promoted in each class. Learners will move to the next sections of this class together as a POD. 

First grade science topics taught in this 8 week class include:

1. Waves:  Light and Sound
2. Structure, Function and Information Processing (this topic will continue in second semester)
3. Engineering Design 

The Next Generation Science Standards (nextgenscience.org) will be used to guide course instruction and ensure learners have the needed skills for the next 8 weeks of this course and second grade. 

In keeping with the Next Generation Science standards, science and engineering practices along with crosscutting concepts will be incorporated as learners participate in class. For example, when learners study waves they will plan and conduct an experiment to show how vibrations are formed (crosscutting concept). When they study structure of plants they will create a model to show the external structures of plants (engineering).

Specific Weekly Objectives:
1. Demonstrate that sound can make matter vibrate, and vibrating matter can
make sound.
2. Participate in a discovery to learn that objects can be seen if light is available to illuminate them
or if they give off their own light. 
3. Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance.
4. Explore how shadows are made.
5. Complete projects from week 5 and complete demonstrations.
6. Identify how different animals use their body parts in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water and air. 
7. Create a model of a plant inclusive of its different parts (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) that help them survive and grow. 
8. Present models as needed from week 7 and celebrate an excellent class. 

The class will be structured as teacher facilitated and interactive. Learners will be engaged in games, discussions, videos and hands-on projects. My teaching style is relaxed and inclusive. I encourage learner participation and questions. The classroom is 'ours' not 'mine'. Learners will have many opportunities to interact with me and their classmates each week. There is no specific prior knowledge needed for success in class.