This semester long, hands-on and interactive class, will provide learners with continuity in classmates. This allows learners to build relationships and collaborate while learning. Class time will be spent engaging in direct instruction with the teacher, learning sharing and questioning, projects, group work and fun! I use presentations, demonstrations, the Zoom whiteboard feature, the Zoom chat box feature and Zoom break-out rooms*.  Focus on encouraging learners to think and question and not just 'do' will be integrated along with learner choice in project creation. 

Through the course of the academic year, first and second semester, all Next Generation Science Standards for fifth grade will be taught and practiced. 

Fifth grade science topics taught in this first semester class include:
1. Matter and Its Interactions
2. Motion and Stability:  Forces and Interactions  
3. Energy 
4. From Molecules to Organisms:  Structures and Processes 
5. Engineering Design 

The Next Generation Science Standards (nextgenscience.org) will be used to guide course instruction and ensure learners have the needed skills for second semester and 6th 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 molecules and organisms they will create a model to demonstrate how organisms develop and grow (engineering). They will research to support and argument as to how an organism adapts to a changing environment (crosscutting concept). There will be use of reading, writing and math as learners study the standards. 

Specific weekly objectives for this course:

Week 1:  Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.
Week 2:  Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
Week 3:  Conduct an investigation to determine whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. (Breakout room work this week.)
Week 4: Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. 
Week 5: Continued work on argument from week 6.
Week 6:  Apply the engineering and design process to show how gravity affects objects on the Earth.
Week 7:  Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun. 
Week 8:  Apply the engineering and design process to show how the sun provides energy for all animals on Earth.
Week 9:  Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water. 
Week 10:  Continue to develop argument that plant matter come mainly from air and water, not soil.
Week 11:  Apply the engineering and design process to construct a model to show how plants receive energy.
Week 12:  Semester review, wrap up and celebration.

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.

*Notification of break-out room utilization will be provided in advance of the specific class weeks where they will be used.