Download Science - PS 166

Greetings from Ms. Cardona in the Science Lab!
Welcome to a new school year at P.S. 166! It has been nice to see so many happy
faces, ready to start a new year of wonder and excitement in the Science Lab. I was
thrilled to meet so many new students and welcome back returning students as well. I
have been fortunate to meet so many students and families during my fifteen years at
P.S. 166. This is my sixth year as the Science Lab teacher, a position that has allowed
me to get to know all of the students in our terrific school. I am most excited to meet our
kindergarteners, because many of them are siblings of older students whom I have
already grown to love!
Science is integrated into the curriculum, following the NYC K-5 Science Scope and
Sequence and allows students to conduct hands-on investigations using science
equipment within the FOSS (Full Option Science System) program or DSM (Delta
Science Modules) materials. Students visit the Science Lab as part of our “specials”
program once per week. Fourth grade students visit the science lab twice per week to
help prepare them for the state test later in the year.
Our early science learners experience the excitement of discovery as they investigate
the world around them. The best learning occurs when students experience an "Aha!"
moment, when a hypothesis is confirmed (or not) by their own experiments or
observations during the inquiry process. We also incorporate the common core
standards of literacy and math skills during each lesson. The following are the
September/October Units of Study for each grade. Please also see our supply list at
the end.
Kindergarten Unit: Trees
Students are learning to
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Develop a curiosity and interest in the living things that make up their world.
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Observe and describe the properties of trees and leaves in the schoolyard.
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Compare the similarities and differences of the trees and leaves observed on
“mini” field trips/neighborhood walks.
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Help plant and care for a tree temporarily in the classroom, then permanently in
the schoolyard.
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Observe trees throughout the school year for changes that come with the
different seasons.
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Compare the shapes of leaves to geometric shapes.
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Compare the size and edges of leaves, using a reference card.
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Use pictorial experiences to heighten their awareness of the diversity and variety
of trees and leaves.
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Acquire the vocabulary associated with the properties and structures of trees and
leaves.
First Grade Unit: Air and Weather
Students are learning to:
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Develop an interest in air and weather.
Experience air as a material that takes up space and can be compressed into a
smaller space.
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Observe the force of air pressure pushing on objects and materials.
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Observe and describe changes that occur in weather over time.
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Become familiar with instruments used by meteorologists to monitor air and
weather conditions.
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Compare monthly and seasonal weather conditions using bar graphs.
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Observe the location of the Sun and the Moon in the sky over a day and the
change in the appearance of the Moon over a month.
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Organize and communicate observations through drawing and writing.
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Acquire vocabulary associated with properties of air and weather conditions.
Second Grade Unit: Pebbles, Sand and Silt
Students are learning to:
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Develop a curiosity and interest in the physical world around them.
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Observe, describe, and sort earth materials based on properties.
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Separate earth materials by size, using different techniques.
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Observe the similarities and differences in the materials in a river rock mixture:
silt, sand, gravel, and small and large pebbles.
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Explore places where earth materials are found and ways that earth materials
are used.
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Compare the ingredients in different soils.
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Organize and communicate observations through drawing and writing.
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Acquire the vocabulary associated with earth materials
Third Grade Unit: Measurement
Students are learning to:
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Understand the necessity for standard units of measurement.
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Develop an understanding and intuitive feel for the metric system.
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Measure length and distance in meters and centimeters with a meter tape.
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Measure mass in grams with a balance and mass pieces.
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Measure liquid volume and capacity of containers in liters and milliliters with 50-
ml syringes and graduated cylinders.
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Measure temperature of liquids and air in degrees Celsius with a thermometer.
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Acquire the vocabulary associated with metric measurement.
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Exercise language and math skills in the context of metric measurement.
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Apply appropriate measuring skills in everyday situations.
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Develop and refine the manipulative skills required for making and using
measuring tools.
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Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build
explanations: observing, communicating, comparing, and organizing.
Fourth Grade Unit: Food Chains and Webs
Students are learning to:
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Classify populations of organisms as producers, consumers, or decomposers by
the role they serve in the ecosystem (food chains and food web).
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Explore how plants manufacture food by utilizing air, water, and energy from the
sun.
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Understand that food supplies energy and materials necessary for growth and
repair.
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Identify populations within a community that are in competition with one another
for resources.
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Recognize that individual variations within a species may cause certain
individuals to have an advantage in surviving and reproducing.
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Describe how the health, growth, and development of organisms are affected by
environmental conditions such as availability of food, water, air, space, shelter, heat,
and sunlight.
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Understand that their senses help animals survive.
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Observe that when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive
and reproduce, while others die or move to new locations.
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Describe the way that humans: Depend on their natural and constructed
environment. Have changed their environment over time.
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Identify examples where human activity has had a beneficial or harmful effect on
other organisms (e.g., deforestation)
Fifth Grade Unit: Variables
Students are learning to:
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Gain experience with the concept of a variable
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Gain experience with the concept of a system
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Design and conduct controlled experiments
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Construct materials that will be used in the investigations
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Acquire some understanding of the behavior of pendulums
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Gain experience with buoyancy
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Use data to make predictions
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Apply mathematics in the context of science
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Record and graph data concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to discover
relationships
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Acquire the vocabulary associated with controlled experimentation

Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build
explanations: observing, communicating, comparing, organizing, and relating to real
world
Science Lab Supplies Needed
Our hands-on Science Lab investigations are usually very exciting but they can often
become very messy and require lots of materials for each science group. So, it would
be wonderful if each family is able to contribute some of the following supplies to help
with material organization and clean-up after each investigation. Anything that you can
contribute will be greatly appreciated!
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Desk supplies like pencils, crayons, glue sticks, extra erasers
Two boxes of Zip-Lock “Heavy Duty” Freezer bags (Quart size and Gallon size)
One box of Zip Lock Sandwich size or Snack size bags
Baby wipes (any “thick” brand like Huggies, Pampers, Kirkland)
Kleenex tissues
Paper towels and microfiber or cotton hand towels
Hand Sanitizer
Liquid Hand soap
Science Lab Terrariums
Students may have an opportunity to observe the science lab animals after their science work has been
completed. Each organism is housed in its own terrarium, designed to mimic its natural habitat, giving
students a first-hand experience with the needs of living organisms. Terrariums include Puff our
Bearded Dragon, Rocky our Russian Tortoise, and Sunny and Specky the Leopard Geckos.