Download 5th Grade Science Curriculum

5th Grade Science Curriculum
Foss Kit: Mixtures and Solutions
Chemistry is the study of the structure of matter and the changes or transformations that take place in it.
Learning about the makeup of substances gives us knowledge about how things go together and how
they can be taken apart. Learning about changes in substances is important for several reasons: changes
can be controlled to produce new materials; changes can be used to give off energy to run machines. The
Mixtures and Solutions Module has four investigations that introduce students to these fundamental
ideas in chemistry.
FOSS EXPECTS STUDENTS TO
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Gain experience with the concepts of mixture and solution.
Gain experience with the concepts of concentration and saturation.
Gain experience with the concept of chemical reaction.
Apply an operational definition to determine the relative concentrations of solutions.
Use group problem-solving techniques to plan investigations.
Use measurement in the context of scientific investigations.
Apply mathematics in the context of science.
Acquire vocabulary associated with chemistry and the periodic table.
Be introduced to the concept that all matter is made of very small particles called atoms and that
atoms combine to form molecules.
Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations: observing,
communicating, comparing, organizing, and relating.
Foss Kit: Diversity of Life
The FOSS Diversity of Life Course emphasizes the use of knowledge and evidence to construct
explanations for the structures and functions of living organisms. Students observe and maintain
protests, plants, and animals in the classroom and study their characteristic features. The study
progresses from macroscopic to microscopic observation to discover the fundamental unit of life, the
cell. Students then investigate organism subsystems and behaviors and consider their diversity of
adaptive structures and strategies.
FOSS Expects Students To
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Consider characteristics that are common to all living organisms and develop an operational
definition of life.
Become familiar with the microscope as a tool used by scientists to study organisms in detail.
Discover cells and begin to understand their importance as the basic units of life.
Appreciate the diversity of cells that contribute to the diversity of life on Earth.
Observe and describe the first developmental stages of a plant and recognize that seeds are living
organisms in a dormant state.
Conduct investigations to understand how the vascular system transports water throughout a
plant and how stomates on leaves regulate the rate of water flow through a plant.
Investigate the reproductive systems in flowers to understand the origin of seeds and explore
plant adaptations for seed dispersal.
Observe and analyze snail structures and behaviors in order to set up a secure and supportive
habitat for them.
Explore the concept of adaptation by studying the structures and behaviors of an insect, relating
those adaptations to the roaches’ natural history and habitat.
Explore the Monera (bacteria), Protista (algae), and Fungi kingdoms to understand their roles in
the scheme of life.
Become familiar with and acquire vocabulary concerning these concepts: cell, tissue, organism,
structure, function, behavior, adaptation, system interaction, transpiration, development.
Exercise language, social studies, and math skills in the context of science.
Use scientific thinking processes to conduct investigations and build explanations: observing,
communicating, comparing, organizing, relating, and inferring.
Projects and Field Trips
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Oobleck
Mixtures and Solutions End of Module Investigation
Animal and Plant Cell Illustrations
Incredible Edible Animal or Plant Cell
Mystery Pond Water Investigation
Hair Investigation
Possible Field Trip to Mercer Slough (Enrichment Grant)
Possible Field Trip to the University of Washington for “National Lab Day.
Contact Information:
Mr. Mike Fuerte
5th Grade Teacher
St. Louise Parish School
[email protected] or (425) 746-4220 ext. 5424