I have planned this year's science curriculum by dividing the content standards by trimester as follows:
Trimester One: Life Sciences
Trimester Two: Earth Sciences
Trimester Three: Physical Sciences
TRIMESTER ONE
The first trimester will focus upon the Life Sciences. Students will conduct investigations which will include measuring and estimating the weight and length of objects, constructing graphs based upon their data, following sets of written instructions, and conducting multiple trials.
We will construct terrariums using different seeds, aquariums,
hatch brine shrimp eggs, experiment with salinity of plant soil for optimal growth, and other experiments. We will also observe plant and animal cells under the microscope and record what we see.
The overall goals for trimester one are:
a.) Students will recognize the interdependence of life and how both living and nonliving factors shape the world around us
b.) Establish a high interest level in science!Key Vocabulary for Trimester One:
environment carbon dioxide individual producers adaptation transpiration ecosystem food web metamorphosis spore habitat consumers instinct nutrient population exotic climate taproot community competition adaptation tuber niche microorganism migration photosynthesis temperature energy pyramid oxygen fibrous root survival community camouflage symmetry density ecosystem hibernation germination rainfall threatened
shelter food chain biomes fungi mimicry niche extinct climate zone individual endangered symbiosis estuary
herbivores carnivores omnivores decomposer Websites for learning about plants:
- Biology of Plants: plant parts, seed dispersal, plant adaptations
- The Great Plant Escape
- Types of leaves
- Exploring types of leaves and roots
- Why leaves change colors
Fungi:
Animals and adaptations:
- Carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, decomposers
- Decomposers or Destroyers?
- Going, going, gone!
- Fun with food webs
- Facts about food chains
- Food chains and food webs
- Symbiosis
- Camouflage
- Types of Camouflage
- Food Chains and Webs
- Fun with Food Webs
- Food Web/Plant and Animal Adaptations
Class Assignment:
- Design A Food Web
- Use the Organism Menu: trees, shrubs, flowers, fungi, lichen, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, arachnids, crustaceans, insects, mollusks, microscopic organisms
Brine Shrimp
- Read an article on brine shrimp and the Great Salt Lake in Utah
- Brine Shrimp and the Ecology in Great Salt Lake
- Brine Shrimp Fact Sheet
All about Biomes:
- Tropical rainforest biome plant adaptations
- Biome Basics
- Biomes of the World
- World Biomes Map
- World Biomes
- Biomes
- WorldBiomes.com
