Fifth grade students will study the importance of communication, accurate records, evidence and repeatability in science. Students will review how to use scientific tools appropriately. The bulk our our year is spent studying the field of Life Science and how nonliving factors are necessary for life. Students will present information to the clas about an endangered species and a specific Biome. 

In our bried Earth Science unit, students will study erosion, volcanoes, landslides, and soil formation. They will learn about different energy and material resources, as well as how these resources are found and used. Time will be spent learning how we impact our environment. 

While studying physical science, students will learn more about force, friction, and gravity. 

The end of April will be spent reviewing 3rd and 4th grade Science topics to prepare for the 5th grade MCA.

Proficiency Learning Targets for Introduction and Scientific Method Unit

As evidenced based on classroom assessments, the student is able to: 

• Explain the steps of the scientific method and why each step is important (5.1.1.1.1 and 5.1.1.2)

• Write a hypothesis statement (5.1.1.1.)

• Make, record and compare observations during a scientific investigation (5.1.1.2.2 and 5.1.1.2.3)

• Use scientific measuring tools (eg: beaker, scale, graduated cylinder) appropriately (5.1.3.4.1)

Proficiency Learning Targets for Unit A  Characteristics of Living Things

As evidenced based on classroom assessments, the student is able to: 

• define and tell the difference between vertebrate and invertebrate (building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• list the traits for mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and amphibians (building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• explain which animals are related based on their traits (building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• give examples of  mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and amphibians(building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• explain how animals are classified(building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• define trait and explain what a trait is(building background for 5.4.2.1.1)

• define adaptation (5.4.1.1.1)

• give specific examples of animal and plant adaptations (5.4.1.1.1)

• define mimicry and camouflage and give examples of both(5.4.1.1.1)

• define hybrid and crossbreed (5.4.1.1.1)

• identify examples of hybrids and crossbreeds (5.4.1.1.1)

•  explain why hybrids and crossbreeds are important to species diversity (5.4.1.1.1)

•  explain why species diversity is important (5.4.1.1.1)

Proficiency Learning Targets for Unit B Living Things and Their Environments

As evidenced based on classroom assessments, the student is able to:

• describe what ecosystem means and how both living and nonliving factors affect an ecosystem (5.4.2.1.1)

• define abiotic and biotic (5.4.2.1.1)

• give examples of abiotic and biotic factors (5.4.2.1.1)

• define producer, consumer, and decomposer and give examples of each (5.4.2.1.1)

• explain why producers, consumers and decompers are important to an ecosystem  (5.4.2.1.1)

• Design a food chain or web (5.4.2.1.1)

• Explain what happens if one part of a food chain or web increases or decreases (5.4.2.1.1 and 5.4.2.1.2 and 5.4.4.1.1)

• Define and identify examples of parasitism, commensalism and mutualism (5.4.2.1.1)

• Design a presentation and present about an endangered species and identify the limiting factors for that species (5.4.2.1.1)

• Design a presentation and present about one of Earth’s biomes, a plant and animal in that biome and specifice adaptations for that plant and animal.  (5.4.2.1.1)

Proficiency Learning Targets for Unit C: Earth and its Resources

As evidenced based on classroom assessments, the student is able to:

• Identify renewable and non-renewable resources (5.3.4.1.1)

• Explain and identify weather, erosion and deposition (5.3.1.2.1)

• Identify how non-renewable resources are used in our daily lives (5.3.4.1.2)

• Explain the 3 R’s and how that impacts our ecosystems (5.2.4.1.3)

• Macmillan McGraw-Hill Science Textbook 2005 edition

• IXL

• Note taking from SmartNotes and Google Slides

• Webquests

• DiscoveryEd

• National Geographic 

• Gimkit as review tool

• Blooket as review tool