PHYSICAL SCIENCE STRAND
Each of the five senses is introduced by a literature book that is included in the kit. Then many suggestions are given for activities that can be done as a whole group, as demonstrations, in small groups and as center activities. Teachers choose the activities that fit their class's needs. Resources focus on language and math integrations.
Students begin their study of matter by sorting themselves. Then, they sort solids, liquids, and gases. Four activities focus on the size and movement of particles of matter. Several activities that present changes in matter including absorption of water by paper, paper chromotography, exploding sugar cubes, and Gak are given.
Students are introduced to the different areas of physics using toys. After the introduction a suggestion is given for a teacher demonstration and then a student activity. Areas of study include: light, sound, heat, magnets, and electricity. This unit is lays the foundation for study in the fifth grade physics unit. A resource guide follows each section and includes a rich assortment of supplementary activities, language and math integrations and resources such as films and videos, and more...
Students learn about the laws of motion using toys!! After an introduction to the different simple machines, activities focus on buoyancy with floating boats, air pressure with jumping frogs, center of gravity with balancing birds, inertia with a magic loop, friction with a walking robot, and then the unit wraps up with pendulums. The resource suggests more activities including: diving droppers, Bernoulli's Principle, ramps, spinning eggs, and much more...
Students learn that scientists use a variety of indirect evidence to create theories about the structure of matter. Several activities demonstrate the states of matter, then students learn about density of solids and liquids, viscosity, cohesion, and adhesion. The unit wraps up with slime! The resource sections suggestions more activities for the states of matter, internet resources, literature suggestions, poetry, vocabulary, problem solving, and much more...
Students build on what was introduced in second grade physics.
Reflected and refracted light is studied in addition to light passing through opaque, translucent, and transparent materials. The cause of sound, changes in pitch, and volume are covered next. Several activities are suggested for introducing the sources of heat and then how heat that moves by conduction, convection, and radiation. Electricity begins with static experiments, then circuit experiments using materials and students. Finally, the book concludes with magnetism, what sticks to magnets, a model of a magnet, the strength of magnets, the Earth as a magnet, and a game using magnets. Each of the five areas of physics are followed by a resource guide that includes more activities, integrations into literature, poetry, and writing, math and social studies, audio visual resources and more...
A variety of options are included in this unit that introduce students to physical and chemical change. Teacher demonstrations introduce ideas that students can attempt to replicate. Several chemical changes can be used to give students an opportunity to record a variety of proofs of change.
Students begin their study of motion by observing and recording linear motion. They are introduced to Newton's Laws of Motion, friction, potential and kinetic energy, momentum projectile motion with a variety of teacher demonstrations and student activities. Students then study work and simple machines. The units wraps up with air and water pressure.
Waves introduce a study of sound and light. Then, students learn about thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism. Woven through the unit is a review of the different types of energy.
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