WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Washington Township Public Schools

Office of Curriculum & Instruction

Course:

Science Grade 5

Written By:

Science Committee

Under the Direction of:

Barbara Marciano & Jeffrey Pollock

Description:

Oceans: Systems on Earth are dependant upon the abundance of water and the interaction of this water with the atmosphere. Why do marine organisms live in different locations in the oceans? What forces can cause water to move? Which structures on land model the structures of the ocean floor? How does salinity affect marine life and life on land? What valuable natural resources can be taken from the ocean? How do pollutants upset the ecological balance in bodies of water?

Space: An understanding of the history and the interacting systems of the universe come from studying Earth and its relationship to the sun, planets and galaxies through the use of technological tools.

Electricity and Magnetism: Current electricity is a flow of electrons. A magnetic field can produce an electric current.

Dr. Cheryl L. Simone: Superintendent of Schools

Joseph A. Vandenberg: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

Barbara E. Marciano: Director of Elementary Education

Written:

Summer 2008

Revised:

Aligned with 2009 NJCCCS (7/2010) and 2010 Common Core State Standards (7/2011)

BOE Approval:

7/18/2011

Unit Overview

Course Title:

S5

Unit #:

Introduction to Unit 1, 2, & 3

Unit Title:

Scientific Method

Unit Description:

The Scientific Method is a universal method for conducting experiments. Students will learn: What is the scientific method? Why do scientists use the scientific method? What are the steps in the scientific method? Why is the scientific method an important component to understanding science? What tools do scientists use? What inquiry skills do scientists use?

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations

Students will understand that:

There are six steps to the scientific method.

Guiding Questions

1. Why do scientists measure and observe objects?

2. Why do scientists classify and compare using the scientific

3. What is the difference between a dependent and independent variable?

4. What is a hypothesis?

5. In what ways do scientists gather their research?

6. What do scientists look for when they make their observations?

7. How do scientists report their conclusions?

8. What inquiry skills do scientists use?

CURRICULUM Unit Plan

Course Title:

Science Grade 5

Core Content Standards and Cumulative Progress Indicators:

Unit Title:

Introduction to Units 1, 2, & 3

5.1.8 A 1-4

5.3.8 A 1

5.3.8 D 1-2

Time Allocation:

2 Weeks

5.1.8 B 1-3

5.3.8 B 1

5.4.6 B 1

Conceptual Lens:

Scientific Processes

5.1.8 C 1-2

5.3.8 C 1

A. CONTENT/SKILLS

B. SKILL OBJECTIVES

C. LEARNING ACTIVITIES & INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES

D. EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT

Scientific Method

There are six steps to the scientific method:

Problem/Question

Research

Hypothesis

Experiment

Observations

Conclusions/Findings

Inquiry is an organized way to gather information and answer questions.

Understand and practice safety procedures for conducting science investigations.

Observe

Draw conclusions

Compare/Contrast

Infer

Predict

Measure

Classify

Hypothesize

Graph

Interpret Data

Pose the question: What do I want to wear today? Use the scientific method to answer this question.

Compare the measurement of a balloon with and without air. Discuss results to identify variables.

Design a paper airplane to hypothesis the time and distance it will travel.

Build a balloon rocket to predict how far the rocket will travel.

Observe the difference in oranges to be able to identify your orange.

Classify a set of objects into different categories.

Predict how many paper clips it will take to overflow a full cup of water.

Performance assessments

Quizzes

Tests

Prompts

Observations

Dialogues

Student Self-Assessment

Peer Assessment

Work Samples

Labs

Projects

Notebooks

Oral Presentations

Unit Overview

Course Title:

Science Grade 5

Unit #:

1

Unit Title:

Oceans

Unit Description:

Systems on Earth are dependant upon the abundance of water and the interaction of this water with the atmosphere. Why do marine organisms live in different locations in the oceans? What forces can cause water to move? Which structures on land model the structures of the ocean floor? How does salinity affect marine life and life on land? What valuable natural resources can be taken from the ocean? How do pollutants upset the ecological balance in bodies of water?

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations

Guiding Questions

Students will understand that:

Water Properties

Water is found nearly everywhere on Earth as a gas, a liquid, or a solid.

When a substance is added or subtracted to a pure substance, it changes the properties of the substance.

F Where on earth is water found in different states?

F What properties are changed when salt is added to water?

F What properties are changed when salt is subtracted from water?

F How does the process of desalination work?

C What changes occur when a substance is added or subtracted to a pure substance?

F Which property of water makes the water cycle possible?

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations

Guiding Questions

Students will understand that:

Marine Life

Level I: Environmental factors influence an organisms biology and behavior.

Level II: An organisms adaptations vary according to location.

Level III: Locational characteristics of a habitat reflect the adaptations of organisms in an ecosystem

C Why do marine organisms live in different locations in the ocean?

C How do vertebrates and invertebrates adopt to different conditions in the ocean?

C In what ways do locations in the ocean differ?

C How does temperature influence adaptations inn different locations?

Depth

Pressure

Salinity

C How does the food chain promote interdependence among marine organisms?

C Why do some species become endangered, or even extinct, while others survive?

Oceans Forces/Movements

Level I: Interaction of forces may influence the movement of water.

Level II: Forces such as wind, gravity, temperature, and geological disturbances may cause natural movements in bodies of water.

Level III: The size and depth of a body of water determines the degree to which forces affect changes

F What forces can cause water to move?

F What are the forces that are the cause of waves, tides, currents?

C How do the size and depth of an ocean determine the degree to which forces affect change?

C How are sound waves used to measure distance?

C What forces affect the water cycle?

F How does the water cycle work?

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations

Guiding Questions

Students will understand that:

Geological Forces

Level I: Geological forces create energy, which causes change in the structure on both land and in underwater environments.

C How do geological forces cause energy, which results in changes in structure on land and in water?

F What are the geological forces that create energy?

Geological Structures

Geological structures may be similar on land and in water environments.

F Which structures on land model the structures on the ocean floor?

F What structures on land and below sea level are caused by geological disturbances?

F What are the structures on the ocean floor?

C What are the implications for realizing the similarities and characteristics of structures above and below sea level?

Pollution/Environment

Level I: Pollutants may change ecosystems in bodies of water.

Level II: Pollutants may upset the ecological balance in bodies of water.

F What pollutants may upset the ecological balance in bodies of water?

F How do pollutants reach the bodies of water?

F How are pollutants removed from bodies of water?

C How do pollutants upset the ecological balance in bodies of water?

Natural Resources

Level I: Environment provides natural resources.

Level II: Industries use different processes to extract natural resources from bodies of water.

F How and why are natural resources extracted from bodies of water?

C How does industry use natural resources?

(OceansWater PropertiesSalinityDesalinationSolid, Liquid, GasMarine LifeVertebrates/InvertebratesOne-celled organismsAdaptations/diversityDepthPressureTemperatureSalinityPlant lifeBioluminescenceSurvivalThe Food ChainOcean GeologyOcean floor features/topographyContinental ShelfContinental SlopeAbyssal PlainSeafloor PlainSea MountTrenchMid-ocean RidgeNatural ResourcesPollution/environmentOcean Forces/MovementForcesTemperatureWindGravityMoonSunMovementWavesTidesCurrentsWater CycleCritical Cont