Grade K

Scientific Thinking and Practice

Content of Science

Science and Society

Understand the processes of scientific investigations and use inquiry and scientific ways of observing, experimenting, predicting, and validating to think critically.

(Physical Science): Understand the structure and properties of matter, the characteristics of energy, and the interactions between matter and energy.

(Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments.

(Earth and Space Science): Understand the structure of Earth, the solar system, and the universe, the interconnections among them, and the processes and interactions of Earth's systems.

Understand how scientific discoveries, inventions, practices, and knowledge influence, and are influenced by, individuals and societies.

Students will use scientific methods to observe, collect, record, analyze, predict, interpret, and determine reasonableness of data.

Students will use scientific thinking and knowledge and communicate findings.

Students will use mathematical skills and vocabulary to analyze data, understand patterns and relationships, and communicate findings.

Recognize that matter has different forms and properties.

Know that energy is needed to get things done and that energy has different forms.

Identify forces and describe the motion of objects.

Know that living things have diverse forms, structures, functions, and habitats.

Know that living things have similarities and differences and that living things change over time.

Know the parts of the human body and their functions.

Know the structure of the solar system and the objects in the universe.

Know the structure and formation of Earth and its atmosphere and the processes that shape them.

Describe how science influences decisions made by individuals and societies.

Use observation and questioning skills in science inquiry (e.g., What happens when something is pushed or pulled?).

Ask and answer questions about surroundings and share findings with classmates.

Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, and/or symbols.

Communicate observations and answer questions about surroundings.

Observe and describe the relative sizes and characteristics of objects (e.g., bigger, brighter, louder, smellier).

Observe that objects are made of different types of materials (e.g., metal, plastic, cloth, wood).

Observe that different materials have different properties (e.g., color, odor).

Observe how energy does things (e.g., batteries, the sun, wind, electricity).

Observe that things move in many different ways (e.g., straight line, vibration, circular).

Know that the position and motion of an object (direction or speed) are changed by pushing or pulling it.

Identify major structures of common living organisms (e.g., stems, leaves, and roots of plants; arms, wings, and legs of animals).

Observe that differences exist among individual living organisms (e.g., plants, animals) of the same kind.

Observe and describe similarities and differences in the appearance and behavior of living organisms (e.g., plants, animals).

Observe that living organisms (e.g., plants, animals) closely resemble their parents.

Use the senses (e.g., sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) to observe surroundings, and describe the observations.

Identify the parts of the human body (e.g., legs, arms, head, hands) and the functions of these parts.

Observe that there are many objects in the night sky and that some are brighter than others.

Describe the location and movements of objects in the sky (e.g., stars, sun, moon).

Observe that changes in weather occur from day to day and season to season.

Observe that the sun warms the land and water and they warm the air.

Recognize that germs exist and may cause disease.

Describe how science helps provide products we use every day (e.g., gasoline for cars; electricity for lights, refrigerators, TVs; gas or electricity for heating, cooking).