Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals
Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals Physical Science Forces and Motion: Concepts: 1. Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object. 2. Explore the relationship between energy and forces. A bigger push or pull makes things go faster.
Energy: Concepts: 1. Makes observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
Structures and Properties of Matter: Concepts: 1. Examines, describes, and measures the observable features of objects. 2. Demonstrates understanding that objects are made from one or more materials, e.g., metal, wood, plastic or paper. 3. Communicates that the physical properties of objects and materials can change, e.g., when solids ice becomes a liquid. 4. Displays awareness of natural forces that affect objects and materials, e.g., wind and gravity. 5. Explores and describes ways that objects can be moved in space, e.g., pushing, pulling, rising or sinking.
Chemical Reactions: Concepts: 1. Makes observations that properties of objects and states of matter can change chemically.
Life Science Structure and Function: Concepts: 1. Shows a growing ability to classify living and nonliving things. 2. Communicates about the characteristics of living things. 3. Shows awareness of life in different habitats or environments. Growth and Development of Organisms: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates an understanding that living things grow, change and reproduce.
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Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals Interdependent Relationships in the Ecosystem: Concepts: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates understanding that living things need water, air and resources from the land where they live. 2. Understands humans use natural resources for everything they do. 3. Asks questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare and respond to severe weather. 4. Communicates solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on land, water, air and/or other living things in the local environment.
Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms: Concepts: 1. Demonstrate knowledge that all animals need food in order to live and grow. They obtain their food from plants and from other animals. 2. Demonstrates knowledge that plants need water and light to live and grow. 3. Uses observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
Cycles of Matter Transfer in Ecosystems: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates understanding that there are different kinds of weather and that weather changes. 2. Describes and measures weather. 3. Communicates awareness that the environment changes. e.g., season to season, sometimes slowly and sometimes suddenly. 4. Demonstrates an understanding that people can affect the environment in positive and negative ways.
Earth and Space Science Weather and Climate: Concepts: 1. Understands weather is the combination of sunlight, wind, snow or rain and temperature in a particular region at a particular time. People measure these conditions to describe and record the weather and to notice patterns over time.
Natural Resources: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates ways that individuals are responsible for protecting our planet (e.g. , recycling, mending broken things instead of throwing them away, etc.).
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Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals Earth Materials and Systems: Concepts: 1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time. 2. Show an understanding that humans impact earth systems. Things people do to live comfortably can affect the world around them, but they can make choices that reduce their impacts on land, water, air and other living things. 3. Bio-geology – plants and animals can change their environment.
Engineering Design Defining and Eliminating Engineering Problems: Concepts: 1. Exploring and discovering how things are constructed and work. 2. Explains and/or manipulates objects to tel/show what can make things work differently/better. 3. Design, build, and attest solutions through play, e.g., as they construct using play building materials.
Science and Engineering Practices The eight practices of science and engineering: 1. Asking questions (for Ask questions based on observations to find more information about science) and defining the natural and/or designed world(s). problems (for Ask and/or identify questions that can be answered by an engineering) investigation. Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. 2. Developing and Develop and/or use models to describe and/or predict phenomena. using models Use a model to test cause and effect relationships or interactions concerning the functioning of a natural or designed system 3. Planning and Make observations and/or measurements to produce data to serve as carrying out the basis for evidence for an explanation of a phenomenon or test a investigations design solution. Make predictions about what would happen if a variable changes. Test two different models of the same proposed object, tool, or process to determine better criteria for success. 4. Analyzing and Represent data in tables and/or various graphical displays (bar interpreting data graphs, pictographs and/or pie charts) to reveal patterns that indicate relationships. Compare and contrast data collected by different groups in order to discuss similarities and differences in their findings. Use data to evaluate and refine design solutions. 5. Using mathematics Organize simple data and computational Describe, measure, estimate, and/or graph quantities (e.g., area, thinking volume, weight, time)to address scientific and engineering questions and problems. 6. Constructing Construct an explanation of observed relationships (e.g., the explanations (for distribution of plants in the back yard). science) and designing 3
Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals solutions (for engineering)
7. Engaging in argument from evidence 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Use evidence (e.g., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem. Apply scientific ideas to solve design problems. Compare and refine arguments based on an evaluation of the evidence presented. Communicate information or design ideas and/or solutions with others in oral and/or written forms using models, drawings, writing or numbers that provide detail about scientific ideas, practices, and/or design ideas. Demonstrates the appropriate use of various tools and other technology.
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Energy: Concepts: 1. Makes observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
Structures and Properties of Matter: Concepts: 1. Examines, describes, and measures the observable features of objects. 2. Demonstrates understanding that objects are made from one or more materials, e.g., metal, wood, plastic or paper. 3. Communicates that the physical properties of objects and materials can change, e.g., when solids ice becomes a liquid. 4. Displays awareness of natural forces that affect objects and materials, e.g., wind and gravity. 5. Explores and describes ways that objects can be moved in space, e.g., pushing, pulling, rising or sinking.
Chemical Reactions: Concepts: 1. Makes observations that properties of objects and states of matter can change chemically.
Life Science Structure and Function: Concepts: 1. Shows a growing ability to classify living and nonliving things. 2. Communicates about the characteristics of living things. 3. Shows awareness of life in different habitats or environments. Growth and Development of Organisms: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates an understanding that living things grow, change and reproduce.
1
Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals Interdependent Relationships in the Ecosystem: Concepts: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates understanding that living things need water, air and resources from the land where they live. 2. Understands humans use natural resources for everything they do. 3. Asks questions to obtain information about the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare and respond to severe weather. 4. Communicates solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on land, water, air and/or other living things in the local environment.
Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms: Concepts: 1. Demonstrate knowledge that all animals need food in order to live and grow. They obtain their food from plants and from other animals. 2. Demonstrates knowledge that plants need water and light to live and grow. 3. Uses observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
Cycles of Matter Transfer in Ecosystems: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates understanding that there are different kinds of weather and that weather changes. 2. Describes and measures weather. 3. Communicates awareness that the environment changes. e.g., season to season, sometimes slowly and sometimes suddenly. 4. Demonstrates an understanding that people can affect the environment in positive and negative ways.
Earth and Space Science Weather and Climate: Concepts: 1. Understands weather is the combination of sunlight, wind, snow or rain and temperature in a particular region at a particular time. People measure these conditions to describe and record the weather and to notice patterns over time.
Natural Resources: Concepts: 1. Demonstrates ways that individuals are responsible for protecting our planet (e.g. , recycling, mending broken things instead of throwing them away, etc.).
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Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals Earth Materials and Systems: Concepts: 1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time. 2. Show an understanding that humans impact earth systems. Things people do to live comfortably can affect the world around them, but they can make choices that reduce their impacts on land, water, air and other living things. 3. Bio-geology – plants and animals can change their environment.
Engineering Design Defining and Eliminating Engineering Problems: Concepts: 1. Exploring and discovering how things are constructed and work. 2. Explains and/or manipulates objects to tel/show what can make things work differently/better. 3. Design, build, and attest solutions through play, e.g., as they construct using play building materials.
Science and Engineering Practices The eight practices of science and engineering: 1. Asking questions (for Ask questions based on observations to find more information about science) and defining the natural and/or designed world(s). problems (for Ask and/or identify questions that can be answered by an engineering) investigation. Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. 2. Developing and Develop and/or use models to describe and/or predict phenomena. using models Use a model to test cause and effect relationships or interactions concerning the functioning of a natural or designed system 3. Planning and Make observations and/or measurements to produce data to serve as carrying out the basis for evidence for an explanation of a phenomenon or test a investigations design solution. Make predictions about what would happen if a variable changes. Test two different models of the same proposed object, tool, or process to determine better criteria for success. 4. Analyzing and Represent data in tables and/or various graphical displays (bar interpreting data graphs, pictographs and/or pie charts) to reveal patterns that indicate relationships. Compare and contrast data collected by different groups in order to discuss similarities and differences in their findings. Use data to evaluate and refine design solutions. 5. Using mathematics Organize simple data and computational Describe, measure, estimate, and/or graph quantities (e.g., area, thinking volume, weight, time)to address scientific and engineering questions and problems. 6. Constructing Construct an explanation of observed relationships (e.g., the explanations (for distribution of plants in the back yard). science) and designing 3
Kindergarten Science Essential Learning Goals solutions (for engineering)
7. Engaging in argument from evidence 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Use evidence (e.g., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support an explanation or design a solution to a problem. Apply scientific ideas to solve design problems. Compare and refine arguments based on an evaluation of the evidence presented. Communicate information or design ideas and/or solutions with others in oral and/or written forms using models, drawings, writing or numbers that provide detail about scientific ideas, practices, and/or design ideas. Demonstrates the appropriate use of various tools and other technology.
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